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Other Software

To start and stop recording in UltraVox XT from EthoVision XT or The Observer XT.

Example: You plan to video-track animals with EthoVision XT or record their behavior with The Observer XT and, at the same time, record ultrasound with UltraVox XT. For ease of use you want to start and stop recording with one click, in such a way the UltraVox data and the EthoVision XT/The Observer XT data are synchronized.

How It Works

1. When proper communication is set between the two applications, you can start and stop recording in UltraVox XT by clicking the Start trial/Stop trial button in EthoVision XT.
2. You can then import call data into EthoVision XT for combined analysis of tracks and vocalizations. See Import call data in The Observer XT and Import call data in EthoVision XT.

Main Topics and Tasks

• Computer setup
• Trigger settings for EthoVision XT
• Trigger settings for The Observer XT
• Co-acquisition of data
• Import profiles

See also: Start and stop recording at specific times

Computers

We advise to run UltraVox XT and EthoVision XT/The Observer XT on separate computers. On both computers, disable the firewall.

Important: Running EthoVision XT/The Observer XT and UltraVox XT on the same computer is not recommended. The large data transfer may cause malfunctioning in either application. Test this solution thoroughly if you want to use it. For example, check that EthoVision XT does not miss samples, or that data streams from the two applications are in sync.

Network

The two computers should be connected to a dedicated network using a network switch. To avoid the risk of network communication delays, we recommend not to connect the computers to a larger network.

UltraVox XT computer (right) connected to an EthoVision XT or The Observer XT computer (left) through a network switch.

Procedure Overview

1. Specify the IP address of the UltraVox XT PC
2. Share the UltraVox XT synchronization folder
3. Make a virtual drive for the EthoVision XT / The Observer XT
4. Copy the UltraVox XT Control folder to the EthoVision XT/The Observer XT PC
5. Edit the StartUV/StopUV batch files
6. Make UltraVox XT data import easier

Specify the IP Address of the UltraVox XT PC

On the UltraVox XT computer, do the following:

1. In the Control Panel, choose Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center.
2. Choose Change adapter settings.
3. Right-click the local network and choose Properties.
4. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 and click the Properties button.
5. Select Use the following IP address.
6. Enter the IP address that is in the batch file (suggested: 192.168.0.202; this address must also be specified in the batch file). Leave the Subnet mask and Default gateway unchanged.

Note

We recommend using one PC for EthoVision XT and one PC for UltraVox XT. Connect the two computers through a network switch and assign the IP addresses to enable communication. For example:

• Network switch: 192.168.0.239 (Netgear GS310TP)
• EthoVision XT PC: 192.168.0.201
• UltraVox XT PC: 192.168.0.202

You can assign an IP address other than specified here. However, you must enter the same address in the batch file. This address must be different from that of the EthoVision XT/The Observer XT computer. See Edit the StartUV/StopUV batch files.

Share the UltraVox XT Synchronization Folder

1. With Windows Explorer, browse to C:\ProgramData\Noldus\UltraVox\XT 4\Synch.
2. If you do not see this folder, it may be hidden. See the note below.
3. Right-click and select Properties, then click the Sharing tab.
4. Click Share and select Everyone. In the context menu choose Read/Write.
5. Click Share, then Done.

The Synch folder can now be seen by the EthoVision XT/The Observer XT computer.

Note: To View Hidden Folders

1. In the Windows Control Panel, choose Appearance and Personalization, then under Folder Options click Show Hidden Files and Folders.
2. In the window that appears, under Hidden files and folders, select Show hidden files, folders and drives.

Make a Virtual Drive for EthoVision XT / The Observer XT

To make data transfer from UltraVox XT and EthoVision XT easier. Once the procedure is completed, you can easily access the UltraVox XT data and import them in EthoVision XT/The Observer XT.

1. On the EthoVision XT PC, with Windows Explorer, right-click This Computer and choose Map network drive.
2. Choose a drive letter.
3. Select the shared Synch folder from the UltraVox XT PC.
4. Click Finish.

Copy the UltraVox XT Control Folder to the EthoVision XT/The Observer XT PC

To provide EthoVision XT or The Observer XT with the files necessary to communicate with UltraVox XT.

Note: The UltraVox XT Control folder is installed automatically with EthoVision XT. Therefore, if you have EthoVision XT you do not have to follow the procedure below. Skip this topic and go to Edit the StartUV/StopUV batch files.

1. Open the UltraVox XT 4 installation package and browse to Extras.
2. Select the folder UltraVox XT 4 Control, and press Ctrl+C.
3. Open the following folder: C:\Program Data\Noldus\Common\Tools. If the Tools folder is not present, create it.
4. Open the Tools folder and press Ctrl+V.
5. Open the folder just copied, and check that the two files SUV.bat and start.txt are present.

Edit the StartUV/StopUV Batch Files

To make sure that the batch file triggers UltraVox XT when activated by Noldus software.

Background Information

Once activated by Noldus software, a batch file StartUV*.bat or StopUV*.bat does the following:

1. It connects with the UltraVox XT computer, and deletes any file named start.txt from the folder C:\Program Data\Noldus\UltraVox\XT 4\Synch (if present).
2. It copies the file start.txt (or stop.txt) to the folder C:\Program Data\Noldus\UltraVox\XT 4\Synch on the UltraVox XT computer.

The files start.txt and stop.txt are empty text files. Their function is to trigger UltraVox XT, provided that this is set to external program trigger in the Trial Control Settings. See Trigger start/stop recording.

Source: UltraVox XT 4 - EthoVision and Observer Integration, Noldus Information Technology