Anyone here familiar with Dentrix?

[nk215]

Anyone here familiar with Dentrix?

Thanks
NK

 

[ronbo613]

I've used it a little, mostly integrating it with Kodak/Carestream Image Aquisition software.

 

[nk215]

Hi Ron,

The problem that I have is with the server installation of dentrix 11 on Win7 64bits. Everything works fine IF I move the data and doc folders to another machine (Vista or XP). The moment the data/doc folders are on the Win7x64, I have issues such as two computers can't open appt book at the same time etc.

The files are locked somehow if hosted on the x64 Win7 (which as dentrix installed as a server). I just can't figure this out.

If you have any setup experience, please share

nk

 

[Dahak]

I am not familiar with this software itself, but I have seen some where if its installed into the program files folder it can cause odd issues.

You could try just in something like \dentrix off the c drive

 

[JRyanB]

Hi Ron,

The problem that I have is with the server installation of dentrix 11 on Win7 64bits. Everything works fine IF I move the data and doc folders to another machine (Vista or XP). The moment the data/doc folders are on the Win7x64, I have issues such as two computers can't open appt book at the same time etc.

The files are locked somehow if hosted on the x64 Win7 (which as dentrix installed as a server). I just can't figure this out.

If you have any setup experience, please share

nk

The issue you are seeing is known as "File System Virtualization" (which you are certainly welcome to search microsoft.com or Google for that term and learn more; you don't have to take my word for it alone)

File System Virtualization is an effort by the operating system to protect certain areas of the drive, such as the "c:\windows" and "c:\program files" folders, by not allowing direct write access. For example, when a user attempts to write data to the Program Files\Dentrix\Data location, the Operating System creates a separate "virtual" folder under the c:\users\(username)\AppData\VirtualStore\ folder. The file is saved here instead, and the application is left to believe that the file was written in the correct location. The copied file is then merged into the correct location later.

I can guarantee that if you leave your files in this location, something will eventually go wrong!

The operating system will not merge the updated file into position before one day you make or restore a backup.

If your data is in this location right now, DO NOT TURN OFF Windows User Account Control feature! Doing so will most likely delete your virtual storage folder, compromising your database! Your database files may at this point be in two different locations (Program Files\Dentrix\Data and c:\users\(username)\AppData\VirtualStore). I'd recommend you
1) Backup both of these folder locations immediately
2) Enlist the help of Dentrix tech support to reconstitute your data files into a working copy! When you call, tell them you may suspect you have a data loss issue due to virtual storage, and you request a senior technician to help. You might even want to allow them to assign a tech to call you back, rather than take your chances in the regular queue. It maybe worth the extra time it takes for a callback to work with someone knowledgeable in the issue.

Workaround:
It is important to know that none of the following workarounds are guaranteed solutions around File System Virtualization!
•(Best) Save the data on a separate Logical Partition or a separate Hard Disk Drive, apart from where the Operating System is located.
•(Next Best) Relocate the data folder to a folder off of the root of the drive. For example, C:\DTX\Data\. This alone does not guarantee that the database will not become corrupted due to the Virtual Storage. It is important to note, that even when UAC is disabled, data virtualization can take place as long as the database is located on the OS partition. The 'Program Files' directory is a permanently protected location regardless of UAC settings.

In addition to the above, you may find additional success if you Disable (turn off) User Account Control (UAC)
•Disabling UAC does not completely disable File System Virtual Storage; UAC only chances the referencing directory (disabling UAC will resolute in the system referencing the logical file volume instead of the Virtual Store - changes to protected files are still recorded first in the Virtual Storage before being written to the logical volume).

Symptoms seen because of File System Virtualization:
• Changes made to the database are saved only by the last computer to close Dentrix (Anything entered by other computers is lost after all computers are closed) most commonly random appointments are missing that the office knows were entered, but do not show in the Audit Trail, or even a backup from the day the appointments were actually entered.
• Random cannot read/write errors
• Refresh issues (This issues may also be compounded by the use of Off-Line Files, Opportunistic Locking, and/or SMB v2.0)

 

[nk215]

JRyanB.

Wow, what a first post! Thank you for your information and knowledge.

By some dump luck, I never had the DATA and Doc folder in the Win7x64 root/boot drive. I have them on a SSD (F Drive) right from the get go. I also backed it up religiously. So far all the data seems fine. I pulled and check patient records and compared it to the hard copies the moment we saw those errors for that day.

Then I moved the DATA/DOC folder onto the network drive (share from a nearby Vista computer, the folders are also not on the C:\ Drive). Configure Dentrix computers to point to that and everything seems to be working fine ever since.

I reset network ID, rebuilt the database. For 2 days now, no error.

What got me worried is that now the data/doc folders are hosted on a client computer so shadows copy and things like that definitely won’t work correctly from the server machine.

Do you have any suggestion?

My next step is to upgrade Dentrix 11 to G4. I tried to run the data conversion by itself last month and the conversion failed going from G2-G3 at the procedure log file. My next try is to install Dentrix 11 on a test computer, then install G2, then G3. Do you have any idea why I can’t just run the conversion directly (the conversions utility are on the installation disk).

Thank you very much Ryan.

 

[ronbo613]

If you have any setup experience, please share

I know that Dentrix G2 and G3 are not compatible with 64 bit OS, and G4 is compatible, but early versions had issues with Win7 64 bit OS. I think G5 is out, or is about to be released. Dentrix is notoriously slow as far as updating software that has issues after a new release. As for Dentrix support, well, it's pretty costly.
When Dentrix was originally installed, it may have asked if the computer was going to be a workstation or a server. If you install the server files on a workstation, you may run into the file system problems described by JRyanB.
You have to be very careful in computer designation when initially installing most patient management software, especially now with large 3D dental image files hosted on designated servers.
Hope you get your problems figured out.

 

[JRyanB]

My next step is to upgrade Dentrix 11 to G4. I tried to run the data conversion by itself last month and the conversion failed going from G2-G3 at the procedure log file. My next try is to install Dentrix 11 on a test computer, then install G2, then G3. Do you have any idea why I can’t just run the conversion directly (the conversions utility are on the installation disk).

The conversion utilities do not run (or at least not correctly) on their own. They must be ran as part of the upgrade process.

If your G4 DVD says "MULTI USER DVD" and (C) 1987-2009, the conversion utilities simply will not work on a 64-bit Windows server.

If your disc says "MULTI USER 64-BIT COMPATIBLE" and has (C) 1987-2010, you should be good to go. A G5 disc can also work, if you manually browse to the "Support" folder, then the "G4" folder, the G4 64-Bit install is included here.

Without a 64-bit disc, here is the workaround what I would do (if you feel confident in trying this

Phase 1:
Make a backup of your data folder!

Phase 2:
Create an XP virtual machine on your Windows 7 box (www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc)
install 11 in it
copy your data to it
and upgrade it to G4, then Productivity Pack 6, then Productivity Pack 7 (Productivity Pack 8's conversion utility is 64-bit compatible, so you'll be able to do that on the real system later)

Verify that Dentrix opens and works within the virtual machine.

Phase 3:
copy the data out of the virtual machine, and replace the "live" one that are on your Vista share (you did make that backup first, right? Good!).

In the data\installs\g4 folder, create an empty text file and name it "cd.txt" (open Notepad, and save the empty text file with this name in this location)

On the Win 7 server computer, run the setup.exe file from this same folder. Install the server version.

delete that cd.txt file you created earlier

In the data\installs folder, run the productivity pack 6 and 7 installs.

verify that Dentrix is opening and working at the server.

Phase 4:
At each workstation, open your mapped network drive and open the data\installs\g4 folder. Run setup.exe

Remember, you can save time and start multiple G4 workstation installs going at the same time. Also know that you CANNOT use the DVD after the data has been updated to Pack 7, even if you wanted to.

Update the workstations to pack 6, and pack 7 (again you can find those install files in the data\installs folder)

Test each workstation, and verify you can read the data.

Upgrade to Productivity Pack 8 at the server

Upgrade to Productivity Pack 8 at the workstations (simply open any module icon, and Smart Updates will auto launch the update)

Upgrade to Productivity Pack 8 Hotfix 6 at the server

Upgrade to Productivity Pack 8 Hotfix 6 at the workstations (simply open any module icon, and Smart Updates will auto launch the update)

Test each machine

go out and celebrate!

 

[JRyanB]

One other thing... you can save more time at the workstation installs by making sure they are updated with Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 ahead of time. Windows 7 machines should already have it, but may need the patches. Just run your Windows Updates. That install can take a while, so if you get it out of the way beforehand, it helps.

 

[nk215]

Thank you very much

I followed your advice and got dentrix G4 installed. I called dentrix support and they showed me a shortcut to install all the hot fix on a client machine in one shot (w/o going back and forth between the server and work station). That saved me some time.

Thanks
NK

 

[jack94]

Anyone knows how to install Dentrix? Please help me.

 

[JRyanB]

jack94
If you are looking for general how-to information, check out the Dentrix Resource Center. (http://www.dentrix.com/resource-center/login.aspx)
Log-in using your office's credentials. If the office you work for does not have a current support agreement, look for "Enter As Guest" at the bottom of the page.
Click the "Manuals" tab. Here you will find PDF files of the "Install Guides" for the various versions.
Also, you can try the "On Demand Training" tab, where you can find information about installing various versions.

 

[dentrix support]

I have been working with dentrix software for more than 5 years now. If you need help you can email me at 1dentrixguru @ gmail dot com

 

[nk215]

Wow, I never expect there are 2 experts of such a specialized software in the forum. Thank you.

 

[Coolbuell]

I have a question about Dentrix. I am trying to migrate to a new server and when I install 11 it goes fine. But when I try to run install for G3 it says "setup has detected that the installer is running in workstation mode". Anybody have any ideas about this message?

 

[JRyanB]

"setup has detected that the installer is running in workstation mode"

The install folder you are using needs to have a text file "cd.txt" added in there. Open Notepad, and save a file named "cd.txt". It doesn't matter if there is anything in the file or not. The file with that name needs to be present.