Advanced Provisioner - Configuration Tabs - Feature Keys

Description: The purpose of this article is to provide a detailed overview of the Feature Keys configuration tab, which is accessible for all devices eligible for provisioning within the Advance Provisioner App. 

The Advance Provisioner App serves as the primary digital workspace for configuring advanced settings on provisioned devices. For every device from any manufacturer, there is a roster of configuration tabs, each containing different parameters. Once you have added a new device, you will have the opportunity to customize a distinct set of configuration tabs tailored to that specific device.

In all the tabs, parameters can be classified into two types: 

• those that require manual input of values.
• those that provide a dropdown list of options.

Next to some parameters, you can find clues about the values these specific fields will inherit either from the global default values or from the account settings level if you don't make any changes to the field.

The inherited values may differ based on the server and account settings, but the core concept remains consistent.

Within this article, we will examine the Feature Keys configuration tab and its parameters available for customization.

Feature Keys Configuration Tab

When adding a new device or configuring an existing one, the Lines configuration tab will be the initial default view. 

To navigate to the Feature Keys configuration tab, click on its name in the configuration tab roster. 

The parameters listed on this tab can be categorized into two distinct sections:

• Feature Keys buttons: they are a series of circular buttons, each displaying the number of available Feature Key presets. 

Although the Feature Keys buttons closely resemble the Line buttons in appearance, they serve as selectors for specific Feature Key presets associated with the configured device. It is important to note that the number of available Feature Key presets for configuration is not linked to the number of Lines that the device supports.

The number of buttons may differ depending on the device. By selecting these buttons, you can seamlessly switch between the Feature Key presets, allowing you to configure them individually.

The parameters within the following sections are set up individually for each preset. Currently, there is no possibility to copy the settings of one preset to another.

• Key: within this section, you can set the call information display method when the configured device receives an incoming call, initiates an ongoing call, or participates in a call.

There are four parameters that need to be configured here:

• Value: based on the system object Type (Call Park, Hold, Transfer, etc.), you can specify the value that the device should dial or activate when the configured Feature Key preset is enabled.
• Pickup Value: here, you specify the value in accordance to which the call should be picked up.

This parameter is typically used in scenarios where you want to answer or join a specific call or group of calls using the Feature Key. For instance, if you configure the Feature Key preset with a BLF type, enabling this preset will set the phone to a "Busy" state. However, by specifying a Pickup Value parameter, such as a phone number or extension, the device will disregard its BLF status when a call matching the defined criteria arrives. 

• Type: when you click on this field, a dropdown menu will be displayed, presenting a selection of system object Types that you can enable for the configured Feature Key preset. You can designate the system object (such as Call Park, Hold, Transfer, etc.) within the "Value" field found later in this section.

By selecting the "Inherit" option, you will designate the default system object Types set in the Defaults as the Type for the configured Feature Key preset.

• Type (Polycom 450-7000): certain Polycom devices include an additional "Type" field, which determines the default action that takes place when you use the chosen Feature Key. It can take one of two values.

• Normal: by selecting this option, the default action will be to initiate a call when the user is either idle or busy, and it will perform a direct call pickup if the user is currently on a call. Any ongoing calls will be placed on hold. 
• Automata:  by selecting this option, all currently active calls will either be parked or blindly transferred. If there are no active calls and the user's phone is ringing or busy, it will attempt to perform a direct call pickup or park the call accordingly. 

• Account: in this field, you can assign a line to the configured Feature Key preset. When you click on this field, a dropdown menu will be displayed, presenting a list of available options.

In the Advanced Provisioner App, the terms "account" and "line" are synonymous in the given context.

• Inherit: by choosing this option, you allow this Feature Key preset to use the default line set in the Defaults. 
• Account #: by choosing any of the given options, you can assign any line to the configured Feature Key preset. 
• Auto: by selecting this option, you grant the configured Feature Key preset the ability to use any available unoccupied line at the time of activation, regardless of the parameters set in the Defaults.

• Label: here, you can input the text label that will be displayed upon the activation of the configured Feature Key preset.
• Address: within this field, you have the option to enter a URL, to which the line configured under settings.feature_keys.account will subscribe for dialog information.

While Combo Keys and Feature Keys may appear similar in appearance and operation, they serve distinct purposes. 
- Combo keys are primarily used for expedited dialing, often referred to as "one-touch" dialing. They can be programmed to initiate a call to a designated phone number or establish a connection to a specific line upon activation.
- Feature Keys are dedicated to frequently used functions such as call holding, call transferring, initiating conference calls, accessing voicemail, or enabling other features offered by your phone system.

Make sure to press the "Save" button to apply all the changes you have made to the parameters.