We are all very excited about the release of a full-functionality build of DTS Version 4. The feedback from our early adopters has been very positive, validating the extensive effort to create a next-generation vision for DTS. While development on Version 4 will continue, to correct outstanding bugs and complete documentation, we do not expect any major functional changes.

You already know the major features of Version 4: J2E architecture, web service APIs, version management, metadata and new Subset/Value Set capabilities. These capabilities get most of attention. But what excites Dr. DiTS, are the new features of the DTS Editor. Since these don’t get the publicity of “the big guys”, we are pleased to share Dr. DiTS’sTop Ten Things to Try in DTS 4. Next time you’re in the Editor give these a try.

1. Don’t like clicking on Connect all the time? Check the “Auto-connect …” box in the Connect Parameters dialog and DTS will automatically connect to your database when it starts.
2. Would you like the Tree panel display to use another display name, or sort differently? Right click in the panel and select the Tree Config option. Display SNOMED using the Preferred Term, or ICD-9-CM using its Code in Source.
3. Want to see where a Concept fits into a hierarchy? Drop the Concept into the Tree panel’s main window (not the Focus box).
4. Need to review a large number of Search matches? Page through the matches using the arrows at the bottom of the panel. And check out the result Tool Tips to see where the match occurred (especially helpful on Synonym and Attribute searches).
5. Wondering what Concepts use a Term? Drag the Term into the Detail panel (maybe from a Concept Synonym) and view the Inverse Synonyms.
6. Don’t want to have to right click to edit Attributes in the Detail panel? Double click on the Attribute to open the Attribute’s editor.
7. Need to add a new Root Concept to your Thesaurus Namespace? Drag the Namespace into the Detail panel (or open the Namespace Editor panel), right click on the Working Version and select Add Root.
8. Want to get a hardcopy of a Concept’s contents? Right click on Concept’s name in the Detail panel and select Print Details.
9. Need to create a sophisticated Value Set? Use the Subset Editor to create an Expression that includes two different Namespace Filters. Or two Subset Filters. Or even one that excludes one Subset from another Subset.
10. Want to change the string associated with Copy on a Concept Name? Open the Set Clipboard Formats panel from the Options menu and add the Concept’s Namespace name to the format.
11. Have to see how SNOMED Concepts have changed over time? Drag a Concept into the Concept History panel to see attribute changes across all versions or into the Concept Compare panel for a detailed comparison between two versions.
12. Tired of the same old DTS Editor layout? Edit dtslayout.xml in bineditor to remove some panels or build an alternate 2×2 panel structure.
13. Learning a new language? Create a French DTS Editor by translating dtseditor.properties in the lib directory. Or see how DTS looks right-to-left by creating a Hebrew translation. Check out the sample screen shot below and see theInternationalizing the DTS Editor document for more info.

Okay, so Dr. DiTS couldn’t keep it to just ten.

That’s it for this month. Time to get back to DTS 4!