Update DataGrabber Sniffer to open Patients from Dentrix Appointment Information

NOTE: It is strongly suggested to bridge from the Dentrix Chart (chart.exe).  The patient information provided by the Chart has greater consistency and accuracy than the Appointment Information window.

Purpose:

This article covers how to modify the DataGrabber sniffer definitions to allow to patients with a preferred patient name in the Appointment Information window to be bridged to Apteryx and XVCapture. 

Process:

1. Confirm that Dentrix Data Drill is functional and patient charts are opening normally through Dentrix Chart (chart.exe).
2. If it is working, right-click on DataGrabber in the System Tray:
   
3. Click Customize… > Application Sniffer Definitions…
   
4. Click Continue
   
5. Click the + next to Dentrix
   
6. Double-click on Dentrix Appointment Book
   
7. Click Next
8. Click Next
9. Click Add Definition
   
10. Paste in: Appointment Information - (%l, %f(%g
11. Click off the line item to remove the blue bar
    
12. Click and hold the line item and drag it to the top.
13. Click Next
14. With the Dentrix Appointment Information window open click Definition Test:
    
15. Patient information should come back in the window.
16. Click Finish.
17. With a server-side setup, any computer will need to have DataGrabber.exe restarted or the computer restarted.

Article Version 1.0 2026.07.14