Knowledge Base

Introduction

What Is uLog?

uLog is a tool for automatic recording of user-computer interaction. With uLog you can log basic computer events such as mouse clicks, scrolling, activating windows and typing words. It creates .odx log files that can be imported into The Observer XT, synchronized with manually scored events and other data, and analyzed in this program.

Logging computer events can be started and stopped manually, but you can also control uLog with commands from The Observer XT. This allows easy synchronization of logged events with manually scored events in The Observer XT.

The following computer events are logged with uLog:

• Key presses.
• Strings, which are a sequence of related characters, like words.
• Special keys like Ctrl and Alt.
• Combinations of keys with special keys like Ctrl + S.
• Mouse clicks and double-clicks.
• Mouse drags.
• Position of mouse clicks, double-clicks and drags.
• Mouse wheel turns.
• Starting and closing applications.
• Windows activated.
• Message boxes activated.

Information About The Observer XT

uLog 3.5 is supported with The Observer XT 12.5 or higher. We assume that you are familiar with the procedures of The Observer XT. The Observer XT Help can be accessed with the shortcut on the desktop of the computer with The Observer XT. You can also download a PDF of The Observer XT Help from the Noldus website: browse to my.noldus.com, create an account or log into your existing MyNoldus account and click on Downloads.

Please note that uLog logs all keyboard and mouse activity, so also typed passwords. Please make sure your test participants are aware of this before you start the test.

Please note that special keys that require double key presses like ', or ~ may not be logged properly with some keyboard layouts. Change the keyboard layout if you notice this. To do so click the Keyboard layout icon in the task bar (bottom right corner of your screen) and select a new keyboard layout.

Installation

Requirements

uLog 3.5 was tested with The Observer XT 17 on computers with the 64-bit Professional editions of Windows 11 and Windows 10. It was tested with the US English language pack. It is possible that certain local language versions of Windows may affect how well the program runs.

Installation

To install uLog:

1. Download uLog_3.5.zip from the Noldus website: browse to my.noldus.com, create an account or log into your existing MyNoldus account and then click Downloads. You can find the file under The Observer XT → Versions.
2. Copy the file to the test participant PC.
3. Right-click the zip file, select Extract All, select the location where you want to save the uLog file and click Extract. This creates a folder named uLog containing the program file uLog.exe. Note this location, because you need it later.

It also creates a folder named uLog in the folder C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\Noldus. This is the default location where the log files are stored.

Source: EthoVision XT 18 - THC - Trial and Hardware Control, Noldus Information Technology