Software-related Questions

The software does not allow a rating for Inordinate even though there is a rating of 6=Inordinate on all AMPS score forms and in Appendix B, Volume 2 of the AMPS manual. Reading the rating criteria for 6=Inordinate, we find that a person "demonstrated an extreme degree of [insert physical effort, disorganization, risk for personal injury, or assistance]; was unable to enter into an ADL task performance". If the person did not enter into the task performance, then the occupational therapist has no ADL motor or ADL process scores to enter into the software.

The Problem
The therapist does not have sufficient permission to write to the database inside the data folder. Common errors resulting from this problem are:

The record is read-only.

111 cannot update cursor...

The Solution
The computer's administrator must give the therapist's user profile permission to write to the directory in which your AMPS software is installed:

1. Logon as a network administrator
2. Using Windows Explorer, browse to the AMPS software installation directory
3. Click FILE --> PROPERTIES
4. From the Properties window, select the Security tab.
5. In the Group or user names: area, highlight Users.
6. In the Permissions for users: area, click the box to Allow / Write.
7. Click OK.
8. Logoff as administrator.

Write info@AMPSintl.com with questions.

When an occupational therapist exports his or her data, anonymous data about the person and AMPS observation are encoded and saved to data files. Data in those files include:
• Age
• Gender
• AMPS diagnostic categories
• AMPS functional level rating (a 3-level rating scale)
• Evaluation data (observation date, task codes, item scores, and overall quality of performance ratings)

The Problem
The therapist does not have sufficient permission to write to the database inside the data folder. Common errors resulting from this problem are:

The record is read-only.

111 cannot update cursor...

The Solution
The computer's administrator must give the therapist's user profile permission to write to the directory in which your AMPS software is installed:

1. Logon as a network administrator
2. Using Windows Explorer, browse to the AMPS software installation directory
3. Click FILE --> PROPERTIES
4. From the Properties window, select the Security tab.
5. In the Group or user names: area, highlight Users.
6. In the Permissions for users: area, click the box to Allow / Write.
7. Click OK.
8. Logoff as administrator.

Write info@AMPSintl.com with questions.

No. In order to use a newer version of the software, each therapist much purchase his/her own license (passcode). Please read our upgrade policy and visit our online store to purchase a software upgrade.

Therapists cannot share passcodes because the AMPS computer-scoring software adjusts each client's ADL motor and ADL process ability measure for the challenge of tasks performed as well as the severity of AMPS rater who scored the individual skill items. Therefore, the use of another therapist's software invalidates resulting ability measures if the test was administered and scored by a different therapist. Sharing her passcode not only invalidates evaluations administered by you or another therapist, but it is in violation of client confidentiality regulations.

AMPS software is developed for Windows operating systems only. There are ways for Linux and Macintosh users to run Windows software on their computers. Contact your local IT person for options. However, we recommend that you install the AMPS software to a Windows-based computer. Course handouts will help with installation and using AMPS software.

Reports are prepared by the AMPS computer-scoring software, but the final layout of the report is generated by a print driver. Printing requires a specific print driver to communicate between the workstation's operating system and the printer (e.g., only one specific print driver works for Windows XP Professional and the HP Deskjet 720c). The operating system of the computer with the printer attached must be configured to use the print driver specific to the exact model of the printer and the workstation operating system that is generating the report.

If the problem persists after installing the correct print driver and ensuring accurate mapping of a networked printer, there are two recommended courses of action:

1. Change the print quality to the highest quality under Print Preferences. (known to resolve the problem with some HP printers)
   
2. Save your report in a portable digital format (PDF). Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view and/or print AMPS PDF reports.

Note: Only therapists with Version 2005 or later of the AMPS computer-scoring software can save reports in a PDF file.

There are two issues that commonly create data entry problems for the Date. First, the software may be expecting the date to be entered in a format different from your preferred format. Second, your computer clock may not be accurate.

1. The software offers three Date Formats, but regardless of the format used, Month and Day must always be entered as 2-digit, Year must always be entered as 4-digits.
   
   MM/DD/YYYY (Month, Day, Year)
   DD/MM/YYYY (Day, Month, Year)
   YYYY/MM/DD (Year, Month, Day)
   
   Your personal preferred Date Format must be selected in the program's Preferences:
   - Login to your software
   - Click Preferences
   - Select your preferred Date Format from the drop-down menu
   


2. Check that your computer's internal clock and Windows date are accurate. The software does not allow you to enter a future date. To verify that your computer's date is correct, open Date & Time from your Windows Control Panel.

The Assessment of Motor and Process Skills now includes 102 tasks. Some new tasks (e.g., I-19. Meatballs with boiled potatoes) have been researched and calibrated since your version of the AMPS computer-scoring software was developed. Visit the AMPS Software resource page for details.

The Problem
The error most commonly occurs because the destination disk is unavailable. Check that the disk being used to export is inserted properly, has sufficient space (AMPS Project International recommends you use a clean floppy disk for data export or backup), and that the disk is not 'write-protected'.

A known bug in AMPS 2002 occurs when two conditions are met:
(a) AMPS 2002 has been installed on a computer running the Windows NT operating system
(b) the therapist is exporting data for the purposes of rater calibration.

The Solution
AMPS 2002 was developed more than 8 years ago and is no longer the current version of the AMPS computer-scoring software. Please visit the AMPS Software resource page for details.

The Problem
The computer's processing speeds are too fast for the software. The AMPS computer-scoring software, AMPS 3.0, is more than ten years old. Some new computers process data faster than the software can handle.

What can I do?
The AMPS Project recommends that all AMPS-trained therapists remain current with AMPS materials and practices. By staying current with the latest software, a therapist is able to download free updates of the current version of the AMPS computer-scoring software, and receive discounts on future releases of new versions. Visit the AMPS Software resource page for details.

The AMPS computer-scoring software, Version 3.0 (and Version 1.1) were designed for older operating systems, and are no longer supported. Therapists may experience problems when using these programs on new computer operating systems.

The AMPS computer-scoring software program has since undergone multiple significant upgrade revisions to remain current with new computer operating systems and updates to the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills as an evaluation tool. Therapists who have not stayed current with the AMPS materials and current practices will be required to take a new course before upgrading to the new software.