>Dear Sirs,
>
>Hello & Regards
>
>I have written a programme that dials a number through modem and now I want to keep a log of calls made and time taken for each call.
>
>So please advise how to sense that when a number is being dailed and somebody at the other end picks up timer automatically starts. Plus if disconnet it timer stops. We have to keep in mind that if the line is engaged then timer donot start or all these type of cases.
>

You can purchase Exceletel's Express TeleTools for under $150 for a single developer version from www.componentsource.com; it's a TAPI ActiveX control that can handle the simplest of TAPI functions (dial/hangup/callerid/answer) and is compatible with VFP6. It's available from www.componentsource.com as well as several other development oriented software vendors. Depending on the exact requirements for your call management app, you may want to look at one of their more complete TAPI software products; the other versions are more expensive, but add functionality, support for multi-line telephony equipment, record and playback, and even some voicemail facilities.

The cost of the control is significantly less than the cost of developing your own implementation of TAPI for standard modems. If you feel the cost is too great, I'd suggest you find another line of work; developing communications software is time-consuming and VFP is not well-suited to the necessary low-level progeamming required.

You've a considerable amount of additional work to do IAC, to handle answering machines, automated phone attendant systems and the like. You may want to rethink the overall design of the app; you are not going to be able to handle most of the telephony issues via low-level communications programming, at least not easily, or with any degree of cross-hardware compatibility