gtFax
Installation and Configuration Guide
Ram�n Prades
Feb. 2001

Introduction

gtFax is a windows front-end for Gert Doering's mgetty+sendfax. It allows users on a PC to send faxes from any word processor through the unix server.

Despite other clients I have seen, gtFax does not require much configuration on the Unix server. This is because because gtFax uses ftp and rsh to talk to the server, eliminating the need of installing daemons or other programs or reserving TCP ports in the services file.

gtFax is distributed as a free program. You can install it in as many computers as you like, or pass it to your friends, but you can't sell it or distribute it as part of a commercial application.

Being free, I haven't got the time to give full support.The program has to be used as it is. Having said that, I will try to answer your questions or give you as much help as I can provide I have time enough.

Prerequisites

First of all you need a Unix server with mgetty+sendfax fully installed and configured. I've seen that most of the problems found when using gtFax are due to a wrong mgetty+sendfax configuration, so it is very important that your mgetty+sendfax is completely tested.

You also need a PC running Microsoft Windows 95/98/ME/2000. This PC has to be connected to the same network than the Unix server, and with TCP/IP configured.

gtFax Installation

Simply download gtFax zipped file, open it (you need winzip) and double-click on 'setup.exe'. Then, just accept all the default settings and wait until gtFax is completely installed.

Unix Configuration

In order to have gtFax running, you need to do the following tasks on your unix server.

First, create a directory ans set permissions to 777. There is a restriction here: the directory name must be in capital letters only (I'm now working to fix this).

Finally, decide the user you want to use to send faxes from the PC. This can be any individual user in the Unix box or you may want to use a dedicated user for it, as for example �faxuser�. Set a password, and remember to give rsh permissions to this user from the machines that will be using it (by adding the necessary entrien in /etc/hosts.equiv or .rhosts files).

gtFax Configuration

The configuration window will appear automatically the first time you run gtFax:

First of all select your language by clicking on the appropiate button. At the moment, only Spanish and English are available. If somebody wants to translate gtFax into another language, please contact me to receive details.

The rest of fields are:

• Sampling Interval: As an option, you can use �gtFaxD� to periodically check for outgoing faxes. Here you can specify how often this will be checked.

• Fax Spool File: This is the file gtFax will send. It has to be a printer port. Refer to Printer Configuration later on this file to configure it.   

• Fax Server: Host name or IP address of the Unix server running mgetty+sendfax. Obviously, you need to be able of pinging it from your PC.  

• FTP Port: Port your server listens to to accept FTP requests. By default 21
• Login and Password: Name and password of a valid user in the Unix box.

• Remote Directory:Enter here the name of the directory gtFax will send the faxes to. The user entered before must have write permissions on it. Please note this name can only contain capital letters.

• Send Report: Check this box and enter a valid e-mail address if you want to receive a message every time you send a fax. The message will be sent by the Unix server, so make sure it can reach the address you enter.

Finally, click on �Test� to verify the settings you�ve entered are correct.

If you are having problems here try to debug the services individually. First try to copy a file to the remote directory specified. Windows 95 comes with a DOS FTP client you can use for this purpose. Then, log in the unix machine and verify the file is there. Next, get a rsh client, or look carefully at the output of the test to see if rsh is working. If not, check the normal files for rsh (on most unix these are /etc/hosts and /etc/hosts.equiv or .rhosts in the user�s home directory).

Printer Configuration

To use gtFax you need to define a windows printer and redirect the output to a file. If you don't know haw to do it follow these steps:

• First create the directory specified in  'Fax Spool File' in the configuration window.

• Then open the printers folder and create a new local printer. Use LPT1 as the port and select any PostScript compatible model. I recommend using Apple LaserWriter on Windows 95 and 98, and Apple LaserWriter Personal NT v51.8 in Windows 2000.

• Right-click on the newly created printer and create a new port. It has to be a local port and the name has to be the entry specified in the configuration window (in the Fax Spool File field).

To test the fax, print something on this printer and run gtFax. You should see something like:

Enter a fax number and click on 'Add Number' and then on �Send� to verify gtFax is working.

When testing the printer always send a 2-pages fax. This is because mgetty sometimes cannot interpret the PostScript output generated by the printer, and only sends the first page. If this is your case, try another printer driver or adjust the PostScript settings in the advanced configuration of the printer.

You can also debug the printer's output with a PostScript viewer. Check the links page to see the URL of freeware GhostView.

Sending a Fax

To send a fax perform the following tasks:

• Type the fax using your favourite word processor.
• Print it to the gtFax pritner you have defined in the previous section.
• Open gtFax and check the box 'filename'. If it is empty click on 'REFRESH' until you see the file name configured for the printer.
• Select a destination fax number by double clicking on the address book or by typing it in the fax number box. You can select as meny destination as you want.
• Click on SEND.

Exiting gtFax without sending the fax will delete the fax image, so you'll have to print it again if you still want to send it. This is because I don't know how to pass a filename to the printer. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

To create folders and entries in your address book right-click on the address book and select the appropriate action.

gtFax does not keep backups of your address book. If you want to make your own backups (for example before reinstalling gtFax) simply copy the files DBGTFAX* to another directory. This is something I want to improve in future versions.

Using gtFaxD 

gtFaxD is a small program that stays in memory and scans (see 'configuration' above) the gtFax directory for new faxes. When it detects a fax waiting to be sent, it automatically opens gtFax.

This little tool can be useful for those users who are too lazy to click on the gtFax icon every time they want to send a fax.

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