Knowledge Base

Set Up Your Project

Main Topics

• Get Started
• Create Coding Scheme
• Independent Variables
• Project Settings
• Other Project Setup Options
• External Programs

Get Started

1. Start The Observer XT
2. Create a New Project
3. Define Project Setup
4. Define Project Settings
5. Create Coding Scheme
6. Create Independent Variables

Start The Observer XT

Aim

To start working with The Observer XT.

Procedure

The procedure depends on your license type. You may either have:

• A software license key
• One or more hardware keys

Activate The Observer XT With a Software License Key

1. Start The Observer XT and select Activate Software License Key and click OK.
2. Select either Floating or Fixed and click OK.
3. Enter the Activation key that you received with the software. If you selected Fixed you can choose between:
   • Activate Online if the PC is connected to the internet. When you click OK the Observer software opens.
   • Activate Offline if the PC does not have an internet connection. Scan the QR code with your smartphone and click WEB. Copy the Computer key shown on your smartphone to the Computer key field on the Observer PC and click OK. The Observer software opens.

What Is the Difference Between a Floating and a Fixed Activation?

When you have a software license key you can choose between a Floating and a Fixed activation.

• Floating Activation — Choose this option if you want to be flexible on which computer you use The Observer XT. If you bought, for instance, a software key with two licenses, you can simultaneously use the software on the Observer XT computer in your lab and on the computer in your office. You can install and activate The Observer XT on as many computers as you want, but with two licenses you can use the software only on two PCs at a time. If you want to use The Observer XT on a third PC, the software should not be running on one of the other two PCs. Please note that a computer must have an internet connection to activate and work with a floating license.
• Fixed Activation — A Fixed activation is linked to one computer. The advantage of a Fixed activation is that you do not need an internet connection to work with the software. If you bought a software key with two activations, you can activate The Observer on two computers. If you want to use The Observer XT on a third computer, you have to deactivate one of the licenses and activate it on the third computer. Please note that a computer must have an internet connection to activate or deactivate a Fixed license. After you have activated the license you can use The Observer XT without internet.

Instead of activating both licenses as Fixed licenses, you can also choose to activate one as Fixed and the other as Floating.

Hardware Key

1. Insert the hardware key into a USB port of the computer with The Observer XT. If it is correctly connected, a red light glows inside it.
2. Start The Observer XT. Keep the key inserted in your computer while you work with The Observer XT. If you forgot to connect the hardware key, a window opens stating that no hardware key was found. Insert the key and choose Check Hardware Key Again.
3. Continue with Create a New Project.

Create a New Project

A project is a container with all your observations, video files, and analyses. Choose File > New Project. Give the project a name, select where to store the project, and click OK. Continue with Define Project Setup.

Note: You cannot use the characters \ / : ; * ? " < > | in a filename.