A service in InterAction is a tool like an application or command that you can launch from within the program, and it comes in two types: system services for all users and personal services for the creator only. You can set up services to start with a keyboard shortcut, a toolbar button, or a double-click action, allowing you to quickly launch other programs or pass data without leaving InterAction.
A service is an application, program, macro, or command that can be launched directly from within InterAction. There are two types of services:
- System services are created by the system administrator and are available to all users.
- Personal services are created by individual users and are only available to the user who created them.
To launch a service, choose the service from the Services menu. You can configure a service to be launched via a toolbar button, a keyboard shortcut, or by double-clicking on a selected field.
Configure a Service to be Launched via a Keyboard Shortcut
Choose Services > Edit to display the Manage Services dialog box.
Select the service and choose Edit to display the Edit Service dialog box.
Choose the shortcut by checking Control and/or Shift and choosing the Key.
- Choose OK to close the Edit Service dialog box.
- Choose Close to close the Manage Services dialog box.
Configure a Service to be Launched via a Toolbar Button
After you configure a service to be launched via a toolbar button, you need to add the toolbar button to one of your toolbars.
- Choose Services > Edit to display the Manage Services dialog box.
- Select the service and choose Edit to display the Edit Service dialog box.
Select the Toolbar Button you want to assign to the service.
- Choose OK to close the Edit Service dialog box.
- Choose Close to close the Manage Services dialog box.
Configure a Service to be Launched via a Double-click Action
- Choose Services > Edit to display the Manage Services dialog box.
Select the service and choose Edit to display the Edit Service dialog box.
Choose Set to display the Set Double Click Action dialog box.
- Choose the Entity and Type to identify the field that you want to be able to double-click to launch the service.
- Choose OK to close the Set Double Click Action dialog box.
- Choose OK to close the Edit Service dialog box.
- Choose Close to close the Manage Services dialog box.
Change the Order of Services Under the Services Menu
- Choose Services > Edit to display the Manage Services dialog box.
Choose Order to open the Order Services dialog box.
- To move a service up in the list, select the service and choose Up. To move a service down in the list, select the service and choose Down.
- Choose OK when you have finished changing the order to close the Order Services dialog box.
- Choose Close to close the Manage Services dialog box.
Possible Uses for Services
When set up effectively, services offer two primary benefits:
- Users can start other programs that are often needed simultaneously with InterAction without leaving the program. They do not need to return to the desktop to start the other program.
- When command line parameters are included with the service, InterAction will pass values to another program. For example, you can configure a Service to pass a fax phone number to an automated faxing application.
A service can be very simple, such as a service that simply launches a word processing application. You can also use Services to do more complicated integration.
For example, you could create a Visual Basic application that uses the InterAction API to retrieve data about the current contact and fill in a Federal Express shipping label. To integrate this application with InterAction, you would create a Service that launches the custom application directly from InterAction; then the custom application would use the API to retrieve the current contact and other necessary information.