DEXnet
Installing Dexis on a Network
Release 3.00, January 2000
1 Introduction............................................................................................................................................................1
2 Planning the Installation.........................................................................................................................................2
3 Software..................................................................................................................................................................2
4 Standard Network Installation................................................................................................................................3
4.1 New Installation..............................................................................................................................................3
4.2 Adding a Workstation.....................................................................................................................................3
4.3 Switching from a Local Installation to a Network Installation........................................................................4
5 Offline Installation..................................................................................................................................................5
6 Wireless Installation...............................................................................................................................................6
7 Practice Management Connection ..........................................................................................................................6
8 Direct Cable Connection ........................................................................................................................................7
8.1 Installation of Direct Cable Connection..........................................................................................................7
8.2 Network Setup................................................................................................................................................8
8.3 Sharing the Harddisk......................................................................................................................................8
8.4 Configuring Direct Cable Connection ............................................................................................................9
8.5 Mapping the Network Drive...........................................................................................................................9
8.6 Using Direct Cable Connection....................................................................................................................10
1 Introduction
This paper describes the steps necessary when installing Dexis on an
existing computer network with several workstations running Windows95,
Windows98, or WindowsNT. The network hardware (cables, network cards)
and the protocols used are not part of this paper. You should contact a local
computer professional to set up your network. The Dexis program only uses
features provided by all networks: mapping server disks or folders to local
drive letters, and synchronizing file access.
You need a valid DEXnet site license to run Dexis software on a
Note:
network.
If you just want to connect two computers together (e.g. two laptop
computers or your new Dexis laptop with an existing desktop computer),
two inexpensive and easy ways are possible:
‘Direct cable connection’ via the printer ports is the cheapest way to
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connect two computers. Since this may well be used for initially
connecting a laptop to either another laptop or to one computer in your
existing network, the setup of this type of network (YES, if you connect
two computers you already have a network!) is described in this paper
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(see ‘Direct Cable Connection’). Everything that is said about installing
Dexis on a network also holds for this simple network.
If you run Windows98 and both computers have USB ports, you may
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use a USB based peer-to-peer network.
2 Planning the Installation
Two things are necessary to know before you start installing Dexis:
a) Are all computers permanently connected to the network when they are
used to take x-rays; or do you take x-rays with a laptop offline?
If all your computers are permanently hooked up to the network, a standard
network installation with the data directory on the server is the installation
of choice. This installation has the advantage that all images are always
immediately on the file server and thus accessible from all connected
computers (see 'Standard Network Installation').
If you plan to use your laptop to take x-rays while it is not connected to the
network, you need to install Dexis on your laptop with the data directory on
the local drive. For synchronizing the laptop databases with the file server
you need DEXsync (see 'Offline Installation'). This is the only case when
you have to install DEXsync.
b) Is it intended to link Dexis to practice management software? In this case
you have to prevent Dexis from issuing patient numbers and use the
numbers issued by the practice management software instead (see 'Practice
Management Connection'). In the case of two separate image databases
being synchronized using DEXsync (‘Offline Installation’) you also have to
use manual patient numbers.
3 Software
Two programs are relevant for Dexis network installation. They are both
located on the Dexis CD-ROM:
DEXsync serves to synchronize image databases and is to be
installed if needed.
Note:
Your laptop for taking x-rays while being
disconnected from the network.
DEXcopy may be used to copy and reorganize image databases.
Since release 3.00, this program is automatically
copied to your harddrive when Dexis is installed. It
this program is only needed if you plan to use
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can be started from Windows Explorer by double
cliicking on its icon. With previous versions of Dexis,
DEXcopy comes on the DEXnet diskette and can be
run from the diskette by choosing ‘Start‘ then ‘Run’
and typing A:\DEXCOPY.
The use of DEXcopy is password protected,
Note:
since it can be used to destroy the integrity of your
image database. Call Dexis technical support for the
maintenance password. Always make a backup copy
before copying or restructuring image databases.
4 Standard Network Installation
4.1 New Installation
If Dexis has not yet been installed on your network, proceed as follows:
Select the computer and its harddrive to hold the Dexis images (the
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‘server’). Share this harddrive to be accessible from all workstations.
you need full access and should not enter a password.
Install the Dexis software on the server. If your server uses a different
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operating system (e.g. Unix or Novell), create the directory \Dexis\Data
manually on the server drive.
Map the server drive on all workstations where you want to see the
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Dexis images or where you want to take X-rays. Use the same drive
letter on all workstations, we propose ‘X’ (for X-ray).
Install the Dexis software on all workstations choosing C:\Dexis for the
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software, and \Dexis\Data on the server drive (e.g. X:\Dexis\Data) for
the data directory.
workstations on the local drives – you should not share the software over
the network.
4.2 Adding a Workstation
To add a workstation, you just have to connect it to the network, map the
server drive containing the Dexis images, and install the Dexis software on
The software should always be installed on all
Note:
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the local drive, assigning the server drive and directory (e.g. X:\Dexis\Data)
to be used as data directory.
4.3 Switching from a Local Installation to a Network Installation
Laptops delivered by us come with a local Dexis installation, which issues
its own patient numbers. This section describes how you modify this
installation for use in a network. The local installation may already contain
data.
Make sure, Dexis is installed on your server that is to hold the Dexis
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images. and that the server drive is shared, i.e. accessible from other
workstations. If the server runs a different operating system (e.g. Unix,
Novell), create the directory \Dexis\Data on the server drive.
On your workstation holding the Dexis data to be moved to the server
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install the network and map the network drive to a drive letter
Run DEXcopy on the Workstation to be connected. This program will
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will propose C:\Dexis\Data as source directory, and ask you for a
destination data directory. Type in the full drive and path (e.g.
X:\DEXIS\DATA) of the new data directory on the server. If you want to
switch to patient numbers from a practice management system, check the
box 'Always ask for new patient numbers'. Then click 'Start transfer'.
The program will transfer all existing patients and images to the server
drive.
If you selected to change the patient numbers, it will ask you for a new
number for each patient; otherwise it will only ask you if a patient with
the same number but different name is already present on the network
drive.
After finishing the transfer, DEXcopy will ask you whether to adapt the
program settings. If you answer 'Yes', the program will do all necessary
steps and you are connected. If you chose to change the patient numbers,
DEXcopy will also change the settings so that in the future the Dexis
program will not issue its own numbers. You are now ready to connect
to your practice management software.
Repeat the copying process using DEXcopy on all connected
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workstations that have their own image databases. DEXcopy can merge
several Dexis image databases.
When all data is transferred and everything runs fine, you may delete the
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directory C:\DEXIS\DATA and all its contents on the workstation that is
now connected and accesses the data on the server.
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We propose to use DEXcopy for transferring your data, because
Note:
DEXcopy can also merge image databases and can renumber patients. If
you are sure that the destination directory does not contain any useful data,
you can also copy the data directory using Windows or DOS methods.
5 Offline Installation
When explaining this installation, we will refer to one of the computers as
the ‘laptop’, to the other one as the ‘server’. Note that the server may also be
a second laptop.
This type of installation means that you keep the local installation on your
laptop and synchronize from time to time (when you are connected) with the
server. If you install your Dexis software this way, you have the advantage
of being able to carry your laptop freely around and taking X-rays with it or
with your server. The disadvantage is that an additional step is necessary to
be able to view all X-rays on all workstations.
Backup all your data.
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Install Dexis on the server and on the laptop computer, if not already
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installed. In both cases give it data directory on a local drive (e.g.
C:\Dexis\Data).
On both local installations on your laptop and on your server you will
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have to change the setting to manual patient numbers. Otherwise the
system will issue the same numbers for different patients on different
computers (see 'Practice Management Connection'). You will also have
to renumber existing patients to reflect the chart numbers from your
practice management software.
Connect the laptop to the network and map the network drive.
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Install DEXsync from the Dexis CD-ROM on the laptop. Give it
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C:\Dexis as installation directory.
Copy the 'DEXsync' shortcut to your desktop.
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If both image databases, the one on the laptop and the one on the server,
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contain different data, you have to merge the two databases using
DEXcopy. Start DEXcopy on your laptop, and give it the local data
directory as source, and the remote server directory as destination. Then
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delete the contents of the C:\Dexis\Data directory on your laptop. Leave
the directory itself intact.
Start DEXsync; give it the local data directory (C:\Dexis\Data) as source
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and the remote data directory (e.g. X:\Dexis\Data) as destination. Since
DEXsync synchronizes, i.e. copies in both directions, this will result in
two equal image databases on your laptop and on your server.
You may now take x-rays offline. Make sure that you give your patients
unique numbers; probably those issued by your practice management
software.
Once a day or after each treatment, you may connect the laptop to the
network and launch DEXsync by double clicking on its icon. This will
synchronize the two databases so that all images are available on both
computers. DEXsync will not ask you again for directories, but will use the
same directories you gave it the first time.
If you have two offline laptops (A and B), which you use to take X-rays, but
you do not take X-rays with the server, you should first synchronize laptop
A with laptop B, then synchronize one of them with the server. If you use all
three for taking X-rays, you have to synchronize A with the server, then B
with the server, then A again (to get the images taken with laptop B).
6 Wireless Installation
For wireless networks you have two choices:
If the connection is reliable and the network is fast enough, you use the
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standard network installation.
If you have problems with the connectivity, you use the installation
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described under 'Offline Installation', thus storing the images on the local
disks of the computers, and synchronize from time to time using
DEXsync.
7 Practice Management Connection
To prepare Dexis for a connection to any practice management software you
have to set it up so it does not issue its own patient numbers. This is done by
the SETUP if you answer 'Yes' to the corresponding question. You can also
switch to manual numbers later on, by changing the setting in the
Preferences dialog of the patient administration.
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If you have already entered patients and have to renumber them, you can do
that in the Dexis patient administration by selecting each patient, clicking on
Modify, and then changing the number. If you have plenty of patients to
renumber, you can do that with the help of the DEXcopy program. Proceed
as follows:
Run the DEXcopy program. This program will ask you for source and
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destination data directories. The source directory is preset to the Dexis
data directory. Leave that setting and leave the destination empty. Check
the box 'Always ask for new patient numbers'. Then click 'Start transfer'.
The program will go through all existing patients, and will ask you for
new numbers. After the transfer is finished, all patients will have new
numbers. The original image database is saved in a location, which
DEXcopy will tell you. DEXcopy will also change the settings of the
Dexis program so that it does not issue its own numbers anymore. You
are therefore prepared to connect to your practice management software.
When all data is transferred and everything is tested and runs fine, you
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may delete the old image database.
8 Direct Cable Connection
The cheapest way to connect two Windows95/98 computers to form a
network is by connecting their printer ports with a so-called
This cable is the only hardware you need. The necessary software is part of
Windows95 and makes a real network out of this handy and cheap piece of
hardware (just bought one at $9.99). But it has to be installed and
configured. This has to be done on both participating computers.
8.1 Installation of Direct Cable Connection
Some laptops have ‘direct cable connection’ already installed when
delivered. Check that, and install if necessary as follows:
1. Open up the Windows control panel and double-click on the
Add/Remove Programs icon.
2. Select the Windows Setup tab. A list of installable and installed
Windows95 components appears.
3. Select the Communications component and click on Details.
4. If Direct Cable Connection has a check mark next to it, it is already
installed. You may then click OK. Otherwise click on the box next to it to
LapLink
cable.
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check it. Then click OK. If necessary, the system prompts you for the
Windows95 CD-ROM.
5. After installation you have to restart the computer.
This is to be done on both participating computers.
8.2 Network Setup
One of the connected computers plays the role of a
plays the role of a
. The guest computer accesses shared resources
guest
, while the other
host
(files) of the host computer and eventually of other computers connected to
the host via network. This is exactly as other network nodes access shared
resources on other computers. The host computer has to be set up in a way
so that the guest computer is allowed to access its files. The following points
thus apply only to the host computer:
1. Open up the Windows control panel and double-click on the Network
icon.
2. Select the Identification tab and give your computer a meaningful name.
3. Select the Configuration tab and click on File and Print Sharing
4. In the File and Print Sharing dialog check ‘I want to be able to give others
access to my files’, then click OK.
5. In the Network dialog click OK.
6. The system will ask you to restart your computer. Do that.
As noted above, this is to be done only on the host computer.
8.3 Sharing the Harddisk
In order that the guest computer has access to the files on the harddisk
(usually named C:) of the host computer, the host has to ‘share’ the
harddisk:
1. Open up My Computer and right-click on the drive you wish to share
(usually C:).
2. Click on Sharing...
3. Select the Sharing tab and there select Shared As
4. Enter a name, under which this drive is to be known by the guest
computer; it is good practice to just use the drive letter as the name (e.g.
C).
5. Under Access Type, click on Full, then click OK
These steps are to be done only on the host computer.
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8.4 Configuring Direct Cable Connection
In order to configure Direct Cable Connection on both computers; first
connect the printer ports of the two computers with the LapLink cable. Then
start Direct Cable Connection on both computers: click on Start, then
Programs, and select Direct Cable Connection from the Accessories
submenu. When you start the Direct Cable Connection for the first time, a
wizard will help you in configuring it.
You now have to know which computer is to be the host (the one that
presents its files), and which one is the guest (the one accessing the files on
the host computer). The host computer has to have a meaningful name, and
its harddisk has to be shared as described above.
1. The configuration wizard will first ask you, whether the computer you are
using is to be the host or the guest. Answer accordingly.
2. The next question will be which connection you are to use. Select
‘Parallel cable on LPT1’ and click Next.
3. You probably do not want to use a password, so just click Finish.
These steps have to be done on both computers.
You might want to create a shortcut on your desktops for the Direct Cable
Connection. Do this on both your computers by right clicking on the desktop
and selecting New, then Shortcut. As command line enter on the host
computer:
C:\WINDOWS\DIRECTCC.EXE GO
and on the guest computer:
C:\WINDOWS\DIRECTCC.EXE
This way you can later on start Direct Cable Connection on both your
computers by double clicking on the icon.
8.5 Mapping the Network Drive
On the guest computer you now have to map the shared harddisk of the host
computer to a drive letter. To accomplish this, do the following:
1. Right-click on Network Neighborhood and select Map Network Drive.
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2. Select a Drive which is not yet in use and which you can remember
easily, then - under Path - type in two backslashes, followed by the name
you gave your host computer, followed by one backslash, followed by the
share-name you gave to the harddisk of the host computer. As an
example, if the host computer is called ‘HOST’, and the harddisk has
been shared as ‘C’, you have to enter the following path: \\HOST\C. If the
computers are already connected, this entry can also be selected by
clicking on the down-arrow right to the field.
3. Check ‘Reconnect at logon’ if you want to map the drive automatically
every time you start your computer (recommended).
The steps above have to be done only on the guest computer.
8.6 Using Direct Cable Connection
After Direct Cable Connection has been configured, the next time you start
it, it uses the saved configuration unless you indicate otherwise. The GO
parameter added to the command line on the host computer makes that the
program immediately starts listening to a connection. If you want to
reconfigure the program, you have to start it without the GO parameter.
When the computers are connected and Direct Cable Connection is started
on both of them, you see the harddisk of the host computer on your guest
computer as a network drive.
If you want to use Dexis Exchange to synchronize image databases on the 2
computers connected, install Dexis Exchange on the guest computer and
specify \DEXIS\DATA on the mapped drive as the destination directory
(e.g. F:\DEXIS\DATA, if you mapped the host computers harddisk to drive
letter F:).
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