This basic coding mode, allows you to log Events with one Code per Event. It is perfect for logging mutual exclusive Codes (this means that your Codes can/should not overlap in time like described in Coding consistently) as well as for coding randomly overlapping Events.
This method, limits the number of Codes per observation session to the number of available standard ASCII characters on your keyboard - because all Codes are defined in one Code definition file.
Note: You can split your Codes over multiple Code definition files and use them in turn, during multiple passes through your video, all within the same data file!
Activate Coding Mode
▪Click Start - Observation - Observation settings 
▪Select Coding mode Standard.
▪Confirm with OK.
Characteristics of this Coding Mode
 | Standard (Ad-hoc) - This is the most direct coding mode, perfect for mutual exclusive codes as well as regularly overlapping Codes and a wild combination of Codes with and without duration. The number of Codes inside a single Code definition file is limited to the number of ASCI keys on a keyboard, but you can manually switch between Code definition files, especially if you observe in multiple passes. |
This basic logging method was designed to:
oLog separate events per Code
oCreate overlapping Events on the fly
oAssign multiple exclusion lists for mutual exclusive coding*
oEasily combine durational and none durational codes
oDefine a single code definition file per observational pass.
*) Mutual exclusive coding, allows you to only log the start of each behavior. A new behavior automatically ends the previously logged Event. For details, read Define Mutual Exclusive Codes.
The start and the end are set with the same Code per behavior:
•Whenever a particular behavior starts, click the Code or push the corresponding key on the computer's keyboard once.
•As soon as the behavior ends, you click the same Code or press the same key again to select the end of this behavior.
If you press multiple keys simultaneously or one after another, INTERACT creates a separate Event for each Code automatically, thus creating overlapping Events in one session.
| TIP: | Instead of pressing those [keys], you can also click on the Codes in the Coding panel to mark the start and the end of a behavior! |
Note: If you prefer to hold down a [key] for the duration of each behavior, you can activate the Standard coding mode in the Observation Settings. Details can be found in Push and release coding option.
Sequential Coding
Much easier to handle, is a system in which each new behavior automatically closes the previous Event. Defining mutual exclusive codes takes care of that.
How to log Events in this coding mode is explained in Log Events - Standard.