The Habit2 Workspace
Each time you are running Habit2, either to design and define experiments, or to run those experiments on subjects, you are working in what we call a workspace. In Habit2, a workspace is simply a folder on your system where settings and experimental results are stored. You can (but are not required to) also store stimuli within the workspace.
A workspace can be copied to another computer running Habit2 and used there. You can design experiments on one machine, then move the workspace to another machine to collect data. A lab that runs different classes of experiments can maintain separate workspaces for each type of experiment. Experimenters who share a common computer for data collection can easily segregate their settings and stimuli from one another.
It is important to back up your workspace! Make sure your workspace folder is included in your regular backup schedule.
The current workspace folder is always displayed in the status bar at the bottom of the main Habit2 dialog. In the example below I am using a workspace named new3, which I've located on my Desktop.
A workspace can be copied to another computer running Habit2 and used there. You can design experiments on one machine, then move the workspace to another machine to collect data. A lab that runs different classes of experiments can maintain separate workspaces for each type of experiment. Experimenters who share a common computer for data collection can easily segregate their settings and stimuli from one another.
It is important to back up your workspace! Make sure your workspace folder is included in your regular backup schedule.
The current workspace folder is always displayed in the status bar at the bottom of the main Habit2 dialog. In the example below I am using a workspace named new3, which I've located on my Desktop.
Default workspace
When Habit2 is installed, a default workspace is created in your Documents folder. The default workspace is creatively named habit. In your filesystem Documents folder you will find a folder named habit. In that folder you will find the following:
- a database file named habit.sqlite. Habit2 uses this file to save experimental settings. Do not modify this file except by using Habit2! Do not move this file - it must be found in the workspace folder.
- a folder named results. As its name suggests, Habit2 stores the results of each experimental run in this folder.
- a folder named stim. You can store stimuli here for experiments defined in this workspace (make sure "Use default stimulus root dir" is checked in your Preferences.
- a folder named log. Habit2 stores log files from each time it is run in this folder. The log files aren't of much use to the user, but may be useful in the event of a crash or other unexpected event in Habit2.
Creating a new workspace
Switching to a different workspace is done via the Preferences settings. When you click Select, a chooser dialog opens and you may select an existing workspace folder, or you may create a new folder. If a new folder is created and selected, then Habit2 will create a new workspace in that folder, and your current Habit2 session will begin using the new workspace immediately.