Why can't I start acquisition in EthoVision XT?

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MyNoldus Knowledge Base Related to EthoVision XT Why can't I start acquisition in EthoVision XT?

Troubleshooting: Acquisition Cannot Be Started

If EthoVision XT does not allow acquisition to begin, it may be due to one of the following causes:

  • The license is not present or not recognized
  • No trials have been added to the Trial List
  • The Trial List is incomplete
  • One or more settings (Arena, Detection, or Trial Control) are incomplete

1. License Not Present

Acquisition requires a valid license:

  • Hardware License Key: Must be plugged in and recognized. If not detected, you'll see a warning message such as "no valid hardware key is detected." Without it, you can use analysis features, but not start trials.
  • Software License: Available for EthoVision XT 16 or newer. An active software-based license is needed.

If your hardware key is plugged in but not recognized, download and install HASP 8.13 to ensure the driver is installed correctly.

2. No Planned Trials in Trial List

The Start Trial button will not appear unless trials are listed in the Trial List.

  • To add trials: open Trial List and click Add Trials
  • Or click the + icon in Acquisition (next to the Start Trial button)

3. Trial List Incomplete

If you're using the option Track all planned trials and working with video files, ensure that:

  • Each trial in the list has a video file associated with it
  • Remove trials without video, or
  • Switch to Track next planned trial in Acquisition instead

4. Settings Are Incomplete

  • Arena Settings: Go to Arena Settings and click Validate Setup. Any issues will be shown in a popup message.
  • Trial Control Settings: Ensure there is a connected path from the Rule Begin to Rule End box. Drag arrows between boxes if necessary.
  • Detection Settings: If using the Behavior Recognition Module, complete all required sections in the Detection Settings.
  • Missing or invalid video: If working from video files, ensure a valid video is selected. In Acquisition, click the ... button next to Video to browse and assign a file.

Once all components are in place and validated, you should be able to start the acquisition process without issue.