Encore MSSQL Server ?

shippy · Post by **shippy** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 8:09 am

Question for the computer experts out there!!!!

Can someone tell me how and why Encore uses a server (MSSQL) what is the purpose of this? Also where is the data stored when i download my card, is it on the server or is it on my hard drive? If its on my hard drive all this data is taking up room on my drive. I have only a 20GB HD (master) and a 160GB (slave drive) on my pc, how do i get the data on to the slave and store it there, and then delete it from my HD? I see an export patient data on the Encore pop-up menu, I assume this is how to save data to another folder in pdf. format.

Thanks Dale

vfont · Post by **vfont** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 9:05 am

SQL Server is the name of Microsoft's flagship database system. It is not a separate computer server sitting out in cyberspace. It is a database located on your local hard driver. You were asked a question during the Encore about where you wanted the datafiles located. If you didn't specify the a location on the 16MB, the default location is c:\program files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL$ENCOREPRO\Data. When you download the data from your card, it is stored in the EncorePro.MDF file.

The version of SQL Server that comes with EncorePro is a scaled down version used by developers to distribute software. It lacks all the utilities that comes standard with the full version of SQL Server. Unfortunately, this version does not afford a way to move the datafiles to a different drive/directory. To install the datafiles to your 16MB drive, you would have to reinstall the EncorePro and pay attention to the question about where you want the datafiles located.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 10:03 am

If it is running correctly, give it your blessing and leave it alone. You can go into Reports, and save each one as a .pdf file, and save them into a folder you create on your 'D' drive. The size of you "C" drive is big enough to contain the server, the reason they have to use the server is because the software is meant to be used by more than one user and computer.(Business Software) Jim

shippy · Post by **shippy** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 11:23 pm

It is not a separate computer server sitting out in cyberspace. It is a database located on your local hard driver. You were asked a question during the Encore about where you wanted the datafiles located. If you didn't specify the a location on the 16MB, the default location is c:\program files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL$ENCOREPRO\Data. When you download the data from your card, it is stored in the EncorePro.MDF file.

Thanks vfont
I did think it was out there in cyberspace as you said, and no i did not specify a location for the data files.

Dale

If it is running correctly, give it your blessing and leave it alone. You can go into Reports, and save each one as a .pdf file, and save them into a folder you create on your 'D' drive. The size of you "C" drive is big enough to contain the server, the reason they have to use the server is because the software is meant to be used by more than one user and computer.(Business Software) Jim

Thanks Jim

I will not mess with it (gave a blessing) as it is working o.k. but after moving the reports to my slave drive for storage, how do i clean up the data (delete or whatever) off my master drive, do i need to go in to EncorePro.MDF file to delete data i no longer want? as i know this is just taking up space. So i assume in a business such as a doctors office many computers may be hooked up to this server, such as a network and all can access the data is that correct?

Dale

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 11:31 pm

shippy wrote:do i need to go in to EncorePro.MDF file to delete data i no longer want?

Don't go directly into any data files related to the database. The SQL server is doing all kinds of things to make sure you're not losing data there, that two people aren't adding things simultaneously, etc, and just removing things directly is a bad idea.

Since the data isn't taking up THAT much space, I didn't care personally, but you could right click on downloads and "delete interaction". I'm not sure exactly what effect that would have on the data in the database, or if you even would free up space, but that's one way. You could also make a new patient and then delete the old one if you want to purge everything.

Again, because of the way database servers work, I'm still not sure you'd free that much space.

shippy · Post by **shippy** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 12:10 am

Since the data isn't taking up THAT much space, I didn't care personally, but you could right click on downloads and "delete interaction". I'm not sure exactly what effect that would have on the data in the database, or if you even would free up space, but that's one way. You could also make a new patient and then delete the old one if you want to purge everything.

Again, because of the way database servers work, I'm still not sure you'd free that much space.

Blarg

So blarg any idea just how much space these reports take up? if its not going to make a difference then i am not going to lose sleep over it. Might try making a new patient (and deleting me) that idea sounds good, i might just name him John Doe or something like that ha! ha!

Dale

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 2:47 am

No exact idea because I've never bothered to check.

If you want to know, see how much space it takes up before and after the delete. My guess though is that you'll probably only see it get bigger until someone runs an optimize or equilvelant in MS SQL slang.

Most databases don't delete data, they just work around it until you actually issue a command to tell it to compact its tables. This makes it faster and easier to recover from deletions if they don't happen like they should. Of course since this is a one or two patient install, we truly don't care, but that's what we get for using "enterprise" software.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 6:50 am

Dale,

I would advise NOT deleting or moving any of your SQL downloaded files. They aren't taking up that much room. I've been downloading every day since May 15, 2005 and the size of my SQL database is just under 1.5 GB.
If you're saving your daily reports in .PDF formats, I would say to save THEM to the big drive in a separate folder/directory......like "Reports".
But, the bottom line is that your SQL database isn't that huge yet.

Also, if you've got other files on your C: drive like pictures or other stuff that's taking up space, you could move them over to the big drive.

Best wishes,

Den

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 7:42 am

I would recommend that you DO NOT DELETE any data files on your C: drive. That, as already stated, will mess up the data already saved. You should not try to save the pdf reports.

Try this: make a regular report and save it. Then attempt to make another report for the same period or for a past time or day(s). If you can make a second report or report for a past time, then you need not save pdf reports.

PDF reports are really large files similar to picture files. If you can repeat reports, then you don't need to keep pdf files and that will save you lots of HD space. You data files are really small compared to pdf reports.

Do yourself a favor, leave the data alone and delete the reports once you review them.