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A Node exists at every step of the Call Tree. Nodes are displayed in the Call Tree window and can be recognized by an icon followed by the name of the Node. The icons used to represent the Nodes convey information about the type of Node as follows:
Icon |
Meaning |
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The purple phone is used to represent the Answer_Phone Node (always the starting Node). |
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The question mark icon is used for Question Nodes. Question Nodes are where a response is elicited from the user by posing a question. |
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Lightning bolts represent Action Nodes. There are no questions posed at Action Nodes, all processing occurs based on previously entered responses. |
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The arrow placeholder does not represent a Node: instead it is used to show that a Node has been repeated in the Call Tree and provides a visual cue to look higher up in the Call Tree to continue tracing the path of the call. |
Example
Examine the Call Tree below:
This Call Tree, like all other Call Trees, starts with the Answer_Phone Node. A phone call will proceed from the Answer_Phone Node to the Tone_or_Voice Node. The question mark icon indicates a question will be posed at the Tone_or_Voice Node and then processing will continue with an action at the Check_Touch_Tone Node. From the Check_Touch_Tone Node the call can branch either to the Ask_Symbol Node or the TouchTone Node. After a question is posed at the Ask_Symbol Node or the TouchTone Node, calls from either Node will proceed to the GetQuote Action Node.
Although the GetQuote Node is shown twice, the Node itself is exactly the same in both places. Therefore, the caller has multiple routes to get to the same Node. Notice also that the second occurrence of the GetQuote Node is followed immediately by a "...continues" placeholder. Visually, Nodes that are repeated in two or more places in the Call Tree are always shown with "...continues" markers immediately following the Node: this is done to compact the Call Tree display and prevent never-ending chains of Nodes in the visual display. The "...continues" placeholder is a cue to look for the Node higher up in the Call Tree to continue following the path of the call.
From the GetQuote Node the call progresses to the Ask_For_More Node. The user is asked a question at the Ask_For_More Node and then the call goes back to the Tone_Or_Voice Node. The Tone_Or_Voice Node sets off a repeating loop in the Call Tree. Again, notice the second occurrence of the Tone_Or_Voice Node is followed by the "...continues" place holder.
Important Note: Following this Call Tree appears to leave the caller in an infinite loop. Although there are no terminal Nodes clearly visible on this Call Tree, the Ask_For_More Node serves as a terminating Node by ending the call if the user chooses to do so. The termination of the call in this Call Tree is done in the VBScript Macro of the Ask_For_More Node even though that is not apparent by looking at the Call Tree display. This brings up a useful bit of information: Call Tree displays cannot display branching and other call flow control that is accomplished in the VBScript Macros at Nodes.
