Setting the Default COM Port Setting in Communications Module (124593)

SUMMARY

When you use the Works for Windows Communications module, Works creates every new communications document with the initial (default) COM port set to COM1 until you run the Modem Test in the Communications module. After you complete the Modem Test and exit Works, the Port= setting in the MSWORKS3.INI file should be set to the port that the modem was detected on, and new communications documents should be set to that port by default. This may be a problem on machines that have multiple modems that use different COM ports.

To change the default COM Port in Works, edit the Port= setting in the MSWORKS3.INI file using the steps below.

MORE INFORMATION

NOTE: The default COM port setting only affects new documents. Existing communications documents will retain any changes made to the Port setting in the Communications Settings dialog.

To manually set the default COM port setting in Works, follow the steps below:

Complete the Modem Test in the Communications module.

If the default port selected by the modem test does not match the port that you want, edit the MSWORKS3.INI using the steps below.
Exit Works.
Open the MSWORKS3.INI file in a text editor such as Notepad.

Locate the [Communications] section and edit the line that reads:

      Port=#

where # is a number between 0 and 3:

      Port=0    equals COM1 (the default setting)
      Port=1    equals COM2
      Port=2    equals COM3
      Port=3    equals COM4

When the setting in the (Tools) Options menu for Modem Port is set to the desired COM port, Works will retain this information and use it when you highlight a phone number and use the (Tools) Dial This Number command in the word processor, spreadsheet or database. This does not set the default COM Port in the Works communications module, however.

For more information on setting COM ports for the Communications module, see "Setting up one or more modems" on pages 469-470 of the "Works for Windows User's Guide."