The Edit Paths window indentifies where Open Dental should store scanned or imported images and documents, export files, and store letter merge templates

In the Main Menu, click Setup, Data Paths.

Verify all paths are accurate before pointing other computers to your server.

A to Z Images Folder for storing images and documents: Select where scanned or imported images and documents are stored (A to Z Folder).

Option 1. Store images and documents on a local or network folder:

1. Enter the path to the folder. This path will be used by all computers using the database.
   • If multiple computers access this folder, the path should point to a folder on a shared network. Share A to Z Folder
   • If a single computer accesses this folder, the path can be local (C:\OpenDentImages).
   • OpenDentImages is the default folder name that contains the A to Z folders, but any folder is valid as long as the A to Z folders are contained within it.
2. Use multiple paths: Not recommended for most users. If you select this option, you can enter multiple paths to the A to Z folders, separated by semicolon (no spaces). When Open Dental starts, the first valid path will be used. It can be used to run backups.
3. Path Override for this computer: If the path to the A to Z folders points to a shared folder on a network, and you need to override the path for this computer only, enter the override path.

Option 2. Store Images in Database: This option is not used often. If selected, images will be stored in the database and it will become very large. There will be no A to Z folders.

Option 3. Dropbox. Store images off site on the cloud using Dropbox (www.dropbox.com). An internet connection is required.

Option 4: Store images on a server via SSH File Transfer Protocol (SFTP): Store images on an FTP site using SFTP. An internet connection is required. Enter the following details:

• AtoZ Path: The folder that will store the images and documents. The default is AtoZ/.
• Hostname: IP/ host name of the FTP server.
• Username/Password: FTP username and password.

Export Path: The path to the folder where files exported from Open Dental are stored (e.g. Reports). It can be a local or network path. If the folder does not already exist, it will be created automatically when you export a report. The default folder is OpenDentalExports.

Letter Merge Path: The path to the folder where letter templates are stored for Letter Merge. It can be a local or network path. If you enter a network path, make sure the folder is shared so all computers can access it. This folder must be created manually. The default folder name is OpenDentalLetters.

When you are done, click OK. If you do not enter a valid path for the A to Z folders, you will not be allowed to continue.

Troubleshooting

Problem: The Edit Paths window comes up repeatedly when you start Open Dental.

Solution: The path to the OpenDentImages (A to Z) folders is invalid. Enter a correct path that can be accessed by ALL computers ALL the time (e.g. a path that starts with \\SERVER\ or similar).

A path to a mapped network drive (e.g Z:\OpenDentImages\ is not recommended. Mapped drives must be set up on each computer and sometimes computers fail to properly remap the drive on startup. For example:

• If server has a dynamic IP address, an issue would arise every time the IP address changes at restart.
• DNS issues could cause problems linking the server name to the server IP address.
• If a permission path is set for the path to the server and Remember my credentials is not checked, issue could occur on restart.