Preferences#

You can customize BORIS in the Preferences window (File > Preferences or the Preferences button in the toolbar).

Project preferences#

Default project time format

This option allows you to choose the format used to display time in the project. Time is always stored internally in seconds with a precision of 3 decimal places.

Auto-save project every (minutes)

If set, BORIS will save your project automatically every n minutes. A value of 0 disables automatic backup. The project will be saved only if it has already been saved and an observation is open.

Separator for behavioural strings

Character or string used to separate behaviors when exporting events as behavioral strings. See also Behatrix.

Check for new version

Checks for a new version on the BORIS website every 15 days (internet access required).

MPV hardware video decoding

If you experience problems with the embedded MPV player, try changing this value.

Project file indentation type

The BORIS project file is encoded in JSON format. Choose the indentation style for the project file between:

• None
• Newline
• Tab
• 2 spaces
• 4 spaces

Refresh button

Resets the configuration to the default values. BORIS will then close.

Observations#

Fast forward/backward value (seconds)

This option allows the user to customize the amount of time for "jumping" forward or backward in media.

Adapt the fast for/backward jump to playback speed

The jump value will be adapted to the playback speed.

Playback speed step value

This value indicates how much the speed will increase or decrease after pressing the change playback speed buttons.

Time offset for media reposition (seconds)

This value indicates the time offset used when repositioning the media after double-clicking an event row in the Events table. For example, -4 means that after a double-click the media will be repositioned 4 seconds before the recorded event.

Play sound when a key is pressed

Plays a sound after each keypress event.

Close the same current event independently of modifiers

Stops the current behavior regardless of modifiers.

Display subtitles

Displays or hides subtitles. If subtitles are stored in a separate file, the subtitle file must have the same base name as the video file and use the .srt extension.

Tracking cursor above current event

Positions the tracking cursor above the current event in the events list table.

Alert if focal subject is not set

If this option is enabled, BORIS will show an alert box if no focal subject is selected.

Pause media before "Add event" command

Pauses the media before manually adding an event.

Analysis plugins#

Personal plugins directory

Select the directory that contains the plugins to be loaded.

FFmpeg framework#

The path to the ffmpeg executable is displayed. The FFmpeg executable is included with BORIS for Windows. The FFmpeg framework is required to run BORIS.

FFmpeg cache directory

Indicates the directory that will be used as the image cache for frame-by-frame mode and spectrogram visualization. If you do not specify a path, BORIS will use the default temporary directory of your system.

Spectrogram / wave form#

Color map

Selects the color map used to display the generated spectrogram. See Matplotlib colormaps for details.

Default time interval

Selects the time interval, in seconds, used to display the spectrogram and waveform.

Window type

Selects the window type: Hanning, Hamming, or Blackmanharris.

NFFT size

noverlap

Use vmin/vmax

Plot colors#

Behavior colors used in the plotting functions can be customized. The first color will be associated to the first behavior in your ethogram, the second color to the second behavior and so on. Various color formats can be used to specify a color: named color or hex RGB (like #0F0F0F). See https://matplotlib.org/api/colors_api.html and https://matplotlib.org/examples/color/named_colors.html for details.

The reset colors to default button will reload the default colors.

Interface#

Toolbar icons size

Sets the size of the toolbar icons in pixels.