The Gather applet lets you collect a string of digits from a caller (a membership number, or a social security number, for example) which can then be used as part of matching the contact for the project.
The applet will wait for the caller to enter a series of digits.
- The series ends either when the caller presses # or after a number of digits you specify.
- Optionally, if the user presses * at any point, they can start over.
Note that the Gather applet is part of Advanced Flows.
To use the new Gather applet, while creating a new Call flow, or editing an existing one:
- Drag the Gather applet to your flow.
- Optionally, type an identifier in the first field. This will be used to store the gathered data. If you leave this blank, the applet stores it with the default name “phone”.
- Next, type the number of attempts the caller is allowed.
- Click the Do you want the caller to confirm his entry? drop-down list. If you select No, we accept whatever the caller entered without checking it. If you select Yes, the number will be read back to the caller, and they need to check it.
- To allow the caller to press * to start over, click the Restart after user enters “*”? drop—down list and select Yes.
- Type the number of digits you expect the caller to enter. The caller can always end their input before this limit is reached by pressing #.
The next three sections allow you to create greetings which will be played to the caller who is interacting with the gather applet. In each case:
- Click the Read Text link to type the text to be read. If using the Read Text option, remember to include a space after each full stop/period to create a pause in the reading.
- Alternatively, click the Upload link to upload an MP3 of the greeting.
The three greetings are:
- The initial instructions for the caller. This prompt should include what information they are expected to enter, and how to end or restart the process. For example, “Please type your six-digit membership number followed by the hash key. If you make a mistake, press the star key to start over.”
- The instructions to validate the number typed, if you selected Yes to confirm the entry above. To confirm the number, the caller should press 1. To try again, the caller should press 2. For example, “To confirm this is your membership number, please press 1. To try again, press 2.”
- The greeting the caller should hear if they run out of attempts.
The final setting determines how long the gather applet will wait for input before proceeding.
- Type the duration the applet will wait for input, from 0 to 60 seconds.
- To continue the flow, drag the next applet to the Drop applet here box.