Knowledge Base

Draw Subdivided Shapes

Aim

To automatically divide a circle and a rectangular shape into a number of zones. This applies when:

• You draw an arena and you want to split it in equal zones like the four quadrants in a Morris water maze.
• Within an existing arena, draw a shape and divide it in a number of zones.

Result: Zones are automatically defined with labels S1, S2, etc. provided that the Auto-Label Zone option is active.

To Subdivide an Arena in Zones

This applies when you still have to draw the outline of the arena. See Make a Subdivided Arena.

To Divide a Shape Within an Existing Arena

1. In the Arenas and Zones section, click 2. Select Shape and Draw Zones (Optional).
2. In the Arenas and Zones section, click the zone group where you want to insert the zones that result from the subdivision.
3. Click one of the buttons on the toolbar: for circular shapes, select Subdivided 3-Point Circle or press I; for rectangular shapes, select Subdivided Rectangle or press U.
4. Draw the shape.
5. In the Add Subdivided Circle/Rectangle window: for circular shapes, enter the number of sectors (for example, 4 for quadrants in a Morris water maze); for rectangular arenas, enter the number of rows and columns. A total of rows x columns equal zones will be defined.

Result: in the Arenas and Zones section, the zones are defined in the zone group that you clicked in step 2.

The Subdivision Zones Group

Subdivision Zones is a zone group that includes the zones created in a subdivided arena.

Note: The Subdivision Zones zone group is not created when you subdivide a shape within an existing arena.

Subdivision Segments

A subdivided shape is defined by a number of segments. Move and resize a segment just like with other shapes.

Move, Rotate and Resize a Shape

Important: Whenever you edit an arena or zone, make sure the arrow point of the corresponding label stays within the shape.

To Move a Shape

1. On the Arena Settings toolbar, click the Normal mode button or press V.
2. Move the mouse pointer over the shape, so the pointer becomes a move pointer. Then click the object and move it.

To Rotate a Shape

1. Click the Rotation mode button on the Arena Settings toolbar or press R.
2. Move the mouse pointer over the shape, so the pointer becomes a rotation pointer.
3. Click the object with the left mouse button, keep the mouse button pressed and move the pointer to rotate the shape.
4. Click Normal mode again when you are done rotating.

To Resize a Shape (or Multiple Shapes)

1. Click the Normal mode button on the toolbar (or press V), and select the shape. For multiple shapes, drag the mouse around all shapes.
2. Use the handles to resize the shape.

To resize a rectangle also at the opposite side, press Ctrl and move the resize handle.

To Rescale a Shape

If you rescale a shape, the size changes but the aspect ratio is maintained.

1. Click the Normal mode button on the toolbar (or press V), then select the shape. For multiple shapes, drag the mouse around all shapes.
2. Use the resize handles at the corners of the shape.

To rescale the shape with the center point of the shape as the reference point, press Ctrl and move the resize handle.

To rescale the shape with the opposite corner handle as the reference point, press Shift and move the resize handle.

To Reshape a Shape

1. Click the Point Edit mode button on the toolbar (or press P).
2. Click and drag the handles at the corners to a new position.
3. Select Normal mode when you are done reshaping.

To Add or Remove Corners in a Shape

1. Click the Point Edit mode button on the toolbar (or press P).
2. To add a corner, click on the contour of the shape. To remove a corner, right-click the corner and select Remove Point.

Work With Multiple Arenas

• Calibrate multiple arenas
• Duplicate an arena
• Add and delete an arena
• Arrange arenas with the Multiple Arena Setup

Calibrate Multiple Arenas

When the video image includes two or more arenas, by default the calibration is shared. This means that the calibration is used for all arenas.

When you need more accurate calibration, for example when the distance between individual arenas and the camera varies, you can calibrate each arena individually.

To Make Calibration Unshared

To make the default shared calibration unshared and calibrate individual arenas, in the Arenas and Zones section, right-click Calibration and select Unshare This Calibration.

Next, calibrate each arena. See Calibrate the Arena.

To Make Calibration Shared

In the Arenas and Zones section, right-click the calibration you want to share and select Share This Calibration.