Messaging elements are the pieces of information used in Messaging and Messaging Buttons.

In the Main Menu, click Setup, Manage, Messaging.

There are three types of elements:

• Users: The User the message is sent to or received from.
• Extras: Other text that shows in a message, such as urgent.
• Messages: The main message text.

Click Add, or double-click on a messaging element to edit.

Select the messaging element criteria, then click OK to save.

• Type: Determines the column the element appears in.
• Text: The element's identifying label.
• Sound: Associate sound with this element. when a message is sent using the element, a sound notification will accompany the message. Sounds play on all workstations.
  • Several sound files are preloaded into Open Dental. There are also 12 additional prerecorded spoken messages (e.g. Hygienist 1, Patient Arrived) available for download: sounds.zip.
  • Play: If a sound is already attached to the item, click Play to hear it.
  • Delete: Remove the sound from the element.
  • Import: Import a wav sound file.
  • Export: Export the current wav sound file.
  • Windows Recorder: Record sounds on any Windows operating system except Windows 10 with this button. A sound bar shows that the microphone is picking up sounds.
  • Record New: Record sounds. You can automatically import the sound files with this recorder.
    1. Click Record New.
       
    2. Click Record, record your message, then click Stop.
    3. Click OK to automatically import the sound file (Record New only).
    4. Or, click Save to manually save the file as a wav.
    5. Import the sound to attach it to a message element and save it in the database if you click Save instead of OK.
• Light Row and Color: Attached to elements used in messaging buttons.
  • Light Row: Use for elements that identify a location (e.g. Op1, Op2, Line 1) or message (e.g. Patient Ready). This is the row that will light up when the element is triggered.
  • Light Color: The unique color attached to the element. Usually attached to user or message (e.g. Doctor, Patient Ready).