Snappy Fax is a Windows application for sending, receiving and managing fax documents. Its Desktop/Client edition turns printed documents, files and scans into fax jobs, then handles incoming pages and maintains a searchable fax history.
Transmission uses a fax modem connected to a telephone line or a separate FaxAge or SRFax account. The software licence does not include an online fax subscription. Desktop can also act as a client for separately licensed Snappy Fax Server.
Preparing and sending fax documents
Document preparation
The Snappy Fax Printer accepts a document from another Windows application’s print command. It converts the printed pages into a fax image. The resulting job opens with controls for choosing recipients and an optional cover page.
Files can also be opened directly in the image viewer or dragged into it. Supported inputs include PDF, TIFF, JPEG, BMP, text and OpenOffice documents. Word and Excel files use their respective document-opening controls.
Opening a file replaces the image already in the viewer. Snappy Fax Draft Mode instead assembles material from different sources into one multipage job. A document, spreadsheet and PDF can therefore belong to the same fax transmission.
The scanner interface brings paper documents into fax preparation. Cover pages can use supplied templates or a design built by the user. A company logo can be added to the cover, and signature stamps can mark outgoing pages.
Recipients and scheduled transmission
Recipients can come from Snappy Fax address books or Outlook contacts. CSV and Outlook imports bring existing contact information into those address books. A prepared fax can be scheduled for a future time rather than sent immediately.
Modem retries and connection logs
For modem transmissions, redial settings distinguish a busy line from an unanswered call. Users choose which failures trigger another attempt, how many attempts to make and how long to wait after a busy result.
The remote-answer timeout determines how long the modem waits before reporting no answer. Progress views show transmission activity, while retained connection logs record its operation. These modem controls apply to telephone-line faxing.
Desktop Standard and SG3 provide the same fax functions. SG3 adds higher modem fax speeds with Fax Class 2.1 hardware; the line and receiving endpoint determine the attainable speed. A fully functional trial precedes the paid licence.
Receiving, storing and forwarding faxes
Fax Receive Mode puts the modem into answer mode and can start automatically with Snappy Fax. It answers incoming calls without distinguishing voice from fax. A distinctive-ring service or separate fax switch can separate those calls.
Sender filtering uses the calling station identifier, or CSID, transmitted by the fax sender. Users can reject listed identifiers or accept only listed ones. Matching must be exact, and a separate option rejects senders that transmit a blank identifier.
Fax history and external copies
Snappy Fax saves fax images inside its database. Opening a history entry retrieves the stored pages; selecting a record displays thumbnails for full-page viewing. Incoming, outgoing, archived and draft views organise the different stages of fax work.
History can be searched, sorted, grouped and filtered to find particular records. Optional external copies go to a chosen local or network folder as multipage TIFF or PDF files. Filename templates can identify the sender and reception time.
Email forwarding
Email forwarding can be configured separately for incoming and outgoing faxes. Recipients must have entries in the default address book. Their forwarding selection can remain active continuously or apply only within a chosen date range.
Selective forwarding directs received faxes to email addresses according to the sending fax number. This gives different recipients different incoming correspondence. The saved database image remains available independently of the optional external copy and forwarding destination.
Watched-folder fax submissions
Snappy Fax can monitor folders for new files and turn matching documents into outgoing fax jobs. The filename carries the recipient name, fax number, routing choice and cover-page selection. Optional fields supply cover text and record details.
Watched-file processing supports PDF, TIFF, JPEG, BMP, text, RTF, Word, Excel and OpenOffice files. Both the file type and filename structure must match the submission rules. An arbitrary filename does not supply the recipient details needed for automatic faxing.
The routing field selects normal fax transmission or submission to Snappy Fax Server. Server submission depends on a separately configured server. Multiple-workstation faxing and multiple fax modems belong to that server product rather than the standalone Desktop edition.
