Installing EthoVision XT 17.5

System requirements

EthoVision XT 17.5 runs with Windows 10 Professional and 11 Pro. Note that it is not designed for use with the Touch features of Windows.

If you have EthoVision XT 17.0, this version replaces your current version! However, it won't change or delete your experiments. If you have EthoVision XT 16 or older, this is not a free upgrade. If you have a hardware license key (dongle), you will need to enter an upgrade code before you can use the new version. If you have a NoldusCare contract, the registered user has received an upgrade key, otherwise please contact your sales person to purchase an upgrade. If you have a software-based license, the license will update automatically if you have an active NoldusCare contract; otherwise please contact your sales person to purchase the upgrade.

Before you install EthoVision XT

If you are a new user of EthoVision XT: You received a software activation key. Please make sure you have this key at hand when you start EthoVision XT. 

If you are upgrading from older versions of EthoVision and have a hardware license key (dongle): You received an email with a license upgrade key. Please make sure you have this key at hand when you start EthoVision XT.

User rights: To install EthoVision XT, you must have administrator rights. In other words: either you are the system administrator or you are a member of the Windows group Administrators and have been assigned administrator rights.

Regional Settings: We recommend not to use a comma as the decimal separator in the Windows regional settings. To open the regional settings, in Windows choose Apps > Windows System > Control Panel. Under Clock, Language and Region click Change date, time or number formats, then click Additional settings.

MediaRecorder: If you plan to install MediaRecorder and EthoVision XT on the same PC, first install MediaRecorder, then EthoVision XT.

To install EthoVision XT 17.5

Close all other programs before installing EthoVision XT.

If you do not already have the installation files (e.g., you may have received a USB drive with the installation files when you purchased your system), they can be downloaded from this site. You will need to login with an account associated with your license. (If you do not have access, please contact support@noldus.com for assisstance. Let us know the license number or the name of the registered user.) To download the files:

• Click Downloads at the top of the page.
• Under the EthoVision heading, click Versions.
• Click "Ethovision XT - Installation Package - 17.5.1718.zip" and then click Download in the panel that appears on the right.

Note that this is a large ZIP file, so downloading may take some time. The installation is too large to fit into a single installation file, so it is split into four files, all of which are included in this zip file. Although Windows will allow you to double-click the zip file (showing it as a compressed folder) to see what is inside, you cannot run the installer that way (installation will fail). Instead, you must extract the files in order for the installation to work:

• Right-click the zip file (compressed folder) and pick Extract All.
• Check the check-box for "Show extracted files when complete".

Whether you started with the zip file or had the individual installation files, continue here:

• Double-click the file "EthoVision XT 17.5 – Setup – [version number].exe" to begin the installation.
• Choose Standard as the Installation type.
• Check the boxes for the drivers for the cameras or the encoder board you use. If you have Basler USB 3.0 cameras (connected with a USB cable), choose Basler USB camera driver. If you have GigE Vision cameras (connected with an ethernet cable), choose Basler GigE camera driver or Daheng Galaxy depending on which camera you have. If you have analog cameras (connected with BNC cables), choose Euresys Multicam. This works only with the Picolo Alert encoder board.

If installation fails for any reason, the installer will provide a log file. If you send this log file to support@noldus.com, we can diagnose the cause.

Opening EthoVision For The First Time

When you first open EthoVision, it will look for your license.

If you have a hardware license key (dongle):

This primarily applies for those upgrading from previous versions of EthoVision. You have a purple USB hardware key which plugs into the computer. It should be labeled with "EthoVision" and the license number.

If the hardware license key is for EthoVision XT 17.0 or higher, it will immediately be recognized and EthoVision will open, ready to go.

If the hardware license key is for a previous version of EthoVision, you will be prompted for an upgrade key. Enter the key and your hardware license key will be updated. You will only need to enter this key once, and it will be remembered by your hardware license key.

If you have a software-based activation code:

This applies to most new licenses. You do not have a hardware license key, but do have an activation code.

Select Activate software license key.

You will have the option to pick a Floating or Fixed license:

• Floating – You can activate the license on multiple computers, but use it only on one of those computers at a time (per license seat). An internet connection is required while using EthoVision.
• Fixed – This is the option for you if you don’t have an internet connection to the computer you want to acquire the data with. You can activate the fixed license with a one-off internet connection or using a QR code.

If you will only be acquiring tracks on one computer (i.e., the one with the cameras), a Fixed license is usually a better option.

Note that you can install EthoVision on additional computers without the activation code. When you start EthoVision, you'll pick the option to start in unlicensed analysis mode, and you will have full access to analyze data that has already been acquired.