TANZER, J.
The defendant was convicted after a jury trial of four counts of robbery in the first degree. ORS 164.415. He appeals, assigning several rulings as error.
First, he assigns the failure of the presiding judge to grant his motion for a continuance and of the trial judge to grant his renewed motion for a continuance.
The motion before the presiding judge was oral and conclusory. ORS 136.070
Compliance with ORS 136.070 by making a showing in writing is more than a formality to satisfy appellate courts. It is designed to provide a basis upon which a trial judge can make a discretionary ruling in an intelligent and informed manner. A motion and affidavit are to be made for purposes of obtaining a continuance, not for the perfection of an appeal. Therefore, compliance with ORS 136.070 must be prior to trial, and non-timely compliance must be regarded as no compliance at all.
We note in passing that there is no egregious error. The affidavit and the oral showing rest upon the absence of a hospitalized witness and of another witness who was in Hawaii. The hospitalized witness Avas one of the investigating detectives who was expected to remain hospitalized for seven or eight months. There is no indication of how a situation which would be expected to weaken the state’s case would also be to the defendant’s disadvantage at trial. There is no showing as to what the Avitness in Hawaii Avould have added to the defendant’s ease. Defense counsel asserts outside the record that she Avould have been an alibi Avitness, but the defense produced at least six alibi witnesses other than the absent witness. We cannot say that the failure to delay the trial to accommodate an additional alibi witness was an abuse of discretion.
The motion for continuance before the trial judge was based additionally upon the unexpected availability of John Costello as a witness, about which there [7]*7is additional discussion below. The court made adequate provisions for defendant’s problems in this regard. We are satisfied that the trial court exercised its discretion properly.
The next assignment of error also deals with a belated attempt to make a record which was not made in a timely and accurate fashion. Defendant assigns the denial of a portion of his motion for new trial which asserts:
“There was an irregularity in the proceedings of the Court in that the defense was allowed only six pre-emptory [sic] challenges when picking the jury, after having been told by the Court that there would be twelve challenges allowed in this case. * * *"
The motion is supported by counsel’s affidavit which alleges:
“On April 4, 1973, this trial began and during the selection of the jury, a mistrial was granted by the Honorable Richard Burke. Prior to picking that jury, Judge Burke indicated, in chambers, that the defense would have twelve challenges in this case, since it was such a serious case.
“On April 5, 1973, a new jury was selected, and after six challenges Judge Burke ordered the jury sworn. At that time I made it known to Judge Burke that I was under the impression that the defense had twelve challenges and that I was not satisfied with the jury at that point. Judge Burke indicated that the Oregon Revised Statutes provide for six challenges in this type of criminal proceeding and that he had so indicated this prior to picking the second jury. I did not hear him so indicate.”
There was no transcript made of the proceedings which the affidavit alleges were held in chambers. As far as we can tell, no reporter was present. This [8]*8court has before indicated its express disapproval of the conduct of any portion of a criminal proceeding off the record. See, e.g., State v. Pflieger, 15 Or App 383, 515 P2d 1348 (1973). A report should be available for transcription in the event that any portion of a criminal proceeding serves as the basis of an assignment of error. The lack of a transcript, however, does not require reversal.
The effect of a deficiency in the record upon an appeal must be determined in light of the statutory requirement that we presume official regularity in the circuit court proceedings. ORS 41.360 (15);② State v. Spicer, 3 Or App 120, 125, 473 P2d 147 (1970); State v. Ellison, 209 Or 672, 678-679, 307 P2d 1050 (1957); cf. State v. Rohde, 245 Or 593, 421 P2d 690, cert den 387 US 924, 87 S Ct 2043, 18 L Ed 2d 981 (1967).
An appellate court does not rule upon abstract claims of error, but only upon specific rulings of the trial court. State v. Baker, 242 Or 207, 408 P2d 928 (1965). It is the responsibility of the aggrieved party to see that his claim of error is properly presented to the trial court for immediate resolution or cure. If dissatisfied, it is appellant’s responsibility to see to it that the ruling has been properly preserved, designated as part of the record, and presented to the appellate court. If the appellant has failed to properly preserve the ruling which he claims as error, then the ruling is not subject to review. State v. Lemon, 251 Or 606, 447 P2d 394 (1968); State v. Gill, 3 Or App 488, 495-496, 474 P2d 23 (1970); State v. Skrelunas, 1 Or App 182, 185, 460 P2d 869 (1969).
[9]*9 A motion for new trial cannot be used as a substitute for a timely presentation of the claim of error to the trial court. After verdict, it is too late for the trial court to remedy whatever error may have occurred. Therefore, the denial of a motion for new trial based upon irregularities at trial does not of itself preserve an issue for appellate review. State v. Thomson, 203 Or 1, 16, 278 P2d 142 (1954).
In this case the claim of error was initially brought to the trial court’s attention at about the time that the jury was sworn. The error, if any, could have been promptly remedied. Cf. State v. Sands, 2 Or App 575, 586, 469 P2d 795, rev den (1970), where voir dire was reopened. We cannot know here what ruling, if any, the trial court was asked to make or what curative action the court offered to take.
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TANZER, J.
The defendant was convicted after a jury trial of four counts of robbery in the first degree. ORS 164.415. He appeals, assigning several rulings as error.
First, he assigns the failure of the presiding judge to grant his motion for a continuance and of the trial judge to grant his renewed motion for a continuance.
The motion before the presiding judge was oral and conclusory. ORS 136.070
Compliance with ORS 136.070 by making a showing in writing is more than a formality to satisfy appellate courts. It is designed to provide a basis upon which a trial judge can make a discretionary ruling in an intelligent and informed manner. A motion and affidavit are to be made for purposes of obtaining a continuance, not for the perfection of an appeal. Therefore, compliance with ORS 136.070 must be prior to trial, and non-timely compliance must be regarded as no compliance at all.
We note in passing that there is no egregious error. The affidavit and the oral showing rest upon the absence of a hospitalized witness and of another witness who was in Hawaii. The hospitalized witness Avas one of the investigating detectives who was expected to remain hospitalized for seven or eight months. There is no indication of how a situation which would be expected to weaken the state’s case would also be to the defendant’s disadvantage at trial. There is no showing as to what the Avitness in Hawaii Avould have added to the defendant’s ease. Defense counsel asserts outside the record that she Avould have been an alibi Avitness, but the defense produced at least six alibi witnesses other than the absent witness. We cannot say that the failure to delay the trial to accommodate an additional alibi witness was an abuse of discretion.
The motion for continuance before the trial judge was based additionally upon the unexpected availability of John Costello as a witness, about which there [7]*7is additional discussion below. The court made adequate provisions for defendant’s problems in this regard. We are satisfied that the trial court exercised its discretion properly.
The next assignment of error also deals with a belated attempt to make a record which was not made in a timely and accurate fashion. Defendant assigns the denial of a portion of his motion for new trial which asserts:
“There was an irregularity in the proceedings of the Court in that the defense was allowed only six pre-emptory [sic] challenges when picking the jury, after having been told by the Court that there would be twelve challenges allowed in this case. * * *"
The motion is supported by counsel’s affidavit which alleges:
“On April 4, 1973, this trial began and during the selection of the jury, a mistrial was granted by the Honorable Richard Burke. Prior to picking that jury, Judge Burke indicated, in chambers, that the defense would have twelve challenges in this case, since it was such a serious case.
“On April 5, 1973, a new jury was selected, and after six challenges Judge Burke ordered the jury sworn. At that time I made it known to Judge Burke that I was under the impression that the defense had twelve challenges and that I was not satisfied with the jury at that point. Judge Burke indicated that the Oregon Revised Statutes provide for six challenges in this type of criminal proceeding and that he had so indicated this prior to picking the second jury. I did not hear him so indicate.”
There was no transcript made of the proceedings which the affidavit alleges were held in chambers. As far as we can tell, no reporter was present. This [8]*8court has before indicated its express disapproval of the conduct of any portion of a criminal proceeding off the record. See, e.g., State v. Pflieger, 15 Or App 383, 515 P2d 1348 (1973). A report should be available for transcription in the event that any portion of a criminal proceeding serves as the basis of an assignment of error. The lack of a transcript, however, does not require reversal.
The effect of a deficiency in the record upon an appeal must be determined in light of the statutory requirement that we presume official regularity in the circuit court proceedings. ORS 41.360 (15);② State v. Spicer, 3 Or App 120, 125, 473 P2d 147 (1970); State v. Ellison, 209 Or 672, 678-679, 307 P2d 1050 (1957); cf. State v. Rohde, 245 Or 593, 421 P2d 690, cert den 387 US 924, 87 S Ct 2043, 18 L Ed 2d 981 (1967).
An appellate court does not rule upon abstract claims of error, but only upon specific rulings of the trial court. State v. Baker, 242 Or 207, 408 P2d 928 (1965). It is the responsibility of the aggrieved party to see that his claim of error is properly presented to the trial court for immediate resolution or cure. If dissatisfied, it is appellant’s responsibility to see to it that the ruling has been properly preserved, designated as part of the record, and presented to the appellate court. If the appellant has failed to properly preserve the ruling which he claims as error, then the ruling is not subject to review. State v. Lemon, 251 Or 606, 447 P2d 394 (1968); State v. Gill, 3 Or App 488, 495-496, 474 P2d 23 (1970); State v. Skrelunas, 1 Or App 182, 185, 460 P2d 869 (1969).
[9]*9 A motion for new trial cannot be used as a substitute for a timely presentation of the claim of error to the trial court. After verdict, it is too late for the trial court to remedy whatever error may have occurred. Therefore, the denial of a motion for new trial based upon irregularities at trial does not of itself preserve an issue for appellate review. State v. Thomson, 203 Or 1, 16, 278 P2d 142 (1954).
In this case the claim of error was initially brought to the trial court’s attention at about the time that the jury was sworn. The error, if any, could have been promptly remedied. Cf. State v. Sands, 2 Or App 575, 586, 469 P2d 795, rev den (1970), where voir dire was reopened. We cannot know here what ruling, if any, the trial court was asked to make or what curative action the court offered to take. We cannot determine whether error was committed and we will not presume it. If counsel feels the error to have been important at the time, rather than upon hindsight after an unsatisfactory verdict, it is not too great an obligation for him to assure that any protest to the court and the ruling thereon are properly preserved by seeing that the reporter is present and functioning. That was not done in this case.
Instead, counsel raised the issue approximately one month later at the hearing on the motion for new trial. The hearing gave opportunity for counsel and the trial court to express their memories of what had occurred, but does not substitute for an accurate record. Their representations do not necessarily imply that the trial court erred. Rather, it appears that the court acted properly during the second jury selection but that defense counsel suffered a momentary lapse of understanding, such as those to which lawyers are [10]*10occasionally subject in the course of litigation,③ or, as his affidavit alleges, he simply did not hear.④
[11]*11The recollections of the court and counsel demonstrate regularity at least as well as they suggest irregularity. Such a record is insufficient to overcome [12]*12the presumption of official regularity and the well-established allocation of responsibility to the appellant to present and preserve his claim of error. This assignment of error gives no cause to disturb the judgment.
Defendant next complains that the prosecutor was allowed to ask a defense witness the names of the crimes of which she had been convicted and the time and place of conviction. Allowance of such questions and answers was proper. State v. Gardner, 16 Or App 464, 518 P2d 1341 (1974).
The next two assignments of error deal with problems presented by the testimony for the state of John Costello, a co-defendant, who was at the time of trial confined under treatment at the Oregon State Hospital for mental illness.
The trial court handled a delicate and complex trial problem with a careful regard for all appropriate legal considerations. While its explanations were not always crystalline models of extemporaneous articulation, it is clear that discretion was exercised with the good sense of a trial judge who was close to the action and that we, as an appellate court, should not second-guess from the distance except for compelling considerations.
[13]*13Appellant assigns two rulings as error: (1) the trial court’s determination of the competency of John Costello to testify as a witness, and (2) the trial court’s disallowance of a cross-examination question offered purportedly to demonstrate Costello’s mental condition.
As to the first issue, it is well established that the competency of a witness to testify must be determined by the trial court and that determination will not be set aside on appeal except for abuse of discretion. State v. Pace, 187 Or 498, 212 P2d 755 (1949); State v. Stich, 5 Or App 511, 484 P2d 861 (1971). Where, as here, there is reason to doubt the competency of the proffered witness, a voir dire hearing is properly held. The standard to be applied at such a hearing is that found in ORS 44.020 which provides in pertinent part:
“All persons, except as provided in ORS 44.030, who, having organs of sense can perceive, and perceiving can make known their perceptions to others, may be witnesses. * *
Also, ORS 44.030 provides in pertinent part:
“The following persons are not competent witnesses :
“(1) Those of unsound mind at the time of their production for examination.
* * # # JJ
Mental defect is not of itself a disqualification of the witness. A developmentally disabled person, for example, may have limited intelligence and awareness of the world around him, but may nevertheless be able to perceive and recall with great accuracy events which affect his life. Similarly, one suffering from mental illness may nevertheless be able to perceive, remember and relate if that illness is not of a variety [14]*14or degree which affects those abilities. Therefore, it is only those mental defects which interfere with the ability to perceive and relate as required by ORS 44.020 that disqualify a witness on general competency grounds or for being of “unsound mind” as provided in ORS 44.030 (1).
The trial court made a careful preliminary inquiry into the witness’ mental state prior to ruling him testimonially competent. Dr. Edward M. Colbaeh, a psychiatrist, was called as a court’s witness. Dr. Colbach examined Costello. His questions, e.g., “Know who the President is now?,” were of a testing nature rather than testimonial. The examination related to Costello’s orientation, intelligence, power of abstraction, and ability to recollect data furnished to him during the questioning. Based upon his in-court examination, Dr. Colbaeh advised the court that in his opinion the witness was not competent to testify at a trial.
The court also called Dr. Wesley Weissert, Costello’s treating psychiatrist at the Oregon State Hospital. He testified that Costello had hallucinations in the past involving the voices of his deceased father and brother telling him to kill himself. He had related visions of an armed person trying to kill him. Upon attempting to commit suicide at Rocky Butte Jail, he was transferred to the Oregon State Hospital. Dr. Weissert testified:
“I think that he’s competent to relate the events pertaining to this burglary. He has a lot of deficits, as has been pointed out in front of us, as to his intellectual capabilities, but he can relate in a logical sequence the facts that happened to him during his lifetime, and part of his memory deficit, I think is related to the treatment that he has had at the hospital. He was very, very ill when he came in and [15]*15he didn’t respond to medication, so that we gave him a few electroshock treatments, and one of the side effects that usually is very self-limiting following this, and I think that his memory is sufficiently returned and I think that he can remember well enough events that have happened in his life, that I would consider him to be competent.”
He further testified that Costello is given tranquilizers to prevent hallucinations which would have no effect whatever upon his testimony. Costello had testified in response to Dr. Colbach’s questions that he had not had an hallucination since leaving Rocky Butte Jail. Dr. Weissert also stated that Costello “is still sick, but I don’t think this is the main concern or factor in whether he can testify or is competent. I think he’s still mentally ill.”
In addition, the court questioned Costello, particularly as to motivation, and, unlike the reviewing court, observed the witness. The record demonstrates a witness who was illiterate and non-verhal, although reasonably able to function with numbers. He appeared to have limited intelligence, but that does not disqualify a witness. As the Supreme Court stated in State v. Canton, 76 Or 51, 57, 147 P 927 (1915):
“* * * That he is weak-minded appears from a perusal of his testimony, but this intellectual condition is not the ‘unsoundness of mind’ which is meant by the statute. * * *”
While Costello had memory deficits, they did not appear to be related to the events regarding which he was called to testify. There is no indication that his hallucinations existed at the time of the crime, that they related in any way to the events or personages of the crime, or that they continued to affect Costello at the time he was required to function as a witness. [16]*16Therefore, as Wigmore puts the rule, they do not interfere with his testimonial capacity in this ease:
“* * * [T]he inquiry is always as to the relation of the derangement or defect to the subject to be testified about. If on this subject no aberration appears, the person is acceptable, however untrustworthy on other subjects * * (original emphasis). 2 Wigmore, Evidence 586, § 492 (3d ed 1940).
We are satisfied that the trial judge properly measured the evidence against the standards of perception and communication set forth in ORS 44.020 and, particularly in view of the preference toward allowing the jury to be the ultimate judges of the quality of evidence,⑤ it is clear that the trial court acted lawfully and discreetly.
Having approved of the manner in which the judge conducted the function of the court, we now turn to the propriety of the manner in which he allowed [17]*17the jury to perform its function. The trial court generalized that it would allow limited inquiry into the witness’ mental condition, but would not allow the inquiry to go far afield.
Prior to the calling of the witness, the trial court advised defense counsel:
“THE COURT: You might give some thought before we resume this afternoon, I think the other day I told you I wouldn’t permit you to ask where he’s [Costello] been the last couple months, down at the hospital, but on reflection, I think you may have a right to * * * so I think you may have a right to go into where he’s been and let the jury weigh the entire matter that he’s being treated down there for problems. I don’t know, but you think about it and see if you find a little law on it.
“MR. SUSAK [defense counsel]: I will.”
The trial court alerted the jury that there were special problems in regard to Costello’s testimony. Upon the calling of Costello as a witness, the court advised them as follows:
“Now, members of the jury, before this witness testifies, I’m going to advise you that this witness is the John Costello that you’ve been hearing about in this trial up to this stage, and I’m going to further advise you that Mr. Costello was sent to the Oregon State Hospital by me when I was Chief Criminal Judge about two months ago for treatment for emotional condition. Now, after our recess this morning, we had a hearing as prescribed by law, at which time I made a ruling and adjudged him competent to testify in this trial, but I want you to know where he’s been and for what reasons. And by said ruling, of course, that permits him to testify and of course, how much weight you want to give this man’s testimony is entirely up to you, like it would be with any other witness. But as a matter [18]*18of law, I have ruled that he’s legally competent to testify.”
The question asked and the sustained objection which found the second ruling assigned as error on appeal occurred during cross-examination:
“Q Mr. Costello, you’ve indicated that you have a good memory. Can you remember who the President of the United States is?
“A No.
“THE COURT: Just a minute. We went through that this afternoon. Go ahead, for the record.
“MR. YOUNGMAN: I object to that as being irrelevant.
“THE COURT: The objection is sustained, and I don’t want you to go through any questions we discussed at this hearing this morning when I had to rule on the ability of this witness, whether he was competent or not to testify.
66* * * * *
“THE COURT: All right. I’m going to permit you to ask him, if its relevant to this case, but you’re not going to go into questions to test him upon his ability to testify because I’ve already ruled on that. It’s up to the jury to weigh his testimony.
66* * * * *
“THE COURT: Now before we proceed any further, Mr. Susak, I want to clarify my ruling a while ago when I said I’m not going to let you go into matters we covered such as does he know who the President is. If you want to ask any questions relevant to the incident or the alleged robberies, that might test his memory that night, that’s fine, but on the matters that aren’t relevant as to what happened that night, as I indicated, I’m directing you not to —
“MR. SUSAK: All right.
“THE COURT: — askhiip.”
[19]*19The question regarding the identity of the president was one among the many questions asked of the witness by Dr. Colbach during the in camera psychiatric examination. Counsel confirmed on appeal that it was his intention to continue asking the same questions as Dr Colbach had asked during the examination.⑥
Great latitude should be given to the cross-examiner to test the memory and competency of the witness, but there are bounds to that latitude. ‘While the drawing of the bounds is largely within the discretion of the trial judge, the considerations are different for attacks upon veracity or credibility, and attacks upon competency or memory, see McCormick, Evidence 93, § 45 (Hornbook series 1972), and we are here concerned only with the latter. An attack upon competency does not allow an unlimited inquiry into the mental history and condition of a witness. Such a general psychiatric or psychological inquiry would shed more confusion than light. Only those mental limitations which would affect perception and recall [20]*20are permissible in an attack upon the memory and recall of the witness. As stated in 2 Wigmore, Evidence, § 932:
“The existence of a derangement of the sort termed insanity is admissible to discredit, provided that it affected the witness at the time of the affair testified to, or while on the stand or in the meantime so as to cripple his powers of recollection.”
The precise issue in this case, then, is whether the trial court precluded cross-examination dealing with mental limitations or treatment which relate to the ability of the witness to perceive, remember and relate the facts of the crime. Cf. State v. Goodin, 8 Or App 15, 30, 492 P2d 287, rev den (1972). Such questions as Dr. Colbach asked and counsel desired to ask, while doubtlessly helpful psychiatric tools, do not appear to relate to the ability of the witness to recollect events in his life. For example, while Dr. Oolbach demonstrated that Costello had difficulty reciting four digits in reverse order and remembering a street address which the examiner told him, Costello as a witness appeared to have a command of event-related numbers which appeared to be unaffected by mental limitations. Regarding the event in question, he testified:
“Q (By Mr. Youngman [the prosecutor]): Mr. Costello, were there any guns involved?
“A Yes.
“Q What were those guns ?
“A A .45, a 30.06, and .22.
“Q Will you tell the jury who had which gun?
“A Danny Longoria had the .45,1 had the 30.06, and Jimmy Longoria had the .22.”
In a proper case, where there is indication that a witness suffers mental impairment affecting his testimonial capability, it may be proper to allow psy[21]*21chiatrie or psychological evidence to assist the jury in assessing the ability of that witness to perceive, remember and relate.⑦ We need not so decide in this case because none was offered. A cross-examiner, however, should not be allowed to attempt to emulate a psychiatric examination before the jury, as defense counsel did here, any more than counsel should attempt to emulate a cardiological, neurological or proctological examination in open court. There is no assurance that the examination will be competently performed by the lawyer⑧ and the spectacle looms of alternating evidence with one lawyer showing that the witness cannot recite digits backwards and adverse counsel showing that the witness can remember them forwards, and then both going on to other tests. Such a procedure would have no discernible tendency to assist the jury. The court properly restricted cross-examination to those questions which reflected on the witness’ ability to remember the events of the night in question and defense counsel availed himself fully of the opportunity for accepted forms of cross-examination.
The cross-examiner is entitled to ask any witness questions relating to past or present mental condition or treatment which common experience or expert testimony shows to be related specifically to the ability to so testify. We need not draw the perimeter of [22]*22permissibility of such evidence in this case, however, because there was no offer of proof to demonstrate that the question in issue was related to the ability of the witness to perceive, remember and relate the facts in issue. Furthermore, the defendant made no offer of proof as to what further questions he wished to ask and what answers would be received. Therefore, we have no way of determining whether the exclusion of the evidence was prejudicial. State v. Walker, 5 Or App 47, 478 P2d 643 (1971); State v. Jenkins, 246 Or 280, 424 P2d 894 (1967); Jones v. Mitchell Bros., 266 Or 513, 511 P2d 347 (1973). The failure to make an offer of proof is particularly significant in view of the court’s early instruction to counsel that he was open to argument as to the extent of cross-examination regarding Costello’s mental condition. No error was committed.
The defendant also assigns as error the denial of a motion for mistrial and of his motion for a new trial as it related to purported newly discovered evidence. We have reviewed the record fully and find no error to have been committed. However, discussion on these pages would not be useful to the bench and bar in the conduct of subsequent cases.
Affirmed.
ORS 136.070 provides:
“When an indictment is at issue upon a question of fact and before the same is called for trial, the court may, upon sufficient cause shown by the affidavit of the defendant or the statement of the district attorney, direct the trial to be postponed for a reasonable period of time; and all affidavits or papers read on either side upon the application shall be first filed with the clerk.”