Database Maintenance Tools Tab
Each database maintenance tool addresses a specific issue.
In the Database Maintenance tool, click the Tools tab.
Typically each tool takes a long time to run but only needs to be run once.
Update in progress on computer: Manually clear the Update in Progress preference. This should be used when an update is complete but workstations are not able to log in due to the Update in progress error.
Ins Pay Fix: This tool will fix insurance payments that have been received but not finalized (attached to insurance checks/payments). One check will be created for each claim. The claim payment date will be the date the claim was received.
Optimize: This tool will backup, optimize, and repair SQL commands on each individual table. Only use if corruption is suspected or for extremely large databases.
Appt Procs: This tool will fix procedure descriptions on appointments that are not correctly showing tooth numbers for some reason. It will also update procedure code text colors, and previous date information for existing appointments, if you have Proc Appt Colors for the appointment box.
Spec Char: Only use this tool if you are having trouble syncing your appointments to the Mobile Synch App or if you receive an invalid character error while using the Middle Tier. It will permanently remove unsupported Unicode characters from appointment notes, procedure descriptions, patient address notes, patient address fields, adjustment notes, payment notes, and definition names. This will also remove characters from non-English languages. If you wish to continue, the password is fix.
InnoDb: This tool will convert all tables in the database to the selected storage engine (MyISAM or InnoDb). All users are initially set up as MyISAM. Users only switch to InnoDb if they have special needs, such as increased performance. User must have done research on MySQL website.
Tokens: This tool will check the database for any X-Charge tokens that are attached to the wrong credit card number. A second window will come up listing all credit cards and letting you decide which ones to check.
Remove Nulls: This tool will remove extra, hidden characters that may be causing errors or problems and replace with empty strings.
Etrans: This tool will clear etrans messages (electronic transactions) older than one year. An automatic backup will be created first. It can only be run by users with the Security Admin permission.
Active TPs: This tool will create active treatments plans for patients that have treatment planned procedures but no active treatment plan.
Raw Emails: This tool can be useful if you are using the Email Inbox and backup size has grown too large. Large size is often due to the emailmessage table. Run the tool to look through all inbound emails, safely remove raw message content that is no longer needed, then optimize the emailmessage table.
Email Attaches: This tool will rename and move email attachments that are in the base EmailAttachments folder into the intended location in the In and Out subfolders. Resolves file not found errors when trying to view attachments.
Recalc Estimates: This tool will identify patients with at least one estimate that belongs to a dropped insurance plan. For each such patient, estimates will be recalculated using their current plan information and will delete estimates associated with dropped plans.
Pay Plan Payments: This tool will detach patient payments that have been applied to Insurance Payment Plans, and insurance payments attached to Patient Payment Plans.
Balance Families: This tool is password protected and may only be run by the Conversions Team. It is used to allocate patient income to production via an Income Transfer or by recreating patient payment splits. This tool is typically run as part of the final conversion process but may be run after the fact. Contact Support if you think this is needed for your database. See Conversions: Family Balancer, Family Balancer Options.
Balance Family: This tool is password protected and may only be run by the Open Dental Conversions Team. It offers the same income allocation options as Balance Families (see above) but instead of running for all patients, it runs only for the currently selected patient and their family members. See Conversions: Income Transfers, Family Balancer Options.
Redundant Indexes: This tool removes redundant and unnecessary indexes from all tables in the database. The tool requires a password. The password is abracadabra.
Patient Missing: This tool is used when database corruption has caused patients to go missing. When possible, missing patients can be re-added.
Ortho Duplicates: This tool deletes duplicate cell entries within the Ortho Chart. Run this when there is a noticeable time delay when loading or saving a patient's Ortho Chart.
Repeat Charge: Option only visible if the logged-on user has the Repeating Charge Tool permission. This tool updates the Repeating Charge amount for all patients or, just patients within a Super Family at once. Only updates repeating charges with the same procedure code, current charge amount, and repeat charge status (enabled or disabled). Highlight the row and click Fix to open the Multi Repeat Charge tool.
Enter the information for the current repeating charges that need the charge amount updated.
Click Run to update the repeating charges. When the tool finishes, a confirmation message will show, indicating the number of repeating charges that were updated. A log file is also saved to the desktop with more information.
Email Duplicates: Removes duplicate emails from the database.
Clean Attachments: Removes attachments that are not linked to an email message.