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AC freezes and gets hung up a lot on my main computer. Most commonly freezes occur when opening imported items particularly if I click too fast. (Not so much on other computers in the office.) Angel support couldn't fix it and total uninstall/reinstall didn't help for long. Even update to 6.3.3 hasn't helped. I suspect the problem may be related to the fact that I use this main computer for a lot of other functions beside AC.

I think it makes sense to move my main installation off the computer I use for other things. Does this sound right, and if so, which of the following options makes most sense:

1. Get a new desktop computer and use it only as the AC main computer.
2. Get a server - I have no experience using or setting up servers and don't understand any of the discussions on the board that refer to servers so I am a little hesitant/intimidated by this option.
3. Migrate to AC in the cloud.

Anyone have a suggestion?

Frozen Mike

Mike,

I don't have much experience with setting up computers and software either. The advice I would give is to consult a specialist - get an IT guy to evaluate your system, needs, and decide the best approach for you. Saves time and money in the long run.

I would go for 1 or 2. You really don't want to be working on the main computer. Messing up something there means messing up your Amazing Charts. I've been having a few issues with 6.3.3 and II too. I've noticed that if I maximize the II window, AC Crashes. However if maximize most recent encounter or any other tab first, it does not crash. Or if I stretch the Window manually it doesn't crash. This is only II, everything else is fine. Does anyone else have this problem? I suspect it may be my video drivers. I'm going to find out this weekend.

I have noticed also that maximizing the imported items window will often provoke a hang up but this was happening before the 6.3.3 update also.

Mike,
You could certainly follow John's suggestion, and with a decent IT person, you should be fine.
You could continue to consult people here for more specific advice; if you do so, you will be asked to provide more details about your current set-up and needs.
Most everyone would agree that you have probably identified a significant problem; you should run AC on its own machine. Your quickest, cheapest option is to get a new desktop and use it exclusively for AC as you describe. You can do so for just a few hundred dollars, and hopefully be up and running very quickly. Worse case: it doesn't solve your problem, you need to move to one of the other options, and you have a computer that can be used as a client in your final configuration or at home.

Mike,

I would add also, if you do #1, that you may want to mirror your hard drive with the AC/operating system to minimize downtime if and when you have a hard drive failure, so this may increase the cost of the desktop, but the extra cost may be worth being down 1-2 hours versus 1-2 days.

Sandeep,

Yes, since I upgraded to 6.3.3 I have noticed as well the imported items disappearing when I maximize an Imported Item, and then go back to most recent encounter then back to the Imported Item section, the list of Imported Items disappear, and I am left with the maximized Imported Item, but AC does not crash. Once I close the chart and open back up all the list of Imported Items are there. But it is a nuisance.

Our office has AC running on it's own main computer but I have been experiencing the same issue too when maximizing imported items windwow and AC closes down.

It all depends on the scale. If it's just you and a nurse. Probably not worth it to get fully featured server. When you start adding 4 or more computers, it does help.

We have a total of 7 desktop computers and 4 laptops running AC from our main computer. Do you recommend that our office should have gone with a server instead?

I would've that's a lot to manage.

Leah, what version are you running? We are talking about a couple of different things here. The imported items issue is a new one that some are having since upgrading to 6.3.3. It is likely to be unrelated to your network.

The question of server vs. peer-to-peer is a separate one. Are you having any other problems?

Jon,

I upgraded to version 6.3.3 last week and I am experiencing the same issue Mike is when maximizing the imported items window and it freezes then closes down.

Interim Solutions:
1) You can stretch to near the full size and it still works.
2) Maximize window BEFORE you click Imported items

So Leah, that seems to be a new problem; not sure how much AC has heard about it, but people here are just starting to report it. Now it is likely that more and more people will likely notice it, and hopefully a fix or work-around will appear.

Your question about your set-up is separate, and you will probably get different answers. If all of your machines are in one location, I think your P2P network is probably fine. Others will likely feel differently and will tell you so.

I spoke to Dan from support and I think he fixed the problem. He said it has to do with the Adobe Reader. He uninstalled version 10 and installed version 9. I tried it out several times by clicking on a file then maximizing imported item window and it has yet to freeze and close down on me. You can try that out first Mike to see if it may have to do with the Adobe Reader version on your computer.

Hello Everyone,

Thank you for upgrading to the latest version of Amazing Charts. This Imported Items issue is new to us, not something we have been able to replicate in house or have discovered a universal fix for it. However we have been able to resolve the issue for some clients experiencing the problem when viewing PDFs by rolling back to Adobe Reader 9 as FPMGSB has discovered.

The next time you experience this problem, please contact tech support so we may log into your computer to further investigate the causes of this bug and find a solution for it. If you are not able contact us at that time of the issue, please make a note of the patient ID, item and computer you had the problem on. Then contact us at your earliest convenience.

We apologize for any inconvenience this issue has caused you and thank you for helping us make the program better.

Craig@AC

Interesting. I was using Acrobat Reader 9 until I installed AC 6.13. Then I was getting Imported Items crashes so I uninstalled Reader 9 and installed Reader X (10). Problem solved. I had Reader X when I upgraded to AC version 6.33. Imported Items are still working well. Maybe it has to do with the order of installing the two programs?

I had this problem before upgrading to 6.3.3, still having. It occurred on two new computers running Windows 7, while older XP computers were fine. My workaround has been maximizing before going to II, as Sandeep suggested I recently bought another computer to replace an XP computer and this one does not do it. All 3 running same version of acrobat Reader and Windows 7. Someone might be able to look at all 3 and see what the difference is, if interested.

I guess I shouldn't have taken my signature off about the details of a system. P2P is OK for a small office (six or less computers I would estimate). Server if larger of if you want all the extra features it gives you.

I think the single best piece of advice I have ever given is to never use the computer that the database is on. AC, btw, is usually on every computer.

And no IT guy. Get an IT specialist who works in a store that sells computers and networking and doesn't have Best Buy on the front.

I have Adobe Reader X Version 10.1.3. I uninstalled it and then reinstalled the same version. So far no crashes or hang ups and the imported item viewing is a lot snappier.

Been happening to me for quite a while also but only on the W7 machine with Adobe Reader X 10.1.3. I thought it was just me.

I just uninstalled and reinstalled AR 10.1.3 and still had the problem. Uninstalled again and installed Adobe reader 9.5 and the problem disappeared.

We don't have the problem on Win 7 or XP machines with AR9. With AR X we do have the issue. That is consistent with everyone's experience described above...except for John Ryan.

Craig, the problem is very consistent and reproducible for us; if it would help you to log in, you are welcome to do so.

Had AC tech support help out and uninstalled AR (I think I had 8) and installed AR 9.5 and problem resolved.