Knowledge Base

Observations with Multiple Event Logs

Observations and Event Logs

While you carry out an observation, events and comments are logged in what is called an Event Log. The data from your whole observation are stored in one event log. If you import event data from an external program, like FaceReader emotional expressions, or event data from an eye tracker, these are imported as separate event logs. Furthermore, Pocket Observer files and files from certain Plug-ins, such as the questionnaire tool Noldus uASQ, are also stored as separate event logs within your observation. So one observation can contain more than one event log (see the figure below). But you cannot add events in The Observer XT to the imported event logs.

Video files are also part of an observation. Similarly, if you import external data (see Import External Data as Text Files in File Management), those are part of an observation as well, although they are stored in separate files.

Manage Observations with Multiple Event Logs

Import Event Logs into an Observation

1. Export the event logs as ODX files. See Export Observational Data in File Management.
2. Open the observation, and click the Import Data button, then choose Import Observational Data.
3. Select The Observer XT Data File (*.odx) from the Files of Type list, and open your file.

Note: If the ODX file contains more than one observation, only the event logs from the first observation are imported. To make sure that each ODX file contains one observation, select Create Separate File Per Observation when exporting the event logs.

Check That Data Are Imported Correctly

1. Choose Analyze > Visualize Data and select your observation.
2. Check that the event logs are properly aligned, and that the data you want to analyze fall within the white area. The left margin of the white area is Observation Start Time. The right margin is Observation Stop Time. Make sure that all your data fall in this interval.
3. If the alignment is not correct, re-open the observation and click the Offset button to adjust the time between event logs. See Synchronize Data Sets.
4. If some data fall outside the white area, change the observation's start time and duration.

Note: If you cannot select your observation, you may have a data profile active that does not contain your observation. Also make sure that no intervals are defined in your data profile. See Select Data for Analysis.

Source: The Observer XT 17 Help - Carry Out an Observation, Noldus Information Technology