Knowledge Base

Issues

• I cannot import external data, or I get an error message "a gap was detected in the raw data"
• I imported the external data in EthoVision XT, but the values are missing
• The external signals look "stretched", or "compressed" over the time line

Cannot Import External Data or Error "A Gap Was Detected in the Raw Data"

Check carefully the prerequisites for importing external data. See Import External Data: General Information.

TIP Open one of your data files with the Notepad, and check whether there are irregularities in the file. Move the cursor between the numbers.

If there are blank spaces, not tabs between them, then in the import profile you must specify Space under Select Data Delimiters.

See also:

• Create a New Custom Import Profile
• Edit a Custom Import Profile

Imported External Data Values Are Missing

• Case: In the Integrated Visualization, you see the original signal, but not the downsampled signal as defined in the Analysis Profile:

  In most cases this could be due to the fact that the original signal is not in sync with the track data. Check the synchronization and re-import the files, or change the set of the external data by editing the start/end time.

  See Synchronize Data Manually After Import and Synchronize Data Automatically.

• Case: The external data, both original and downsampled, are absent. When trying to re-synchronize the data, the Start Date and Time and the End Date and Time are identical.

  This occurs when the original imported data (files with extension *.pbi) are not available, for example when they are stored on an external device. Make sure all files (experiment, and external data) are stored on the local drive.

External Signals Look "Stretched" or "Compressed" Over the Time Line

This may occur if one of the TCAP pulse trains, which encode the time used for alignment, is truncated. EthoVision XT calculates the average set using 10 values of time, and if one or more of the train pulses are incorrect, the data may be out of sync, or their form may look compressed or stretched.

In this example the last pulse train is shorter than the others:

1. Remove the imported data from the trial.
2. Open the original data (text) file and remove the last pulse train.
3. Re-import the edited data file.

Issues

• When I select a sample in the Sample List, the corresponding point in the track is not highlighted
• I try to move a point, but nothing happens. The software moves a point at an earlier time stamp
• When I select a group of samples of one subject, samples of another subject are also selected
• I no longer see the Track Editor toolbar
• When I click to jump to another time, video update takes very long time

Selected Sample in Sample List Does Not Highlight Corresponding Point in Track

When double-clicking a row in the Sample List, the corresponding point stays as a filled symbol, while it should be highlighted.

This occurs when the trials were recorded with EthoVision XT 17 or an earlier version. If that is the case, and provided that you still have the associated video files, clear the trials and re-do them using the same video and settings. See Redo a Trial.

Software Moves a Point at an Earlier Time Stamp

You may have noted that when you click the point you want to move, the cursor on the Sample List (indicated with a green row) jumps to another time stamp. In the video image, the point is no longer highlighted.

This happens because multiple samples overlap in the small portion of the image where you click. It is more likely to happen when you visualize the last few seconds of a track.

Solution: In the Track Plot Settings pane on the right, under Filter select Last and enter a value next to seconds. This way, only the current sample — that is, the one highlighted in blue in the Samples List — is selected.

TIP To select the nose point, hover with the mouse until the tip of the mouse cursor is near the tip of the triangle. To select the tail-base point, hover the mouse next to the lower-right corner of the square. When the mouse cursor is near the point, a four-headed cross symbol appears. Drag the point to the new position.

If the actions outlined above do not solve the issue, it may be that the trials were recorded with EthoVision XT 17 or an earlier version. If that is the case, and provided that you still have the associated video files, clear the trials and re-do them using the same video and settings. See Redo a Trial.

Selecting a Group of Samples Also Selects Samples of Another Subject

This occurs when you draw a box to select a group of samples, and the Filter option Last ... seconds is set to a value greater than zero. In that case EthoVision XT also selects the samples of other subjects that lie within the box, and have a time stamp within the interval set in the Last ... seconds option. This makes it likely that you move or delete points of other subjects unintentionally.

Solution: Set the filter to Last 0 seconds.

If the problem still occurs it is because the body points of two subjects are very close to each other, and those subjects appear in the Samples List. To avoid this issue, de-select the subject you are not editing from the Samples List.

Track Editor Toolbar Is No Longer Visible

1. Close EthoVision XT.
2. In the experiment folder, locate two files with extensions .POS and .POB respectively. Delete both files.
3. Start EthoVision XT and open the experiment.

Video Update Takes Very Long Time When Jumping to Another Time

Do one or more of the following until the problem is solved:

• From the Apps screen, under Windows System, click Run, type dxdiag and click OK. After the diagnostic procedure has been completed, click Exit.
• Restart the PC and have the computer enter hibernation mode. Then resume the PC and start EthoVision XT.
• Upgrade the video graphics card drivers.
• Change the video graphics card. Contact Noldus Information Technology for information.
• See also System Requirements: Hardware.

Source: EthoVision XT 19 Help, Noldus Information Technology