Custom bridges may be added if we do not offer a bridge for a program.

In Program Links, click Add.

Adding a custom bridge is useful if a user knows how to write a Program Link Output File. Only add custom bridges for bridges that are not already listed.

Examples for custom bridges:

• Create a bridge to launch Outlook with a path of outlook.exe or using the path to the executable. Add a button for Outlook to a toolbar, or add a command line arguments to the bridge (e.g., [PatNum]), then create a macro in Outlook that recognizes the command line argument and opens up the patient in the contact list.
• Create a bridge to launch Excel.
• Bridge to a custom program. The program could take the PatNum, use queries to load all the other necessary info, and function like an extension of Open Dental.
• Add a Toolbar button or Reports menu option that launches a web browser and loads a URL (e.g., a reporting URL).

For a detailed understanding of each setting, see the Program Link Settings section on Program Links.