parallel switch 48 is also present to selectively initiate the ring generator where desired cable 20 can also be connected directly to the modem and through a controller 50 to a switch 52 and to the ring generator 44 to signal an incoming fax directly from the network as more specifically shown in fig5 the system of the present invention is adapted for converting any of a variety of computer generated data signals to a facsimile format and vise versa for example a data signal received by the computer 10 from a network source 14 is output on cable 20 and introduced directly to a local facsimile machine 26 via interface 18 the ring generator 44 will activate the facsimile machine by providing a simulated 34 ring 34 signal conversely the local facsimile machine 26 may be used to receive hard copy data and via the interface 18 and dedicated cable 20 introduce the data into the computer 10 for transmission over a network line 14 the telephone hook up 22 shown in fig5 is used when a remote facsimile machine is communicating either directly with the facsimile machine 26 in the normal manner or with the computer 10 for transmission over the selected distributive network the facsimile system of the subject invention is very versatile in that it permits the local fax machine 26 to selectively transmit inputted and scanned documents to remote fax systems via telephone line 22 to the computer for processing via cable 20 and to remote fax locations via the internet 14 the local facsimile machine becomes an inexpensive scanner source for scanning documents.