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Installing & configuring 3CX Assistant

System requirements

  • Windows 7, XP or Vista
  • .NET 2.0 framework or higher. Most Windows installations already have this installed. Check by going to Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs. If not, the latest .NET framework can be downloaded from the Microsoft website at http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/netframework/

Running Setup

  1. Click on the download link provided in your ‘Extension Welcome Email’. This email was sent to you when you we’re given an extension and contains login and configuration details. You can request that the administrator resends the email. Alternatively download 3CX Assistant here.
  2. Now double-click on the setup file and follow the wizard.
  3. You will be prompted whether you wish to install the CRM / Microsoft Outlook integration and/or the 3CXPhone. The CRM / Outlook integration module allows calls to be launched from Microsoft Outlook and other CRM packages such as Salesforce.com or Microsoft Dynamics, as well as pop up the customer record based upon the caller ID of an incoming call. More information about CRM integration here. 3CXPhone is a soft phone that will allow you to make and receive calls from your computer. 3CXPhone can be used in tandem with your desk phone.

Configuring 3CX Assistant

The first time you start 3CX Assistant, you will be prompted for connection details. These details include your extension number, PIN and server location. These details can be configured automatically or manually.

Automatic configuration

The easiest way to configure these details is by specifying the provisioning URL. With this URL the 3CX Phone System server will automatically configure 3CX assistant for you. To do this:

  1. Locate your extension welcome e-mail and look for the provisioning URL.
  2. Now Copy and Paste the URL into the provisioning URL edit box and click OK to continue.
  3. The connection will automatically be configured and 3CX Assistant will start-up.

Manual configuration

If you wish to configure 3CX Assistant yourself, you need to enter these details:

  1. In the login section, enter your extension number and your voice mail pin number (your welcome email specifies your PIN number). You can change the PIN from the voice mail menu or from the MyPhone user portal.
  2. In the location section, specify In or Out of the office.
  3. In the Server options section, specify The local IP or host name of the 3CX Phone System machine.
  4. If you are going to use the 3CX Assistant outside of the office, you must also specify the public IP of the 3CX Phone System machine
  5. If you are going to use the tunnel, you must also specify
    * The local IP or host name of the 3CX Phone System machine
    * Tunnel Password
    * Tunnel port
  6. Click OK.

Switching between local and remote connections

If you have configured your connection correctly, 3CX Assistant will be able to run both in the office (on the local LAN) or from a remote location (such as your home). However, if you switch location you must toggle your location in 3CX Assistant. This can be done using the ‘Local – In Office’ or ‘Remote – Out of Office’ button in the toolbar or alternatively using the File > Location menu.

Configuring additional connections

It is possible to connect to additional 3CX Phone Systems located in a remote office. You will need to have a separate account on the remote PBX. To do this:

  1. Select ‘Connections’ from the file menu.
  2. Now click ‘Add’. The Connection Details dialog will open up.
  3. You can now add the provisioning URL of the extension on the remote PBX, or else configure the connection manually as described above.
  4. After you click OK, the 3CX Assistant interface will change to a tabbed interface, each tab representing a PBX.
  5. You can switch between a PBX by click on a tab. If you wish to transfer calls to another PBX, drag the call onto the tab, after which the extensions in that PBX will show. You can then continue to drag the call on to an extension to transfer the call.