Knowledge Base

Install EthoVision XT

1. Browse to https://my.noldus.com.
2. Log in or register using the registration code on your welcome letter.
3. Click Downloads, then EthoVision XT. Under Versions, download the EthoVision XT 18 - Installation Package [version number] zip file.
4. Unzip the file and save the content to your PC.
5. Double-click the file EthoVision XT - Setup - [version number].exe.
6. Under Set Application Language, select either English (United States) or Chinese (Simplified). Under Installation type, select Standard.

Notes

• You can also change the language at any time in EthoVision XT. Choose File > Preferences > Language, then close and restart EthoVision XT.
• If you want to use video cameras with EthoVision XT, first install the appropriate camera interface boards and drivers on the EthoVision XT computer. For details, see Camera Installation in the EthoVision XT Help. To open the Help, press F1 in the software.
• If you save the installation files on a network drive before installation, copy them to your PC before running the Setup file. Make sure that all files included in the installation zip file are copied to your PC.

Activate Your License

With a USB Hardware Key

If you have a hardware key, insert it into a USB port of the computer and start EthoVision XT. If you upgrade your EthoVision XT license, start EthoVision XT and enter the Upgrade key in the window that opens.

With a Software License Key

If you received a software license key, start EthoVision XT and activate your license. Choose between a Floating license or a Computer-locked license.

• Floating — The license can be used on different computers, though not simultaneously. Choose this solution if you want to be flexible on which computer you use EthoVision XT to acquire data, and your computers are connected to the internet.
• Computer-locked — The license is linked to one specific computer. To activate your license, that computer must have an internet connection, or you must have a smartphone with an internet connection.

If you want to use EthoVision XT on a second PC to analyze existing data, not acquire new data, you can run it on that PC in Analysis mode, which does not require a license.

Your First EthoVision XT Experiment

Create an Experiment

EthoVision XT creates an experiment based on the choices you make in the following guided procedure. For example, the type and color of the animals, the test enclosure, etc.

1. In the EthoVision XT Startup window, under New experiment, click New from template or choose File > New from Template.
2. Select Apply a pre-defined template and follow the instructions in the setup guide. Choose whether you track from video files or live, select the study species, the type of arena, etc.
3. In the New Experiment window, enter a Name for your experiment.
4. Browse to the Location in which you want to store your experiment. Then click OK.
5. You are now ready to complete setting up your experiment. You must complete the arena set-up and adjust the Detection Settings. You can optionally make a Trial List, Trial Control Settings, and Manual Scoring Settings.

Notes

• If your test setup is not among those included in the template list, choose File > New. This way you create an experiment without predefined settings.
• If you work with the DanioVision Observation Chamber, see the DanioVision DVOC-0041 - Reference Manual.

Working with EthoVision XT Experiments

An EthoVision XT experiment is the container of all information related to an experimental setup. The Experiment Explorer lists all components of the experiment currently open.

By default, your experiment is located in:

C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\Noldus\EthoVision XT\Experiments\

All experiment files are stored in a folder with the same name as the experiment.

Note: Settings and Profiles are collections of settings that belong to a specific function, for example the arena. You can define multiple settings and later choose which to use for a specific trial or group of trials. For example, in a water maze experiment, for a first set of trials, use Arena Settings 1 with the platform defined in a specific quadrant. For another set of trials, use Arena Settings 2 where the platform is defined in a different quadrant.

Important Experiment Components

1. Experiment Settings — Basic properties that do not change throughout the experiment.
2. Arena Settings — Draw the arena and zones.
3. Detection Settings — Detect the subject in your camera image.
4. Acquisition — Record data and video.
5. Data Profiles — Select which part of your data to analyze.
6. Analysis Profiles — Specify output variables (distance, speed, etc.).
7. Results — Results options.

Source: EthoVision XT 18 - THC - Trial and Hardware Control, Noldus Information Technology