This page provides test steps for users to work with as they try to solve problems which may be preventing Lertap 5 from working on their computer.

We will assume readers have had a careful, detailed look at the KnownProblems page before starting to work through the steps below.  This is important; we know that problems can arise, and, right here at the start, we must say that we can't promise that you'll be able to get Lertap to work on your computer even using the steps below.  As the KnownProblems page points out, users whose computers are running non-English versions of Excel, or non-English versions of Windows, may not be able to get the current version of Lertap 5 to work on their computer.  This is unfortunate, to be sure, but, at the moment, there's not much we can do to assist.  Hopefully, given time, the non-English versions of Windows and Excel will come to have more compatibility with their English counterparts.  Our advice to non-English users is not to pay for the software until they're sure they can get it to run.

Users with Macintosh computers often have problems, especially if they have not yet upgraded to MacOS 10 (or better) -- the KnownProblems page has very relevant comments for Mac users.  Problems with Lertap on Macintosh computers have almost always something to do with memory limitations.

Okay?  Right -- let's get going.

Step 1: open the Lertap5.xls file.

Lertap 5 is an Excel workbook.  The workbook has a file name of Lertap5.xls.  The workbook has several worksheets, and many "macros".  The macros contain the special code which instruct Excel how to produce the various reports and graphs seen in the Lertap 5 manual.

The Lertap5.xls file is distributed by Assessment Systems Corporation, ASC, in the United States.  We assume you have obtained a copy of Lertap5.xls (if you haven't there's no need to continue reading this page).

Do this now: open the Lertap5.xls file.

You can open the Lertap5.xls file in different ways.  For Windows users, the most common way to open the Lertap5.xls file is to click on one of the shortcut methods created by ASC's Setup program.  When a Windows user clicks on one of the shortcuts, her or his computer will start by trying to locate the Excel program.  If Excel is found, it will be loaded into the computer's memory.  Then Excel will try to find and open the Lertap5.xls file.

Another way to open the Lertap5.xls file is to simply double-click on the file's name or icon; if you do this your computer will try to find the Excel program, and will then try to load it into your computer's main memory.  If the computer is able to load Excel, it will then get Excel to try to open the Lertap5.xls file.  This is probably the most common procedure used by Macintoshers.

A third way to open the Lertap5.xls file is to begin by starting the Excel program, and then use Excel's File options to Open the Lertap5.xls workbook.

There are several things which can go wrong here.  First of all, the computer may not be able to find Excel.  This isn't very common, but it can happen.  It's impossible to run Lertap without having Excel.

Secondly, even though the computer may be able to find and load Excel into its memory, Excel may not be able to find the Lertap5.xls file.  Sometimes users rename the file -- for example, they might rename it as Lertap.xls.  This won't work.  A file with the name Lertap5.xls is required, no other name will work.

Another problem arises when Windows users have tried to run a copy of the Lertap5.xls file which they have picked up from another computer.  This won't work -- on Windows machines you need to copy the entire Setup system, as distributed by ASC.

Now, let's say that your computer has Excel, and let's say that Excel works okay on your computer.  Great ... can you get Excel to open the Lertap5.xls file?  If things are going to go bad, this is where it's likely to happen.

It is possible that your computer will not have enough memory to open the Lertap5.xls file, and, if this is the case, some sort of error message will be produced.  The error message may be simple to understand -- for example the computer may say something like "insufficient memory".  However, chances are good the error message will not make much sense to you.  For example, the message might say "runtime error 9", or "subscript out of range".

If you are unable to open the Lertap5.xls file, we suggest you re-start your computer.  As your computer starts up again, make sure you don't open other programs, such as Word, Explorer, or Outlook.  You want to give the computer as much memory as possible to work with -- in fact you want to use only the Excel program.

Getting your computer to start Excel and open the Lertap5.xls file is where problems most often arise.  In the main these problems relate to memory limitations.  Usually such limitations have to do with how much core memory the computer has (sometimes this type of memory is referred to as RAM, for random-access memory).  On Macintosh computers, memory limitations can arise when Excel is not provided with enough working memory to operate in.

Okay, let's say your computer has Excel, and enough memory to load and open the Lertap5.xls file.  When Excel opens the Lertap5.xls file, it will find that the file contains macros.  You must have Excel configured so that its macro security is set to Medium or Low.  If Excel's macro security is set to High, Lertap's macros will not be loaded, and the Lertap toolbar will not be displayed.

If Excel's macro security is set to Medium, then your computer may ask you if you want to load, or Enable, the Lertap workbook's macros.  You must say Yes (or Okay, or Enable).  If you say No (or Cancel), then Lertap's toolbar will not be displayed.

How to set Excel's macro security level?  It's easy.  Ask Excel's Help system.  Ask for help on macro security.  One must use Excel's Tools / Macro / Security options to set macro security at either medium or low.

What's the Lertap toolbar look like?  Something like this:

You must have the Lertap toolbar displayed in order for Lertap to work.  Must, must, must!

Is all okay?  You can get the Lertap toolbar to display on your computer's screen?  Good.  This is the most important step, and you've passed it.  Proceed to Step 2.

Step 2: use the last of the New options

Click on the word New on the Lertap toolbar.  You should see this:

Now click on the last option, the one which says "Make a new Lertap 5 workbook which is a copy of the present one".

Lertap asks Excel to make a new workbook.  After a little while, you should see a message such as the following:

Step 3: click OK.

Click the OK button.  The message will disappear.

Step 4: use the second of the Run options.

Click on the word Run on the Lertap toolbar.  You should see something like this:

Click on the second option, the one which says "Interpret CCs lines".

Lertap asks Excel to execute the computer code in some of its macros.  After a little while you should see a message similar to this:

Step 5: use the third of the Run options.

Click OK to dismiss the message box.  Then, click again on the word Run on the Lertap toolbar.  You should see something like this:

Now click on the third option, "Elmillon item analysis".

More of Lertap's macros are executed by Excel, and after a little while you ought to see a message similar to this one:

Step 6: smile or frown.

So, what happened?  Are you smiling?  If not, if you were unable to get all of these steps to work as we've shown here, then do this: carefully read the KnownProblems page again.  Then write to us if you'd like -- send an email message to support@lertap.com -- please be sure to mention that you've tried to work through these steps, and tell us which step failed.  Also, be sure to tell us what type of computer you are using, and which version of Excel you have.  Thank you.