Knowledge Base

Problem

When using a video file stored on a network share or external drive as the source for EthoVision Arena Settings, the video displays incorrectly, shows a blank frame, or the background grab fails — even though the same file plays correctly in a media player.

Details

EthoVision requires video files to be stored locally on the computer's internal drive for reliable playback and frame grabbing in Arena Settings. Accessing files over a network path (UNC path, mapped drive, or NAS) or from a slow external drive can cause display issues, blank screens, or failed background grabs. Affected versions: EthoVision XT 18 and 19.

Solution

1. Copy the video file from the network share or external drive to a local folder on the EthoVision PC (e.g., C:\EthoVision Data\ or the experiment's local folder).
2. In EthoVision Arena Settings, browse to the locally stored copy of the file.
3. Attempt to grab the background frame again — the video should now display correctly.
4. For ongoing experiments, ensure all video files are saved to a local drive before importing into EthoVision.
5. After analysis is complete, files can be moved back to network storage for archiving if needed.