Preferences can be changed in a dedicated dialog window. Click
. Select a category in the list to the left of the dialog window. The categories and their preferences are:
Editing
Deselecting the inline text edit box commits
changes
:
If this option is not checked (default) changes made to an inline edit box are discarded if you leave the edit box without explicitly committing the changes. This happens for instance if you click outside the current edit box.
If this option is checked changes are committed if you leave the current inline edit box.
Enter key commits changes in the inline edit box
:
If this option is not checked (default) pressing ENTER will insert a line break (a.k.a. newline) in an inline edit box. To commit the changes you should hit CTRL+ENTER.
If this option is checked ENTER will not insert a line break. It commits the changes as if you pressed CTRL+ENTER.
Clear Selection after creating or editing an
annotation
This option makes ELAN clear the selection after creating or editing an annotation
Clear Selection on single mouse click
With this option checked (default), a selection that has been made in the timeline will be cleared when you click outside of that selection.
Create new annotations on the dependent tiers when a new
annotation is created
If this option is selected, annotations on dependent tiers are created automatically when a annotation on a independent(parent) tier is created. By default , this option is not selected.
Creates annotations aligned with video frames
When annotations are created, they can be aligned with the video frames by selecting this option.
Snap Annotations
If this option is checked, you can specify the maximum value to snap annotations in (ms).
Always center the active annotation
This option if checked, always put the active annotation in the center of the viewer in annotation mode.
When copying an annotation, copy:
When you want to copy an annotation as text to an external document , you can either choose to copy the annotation + begintime + endtime, or the annotation only. The default is 'copy the annotation + begintime + endtime'. This will copy the annotation, Tier name, begin and end time.
When copying an annotation use the time format of 'Copy Current
Time'
This option refers to the first option in the Media preferences category.
Default language for multilingual content:
Set the preferred default language used in multilingual content, such as controlled vocabularies. When using multiple CVs, the language set here will be the CVs default language. Multilingual content is based on ISOcat data categories (DCR). CMDI metadata is displayed in the set language, if this is available from the ISOcat category.
CV
Inline edit box with a CV entry:
Specify the width of the edit box (in pixels)
In the text field a minimal width for the edit box can be specified. Useful when the default width cuts off too much of the entry values.
Show CV entry description in the inline edit box
When checked, the CV entries will be shown as a two-column table with the description of each entry in the second column.
Specify the percentage of the width of the first column (the CV entry
value column)
In combination with the above option, this determines how much of the width of the box will be reserved for the CV entry values.
Suggestion panel of the CV inline edit box:
Look for CV entries that contain instead of start with the search
string
When checked, this option will suggest entries from the CV that contain the given search string. When unchecked, only entries that start with the search string are suggested.
Also look in the descriptions of the CV entries
With this option checked, descriptions of the CV entries that contain the search string are also displayed in the suggest panel.
Ignore case
If this option is checked, case will be ignored when matching the search string entered in the CV suggest panel.
External Controlled Vocabulary:
After changes in an ECV, don't update the annotation value but update the reference to a CV entry
When ELAN opens an .eaf file with links to an external CV, it checks by default if the value of each annotation that has a reference to an entry in an external CV, still corresponds to the value of that entry. If the value of the entry was changed, the annotation value is updated accordingly. If the entry is no longer there, the reference is removed.
By selecting this option, the annotation value will always remain unchanged. Instead, the CV will be searched for an entry with a value equal to that of the annotation and the reference will be updated to that entry or removed if there is no such entry.
Media
Media navigation:
Frame forward and frame backward jump to begin of next or previous
frame
:
If this option is not checked (default) clicking the frame forward button (see Section 1.5.17) will put the crosshair forward by the amount of ms in one frame. So if the crosshair is in the middle of a frame, clicking frame forward will put the crosshair in the middle of the next frame. The same goes for frame backward.
If this option is checked the crosshair is put at the beginning of the next (or previous) frame no matter where it is in the current frame.
Classic (pre ELAN 4.7) frame forward and frame backward
behaviour
:
If you encounter problems with frame by frame navigation in on-going projects, checking this option will revert ELAN back to the classic behaviour. (unchecked by default)
Video display:
All video's the same size, in a single row
:
When there are three or four video's linked, only one of them is displayed big; the others are small. Check this option If you want all video's to be displayed in the same size and in a single row.
Place the video / media in the center:
If selected, then the video is placed in the center and the viewers are on the left and right side of the video. By default the video is the left side of the application.
Media location:
Set default directory for media files
Click
to set a default directory. ELAN searches this directory for a media file if it fails to find it using the absolute or relative path the .eaf file refers to or the same directory the .eaf file is in.The document's Changed flag is set when the media location has
changed
With this checked, you will notice when a media file has
changed its location.
Media clipping with script:
Prompt for a clip file name
When this is checked (default), ELAN will prompt for a file name to save your clipped media file. You can also choose a location to save the file to. More information on using the script for clipping can be found in Section 1.4.1.18
Use annotation value for clip filename where possible
When this option is checked, in single clip mode the value of the active
annotation (if there is one) is used for the output filename, in multiple
media file mode the annotation values that are in the exported tab-delimited
text file are used for constructing the output filename. Some obvious
problematic characters (e.g. /
, \
,
:
) in the annotation value will be replaced
by underscores, but this can still fail because of an illegal output
filename.
Only clip the first media file
This option is unchecked by default. If errors occur clipping multiple video files and a wave file at once, check this and only the first (or master) media file will be clipped.
Clip multiple media files in parallel
This is checked by default. The script will run in multiple instances next to each other when clipping the video files and wave files. When this is causing problems, e.g. incorrect output files, uncheck this option and the script will run each instance after another.
Controls:
Show volume control for individual media players
Check this if you want to see and use the volume controls for each media player in the project. (see Section 1.5.17).
Automatically play media:
When an annotation is activated
When checked, the media will play whenever you activate an annotation, by clicking on it.
When marking current time as begin of new
annotation
Shift-enter can be used as a keyboard shortcut to mark the start (or end) of an annotation. When checked, the media will start playing when Shift-enter is pressed.
Metadata
Check the metadata keys you want to display in the Metadata tab in the main window by default. (See also Section 1.5.11.)
Platform/OS
Mac OS X:
Use screen menu bar
: if checked ELAN will use the screen
menu bar in Mac OS.
Use Mac Look and Feel
: if checked ELAN will use the Mac
OS Look and Feel. Otherwise a platform independent (i.e. Java) look and feel
is used. Note that if the option Use screen menu bar
is
checked, ELAN will use the Mac Look and Feel, even if you have Use Mac
Look and Feel
unchecked.
Use Mac File Dialog
: if checked ELAN will use a dialog
which is similar to the native Mac OS file dialog. Otherwise a platform
independent (i.e. Java) file dialog.
Media Framework: select either
Java - AV Foundation Framework
this integrates a
fully native AudioVideo Foundation based player.
Log messages at debug level
this informs the
native player to produce detailed messages for the purpose of
debugging.
Use the stop mechanism of the framework at the end of
play selection
the most accurate stop behavior at the
end of playing a selection is achieved when it is performed on the
lowest level, by the framework itself. But this function is known
to lead to crashes on some versions of the OS, in which case it is
best to deselect this option here.
Use this framework to extract audio samples from a
video for waveform visualization
if no wavefile is
linked, this framework might be able to produce the audio samples
from a video for waveform visualization. This function is known to
occassionally freeze the application on some versions of the OS,
in which case it is best to deselect it here.
JavaFX Media Framework
for (.mp4 and .wav).
VLC Player Library*
only partial support on macOS,
the video rendering is performed in Java.
Java Sound (.wav)
an audio player based on the Java
Sound API.
Windows:
Use Windows Look and Feel
: if checked ELAN will use the
Windows look and feel. If unchecked, an independent look and feel will be used
(default).
Media Framework: select either
Java - DirectShow Framework
Java - Microsoft Media Foundation (mp4,.m4a,.m4v(win 7 or
higher only), .wmv, .wma, .asf)
Correct the video frame when pausing the
player
This is checked by default. If unchecked, the
crosshair might not jump to correct the frame, but might also be
less accurate.
Synchronous interaction with the player
This
option applies to the Microsoft Media Foundation based player only
(the default player for .mp4 and .wmv files). In this Foundation
operations like "start", "stop", "jump to" etc. are performed
asynchronously by default. If strange jumps or other quirks are
experienced while using the player, the synchronous mode can be
tried (it is still experimental). Changing this option requires
the file to be closed and opened again to take effect.
Log messages at debug level
this informs the
native player to produce detailed messages for the purpose of
debugging.
Use this framework to extract audio samples from a
video for waveform visualization
if no wavefile is
linked, this framework might be able to produce the audio samples
from a video for waveform visualization. If you don't need a
waveform or if there are problems with this function, you can
deselect it here.
JavaFX Media Framework
for (.mp4 and .wav).
VLC Player Library*
Java Sound (.wav)
an audio player based on the Java
Sound API.
Linux:
Media Framework: select either
VLC Player Library*
JavaFX Media Framework
for (.mp4 and .wav).
Java Sound (.wav)
an audio player based on the Java
Sound API.
*) The VLC based player requires that the VLC Player, version 3.x or higher, is installed on the system in one of the default locations (this depends on the platform). Spherical or 360-degree video (in .mp4) is supported only on Linux and Windows.
Automatic check for updates
Selecting this option will
enable the automatic checking for new updates, which will run once a month and
will inform you of available updates.
Number of backup files:
sets the number of backup files
ELAN should create when automatic backup is active.
Save transcriptions as old EAF 2.7 format
Checking this
option will make that your projects are saved in the older 2.7 version of eaf
and ensures compatibility with older versions of ELAN. Multi-lingual CVs will
not be saved with your project!
Lock EAF files when opening them (creates .lock files, possibly
hidden)
Locking an eaf file will prevent someone else from opening
and editing the same file at the same time (in case the file is in a shared
location) or prevent yourself from opening the same file twice. There are two
important limitations to keep in mind:
this mechanism doesn't prevent anyone from opening and editing the file in another application, e.g. a text editor or an older ELAN version (< 5.8)
the locking only applies to the situation where the file is opened in the main ELAN window; multiple file operations in ELAN (e.g. the editing variants of Section 1.9.2) still ignore the lock and can read and write files even when they are already open
In case of a crash of ELAN, .lock files might have to be deleted manually before the eaf file can be opened again. The .lock file is in the same directory as the eaf file and might not be visible by default in a file explorer.
Preferences location
It is possible to specify an
alternative directory where preferences (.pfsx) files should be stored. Click
and select the preferred directory for ELAN
preferences files. By default a preferences file is stored in the same
directory as the eaf file.
Location for other (non-Audio/Video) linked files
It is
possible to specify a default directory where ELAN can look for missing linked
files other than primary media files (e.g. metadata, timeseries files). Click
and select the preferred directory, click
the to remove this preference.
Tier Set:
Work with tier sets
When checked, this enables the application of tier sets.
Set default file path for tier sets
This allows to
specify an alternative location for the tier set file. Click
and navigate to a different location
than the default (the ELAN data folder). The
restores the default file location.
User Interface
Number of recent items
: select the number of recently
edited items ELAN should remember.
Change the UI font size
: allows you to set the font
size of menus, labels, buttons etc. The slider allows to specify a value
between 100% and 200%. This can e.g. be useful on high resolution displays if
the font seems too small. This option requires a relaunch of ELAN.
Default font for tiers, annotations and CV entries
: it is
possible to specify a preferred font, and its size, for tiers, annotations and
CV entries, to be used if no other font is specified (e.g. for specific
tiers). Initially ELAN either uses the Arial Unicode MS or the (Java) system's
standard font. This option is especially useful if the initial font does not
provide glyphs for the language or writing system you are working with. This
option requires a relaunch of ELAN.
Tooltips
: if checked ELAN will show tool tips with
information about the data or about the functionality of ELAN, depending on
the position of the mouse cursor.
Menu Options
: if the box is checked, the number of annotations per tier will be
shown in the menus and tier lists in the viewers.
Painting strategy for custom timeline-based viewers and
components
: this option lets you choose to set unbuffered or
buffered painting of components. Imac retina displays can only handle
unbuffered (direct) painting, for instance.
Paint to a buffer first, then to the screen.
Paint directly to the screen (default).
Viewers
Viewers
Horizontal scroll speed
: this sets the speed of the
horizontal scrolling, which is done with Shift+scrollwheel or by swiping
with two fingers on a laptop. (default 50)
Color for symbolic annotations
: You can set the color
for symbolic annotations, e.g. non time alignable annotations. The default
color is set to orange, you can browse for colors and set them as your
favourites.
Timeline
:
Active Annotation Bold
: if checked the blue frame
of the active annotation has a bold line.
Reduced Tier Height
: if checked the height of the
tiers displayed in the timeline viewer is reduced. The results is that
more tiers are visible.
Subtitles
Number of subtitle viewers:
select the number of
Subtitle Viewers you wish to display in the Subtitle tab.
Select Viewers
If the video is placed in the center, then it is possible to select which viewers should be shown in the left and right pane of the video. Select either
or for each viewer. The order of the viewer in the table also determines their sort order in the tab pane. To sort the viewers use the buttons and to rearrange their sort order.