Knowledge Base

Program Folder

The default folder for EthoVision XT is C:\Program Files\Noldus\EthoVision XT 19

Experiments Folder

The default folder for EthoVision XT experiments is C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\Noldus\EthoVision XT\Experiments. Each experiment has its own folder, the experiment folder. An experiment folder contains the following sub-folders:

• Bitmap Files. Contains the background images that were used in the Arena Settings and the reference images that were used in the Detection Settings.
• Configuration Files. Contains the configuration files that are created when you set the connection between EthoVision XT and hardware devices.
• Data Files. Contains the binary track files acquired during acquisition.
• Export Files. When you export your track data, manually scored behaviors, analysis results or the experiment's GLP log files, the export files are, by default, stored in this subfolder.
• External. When you import external data files, they are stored in this subfolder. In addition, the subfolder contains the sync-out files that were used for external data co-acquisition.
• Intermediate. This folder contains intermediate results.
• Log. Contains the log files if your experiment is set for Quality Assurance (GLP experiment).
• Media Files. This is the default location for media files that have been recorded during the experiment.
• Temp. This is a folder where temporary files are stored. It is usually empty.

Import Profiles

The default folder for profiles for import of physiological data is C:\ProgramData\Noldus\Common\Profiles.

The Log File for Technical Support

Locate the file in: C:\ProgramData\Noldus\EthoVision\XT 18\Log.

The Dump Files for Technical Support

Our Technical Support department may also request the dump files EthoVision XT [version number].dmp. You can find the dump files in the following locations:

• For Noldus debug-mode dump files: C:\Users\[user name]\AppData\Local\Temp.
  Tip: To access this folder, in the Windows Search field type %temp%.
• For user-mode dump files: C:\Users\[user name]\AppData\Local\CrashDumps
  A user-mode dump is a dump created for a specific process, for example an application like EthoVision XT.

Notes

• The AppData folder may be hidden on your computer. If so, in the File Explorer, from the View menu select Options and then Change folder and search options. Click the View tab and make sure that under Hidden files and folders the option Show hidden files, folders and drivers is selected.
• If EthoVision XT did not create a DMP file, do the following:
  1. Start EthoVision and use the system until it freezes. Let the software sit there frozen and proceed with the instructions below.
  2. Navigate to C:\Windows\SysWOW64, double-click on a file called Taskmgr.exe. The Task Manager opens.
  3. On the Processes tab, right-click on EthoVision XT and select Create dump file.
  4. Wait until a message pops up telling you the location of the DMP file (likely here: C:\Users\<your name>\AppData\Local\Temp\EthoVision.DMP).
  5. Close EthoVision XT, copy the DMP file and send it to Technical Support.

Back Up an Experiment

Aim: To keep a safe copy of your data, or transfer an experiment to a different computer.

Prerequisites

• The second computer must have EthoVision XT installed, with a version equal or more recent than that in the first computer.
• Note that the hardware key is necessary to acquire the data, not create or restore the backup file.

Procedure

1. Choose File > Make Backup.
   • In the Backup Experiment window, enter a name for your experiment backup file, and browse to the location in which you want to store your experiment backup file.
   • Choose the backup options (see below).
2. Copy or send the *.evz file to the final destination.
3. Restore the backup on the second computer (see below).

Backup Options

Select whether you want to:

• Include Media Files: These are the video files stored in the Media Files folder of that experiment. Important: Video files used in that experiment but stored in other locations are not copied to the backup file.
• Include Export Files: These are the result files and image files stored in the Export Files folder of that experiment.
• Include External Data Files: These are the physiological data files stored in the External folder of that experiment.
• Make backup read-only. When you select this option you get a warning in case you (accidentally) delete the backup file.

Notes

• The backup file has the extension *.evz. The file name must not contain any of the following characters: / : * ? \ " < > | . ;
• Important: Your backup files can get very big if you include your media files.
• If you have recently carried out batch statistics calculations, the backup file may be unnecessarily large. To reduce file size, for each Track Smoothing profile in your experiment click two times a Track Smoothing option (see details below). Next, make a backup.
• Make sure that your media files, export files and external data files are within the experiment folder, otherwise they will not be included in the backup.
• You should store the backup file on a secure medium (preferably a network drive), in a separate location.
• When you carry out batch statistics calculations, EthoVision XT stores the results in a number of files, one for each combination of Track Smoothing profiles, Data profiles, Analysis profiles, dependent variable, track, etc. These files are stored in the Intermediate sub-folder in the experiment folder. A large number of result files can make the backup file exceedingly large, especially when you deal with a large number of tracks and/or profiles. To remove the result files, open a Track Smoothing profile that you used for analysis and click an option two times, whether that option was selected or not. Do this for all Track Smoothing profiles that you used for analysis. Next, make a backup of your experiment. To restore the batch calculation results, repeat the batch calculation procedure.

To Restore an Experiment from the Backup File

1. Choose File > Restore Backup, or in the EthoVision Startup window, under Restore experiment, click Restore backup.
2. Browse to the location where your backup file is stored, select it and click Open.
3. Browse to the location where you want to save the experiment and click OK. The experiment folder and all associated files of the experiment are restored.

To Delete a Backup File

Do one of the following:

• Choose File > Restore Backup. In the window that opens, click the backup file you want to delete and press Delete. Click Yes to confirm.
• In Windows File Explorer, browse to the experiment backup file (*.evz) and delete it.

Source: EthoVision XT 19 Help, Noldus Information Technology