Open Dental Forum

I just installed OD onto a new computer. Everything works fine except when the choose database window comes up at the beginning. It asks me to choose the server but my server does not appear. The only option I have is localhost. On my other computers, my server comes up as an option. Why would I need get that option with the new computer and how do I get it. BTW, I am connected to the server, that is how I installed OD onto the new computer. Thanks in advance.

My overly complicated, works for most any situation, solution:
On the server hold the windows key and hit r. So (Win / r). That will bring up the run command. Open cmd which will bring up a command prompt (which is a black window).

In that window type: ipconfig /all

That will return a bunch of information. What you want to know is the hostname, and it will look something like this.

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : my-awesome-server

On the new workstation, replace "localhost" with "my-awesome-server". Check the box that says "Do not show this window on startup" and click OK.

Hurrah, you are now connected to your server and rocking your Open Dental awesomeness.

BTW, welcome to the forums and to Open Dental.

bpcomp's solution will work and suppressing this choose database window is very common for offices and you'll probably never see this window again unless your server's MySQL service or the network is having troubles.

On a deeper level of complexity, what's happening in the background is a file is being created in your Open Dental installation path (most commonly C:\program files\Open Dental\) called tempCompNames.txt. It gets populated every time that window shows up with the results of the command So it might be the fact that you are not running Open Dental as an administrator because it doesn't have permissions to create that file. It could also be a DNS / networking issue that the /c net view command is not returning any results. Those would be my best two guesses. Make sure if you're using a domain or a special workgroup that this computer is on the same one as every other computer in the office. I've also seen that cause some headaches.

bpcomp wrote:my-awesome-server

I'm going to have to change my server name at home now, I didn't know it was such a popular naming convention

Thanks. Worked like a charm. So far this forum has been great. Open Dental > Dentrix, Eaglesoft, Curve