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Running the Experiment

In this article:


How to Run Your Experiment

To start your experiment in EventIDE, navigate to the Run ribbon tab. In the Run Experiment drop-down list, first select your desired mode of execution. Then, click the name of the selected mode to begin the experiment. This two-step approach ensures that the appropriate environment is used for the run.

Upon launch, EventIDE performs the following steps automatically:

  1. Compiles all user code snippets and proxy definitions.

  2. Merges the compiled code with your designed content.

  3. Allocates hardware resources, memory buffers, and processing threads.

  4. Starts the experiment flow from the root event.

Available Run Modes

Each run mode in EventIDE is designed for a specific stage of development or type of hardware interaction:

  • Full Screen Mode

Runs the experiment in true full-screen, taking exclusive control of the display and hardware resources. Recommended for actual data collection, as it ensures the most accurate timing and stimulus presentation.

  • Preview Mode

Opens the stimulus presentation in a floating window. Offers fast startup and is ideal for testing stimulus layout and event logic without committing full hardware.

  • Debug Mode

Adds a debug console to your run, allowing real-time inspection of code snippets, proxy variables, and system messages. Useful for diagnosing logic errors or tracking experiment flow.

  • Overlay Mode

Executes the experiment as a transparent overlay above the Windows desktop. Use this mode for enabling data recording, e.g. eye-tracking, with any third-party application.

  • GUI Mode

Optimizes responsiveness for interactive GUI elements like the Web Browser. Timing accuracy is reduced, but GUI interaction improves, making this mode suitable for interface-based tasks.


To run an experiment, choose the mode from the drop-down, then click on its label to begin execution.

Selecting Startup Variables

If your experiment includes parameters that must be set before each run, you can define them as startup variables:

  1. Open Select Startup Variables via the Run ribbon tab.

  2. Choose proxy or global variables from the list.

  3. For each selected variable, specify whether to:

  • Prompt for input on startup.

  • Include the value in the data report.


When Startup Variables is toggled in the ribbon tab, EventIDE will display a query dialog on run start. Entered values will only apply to the current session.

Selecting Startup Actions

Many hardware elements support startup actions, such as calibration or pre-initialization procedures. To configure them:

  1. Click Select Startup Actions in the Run ribbon tab.

  2. Choose from the list of available actions (e.g., Run Calibration for eye-trackers).

  3. Toggle Startup Actions in the ribbon to activate them during the next run.

Run Results

Once an experiment finishes—either by reaching its end or by early termination—EventIDE provides the following outputs:

  • Data Report: The collected data from Reporter and logging elements.

  • Run Log: A chronologically ordered log of internal operations, including hardware initialization, warnings, and critical errors.

You can open the latest Run Log at any time via the Run ribbon tab to inspect what occurred during the last session.

Configuring Real-Time Mode

To optimize your system for performance-critical tasks, EventIDE includes a real-time configuration utility. Click Configure Realtime Mode to access settings that reduce interference from background processes:

  • EventIDE Priority: Runs EventIDE at the highest process priority.

  • Disable Network Connections: Optionally suspend active interfaces.

  • Disable Network Services: Temporarily stop unnecessary background services.

  • Disable System Services: Free additional resources by suspending system processes.

  • Pre/Post Commands: Add custom scripts to pause antivirus or restart services before and after runtime.

These settings can significantly improve timing precision and hardware responsiveness. Toggle Realtime Mode to activate this settings at runtime.

File Associations, Multiple Instances, and Player Mode

Upon first launch, EventIDE associates itself with .eve experiment files. Double-clicking such a file in Windows Explorer will open it in a new EventIDE instance.

  • You may open multiple instances for editing or viewing experiments.

  • However, only one experiment run is allowed across all instances at a time.

For deploying experiments without accessing the EventIDE interface, use Player Mode. This mode launches EventIDE directly into a run session.

Use these commands in a batch file or desktop shortcut for simplified deployment on participant machines or testing stations:

C:\Path\To\EventIDE.exe
C:\Path\To\YourExperiment.eve

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