Can I add or alter zones in my Arena Settings after data acquisition in EthoVision XT?

Editing Arena Settings and Zones After Data Acquisition

While Arena Settings are typically configured before acquiring data in EthoVision XT, you may later determine that your Zone(s) need adjustments (e.g., size, position), or that new zones should be added for additional analyses. Below is how you can make such updates after trials have already been run.

Changing Zones

Once a trial has been acquired using a specific Arena Settings profile:

• The background image, calibration scales, and arena outlines will be locked.
• However, Zone Groups and the Zones within them will remain editable.

This means you can:

• Resize, reposition, or rename existing zones.
• Add new zones to existing Zone Groups.
• Create new Zone Groups and define new zones within them.

No re-tracking is needed when you modify or add zones. EthoVision XT will apply those new definitions to existing trial data and include them automatically in your analysis.

Exceptions (When Zones Are Locked)

There are certain cases where zones cannot be modified:

• If a zone was used in Trial Control Settings (e.g., “end trial when the animal is in Zone A for 2 seconds”), then:
  • That zone and its entire Zone Group will be locked.
  • You will be unable to modify or delete them unless trials using that trial control profile are deleted or cleared.
• Any Hidden Zones are also locked and cannot be altered.

Important Note: Zone Changes Must Stay in the Same Arena Settings

Zone changes must be made within the same Arena Settings profile that was used during the original acquisition. Creating a new Arena Settings profile will have no effect on previously-acquired trials.

If you need to change locked aspects of the arena (e.g., the background image, calibration, or outline), you must:

• Redo the trial using the original video file.
• To learn how to do this, see: Redo a trial from video files.