Cannot Change TAPI Dialing Rules in Windows 98 (217189)

SYMPTOMS

Microsoft Windows 98 includes Windows Telephony and the Telephony API (TAPI) version 2.1. One of the features of Windows Telephony is the ability to automatically use the correct outside line access codes, long distance and international prefixes, and other dialing rules based on your location and the destination of a telephone call. You specify most of this information in Dialing properties using the Telephony tool in Control Panel and in most programs that place telephone calls. Windows Telephony includes dialing rules for local, long distance, and international calls for over 240 different countries around the world; these rules are stored in the registry.

From time to time, countries change their dialing rules. If the dialing rules for a country or region change, Windows 98 does not dial it correctly.

RESOLUTION

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that this article describes. Apply it only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem.

To resolve this problem, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later:

   Date      Time     Version     Size      File name  
   ----------------------------------------------------
   3/15/99   3:02pm   4.10.2000   116,736   Tapisrv.exe

MORE INFORMATION

Methods for Working Around the Default Behavior

Local, Long Distance, and International Dialing

For local dialing, you can click to clear the "Use country code and area code" check box to make Windows dial the number you enter in the Phone Number box exactly as you enter it. Dialing properties (such as call waiting and outside line access numbers) are not applied.

This check box appears in the Dialing properties for Dial-Up Networking or HyperTerminal connections, or are normally accessible through dialing programs that use the Windows Telephony API (TAPI).

For example, in Dial-Up Networking, right-click the connection that you want to modify, and then click Properties to modify the Dialing properties. The "Use country code and area code" check box appears on the General tab.

When you use this method you must enter every digit that is to be dialed in the Phone Number box. The digits are not automatically adapted as you change locations, but you have complete control over the number that is dialed.

You can use this method with HyperTerminal, Dial-Up Networking, and MSN, The Microsoft Network.

For additional information about this method, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

129049 How to Perform 10-Digit Dialing in Windows 95 and Windows NT

Long-Distance or International Dialing Only

For long-distance or international dialing, you can work around this behavior by creating a custom calling card rule that uses the correct dialing rules for the country whose rules are incorrect. For information about creating a custom calling card rule, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

224076 How to Create Custom Calling Card Rules in Windows 98

For additional information about Windows 98 and Windows 98 Second Edition hotfixes, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

206071 General Information About Windows 98 and Windows 98 Second Edition Hotfixes