Software FAQ
I have to enter the registration details every time that I run MLS software unless I log in as "administrator".
This is a security feature with operating systems where registry values have permission attributes. The administrator can fix it as follows:
- Log into the machine with administrator privileges and run c:\winnt\system32\regedt32.exe to start the registry editor.
- Locate the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE in the Local Machine window.
- Locate the SOFTWARE key and expand it.
- Locate the MLS key and highlight it - select the Security option - this causes a drop menu to appear with three options - select the Permissions option. This will open the Registry Permissions dialog window.
- Select the "Everyone" permission and change it from "Special Access" to "Full Control" or create a permission for "Domain Users" with the "Full Control" access rights.
What are Motion Lab Systems software license conditions?
Motion Lab Systems licenses all its software by "Site License" - this means that you purchase a single copy of the software and that this copy used at the "Site" on any computer that you normally use. There's no need to purchase additional copies of the software if you buy a new computer for the lab and even more importantly, no hardware keys (dongles) to lose, mislay or get stolen.
How do I get an Evaluation Copy of a program?
Easy - simply download the software image from our web site downloads page and place it in a temporary directory on your computer. The downloaded file is a full installation image so you can simply run the file to install the software - each software package includes an "uninstall" feature that allows you to completely remove the software if you wish.
Do I have to register the Evaluation software?
No - we have tried to make all of the evaluation versions of our software perform in a way that makes them useful to the casual user and allow you to test run the program before you buy it.
How does Registration work?
When you are ready to purchase a software license you will need to provide us with a couple of phrases that identify your location. This will usually be your name (or the name of the laboratory), and the organization that is purchasing the software. We will then use this information to generate a unique registration key that will allow the software to operate without any restrictions. We send you the key upon receipt of a purchase order or payment for the software.
I loaded the software on a laptop - can I use it outside work?
Yes, provided that you work or are associated in some meaningful way with the original licensed user.
Can I take a registered version to a different laboratory?
No - the software is licensed for use in one location so you are breaking our licence conditions. Each time the software runs it will display the original license details so that it will be obvious which location originally licenced the software. This will embarrass both you and the people who originally licenced the software.
The software reports an application error when I exit the application.
This is a security feature with newer operating systems where registry values have permission attributes. The administrator can fix it as follows:
- Log into the machine with administrator privileges and run c:\winnt\system32\regedt32.exe to start the registry editor.
- Locate the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE in the Local Machine window.
- Locate the SOFTWARE key and expand it.
- Locate the MLS key and highlight it - select the Security option - this causes a drop menu to appear with three options - select the Permissions option. This will open the Registry Permissions dialog window.
- Select the "Everyone" permission and change it from "Special Access" to "Full Control" or create a permission for "Domain Users" with the "Full Control" access rights.
Does the software work on Windows NT, Windows 2000 and Windows XP?
Yes - all our software is tested and written to function correctly on any 32-bit Microsoft operating system. The only known issues are documented on this page and involve the creation of registry permissions.
I have installed the C3dEditor but can not edit LOCKED parameters?
This feature is disabled by default but can be enabled for a session by checking a box in the General Options. It can be permanently enabled via the following registry script:
REGEDIT4 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MLS\C3dEditor] "LockedEdit"="True"
We suggest that you read the manual carefully and thoroughly understand the C3D format before you enable LOCKED parameter editing.
Does Motion Lab Systems offer an FTP site that I can access?
We maintain an anonymous ftp site at ftp.emgsrus.com. To access into this resource - set your browser or FTP program to ftp.emgsrus.com and, if prompted, enter a username of anonymous and use your email address or your name as a password.
What's available on the Motion Lab Systems FTP site?
The Motion Lab Systems FTP site contains current versions of all Motion Lab Systems programs. In addition there are many other utilities and applications that may be of interest to many Gait Analysis Lab, Motion Analysis Lab or Biomechanics users.
How do I get the latest copy of your software?
All Motion Lab Systems applications can be downloaded for installation on your system. If you are a registered user then the downloaded program will automatically update your system. If you are not a registered user then the program will run as an evaluation copy. When any Motion Labs software is installed you will find a link in the Motion Lab Systems Utilities group called Check for Updates - running this link will automatically download the latest software version.
How big are the update files?
Many of the application files will fit onto a single floppy disk although some documentation files are much larger - you can determine the exact size and date of any file by visiting the FTP site.
Can I get copies of your applications without an internet connection?
Certainly - simply send us a request to sales@motion-labs.com and we'll put a CD-ROM in the mail to you.
Do I need a hardware key to evaluate the software?
No hardware keys or dongles are needed - each evaluation program contains a full installation and removal program - simply download and run the file to install the software. If you decide that you don't want the software then use the remove option available in the Windows Control Panel.
When I install the software it says that it's an evaluation version - why?
If you have not purchased a license from Motion Lab Systems to use the software then the program will be installed as an evaluation copy. Please contact us if you wish to register any of our programs, or have problems installing one of our programs.
Do you have any free or open source programs?
Yes we do - we have written several applications that we provide free of charge. Sometime we will issue beta releases of a new application - all beta testers receive a copy of the final released version free of charge - please contact us if you would like to be part of our beta test team. In addition, all of our evaluation software packages are free and many of them perform useful functions even if you decide not to purchase the software.
What operating system do I need to use this software?
A recent copy of Microsoft Windows or an emulator such as WINE running on Linux or FreeBSD. All Motion Lab Systems programs are written using Microsoft C++ and complied to run on any 32-bit Windows operating systems.
How do I print and view the copy of the software manual?
Copies of our manuals are available in Adobe Portable Document Format (.PDF files). You will need the latest version of the Adobe Reader software to view and print these documents.
I use Vicon Clinical Manager - how can I create raw EMG reports?
Many people would like more information than provided in the default "linear envelope" report that is supplied with Vicon Clinical Manager. Motion Lab systems offers three solutions to this issue - these are:
- EMG4VCM - a program that will add raw EMG gait cycle information to a standard VCM report.
- EMG Graphing - a separate EMG graphing application that provides EMG trial and gait cycle reports in both raw and rectified formats.
- EMG Analysis - a sophisticated EMG Analysis application that provides raw, rectified, envelope, level, FFT spectrum and power analysis reports.
I am having problems editing database record in VCM - has an MLS program corrupted the VCM database?
Some EMG4VCM users have had problems editing the VCM database records within Vicon Clinical Manager - the symptom is that the database record opens correctly but that VCM crashes with a General Protection Fault when the edited record is closed. This is a common problem with the 1.37 version of VCM. Motion Lab Systems applications do not edit the VCM database as they open it for read operations only. The problem appears to be related to a bug within VCM that fails to handle the "Short Date Style" correctly when the Regional Settings in the Control Panel are set to mm/dd/yyyy. The work-around for this issue is to always set the Short Date Style to m/d/yy - please contact Oxford Metrics Customer Support for further information about the resolution of this issue. Note that users must enter 2000 for all dates when editing VCM database records.
What references do you use for the EMG normal data in the EMG Analysis and ReportGenerator applications?
We have looked in textbooks but have been unable to find exact numbers (percentages). The EMG normal activity data is based on numbers that have been extracted from various publications and graphs from a wide variety of sources while specific VCM and Orthotrack numbers are derived from files supplied with those applications. The 1 through 7 year old information is based on data originally published by Sutherland.
I disagree with the normal EMG activity timing for a particular muscle - can I change it?
Yes - since the end-user can edit any of the normal timing information supplied with the EMG Analysis and ReportGenerator applications, it is easy to create a "Lab Specific" normal reference or edit any existing value.
How do I modify the graphs plotted by the EMG Analysis application?
The EMG Analysis application can export the results of any analysis to a GCD file for graphing via other applications such as ReportGenerator, MLSviewer or other third party applications. In particular, ReportGenerator offers a wide range of graphing options suitable for Kinematics, Kinetics and EMG reporting.
What is the DST format?
It stands for Data Storage and Transfer. Many Motion Lab Systems applications support DST - a standard ASCII format developed in Europe by CAMARC and subsequently adopted by various manufacturers and end-users as a common data storage format. It offers a standardized way of exporting complex binary data to ASCII while preserving the original information. The DST format provides a standard file format definition while allowing the user to determine the content of the file via a number of standard "lexicons" or, if circumstances require, a user-defined "lexicon". A manual documenting the CAMARC file formats is available with the DSTeditor application.
What's the difference between DST and the GCD file format used by Vicon Clinical Manager?
Not much - GCD stands for Gait Cycle Data - GCD is a lexicon within the DST definition. Basically a GCD file is just a DST file that contains a single gait cycle of data. Complete information and definitions of the GCD, DST and other CAMARC formats is available with the MLSviewer and DSTeditor applications.
What does " CAMARC" stand for?
The CAMARC project (Computer Aided Movement Analysis in a Rehabilitation Context) was funded by the European Community in the early 90's. Its aim was to establish a European network of clinical and research centers with links to both the manufacturers that supplied the equipment used in the centers and the national insurance companies that effectively provided the funding to the centers. The intention was to formulize a standard approach to the assessment of motor impaired and/or the elderly patients. As a result, a consortium of clinical centers, universities, research institutions and manufacturers was formed throughout Europe, possibly with the aim of challenging the perceived role of the United States as the leading center of biomechanics research. However, the coalition rapidly fell apart and CAMARC does not appear to have resulted in an lasting association or cooperation between its members.
Where can I find a specification for the C3D file format?
As a public service to the biomechanics community, Motion Lab Systems maintains an informational web site that defines the C3D file format. You can visit this site at http://www.c3d.org for complete information on the C3D file format.
How much faster is the licensed version of the C3Dserver than the free version?
The free demonstration version of the C3Dserver inserts a small delay (about 5ms) after each C3Dserver function - this delay is removed in the licensed version of the C3Dserver. As a result, the difference in execution speed between the free version and the licensed version depends on the way that your program uses the C3Dserver functions - for example, let us consider two programs written to use the C3Dserver - both execute in 20 seconds using the demonstration version.
Program 1 opens a C3D file, reads a number of parameters and performs a complex calculation before updating the parameters and closing the C3D file. This program calls the C3Dserver 80 times so using the licensed version of the C3Dserver will reduce the execution time by 400ms (80*5ms) - the program will run in 19.6 seconds using the licensed version of the C3Dserver.
Program 2 opens a C3D file, reads some parameters and then reads 900 frames of data, performs a simple filter operation on the data and rewrites the 900 frames back to the C3D file and updates the parameter block before closing the file. This program calls the C3Dserver 3800 times so using the licensed version will reduce the execution time by 19 seconds (3800 * 5ms) - this program will run in 1 second using the licensed version of the C3Dserver!
I'm trying to record EMG with the Windaq software and I get a message that "Windaq/Lite cannot record faster than 240 sample per second."
You have installed the Windaq/Lite version of the software which is supplied free of charge with the MA-720 ADC system for EMG monitoring use. To record EMG data you must remove the Windaq/lite software and reinstall Windaq, selecting the Windaq/Pro version. This requires a software licence number (normally an 8 digit number that is supplied when you purchase Windaq/Pro) that must be entered when you install the software. If you are not prompted for this number then you will install the Lite version of the software.
What values do I use to calibrate the MA-300 system using your EMG software?
The MA-300 backpack generates an internal calibration signal that is a 78Hz sine wave of 8.8mV peak-to-peak applied to the backpack inputs. This is equivalent to a peak-to-peak signal level of 440uV (Vref = 0.0088V / 20) at the input of a standard (x20 gain) preamplifier. Making a short recording of this known signal level enables the user to calculate the gain (Vout / Vref / 20) of each EMG channel.
Our EMG Analysis and EMG Graphing software calibration function expects peak RMS values to calibrate the data. Enter the value 3.11mV ((0.44 * 20 * 0.707)/2) into our software as the calibration level for MA-300 systems using the internal signal generated when the "Test" button is pressed on the MA-300. Third party software can be manually calibrated by simply using these values to calculate the gain for each EMG channel and scaling the recorded EMG data accordingly.