Play a file
Plays an announcement to the caller, then continues the path. This is the module that greets, informs of a closure, or plays hold music before a queue.
In brief
| Outputs | output, taken once the announcement finishes |
| Fields | Message, chosen from your audio messages |
| Accepted formats | wav, mp3, ogg, flac, aiff, au, gsm |
How it works
The module plays the message in full, then leaves by its output. The caller cannot interrupt it by pressing a key: if you want to offer a choice during the announcement, you need the Menu module, not this one.
The message must exist before you can select it. It is created in Modules, Audio messages, in three ways: by uploading a file, by recording it from a phone, or by typing the text and letting a synthetic voice read it.
What to fill in
| Field | What is expected | If you leave it empty |
|---|---|---|
| Message | one of your audio messages | no announcement is played, the path continues |
Steps
- First create your announcement in Modules, Audio messages.
- Go back to your plan, place the Play a file module and connect the previous node to its input.
- Open it and choose your message from the list.
- Connect its output to the rest of the path, otherwise the call will be hung up at the end of the announcement.
- Click Apply changes, then call to listen to the result.
If it doesn't work
The caller hears nothing, but the call continues. No message is selected in the module, or the one that was selected has since been deleted. Reopen the module and check the list.
The call is hung up at the end of the announcement. The module's output is not connected to anything. A module whose output leads nowhere ends the call. Connect it to the rest of the path.
The start of the message is cut off. This is common: the other party is still bringing the handset to their ear when the announcement starts. Add a second of silence at the start of your file.
The announcement is distorted or inaudible. The original file was too loud or recorded too close to the microphone. The conversion to telephony quality doesn't help, it reveals the flaw. Re-record further from the microphone, or dictate the announcement from a phone.
I would like the caller to be able to press a key during the announcement. This module does not allow that. Use Menu, which plays an announcement and listens for key presses at the same time.
How the call flow is built, explained in pictures
See the Dial plans page