Knowledge Base

Create a Multiple Coding Station Configuration

Aim

To create a main project on a computer with a full license of The Observer XT and collect data from a number of coding stations with a coder license. You export the data from the coding stations and import them into the main project.

Prerequisites

• You have one full license of The Observer XT.
• You have at least one coder license for The Observer XT.
• You created a project with a coding scheme on the main Observer XT computer.
• You installed The Observer XT on the coding stations.

Procedure

To Copy the Project to the Coding Stations

1. On the main Observer XT computer, choose File > Save Project as Template. See Save a Project as a Template.
2. Copy the template project to each coding station. If you copy the template project to the Templates folder of The Observer XT, the program automatically locates the template. By default the location of this folder is: C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\Noldus\The Observer XT\Templates.
3. On a coding station, start The Observer XT and choose File > New Project From Template.
4. If the project is stored in the Templates folder, the correct location is selected automatically. Otherwise browse to the correct location.
5. Click the Select button and open the template project (*.otb).
6. Repeat steps 2–5 for all coding stations.

To Code on the Coding Stations

Create observations, enter independent variables, and code, like in a project with a full license. See Carry Out an Observation.

To Copy the Observations to the Main Project

1. On each coding station, choose File > Export > Observational Data. Choose the observations to export and specify whether you want to export external data and media files. Make sure that ODX files from different coding stations have unique names (for example: Coding Station 1 File 0001.odx).
2. Copy the ODX file from each coding station to the main PC.
3. In the main project, choose File > Import > Observational Data. The observations are imported in the main project, including the observational data, the independent variable values and the coding scheme. See Import Observational Data.

Notes

• If you open a template project in the Coder License version of The Observer XT, the name of the project is [name of template project] - sub.
• The Project Setup, Coding Scheme and Independent Variables in the new project are locked on the coding stations (indicated by a lock icon in the Project Explorer).
• We recommend also locking the settings of the main project, to make sure the settings stay the same. To do so, choose Setup > Lock Configuration.

Import External Data

Supported Formats

External data can be imported as .txt files and as European Data Format (EDF) and BioSemi Data Format (BDF) files. Your license must include the External Data Module to be able to import external data.

• Text files – See Import External Data as Text Files.
• EDF and BDF files – See Import European Data Format Files.

Import Viso Sessions

Aim

To import sessions made in the Noldus video recording program Viso into The Observer XT.

Prerequisites

• You have a license for Viso that includes the Annotation Module.
• If your Viso license includes User Management, your user role allows import of Viso sessions.
• You recorded sessions in Viso.
• The computer with The Observer XT is in the same network as the Viso computers.

Procedure

1. Choose File > Preferences > Viso Settings.
2. Enter the IP address of the computer with Viso Services in the Services address field. Do not change the Services port 5672, unless this was also changed in Viso.
3. Click the Test connection button. If the two computers are connected properly, the Status Connected appears.
4. Choose File > Import > Viso Sessions.
5. Enter the login details for your Viso account.
6. Select the sessions and import them.

Notes

• The Viso subjects, markers and remarks are imported into the coding scheme and event log. Viso subjects are imported as subjects, markers are imported as behaviors without duration (point events) and remarks as comments in the event log.
• If the computers are in different networks, export the sessions in Viso to The Observer XT and import the sessions (*.odx) as observational data into The Observer XT. See Import Observational Data.
• For more information on Viso sessions in The Observer XT, consult the Viso Help.