1.1 Create an element to collect password

An IVR design specifies system interactions with callers. The basic building block of an IVR application is called an element. An element in IVR Studio defines a set of activities to be carried out during a particular stage of an IVR application.

Create an Digits Element

A digits element is used to collect caller password. A digits element sets the IVR application to expect a sequence of touch tone keys ended by a pound key (#).

To create an digits element, click on element labeled Incoming Call, then click the digits icon on the program toolbar. Enter the element name as Get Password, then click the Finish button.

Element and Transition

IVR Studio now shows the following two elements: Incoming Call and Get Password. The top element is referred as parent element, and the element below is referred as child element. When a call is answered by an IVR application, the top most element is active and all its activities are executed first.

The line between the two elements is called a transition. A transition represents a change of the active element. A transition is normally caused by some caller input, such as press a touch tone key.

The elements and transitions specify how an IVR application should handle caller interactions. For this example, when a call is answered by the IVR application, the active element is the element (Incoming Call). After executing the activities of the element (more on this later), the active element is transition to Get Password, which will set the system ready to collect caller input.

Save the Design

Select File > Save... from the program main menu or click the Save button on the toolbar. Choose a file name such as "IVR Tutorial Step 1".