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Demo vs Actual

Ordo has two app modes. They look similar on purpose, so training feels like the real product. They are not the same world.

You can switch in the sidebar (bottom) and on the sign-in screen.

Demo Actual
Data Sample practice (Bright Smile–style fake charts and files) Your live practice
Open Dental Simulated / sample Real connection when configured
Post payment Practice click; does not write your production charts Writes InsPayAmt to Open Dental
Who you are Typically a sample Viewer unless you use a live login Your real user and role
Use it for Training, screenshots, “show the dentist” Monday morning posting

Demo — the safe sandbox

Choose Demo when you want to click without fear.

  • Sample EOBs and patients already exist, so you may not need to upload.
  • Demo sign-in does not require your production password.
  • The demo identity is read-oriented (Viewer): you can tour Dashboard, Patients, and Reports. Posting buttons may be hidden. That is so a first-day user cannot think they posted live money.
  • Switching into Demo stores a local “I am practicing” flag on that computer.

Example. Sarah walks a new hire through Maria Santos. She switches to Demo, opens the sample Cigna file, and narrates Fetch → Open Dental → Audit. No real patient data is on the projector.

Actual — live work

Choose Actual when the PDF in your hand is a real remittance.

  • Sign in with email and password, or an email one-time code.
  • You only see modules your role allows.
  • Upload, fetch, approve, and post talk to live storage and, when connected, live Open Dental.
  • Treat everything as patient payment information. Do not screenshot full EOBs into chat.

Example. Jennifer switches to Actual at 8:05 a.m., uploads the real Cigna PDF, and posts after Mike reviews. If she had stayed in Demo, that PDF would never have entered the live inbox.

How to switch without getting confused

  1. Look at the sidebar label: it says Demo or Actual.
  2. If you are about to upload a real EOB, it must say Actual.
  3. If you are training, it must say Demo.
  4. After switching, you should see a confirmation toast. Lists will reload. A file that exists only in Actual will not appear in Demo, and vice versa.

The mix-up to avoid

Uploading a real patient EOB while still in Demo (or into a training discussion) is how real names end up in the wrong place. Check the sidebar before you drop the PDF.

“HIPAA-ready” on the sidebar

The sidebar notes that data is encrypted at rest and in transit. That is a product control, not a legal stamp that your office is “done” with HIPAA. Live patient EOBs are still sensitive. Follow your practice’s policies: who may sign in, which computers are used, and when to use Actual.

Until your practice has officially gone live with Ordo, prefer Demo or synthetic (fake) files.