Bug 204810

The Network Devices - Fax appears to be incomplete in functionality.

(In this bug report there is the usage of words like apparent due to the lack of available precise information, direction and ambiguity of an actual functional process yet to be defined.)

The help section suggests that it is possible to set up a Network Fax system as follows

"Configure a fax system with Network Devices+Fax. Set up the fax system for one or more users, but each user must have a unique fax number. When adding or editing users, configure the user name, fax numbers, outgoing MSN, station ID, headline, and desired action"

There is a suggestion that by selecting Fax from Network devices that this would provide faxing facilities to all Network users, however many interrelated processes are missing.

The Key options are missing or not apparent to me as follows.

1. If the Network is configured with a DSL connection is seems impossible to create and activate a telephone Modem connection required for faxing. Is seems apparent that configuration of a Modem for fax transmission and having a DSL connection both at the same time as impossible.

There seems no possible way of configuration of a modem - obviously required - to anything but an ISP connection.

Other required functionality is incomplete.

As I see it a Network Fax requires

1. Configuration and detection of a telephone Modem - which seems impossible to maintain both a DSL connection and a Telephone modem configuration NOT directed to an ISP.

2. The vehicle of sending a fax to a psuedo printer seems to be presented as the internal mechanism for providing network Faxing - however I cannot determine how to relate the pseudo fax printer (kde desktop) to the settings in YAST for Network Faxing.

3. There seems to be an apparent mechanism for sending but not receiving Network Faxes.

4. There is a lack of continuity between the relationship of Network Fax set up, setting up the modem and getting the fax data to the PC containing the network Fax.

5. Receiving faxes appears to possible with current functionality.

6. There is the lack of the ability to present a Fax Header sheet except open Office - write has a fax wizard which facilitates printing a hard copy of a fax and not related to Network Fax functionality.

7. Within open office you would expect the 'Send' menu option to include send as fax.

The whole process and concept of creating, initiating and receiving faxes is not apparent.