Source Code

The source code is NOT for regular users. It is a REQUIREMENT that you first install the Trial Version so you can see the files involved in the installation process.  Installing the trial version is the ONLY way to get the initial database tables installed.  If you are an advanced user, you can later attempt to compile the source code files listed below. See the Programming Resources page for database documentation. See the Previous Versions page to see what changes have been made since the last version.  See the Downloads page for very old versions before 2007.

Warning!! Code downloaded using methods listed on this page is NOT suitable for use in a live setting unless you are very careful about version numbers.  DO NOT DOWNLOAD THE "HEAD" FOLDER FOR USE WITH LIVE DATA. There is no way to upgrade such a database later.   Any database version with the third number (build) of "0" will NEVER be able to be upgraded to any newer version.  For example, version 7.2.0 can never be upgraded and should not be used in a live setting.  But version 7.0.13 can be upgraded later and is acceptable to use in a live setting because the third number (build) is not zero.

Download

Subversion - You'll need to install the TortoiseSVN http://tortoisesvn.net  Subversion (SVN) client.  Other SVN clients can possibly be used, but may have annoying side effects.  For example, the Cigwin client will give annoying messages about CR/LF changes.

Simple Subversion Instructions
If you've never used Subversion before, please read some documentation (see the basic concepts chapter).  Some very basic guidlines to get you started:  Tortoise commands are accessed by right clicking on folders and files from within Windows Explorer.  So first, create an empty folder on your computer named OpenDental7_0 (for example).   Then right click on the new folder

and select SVN Checkout.  The following window will come up, and you'll need to copy and paste this URL into the first box:
https://70.90.133.65:23793/svn/opendental/opendental7.0 (or 7.1, etc). You can also browse all versions at https://70.90.133.65:23793/svn/opendental/ and at https://70.90.133.65:23793/svn/olderversions/

Click OK and then accept the security warning.  This will fill your folder with the current source code ( 8 MB ). From then on, you'll perform an "update" whenever you want to update your folder to the most current version that everyone else is using. You can do this frequently. 

In the window above, the HEAD revision is checked.  That is what you will always use.  What you do not want to use in a live setting is the head folder, or https://70.90.133.65:23793/svn/opendental/head.  The use of the word head is slightly different in those two cases.

Build
It will take a few hours to set up the proper environment and to understand the issues below. But it only needs to be done once.

IDE - Most developers work in Visual Studio 2010 on MS Windows computers.  Many developers also use C# Express 2010 version with no problems. For Open Dental versions older than 7.4, you will need Visual Studio 2008 instead of 2010.

ResGen.exe Error - You do not need to understand this error.  Just know that Open Dental will not compile unless you follow these steps:
1. Go to Start Menu, All Programs, Accessories, and right click on Command Prompt.  Run as Admin.
2. If C:\Program Files (x86) exists (if you are using a 64 bit OS), copy and paste:
Cd "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v7.0A\Bin"
then Enter.  If, instead, you are using a 32 bit OS, copy and paste:
Cd "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v7.0A\Bin"
then Enter.
3. Copy and paste:
Corflags /32Bit+ /Force ResGen.exe
then Enter.  If successful, you will see about 5 lines of text, including "warning CF011: The specified file is strong name signed".
4. If you are using C# Express and can't get past step 3 due to a missing Corflags.exe, also look the the subfolder "NETFX 4.0 Tools".  If you can't find Corflags.exe on your computer, here's a copy: CorFlags.txt. After downloading it to the folder location described in step 2, rename it to CorFlags.exe, then try step 3 again. Let us know on the forum if that works or not.
5. Try to build OD. If it fails with ResGen.exe errors, then confirm in your configuration manager that your build platform is x86, not AnyCPU. If it still fails, you may need to delete your .suo file and then reset your configuration.
For more details on the entire ResGen.exe error issue, see http://blogs.msdn.com/b/visualstudio/archive/2010/06/19/resgen-exe-error-an-attempt-was-made-to-load-a-program-with-an-incorrect-format.aspx.

DirectX - Open Dental won't compile unless the DirectX SDK is installed.  There is a link to the SDK on the Graphics page. 

Configuration Manager - Right click on the solution, and pick Configuration Manager.  Solution configuration can be either Debug or Release, but Debug should not be used in a live setting because instead of printing, it will show print jobs on the screen.  Solution platform should be x86. If you accidentally try to use the Any CPU configuration platform, it will crash when loading.  For whichever configuration you choose to run, make sure that all (or most) projects are set to build by checking all the boxes.

Loader Lock - Visual Studio has a bug when working with DirectX.  The symptoms are that the program will compile, but will then crash when loading the 3D chart with an error about a LoaderLock detected.  The solution is to disable the MDA debugger like this:  Main menu, Debug, Exceptions, Managed Debugging Assistants, Loader Lock, uncheck.

MySQL Connector - Installing this on your development machine will prevent compile errors in the WebForms project.  Even if this is not installed, the solution will compile and the other projects will run fine, but the error messages during compile are annoying.  mysql-connector-net-6.3.7.msi  Install using the Complete option.  If you still get the annoying errors, restart your machine, and possibly uninstall and reinstall the MySQL Connector; it can be flakey.

MS Enterprise Library - Not needed.  Here for reference.  The WebForms project depends on this library, but you should not need to install this library because we've included the dll's in the project. For reference, the library came from
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=1643758B-2986-47F7-B529-3E41584B6CE5&displaylang=en
If you do install it for some reason, towards the end of the installation, you can uncheck the box for the Source Installer.

Error: Mixed mode assembly etc.  We have already altered the app.config file for the Open Dental project to handle one of these errors.  If you look closely at the remaining error, the filename is SGEN, which is an MS exe that generates a serialization assembly.  The quick fix for this error is to right click the OD project, properties, build tab, and at the bottom, change 'generate serialization assembly' to off.  This will, however, result in Open Dental running a little slower.  A better fix is to find the sgen.exe, for example at "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v7.0A\bin\NETFX 4.0 Tools\sgen.exe.  Once you find it, create (or possibly alter) an sgen.exe.config to look like this:
<?xml version ="1.0"?>
<configuration>
    <startup useLegacyV2RuntimeActivationPolicy="true">
        <supportedRuntime version="v4.0.30319"/>
    </startup>
</configuration>

See the Programming Resources page, Source Code section for information on installation, distribution, versions, dll's, etc.

Programming
Here are some useful links related to programming.

Plug-in.

Coding Style

Patterns

Bug Tracker - We have our own bug tracking software that we built. http://70.90.133.65:1942/ODBugTracker/BugList.aspx  It's actually just a different interface for our Previous Versions page.  The bug tracker is for our own internal use, although everyone can view it. We heavily manage the bug database to keep it very current.

Consider using such features as Display Fields and Custom Patient Fields instead of doing customized programming.