Home Forums Discussions Problems Prescription Writer (It is a known bug)

So lots of comments on slow screen draw in V 6.0.9. We fixed that by turning off hardware acceleration.

This is a problem in XP and in Win7 if you have an old video card or a pretty cheap one.

I have a new complaint.

In V 5.x.x I used my venerable old lexmark printer. Prescription paper in tray one and a watermark added. Plain white paper in tray two. When it was time to print a prescription I would select the printer definition for tray one and it would print on prescription (Kant Kopy) paper with a watermark.

In version 6.0.9 I cannot print a prescription on this paper. I can print from any other Windows program to either type of paper with or without the watermark. I can print the Patient Instructions or Letters from AC to either type of paper with or without a watermark. But the prescription writer will only print to plain white paper.

SO I changed the prescription setup to TSP800 and it will print to prescription paper but only in the upper left quarter of an 8.5x11 sheet of paper, one Rx per page.

Lexmark tells me software trumps the driver trumps the printer. In English: The prescription writing software (and only the prescription writing software) is requesting plain white paper and my printer is dutifully supplying it. The rest of Amazing Charts doesn't care what type of paper it is using so I am in charge.

I think AC is a great program. But are they attempting to sell more TSP800's with special paper from AC? We can order "InvalidRX" Kant Kopy paper from our supplier and run it through a laser printer that adds a Watermark. Why does the Prescription Writer portion of Crystal Reports request plain white paper?http://amazingcharts.com/ub/images/icons/default/mad.gif

Thanks for the post.

First, the hardware acceleration trick did not solve the script writer issue for everyone.

I am not sure what connection Amazing Charts has with Star Micronics as it has never been divulged. One with think they must be getting some kick back. I just know when you buy a Star Micronics printer (TSP800 II), etc. you are buying it from Star Micronics or other third party vendors. And, the paper is usually from Micro Format, Inc.

Many of our pharmacies will only take the Micro Format paper and it is actually less expensive than using the regular paper. AC claims that their prescriptions are tamper proof and possibly the paper you are referring to would work, but we would get a lot of calls from our local pharmacies until they figured it out.

You are correct that software trumps driver definitely trumps printers. Although I am hoping to disprove that soon.

Prescriptions has never been AC's strong point, definitely not in v6.

The problem with Hardware Acceleration is that some video cards and computers don't allow you to change it or find it.

I may have a workaround for this.
Vista/Windows 7
1. Click Start
2. Type Regedit
3. Navigate to the following key:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Avalon.Graphic\]
4. Create a DWORD value called "DisableHWAcceleration" and set it equal to 1.
5. Reboot

Thanks Sandeep. I will try it in the morning.

Do we have to have the annoying pop up every time one transmits a prescription? The program won't let you transmit a scheduled drug anyway.

What is the annoying popup? If it what I think you are referring to, I get it about 1 in 30 prescriptions.

It's the " I attest that this is not a scheduled drug. Violation of this can result in prosecutions (or something to that effect)" Is there a way to turn it off.

I am not sure. Do you get it every time. I rarely get it, but I know what you mean, and it is annoying.

You can try CTRL + U at the main window and check Don't display <<pop-up confirmation messages>>.

Not sure if it would fall under that or not.

This pop-up occurs when you prescribe a medication that is not part of the database. The medication will appear in italics, and since the program does not recognize the medication, it asks you to affirm that it is NOT a controlled substance.
I do not believe you can turn off this pop-up. What you can do is find the medication in the database (usually) and prescribe it as a recognized (non-italicized) drug. It will then skip the attestation message.

Prescription problems resolved. (Well some of them.)

Got a new (cheap) laser printer. Installed a simple driver so the printer does not try to select paper type. set up the watermark. Have several Reams of medical supplier certified tamper proof prescription paper and will use them up. (and order more) New partner starts next month so the old printer can work for both of us with special letterhead in drawer one.

Screen draws are still ssslllooowww in the prescription writer with hardware acceleration turned off. They are functional for patient physicians. (I know: oxymoron right?)

Certainly brought out the comments.

The prescription writer has really sped up to version 5 speed with Amazing charts 6.1.1 beta, Windows 7 64 bit. Nice!

Just upgraded to V 6.1.1. The prescription writer is fast, faster, fastest. Even on my old Windows XP Laptop. Logins were faster, interaction checking faster.

I flamed the group about this earlier (See below) But they really listened to all the complaints and fixed it. Every now and then I have to use the EMR from our hospital. Each time I use it I realize what a GREAT PROGRAM Amazing Charts is. It has aggravations but it has a responsive group of maintainers, fixers and designers.

So, Thanks for fixing all the things you fixed. (I have returned the hardware acceleration slider clear to the right and the system was even faster.)

I have been able to use HP printer to do both secure Rx and plain paper and have a Brother printer for Secure Rx in another hall. The venerable old lexmark is still churning out only white paper but it is a beast for punishment.

So if 6.1.1 is so fine, why has it not been released? After installing 6.0.9 in beta, my IT advisors will not even consider installing any further beta versions.

It is released.

You can get version 6.1.1 here