What is this FLASH nonsense, anyways?

	It's simple.  When you push the buttons, you simply make noise.
IF the phone system is expecting you to make dialing noises, it dials.  IF
it is expecting access codes, it accesses.  IF the noises you make (like
talking, singing, playing the flute, or playing the keypad) get sent to
"the other end", it sends.

	Once you are connected to another phone, the ONLY thing you can
do is hang up.  BUT, if you hang up and quickly pick up again, phone systems
tend to not disconnect (as you may have experienced at home).  This is called
FLASHing the switchhook (the hook that holds the handset and works the switch).

	You FLASH when you need to get the attention of the phone system.  You
can tell if you have its attention, because it generates a tone to let you know.
When you want to transfer a call, you are already connected by definition.  You
need to tell the phone system what to do.  You FLASH to get a dial tone.
FLASH is unneccesary (but doesn't hurt) if you already have a dial tone.

	Now, some people find it difficult to get the timing down, and either
flash for too short or too long a time.  Too short simply doesn't work, but
too long can be disastrous!

	Some Ergonomic Engineer at Rolm realized this and provided a FLASH
button on the phones we use (most of us, anyways).  If you have a flash
button, DON'T USE THE SWITCHOOK.  It has electronics behind it to stay hung
up for long enough to make sure.  It WILL hang up the phone.  Just push the
flash button.  On phones that don't have the button (like wall phones) simply
hang up very breifly--usually pushing the hangup button with your finger is
better than actually hanging up the phone.

	Of course, there are exceptions, and several, at that.  The best general
rule I can give for multibutton phones is:  If it has a flash button, use it.
If it doesn't, it might be an ETS (one of the electronic types we have).  ETSs
never need a flash, and in fact, can't.  If you have feature buttons, they 
should not need to be preceded by a flash (feature buttons are those that
aren't "line" buttons and also arent 0-9, #, or *--the dial pad).  If you
find that you make noise instead of doing what you want, do a FLASH.

	The bottom line is:  FLASH is to get the attention of the phone system.
Performing a FLASH gets you some kind of dial tone, and is needed before any
of the feature codes (watch this space for more details).  ETS sets (only!)
don't have and can't use the FLASH function.  All other sets need a FLASH;
if you have a button marked FLASH, use it; if you don't, momentarily push
the switchook.  Dedicated buttons (buttons marked TRANSFER, for example)
won't need a FLASH beforehand if they are properly programmed; if they aren't
properly programmed, let me know, & I'll fix it.