CVP Studio has some cool features no doubt, but I think there must be some simple features too. For example there is no simple SET element. If you want to set a session data only you have to use some other elements like MATH, COUNTER etc or you have to right your own elements. Also there is no string functions elements to do anything on some string you have to write your own elements too.

I think CVP must have some simple elements by default, and we have to use java code only if we need some special action or decision etc.

Hi Seth,

Thanks for the interest. The speech components have a lot of best practices built in.

We are getting interest from partners in distributing this in the near future. I'd be keen to know who else is interested. This will be licensed.

Cheers

Karl

 
Apart from Math, Counter, I have also used the 'ApplicationModifier' node at the beginning of the script right after SubDialog Start so that all the initialization can happen there.  It also helps that the default Audio Path etc can be set her specific to the current application instead of the Root properties which can sometimes be forgotten while copying.
 
Based on the default nodes available, Is there a best practice around what can be used for a 'SET' session variable ? 
 
Does it make a difference in performance whether we use an existing default node or a custom Java node to do a SET session variable?
 
regards,
Kamesh
 

This sounds great and I will definitely check out the JamIP software packages.  However, I'm going to use this forum to just pile on another vote on this thread topic:
 
I'm a big fan of both CVP and IP-IVR in Cisco's suite, and both products have their advantages and disadvantages.  From an IDE perspective, I also like both, but understand and agree that CVP Studio is probably the way "things should go" in the future.
 
That said, I would like to say to Cisco Product Marketing and Dev Engineering that a LOT could be learned and should be shared from IP-IVR to CVP in terms of the IDE.  Again echoing the comments in this thread - what makes IP-IVR so incredibly powerful (and anyone who's ever done any level of development on it would likely agree with me) is the range of built-in functions that come "out of the box" with the product.  With the relatively recent addition of being able to simply integrate the full Java API syntax into most of those steps to manipulate data and perform nearly any Java function, the platform is something that we've been able to do some pretty amazing things on.
 
If CVP Studio was given this level of functionality "out of the box", it's development capability would probably be easily doubled.  It sounds like the JamIP package is almost exactly that, but - don't take this the wrong way Karl - after working with IP-IVR, it's a little disappointing to have to purchase an add-on package for CVP to do the same things when it is supposed to be the "premium" product.
 
Ok - stepping off the soapbox, and passing on to anyone else who would like it...!  ;-)
 
 - Bill

It is good to see life in these forums!! ;-)
 
I think it is worth mentioning some specific differences between the "out of the box" IP-IVR and Call Studio IDEs.  No matter what, I see the XPressWare offering a lot of great things like the speech grammar function you mentioned, as well as other advanced functions that can be easily accessed and utilized.  But here's come examples of what the IP-IVR Editor offers that CVP Call Studio doesn't currently.  A lot of these are functions used in almost EVERY application:
 
"Set" step - IP-IVR has a stand-alone step that can be used to set or modify variables.  I realize Studio has the first part of the function, and things like substitution strings which are nice, but as another thread on this forum mentioned, there is no easy way to modify data.  For instance, you can perform any simple Java function in the IP-IVR Set step like taking an Integer value "int1" and converting it to a String.  All you type in the expression editor of the Set step is "int1.toString()", and then you can select from a drop-down what configured String variable you wish to store the result in.  Any Java function like that can be accessed directly within the Expression Editor in IP-IVR steps, and most of the steps have that in them.  To do something similar in Studio involves calling a custom function, class, or even creating your own custom element.
 
In fact - that option alone - having a free-form "Expression Editor" that allowed access to the Java API syntax within existing elements would alone be a huge improvement in Studio.
 
Menu Steps - it sounds like this might be addressed in an upcoming release, but the fact that you have multiple Menu elements in Studio I find quite sloppy.  There should be a single element that allows you to define how many outputs you have - much like the newer Decision Editor has.  IP-IVR has this, and always has.  You add outputs, label them, assign DTMF inputs or voice inputs to them, etc.  It is a single, dynamic Menu step, and it works great.
 
"Call Subflow" - this step in IP-IVR can now be executed either synchronously or asynchronously, which makes is very powerful.  I know that Studio can now use the Application Transfer element to do some of the same things, but the execution in IP-IVR's Editor is much more elegant, and when running synchronously, the Call Subflow always has the concept of a "return" state.  So it is truly a subroutine, which Studio is still lacking, as far as I know.
 
"Document" steps - the IP-IVR has a few built-in steps that allow for things like reading in and parsing data from an XML file, calling a URL locator, etc.  Again, this can be done with Studio, but requires coding.
 
Those are really the big ones that I can think of off-hand that allow faster app dev on IP-IVR than Studio.  Much of the other advantages are due to the additional features that IP-IVR has that Studio doesn't (yet).  Things like the ability to easily create "HTTP Triggers", which are URLs that can trigger IP-IVR applications.  Also the ability to control as well as create call objects (IP-IVR has a "Place Call" step).  I know some of this might be coming also with CVP incorporating CCXML, but it's not there yet.
 
Honestly, I would recommend exploring and playing around with the IP-IVR Editor (CRS Editor) if you're looking for some ideas.  Take any applications - even fairly simple ones - and write them up in CRS Editor.  I think you'll see that despite its limitations, it is VERY well thought-out IDE in terms of the pre-built Steps (which are little Java Beans) it offers out of the box.
 
Thanks again for all the information - I'm still very interested in seeing what you folks have to offer!!
 
 - Bill