Installing Encore Pro - for use with MyEncore.

[derek]

I've done a bunch of experiments to see why some people are having trouble running MyEncore for Encore Pro Ver. 1.5. I've reinstalled Encore Pro 1.5 several times (pain in the neck) and here's my latest conclusions.

When you install Encore Pro 1.5 you are given a choice on how you want to handle access to the database, through the following screen.



The SA account is the standard account for accessing a Microsoft SQL server. In its great wisdom, Microsoft leaves the password blank, which means that there is a slight security risk that a hacker might be able to do nasty things to your computer (if you don't have a firewall). That's the way it was in Encore Pro 1.4.xx. The new version gives you a choice, and MyEncore does it's best to work with these:

1) If you leave the top choice checked (which is the default) the SA account is deleted, and the only way for us to access the database is through Microsoft's "Integrated Security", which uses your Windows log-on account. Now, the problem is that this appears only to work with accounts that have "administrator" privileges. As I said in an earlier post, I created a "limited" account, and was not able to access MyEncore. With this option checked it's no good trying to provide a password, because the SA account has been disabled. So I'm conjecturing that some folk who are not able to access MyEncore for 1.5 may be stuck in this situation. I can see no choice but to upgrade your account, or do a complete reinstall (see below) to choose another option.

2) If you check the second box, you leave the SA account intact, with a blank password. MyEncore for 1.5 should always work with this option. You need to weigh the risk of being hacked (which I believe is extremely small)

3) If you check the third option, which allows you to set your own password for the SA account, MyEncore will fail to access the database the first time you run it, but will provide you with a form where you enter the password. It will then store the SA password (encrypted) so that you should never have to enter it again.


Here's a real problem. It's no good trying to uninstall, and reinstall Encore Pro 1.5 so that you can change the database access method. The SQL accounts are stored in the database itself, which is not removed when you uninstall, and re-installing Encore Pro recognizes an intact database and does not give you the above options screen.

What I had to do was:
1) Stop the SQL server.
2) Rename the two files:
C:\program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL\Data\EncorePro.mdf
C:\program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL\Data\EncorePro_Log.mdf
to something else.
3) Unistall Encore Pro.
4) Reinstall Encore Pro, to get the options screen.
5) Rename the two files in step 2 back to their correct names.

Not easy - I had a couple of false starts, and my computer hung in the middle of the install once. You should know what you are doing before attempting this.

So that's the situation. I think MyEncore is doing the best it can. If you choose to use the SA SQL account (with or without a password), it should work, but if you choose to disable the SA account it looks like for now you will have to use a computer account with "administrator" privileges.

I'm looking into using the SQL utility "osql" to see if we can easily grant database acces to "limited" users.

[Jerry69]

Derek,

Since I've never downloaded to the database (don't have a card reader, yet), will I be able to uninstall and re-install Encore Pro and choose the second option without problem? That is, without re-naming files, etc.?

Jerry69

[Mark83]

Derek is correct about option 1 listed above. I tried it. I was logged onto my PC as administrator and here is what I did:
1) Downloaded Encore Pro 1.5
2) Installed Encore Pro 1.5 and chose "disable the SA Account"
3) Restarted PC
4) Uninstalled My Encore 1.4
5) Restarted PC
6) Downloaded and Installed My Encore 1.5
7) Restarted PC

Everything worked beautifally! Encore Pro 1.5 worked, all my previous downloded data was there and accessable and My Encore 1.5 worked perfect.

So YES you do have to be logged on as administrator in order to choose 'Disable the SA Account' and have everything work properly.

Just my experience....I hope this may help someone else!

MARK

[derek]

MARK,
That's encouraging, but THier just reported that it doesn't work with him logged on as administrator.

[RAMBLINMAN]

Mark,

I was wondering, when you downloaded Encore pro 1.5 did it just upgrade your 1.4 version?

What was the reason why you un-installed ver 1.4?

[Mark83]

Ramblinman,

When I downloaded Encore Pro 1.5 I did NOT uninstall Encore Pro 1.4, I just left it alone to see what was going to happen. After I installed Encore Pro 1.5 and clicked on the icon on my desktop it opended up 1.5.

Now, I will tell you that Encore Pro 1.4 is STILL listed on my control panel, add/remove programs page BUT shows that I havent used it since I installed Encore Pro 1.5 (which is ALSO listed on my control panel, add/remove programs page).

I UNINSTALLED MY ENCORE 1.4 before downloading Derek's new My Encore 1.5. Why did I do that? Good question! I dont know, for some reason I wasn't sure how the two versions of My Encore would overlap/update each other so I figured just clear out My Encore 1.4 completely and start fresh with 1.5.

Hope this helps! It worked for me and I am by no means a computer expert! I know enough to be dangerous that's all !!!


Derek,

Can I uninstall Encore Pro 1.4 now safely???

MARK

[derek]

MARK,
Sure. The problem is that you can't step back to 1.4 because you have altered the database - it's a one way trip unless you saved your previous database.

BTW - I have been playing (succesfully) with the SQL utility "osql" and am now able to give a "limited" user account access to MyEncore using the Windows login authentication. This may be useful. I want to think about it for a day or so.

[sthnreb1]

I didn't have a problem with either program. I left the 1.5 software at default and then have loaded the different versions of myencore, b5 now.

Rick

[derek]

Here is a way to give "limited" user accounts access to the Encore Pro Ver. 1.5 database through MyEncore 1.5, when Encore Pro 1.5 was installed with the SA account disabled (the default).

At the risk of being repetitive, I emphasize that this is only useful if:
1) You want to use MyEncore 1.5 from a limited account, AND
2) Encore Pro 1.5 was installed with the SA account disabled.

The simplest thing to do is to raise the status of the account you are using to "Computer Administrator" through the Control Panel:
Control Panel -> User Accounts -> Change an account ->Change the account type
and select "Computer Administrator". That should fix the problem, and you should not need what follows.

However, if you don't want to do that, here is a method that has worked for me.

MS SQL has a command-line utility "osql" that is designed for SQL management. You can use osql to allow access to a database for a "limited" user. You must log in as an administrator to do this however.

Step 1: osql is run from a command window, using DOS-like (those were the days, my friend!) commands. To get a command window you can go to Start -> Run, and type CMD in the window, OR go to Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> Command Prompt.
A window will pop up.

Step 2: You must know the name of your computer, and the log-in name of the account you want to grant access. If you don't know it, you can find the name of the computer by right-clicking on "My Computer", selecting "Properties", and then clicking on the "Computer Name" tag. It is case-sensitive, so be sure of all the caps.

In my case, I want to give my dog access to Myencore. He has a limited account under the name "casey dog" on my computer "DINGER" (I am real hesitant to give him full access, because who knows what mischief he might get up to.)

Take a look at the command window, and the osql commands, to give him access below, and then we will go through it step-by step:



Step 3: You start osql by typing:
osql -E
at the command window prompt. The -E requests a log-in via the Windows account method (Don't forget we have no SA account - that was disabled). If successful you should get a
1>
prompt. If that doesn't work, it means that you are not a computer administrator, or the SQL server is not running.

You then enter osql commands, one per line, followed on the next line by the command "go"

Step 4: Select the "encorepro" database.
1> USE encorepro
2> go
Note that after a successful command the prompt goes back to 1>. In all of the commands, be careful to use capitalizations as shown.

Step 5: Grant database login rights to the user account, using the command:
sp_grantlogin '<computername>\<username>'
which in my case was
1> sp_grantlogin 'DINGER\casey dog'
2> go
Be careful to use the underscore(_), backslash (\), and enclose the name string in single quotes (').

Step 6: Grant the user access to the database using
sp_grantdbaccess '<computername>\<username>', '<username>'
which in my case was:
1> sp_grantdbaccess 'DINGER\casey dog', 'casey dog'
2> go
This actually creates an account in the database for "casey dog".

Step 7: Include the user in the group who has access to the database:
sp_addrolemember 'EnccoreProUserAccess', '<username>'
which becomes:
1> sp_addrolemember 'EnccoreProUserAccess', 'casey dog'
2> go

Step 8: That's it. You can now exit
1> quit

With the above, my pup should now be able to look at my sleep data with MyEncore while I'm at work. I checked it - he is able to.

Here is another small thing. When you install MyEncore, you should probably select the option that allows other users access to the program.

[Jerry69]

Derek,

First, I know you hate supporting software for which you are getting no monetary reward.

But, I got the 2 factors card reader and managed to get it installed. I downloaded to Encore Pro 1.5, but the only report I could get was a compliance report. Not of much interest. I want AHI's.

I opened MyEncore 1.5 but I got the old SA Account screen. I'd hoped that since I now have a downloaded database that MyEncore would work.

1) I am logged on as administrator
2) I have a database
3) I went through the procedure:

1) Stop the SQL server.
2) Rename the two files:
C:\program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL\Data\EncorePro.mdf
C:\program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL\Data\EncorePro_Log.mdf
to something else.
3) Unistall Encore Pro.
4) Reinstall Encore Pro, to get the options screen.
5) Rename the two files in step 2 back to their correct names.

But, when I tried to re-install Encore Pro 1.5, I got this window:

And, when I retried, I got this window



Whatta you think? If MyEncore will give complete reports of AHI's, etc., I really need it because the compliance data from Encore Pro is trivial.

[Guest]

I can't answer what my encore 1.5 does but do use 1.4.

When you go to get a report in encore pro click on full details not on summary

You will get a series of pdf pages and you will find a nice time graph with OA, H, and snores marked on it (if you do one day at a time you will find this in middle of page 4 of 5)

Hope that helps

[Jerry69]

Okay, I figured out how to get a full report in Encore Pro 1.5

Double click on 'Sleep Therapy Compliance Download' and you will be rewarded with the window: 'Report Options'.



Choose 'Summary' or 'Full Details'. Summary gives a one-page report with daily compliance and 'Total AHI' for the period. My 'Total AHI' was 3.1. And, since I was away from home on Saturday night, the compliance shows no usage for that night.



If you choose 'Full Details' you get a 12 page report showing summaries as well as daily reports of events by the hour. Incredible!

But, I must say, the way to get to the detail reports is very obscure.

I've been on CPAP, now, since November 10. The report I got from the sleep doc after 13 days showed 'Average AHI' of 4.2. The report I just figured out how to get, shows an 'Average AHI' of 3.1, for the last 14 days, with no change in pressure: 6 cm. The 'Average Snore Index' is much higher for this last report: 26.3 snores/Hr. vs. 9.1 for the first report. I've had more nasal congestion lately, but I don't know if that causes snoring.

I've learned that AHI of less than 5 is considered okay, i.e., 'normal'. My untreated AHI, from the sleep study was only 9.5.

I will continue to monitor the results now that I have the ability, but I'm feeling like the therapy is successful and if the results don't vary more than they have the first 27 days, I'll probably not be interested in checking them continually.

Quite frankly, I don't feel a whole lot better or less sleepy during the day, so I'm wondering if CPAP is really necessary for me. I'll persist until my next appointment with the sleep doc (3 months), but if I don't notice a big improvement, I'll question the necessity. After awakening Sunday, not having used CPAP for the first time in about 24 days, I felt just as good as I have felt awakening after using CPAP. Of course, my wife may appreciate the reduction in snoring. She says she hasn't noticed any since I started CPAP. The reports indicate that I am snoring, however?

I hope these personal observations of my OSA are not objectionable. I suppose I'm seeking some reinforcement/encouragement. The therapy is doing some good. If I can find an interface I like better (a full-time quest, I gather), I might just stick it out.

Anyway, I'm tickled pink that I got the reader and Encore Pro working today!

Jerry

[Guest]

Now that you got all that part figured out you get to figure out My Encore which will give you a series of charts / graphs.

[Wulfman]

WAY TO GO, JERRY!!!

Den

[ozij]

Jerry,
I usually find that I feel better when my AHI is less than 3. The formal numbers are just that - formal numbers, some of them meant for defining the cut point of where insurance will or will not pay.

Here are two papers you might be intertested in reading, one about the "one night" paradigm, the other about the AHI as a measure.

Standard Diagnostic Test For Sleep Apnea Does Not Detect Condition In Many Patients

The AHI - useful or useless


You've got the software, so you can try some experimental changes - nasal rinses help with the congestion, a slight raise in pressure, or a different mask (which you're planning in any case).

I am not a doctor, etc. so all disclaimers apply. Use your best judgement, and counsult with you doctor.

You've been on therapy for less than a month, and for some of us, feeling the changes takes time.

Good luck!
O.