How to Retrieve and Manipulate Internet Documents

Integrating the power of the internet with the telephone can be accomplished using Active Call Center. There are a number of different techniques that can be used, all of which involve scripting COM compliant software to perform Internet functions:

• Use VBScript to manipulate Internet Explorer to create web browsing applications that work over the telephone. Fill out forms, read web pages, follow links, and much more. The Internet Weather example Call Tree uses Internet Explorer to retrieve weather and report it to the caller.
• Use VBScript to manipulate third party applications to download information from the internet to deliver to a caller. For example, the Internet Stock Quotes example Call Tree uses Microsoft Excel to download stock quotes from the web and report prices to the caller.
• Use VBScript with the Windows Script Host to manipulate the FTP.EXE utility provided by Windows. This technique is discussed further in How to Move Files To/From a Website via FTP.
• Use VBScript to manipulate custom applications that work over local and wide area networks. For example: send network broadcast alerts for specific types of inbound calls or send e-mails to specific departments based on incoming caller requests.

Warning: Always review copyrights and terms of use policies with an attorney before implementing any solution that redistributes data received from public websites.