This article assumes that Transana's single-user version is installed on computers in a computer lab for student use. Methods and issues may be different for the multi-user version.

In some computer labs, the hard disks are cleared off every night. It's still possible to use Transana in this kind of situation. Even where that is not the case, it is inadvisable to leave potentially confidential video / audio data or important analytic data on a public computer.

The ideal solution is to use an external hard drive or network storage space for your video and data.

Then, each time you sit down at a lab computer, you will need to do the following:

Windows:

1. If you are using an external hard drive, connect it to the lab computer. Note the drive letter that is assigned.

If you are using a network volume, connect to that. Mapping a network drive to your storage space seems to allow for the fastest access but remember to disconnect the network drive or log off when you leave. To map a network drive, open a My Computer window and choose "Tools > Map Network Drive". If you did not log onto the lab computer, be sure to un-check the "Reconnect at logon" option! Note the drive letter that is assigned.

2. If you are connecting for the first time, create a folder called "databases" where you will store your data, a folder called "waveforms" where you will store your waveform data, and a folder called "video" where you will store your video and audio files. (You can call the folders whatever you like, and sub-folders are fine within the video folder for organizing large projects.)

3. Start Transana. Go to Start > All Programs > Transana 2 > Transana 2.x. (This may vary slightly based on the version of Windows and the version of Transana on the computer.)

4. Transana stores configuration information in the registry on the computer. If you log in with your own user account, it is possible (though not assured) that your configuration information is saved from one session to the next. If you do not need to identify yourself to use the computer, it is likely that configuration information gets wiped out every night and you will have to reconfigure Transana each time you sit down to work.

5. Transana's first dialog box requests the name of the database you want to use. If the name of your database is not listed, or if you are connecting for the first time on a particular computer, type in the database name you use for your data. Transana will initially look on the lab computer's hard drive for your database, but there won't be any data there. Don't panic if your database is empty.

If the name of your database already exists in the list, then your configuration data has been preserved. You can select your database name, and Transana will probably connect to it correctly, assuming that your connection to your database and video storage has not changed. You're probably ready to continue your analysis at this point, and you can ignore the rest of this article.

6. The first thing to do is let Transana know where to look for your data. In the Options menu, select Program Settings. Change the Database Directory to point to the "databases" directory on your external hard drive or network volume. To do this, press the "Browse" button to the right of the Database Directory line. You probably need to start with the drive letter assigned to your hard drive or assigned as the mapped drive. You need to identify the correct path to your storage location from there. If you cannot connect to the drive where your video and data are stored, repeat Step 1 above.

7. Now point your Waveform Directory and your Video Root Directory to the corresponding folders on your storage device. Do not point the Waveform directory to the lab computer's hard drive, as it is likely that you will leave confidential data in the form of an audio file on the hard drive.

8. Click OK. You will be informed that the change won't take place until you restart Transana. You MUST quit Transana for the change in database directory to take effect.

9. Quit Transana and restart it. Select or type in your database name when prompted. If you've done everything correctly, you should now see the data records you had last time you worked on this data set.

10. Remember to disconnect your storage location from the lab computer before you leave by opening a My Computer window, right-clicking the drive letter, and choosing "Disconnect". You don't want to leave your video accessible on a public computer for everyone to see. It's poor form, and often is a violation of your Human Subjects agreement.

Mac OS X:

1. If you are using an external hard drive, connect it to the lab computer. Note the volume name that appears.

If you are using a network volume, connect to that. by opening a Finder and choosing Go > Connect to Server to make your connection. Note the volume name that appears.

2. If you are connecting for the first time, create a folder called "databases" where you will store your data, a folder called "waveforms" where you will store your waveform data, and a folder called "video" where you will store your video and audio files. (You can call the folders whatever you like, and sub-folders are fine within the video folder for organizing large projects.)

3. Start Transana. Use Finder to go to the Applications folder, select the Transana_2 folder, and then double-click Transana-Intel or Transana-PPC, depending on which is installed.

4. Transana stores configuration information on the computer's hard drive. If you log in with your own user account, it is possible (though not assured) that your configuration information is saved from one session to the next. If you do not need to identify yourself to use the computer, it is likely that configuration information gets wiped out every night and you will have to reconfigure Transana each time you sit down to work.

5. Transana's first dialog box requests the name of the database you want to use. If the name of your database is not listed, or if you are connecting for the first time on a particular computer, type in the database name you use for your data. Transana will initially look on the lab computer's hard drive for your database, but there won't be any data there. Don't panic if your database is empty.

If the name of your database already exists in the list, then your configuration data has been preserved. You can select your database name, and Transana will probably connect to it correctly, assuming that your connection to your database and video storage has not changed. You're probably ready to continue your analysis at this point, and you can ignore the rest of this article.

6. The first thing to do is let Transana know where to look for your data. In the Transana menu, select Preferences. Change the Database Directory to point to the "databases" directory on your external hard drive or network volume. To do this, press the "Browse" button to the right of the Database Directory line. You probably need to start with "/Volumes" and need to identify the correct path to your storage location from there. If your storage location is not listed, repeat Step 1 above.

7. Now point your Waveform Directory and your Video Root Directory to the corresponding folders on your storage device. Do not point the Waveform directory to the lab computer's hard drive, as it is likely that you will leave confidential data in the form of an audio file on the hard drive.

8. Click OK. You will be informed that the change won't take place until you restart Transana. You MUST quit Transana for the change in database directory to take effect.

9. Quit Transana and restart it. Select or type in your database name when prompted. If you've done everything correctly, you should now see the data records you had last time you worked on this data set.

10. Remember to disconnect your storage location from the lab computer before you leave by quitting Transana and dragging the Storage volume icon to the trash / Disconnect button in the dock. You don't want to leave your video accessible on a public computer for everyone to see. It's poor form, and often is a violation of your Human Subjects agreement.