DDE Link Specifications

Clinical is a DDE (Dynamic Data Exchange) server and will listen for specific DDE commands as detailed below. These commands can used to control Clinical as well as send data and update patient records. All data is transferred in text format. The program's DDE Server name is 'MDW'.

Commands

Three DDE topics are used when sending DDE commands to Clinical. The table below details the commands per topic.

Topic

Command

Description

PATIENT

These commands open the various patient windows. An optional parameter can be passed between square brackets containing the ID number of a patient.

If this parameter is passed, then that patients record is opened. If the parameter is not passed, the desired window in the current patients file is opened.

 

OPEN[parameter]*

Opens the patients medication window

HISTORY[parameter]*

Opens the patients history window

IMMS[parameter]*

Opens the patients immunisation window

PATHOL[parameter]*

Opens the patients pathology window

PAP[parameter]*

Opens the patients cervical screening window

ANTENATAL[parameter]*

Opens the patients antenatal window

SCRIPTS[parameter]*

Opens the patients past prescription window

LETTERS[parameter]*

Opens the patient correspondence window.

UPDATE[parameter] *

Updates the patient's demographic details.

 

The parameter should be a string containing the patient demographic data as per the format outlined below.

SYSTEM

 

CLOSE

Closes Clinical

MAXIMIZE

Maximizes Clinical

MINIMIZE

Minimizes Clinical

PASSWORD[parameter]

Passes a users password through to Clinical. If the password is valid, then Clinical will log that user on.

VIEW

These commands call some of the other Clinical menu functions.

 

MDref

Opens the MDref drug database.

PI

Opens the Product Information database.

CPI

Opens the Consumer Product Information database.

ADDRESSBOOK

Opens the Address database.

SEARCH

Activates the Find Condition function from the Tools menu.

DEMOGRAPHICS

Activates the Demographics function from the Tools menu.

CHECKPATH

Activates the Check pathology function from the Tools menu.

IMPORTPATH

Activates the Import pathology function from the Tools menu.

* Structure of Demographic String Parameter for UPDATE Command - see PATIENTS.IN Format for more information.