Knowledge Base

Upgrade EthoVision XT

Aim

To activate the license for a newer version of EthoVision XT.

Prerequisites

• You have an older version of EthoVision XT (17.5 or earlier) and you have just purchased a new EthoVision XT 19 license.
• You received a code (named Upgrade Key) from Noldus, either on the Welcome letter or by e-mail.
• If you have a USB hardware key, insert that in a USB port of your EthoVision XT computer.

Procedure for a Software-Based License

1. Download and install EthoVision XT from my.noldus.com. You do not need to uninstall previous EthoVision XT versions.
2. Start EthoVision XT.
3. Choose Activate software license key.
4. Choose whether to activate online or offline and follow the instructions on the screen.

Procedure for a License Stored on the Hardware Key

1. Download and install EthoVision XT from my.noldus.com. You do not need to uninstall previous EthoVision XT versions.
2. Start EthoVision XT.
3. Enter the Upgrade Key that you received from Noldus and complete the upgrade procedure.

Add New Modules to Your License

Aim

To update your EthoVision XT license after you have purchased one or more add-on modules, for example:

• The Multiple Arena module.
• The Rat Behavior Recognition module.

Prerequisites

• If you have a software license, the EthoVision XT computer must be connected to the internet, or you have a smartphone connected to the internet.
• If you have a license stored on a hardware key, insert the hardware key in a USB port of your EthoVision XT computer.

Software License - Online

If your EthoVision XT computer is connected to the internet, the license is updated automatically the next time that you start the software. You do not have to take any further action.

Software License - Offline

1. Start EthoVision XT.
2. Choose Help > Reactivate Offline.
3. In the window that appears, click the Deactivate button.
4. A QR code appears on the right. Scan that QR code with your smartphone.
5. Tap the link that appears on the smartphone, then on the smartphone tap Deactivate. The web page that opens on the smartphone shows your current license key and a code that identifies your computer. You will notice nothing changes after you have clicked Deactivate on the smartphone screen. That is ok.
6. On the computer screen, click Scanned.
7. A new QR code appears. Scan this code and tap the link that appears on the smartphone.
8. On the computer screen, next to Computer key, enter the code that appears on the smartphone.
9. A message informs you that the license has been activated, and the software closes. You can now start EthoVision XT and work as usual.

License Stored on a Hardware Key

1. Start EthoVision XT. Make sure that no experiment is open.
2. Choose Help > Upgrade.
3. Enter the Upgrade Key 1 and, if that applies, the Upgrade Key 2 that you received from Noldus.
4. Click OK to complete the upgrade procedure.

Notes

• To know which modules are included in your current license, choose Help > About EthoVision XT > License Info.

Preferences

Aim

After installing EthoVision XT, it is a good idea to set general preferences, for example where to store the experiments, the default measurement units, and so on. The options under Preferences are at the application level, meaning they are applied to all new experiments. However, default units can also be changed per experiment.

Procedure

Choose File > Preferences. The following preference categories are available:

• Preferences for default folders
• Preferences for warnings
• Preferences for auto save
• Preferences for default units
• Preferences for language
• Preferences for video settings

Notes

• To return to the default settings, click the Defaults button. This resets the default experiment folder to the location specified during installation, selects all warnings, and re-enables auto save with an interval of 5 minutes.
• When you click the Defaults button with the Default Folders tab open, the preferences for warnings, auto save and default units are also reset, and vice versa.

Preferences for Default Folders

Procedure

Choose File > Preferences > Default Folders tab.

Default Folder Location

Click Browse to specify a default location for new experiments. The initially suggested location is the location specified during installation.

Alternative Media Location

When visualizing and animating tracks, EthoVision XT needs the corresponding video files. If EthoVision XT does not find the video files in the Media Files folder of the experiment, it looks in the folder specified under Alternative media location. This can happen, for example, when you copy an experiment to another computer and the video files are not stored in the Media Files folder of the experiment but in a different folder external to the experiment, or even on a different drive. When you open the experiment on the second computer, EthoVision XT does not find the video files. To have EthoVision XT look for videos in an additional location, click Browse and select the correct location.

Preferences for Warnings

Aim

To enable or disable a warning that appears after you perform a certain action.

Procedure

Choose File > Preferences > Warnings.

Preferences for Auto Save

Aim

To enable or disable auto save of data and settings.

Procedure

Choose File > Preferences > Auto Save. Select Enable auto save. Enter the time interval at which you would like to save your data.

Notes

• Auto save saves all data (tracks, independent variables, detection settings, data and analysis profiles, and so on), just like when you save the experiment manually by choosing File > Save Experiment or pressing Ctrl+S.
• Auto saves during acquisition are suspended to prevent auto save from interfering with data acquisition.