Knowledge Base

Install EthoVision XT

To 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 19 - 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 about which computer you use EthoVision XT on 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 components in your experiment:

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

The Experiment's Basic Properties

Choose Setup > Experiment Settings.

Specify the options listed below. Depending on your EthoVision XT license, some of the options may not be available. If you created a new template experiment, you already specified most properties of your experiment.

Video Source

Choose whether you want to track From video files or from the live camera image (Live tracking). In the latter case, select the cameras that you are going to use. If your cameras are not listed, install the camera drivers. See Camera Installation in the EthoVision XT Help.

Number of Arenas

An arena is a closed space where subjects move. Select the total number of arenas in your camera images. For example, select 1 for one water maze or open field; select 4 for four open fields, or four PhenoTyper cages.

Number of Subjects per Arena

Specify how many individuals per arena you want to track. Note: Because this guide applies to the Base version of EthoVision XT, it assumes that you track one subject per arena.

Tracked Features

Select which body points you want EthoVision XT to detect: the center-point only or the center-point with nose-point and tail-base.

Body Point Detection Technique

If you track the nose-point and the tail-base point, select which technique should be used: the contour of the subject or a trained neural network (Deep learning). The Deep learning option only applies to rodents, and with one or two subjects per arena.

Analysis Options

With Activity analysis, you can have EthoVision XT detect behaviors like freezing in rodents and immobility in the Porsolt swim test. With Behavior recognition, EthoVision XT detects several rodent behaviors like grooming, sniffing, and rearing.

Units

Select the measurement units you prefer.

Source: EthoVision XT 19 - Quick Start Guide