Empirisoft Support

    Welcome to Empirisoft Support
Results 1 to 4 of 4

Thread: Saving data in case of crash?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Posts
    36

    Saving data in case of crash?

    Looking at the DirectRT output data files, I see that trial data are saved in the same order as in the input file. I don't see how DirectRT can do this unless it keeps all results in memory and then writes them all to disk at the end of the session. Is that the case? If so, then what happens if the system crashes in the middle of a session? Do I just lose all my data?

    Thanks,
    -- David McFarlane, Professional Faultfinder

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Posts
    3,328
    DirectRT does wait until the end of the session to write the data. When the code was written for DirectRT, it was a high priority to avoid any system activity possible during the session that could interfere with the precise timing of events and response times. We included data file I/O in this category. And so yes, in the event of a system crash during a session, DirectRT would not be able to create the data files for the data gathered to that point.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Posts
    36
    Thanks for the direct & frank answer. But doesn't DirectRT do disk I/O to read stimulus files during the ITI in order to prepare the next trial, without affecting performance during the trial? If so, couldn't DirectRT just as well dump some data during the ITI? As you indicate, it comes down to a tradeoff between performance and data safety, I just wonder if every customer wants to make the same tradeoff.

    -- David McFarlane, Professional Faultfinder

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Posts
    3,328
    Fair point. I guess what would be ideal is to make it optional. At the end by default (to maintain backward compatibility) and have a optional check to write it as you go.

Similar Threads

  1. Data saving to SPSS as "ok" instead of numbers
    By jeg32 in forum MediaLab Older Versions: Troubleshooting
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 06-10-2008, 10:24 AM
  2. Saving calculated variables from responses.xls in data files?
    By jarvis24 in forum MediaLab Older Versions: How Do I...
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 05-27-2008, 07:28 AM
  3. data saving as dates
    By rarobins in forum MediaLab Older Versions: Troubleshooting
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 05-16-2008, 12:05 PM
  4. Saving Data from Custom HTML Text Boxes
    By brewer in forum MediaLab Older Versions: How Do I...
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 09-26-2006, 03:25 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •