Set() and Goto() on same line

(Thanks to Jared Smith for answering my question in IRC which is the inspiration for this post.)

Typically when I write dialplan, primarily in the case where I’m using a pattern match, I’ll save the dialed extension to a channel variable using Set(), then do a Goto() where the call logic is handled. The Set() is so that I don’t lose the value of ${EXTEN} throughout the dialplan process, especially if I’m using other mechanics such as GoSub() and others.

I’ve been doing this on two or three lines like this (usually three because I like using a NoOp() or Verbose() for the first priority):

exten => _NXXNXXXXXX,1,NoOp()
   same => n,Set(DialedExtension=${EXTEN})
   same => n,Goto(CallHandler,1)

This is kind of annoying for each pattern match, especially if you’re going to do multiple. Here is a legitimate example of the CallHandler extension:

exten => _NXXNXXXXXX,1,NoOp()
   same => n,Set(DialedExtension=${EXTEN})
   same => n,Goto(CallHandler,1)

exten => _1NXXNXXXXXX,1,NoOp()
   same => n,Set(DialedExtension=${EXTEN})
   same => n,Goto(CallHandler,1)

exten => _NXXXXXX,1,NoOp()
   same => n,Set(DialedExtension=${EXTEN})
   same => n,Goto(CallHandler,1)

exten => CallHandler,1,NoOp()
   same => n,Dial(${GLOBAL(PSTN_CONNECTION)}/${DialedExtension},30)
   same => n,Hangup()

It’s a bit annoying having to either type out the same type of logic multiple times, even if it’s only 2-3 lines (even if you just copy and paste the same => lines it’s a bit better, but still not ideal). So here’s a solution to the same problem of multiple pattern matches and doing a Goto() our CallHandler extension.

exten => _NXXNXXXXXX,1,GotoIf($[${EXISTS(${SET(DialedExtension=${EXTEN})})}]?CallHandler,1:i,1)
exten => _1NXXNXXXXXX,1,GotoIf($[${EXISTS(${SET(DialedExtension=${EXTEN})})}]?CallHandler,1:i,1)
exten => _NXXXXXX,1,GotoIf($[${EXISTS(${SET(DialedExtension=${EXTEN})})}]?CallHandler,1:i,1)

exten => CallHandler,1,NoOp()
   same => n,Dial(${GLOBAL(PSTN_CONNECTION)}/${DialedExtension},30)
   same => n,Hangup()

exten => i,1,Congestion()

While both ways are perfectly reasonable (and some may argue the more verbose method is easier to read), I like embedding dialplan into a single line when I can as I find it easier to maintain. I’m also pretty good at knowing how many brackets to end with when nesting functions, but not everyone is comfortable doing that; in those cases you should probably break it out to multiple lines in order to save debugging time. Both methods are perfectly valid, so enjoy using whichever you prefer!

Leif Madsen

Set() and Goto() on same line