OEMS:
ProIntegrate (Imageworks), PI Bridge (Patterson), Universal Integrator (Schick), DataLink (Sirona), Infocarrier (Planmeca)
DataGrabber is a program that takes patient information from an existing practice management software and passes that info on to an imaging software (either Apteryx or some other 3rd party softwares) so that identifiers are consistent between the two systems. Below is a diagram of the various components that are utilized during this process. (List of supported PM and Imaging Softwares)
-
The end user opens a specific window inside of their practice management software that contains information about the patient they wish to bridge to imaging. This window varies depending on what software they are using (ex. In Dentrix and Eaglesoft, the patient chart is used. In Easy Dental the Patient Edit window is used.) The user then left-clicks the DG icon in the system tray of the computer. DataGrabber uses what we call “Sniffer definitions” to scrape the open window and grab the patient’s name (and sometimes ID number).
Once the patient’s name is grabbed via the sniffer, DG takes that info and passes it to a component called the Data Drill (DRL). The DRL that is used is specific to the practice management software that is being utilized.
The DRL receives the provided info and “drills” into the practice management database behind the scenes to retrieve any other relevant patient information. This information includes Patient ID Number, Patient Date of Birth, and Patient Gender.
The DRL returns that info back to Datagrabber.
Now that DG has the Patient’s Name, ID#, DOB and Gender, it takes that info and attempts to pass it to the imaging software. This is done through a component called the launched application definition. The launched app definition can either be a file that we have previously created (DGDLL), or a command line specification. This depends on the imaging software that is being used.
Through the Launched App Definition, the appropriate imaging software is either opened from scratch, or brought into focus (if it was already open in the background) and the patient’s information should then be present and ready for use in viewing or acquiring images.
Some Practice Management and Imaging Software have limited DataGrabber support. You will see some that have "Sniffer Only" or "Data Drill Only" support.
"Sniffer Only" indicates that there is no DRL for that Practice Management software. Because of that, the only patient information that we can pass to the imaging is the information that the sniffer definition itself can detect (which is usually just patient name and sometimes ID number). This workflow essentially bypasses steps 2, 3 and 4 above.
"Datadrill Only" indicates that there is a DRL file that can access PI directly from that PM's database, but there is no window that we can get a sniffer definition to detect patient information from. To work around this issue, the user can right-click the "DG" icon in the system tray and select "Manually Launch a Patient". This will allow them to search the PM database by patient name and/or ID, and then select the desired result from a list to open in the imaging.
Zendesk Article - Supported Practice Management Software
DataGrabber Upgraders Failing
NOTE: If setting up a fresh token install of DataGrabber, its best to install the DRL and DGDLL before setting up the token INI to avoid the below. If they’re already on token, but need to update or change a DRL or DGDLL, follow the below steps.
Close DataGrabber
Close any folders that have DataGrabber open
Use Computer Management to kill any Open Files like DataGrabber.exe or DentrixG6_2.DRL
Rename the ApteryxINI.ini file to ApteryxINI.iniold
Rename any .Reg or .ARI files to append “old”
Extend trial if out of days
Run the upgrader
Revert renamed files
Token Install
To install DG with Token follow the guide on Creating Token Licenses
At step 12, create a registration number using the registration manager. License type will be Primary
Command Line Not passing all patient Info
Check to make sure a DRL is not present, even if it is one that does not match the current practice management being used.
Open Dental RDP launching XVCapture locally using DG Remote Notifications
install DG on remote server and on client workstation(s). Set up the remote server's DG to send notifications to a shared folder, set the client DG to receive notifications from the shared folder. Set permissions to everyone on the shared folder. Set up the client install's launched app def (XVCapture). On the remote server, set the program link to invoke datagrabber.exe and make sure /p is in the command line section. No drills or dgdlls needed. Invoke DG through opendental the first time testing, then click the program link again and it'll work.
Remote Notification Setup
See the following PDF
Dentrix Enterprise DRL Configurations Keep Resetting
If the settings inside the Dentrix Enterprise DRL will not stick/keep resetting:
Try configuring a mapped drive path to the computer for the DG install location.
Verify that all config files and folders have full permissions granted.
Set the parameters, close DG and then make the main Dentrix DRL config file read-only.
PIBridge/Datagrabber install directory for Patterson Customers
PIBridge when installed by Patterson is typically placed in the below directory
\\SERVERNAME\patterson imaging\shared files\pibridge.exe
The RPC server is unavailable
If this error prompts when bridging into CDR Dicom from Dentrix, check to see if the following files exist on the computer:
If they do, refer the issue over to Dentrix to have them uninstall the CDR Connector
Creating new DataGrabber startup shortcuts
When the shared path DataGrabber changes (due to a server name change, folder name change, or server migration for example), the startup shortcuts need to be manually removed and recreated per workstation. The steps below outline how to accomplish this:
Run command: shell:startup
-
Run command: shell:common startup
Remove any shortcuts for Datagrabber shown here
Type in the share path for Datagrabber
Example "\\server\Apteryx\Datagrabber" (something like this)
Run the Datagrabber executable as admin
Say 'YES' to the startup question
Ensure the Datagrabber icon is in the active system tray
Advanced Technical Options Password
This area is useless, but the password is Apteryx05
Apteryx Not Launching
Ensure full URL is defined within Definition (be sure to include “https://”) e.g.:
Finding Active Registration Number:
Open the program (if not open already).
Right click on the DG icon in the task bar next to the clock (may have to look in the up-caret [^])
Select “About” in the pop-up menu.
A scrolling window will appear with the registration number being one of the first few things listed. Clicking the mouse within the scrolling part and holding it will allow manual movement of the scrolling section.