No output file is produced (case 15404)

[csperry]

Running my input file I find that everything presents and reacts correctly to the button presses but no output file is created. Direct RT creates a "DATA" folder and a "LOG" folder, but no input file specific folder and no actual files associated with running the task. I am running the file from a Dropbox backed up folder and have attempted running the file from a flash drive and right off the desktop to rule this out as an issue. I have no problems with other input files generating an output file when run. I have attached the good and bad input files. The good file is the DRM_A_Enc and the bad is the con_stand_A. Thinking that it was due to the mask at the end of the trial I swapped the order as well and still have the same problem (con_stand_Ab).

173017311732

Any help would be appreciated.

[jason_reed]

Do any error messages appear in pop up boxes or the TrackPerformance file in the DirectRT folder when you run con_stand_A or con_stand_Ab .csv files?

Could you also explain a bit more about what you meant when you said that you are running files from a "Dropbox backed up folder?" Are all of you DirectRT-associated files on a DropBox folder, or did you create some way of running your DirectRT-associated files in one place like on the C: drive of your computer but then recording data in a folder on Dropbox?

[csperry]

Unfortunately no. I get no error messages of any sort nor is the Track performance file providing any errors or warnings. That would have at least given me a place to start. >.<

Regarding the Dropbox folder. I have all of the files for the experiment stored in a dropbox folder on the computer desktop to expedite making changes and testing the new file as the testing computer has no office software (MS, Open, or otherwise). There is no fancy re-routing of files, just a nice cloud backup.

[jason_reed]

Try putting all of the DirectRT-associated files directly on the computer with DirectRT and not using Dropbox at all. I'd like to know if the Data folder and appropriate output files are created for all of your input files in that context.

[csperry]

I have tried this as well as running the file from a flash drive. Neither created an output file. I can send you some of the images if it would help you in testing this.

-Clint

Try putting all of the DirectRT-associated files directly on the computer with DirectRT and not using Dropbox at all. I'd like to know if the Data folder and appropriate output files are created for all of your input files in that context.

[jason_reed]

Clint,

Please do send me some images of the screens. And please also double-check that you were not using Dropbox in any capacity (i.e., as the folder containing the DirectRT files, as a backup in using while the files were run) when you say you had all the DirectRT-associated files on the hard drive of the computer with DirectRT.

[csperry]

Hi Jason,

I Sent the files via email. Please let me know if you need anymore information.

-Clint

Clint,

Please do send me some images of the screens. And please also double-check that you were not using Dropbox in any capacity (i.e., as the folder containing the DirectRT files, as a backup in using while the files were run) when you say you had all the DirectRT-associated files on the hard drive of the computer with DirectRT.

[jason_reed]

Clint,
I cannot find the files you sent. Can you please send them again to support@empirisoft.com? Please be sure to put "5404 no output files" in the email subject line.

[csperry]

Hi Jason,

I did some more testing on my side and went so far as to start writing the file over from scratch under a different file name (Test.csv). Through a step wise recreation of the trial types I had no issues recording data. I then copied the programming from the original file (con_stand_A) into the new file (Test.csv) and it again worked fine. This told me that nothing was wrong with the programming itself. I then turned to the file naming conventions as that was the only difference.

I tested the following name types and got the following results
con_stand_A No output
catestandA Correct Output
cate_stand_B Correct Output
con_stand_B No output
co_stand_B Correct Output
cone_stand_B Correct Output

I noted that for each of these input files, the folder created consisted only of the letters before the underscore "_". If I run another file with the same prefix but different suffix, the output file is stored in the folder with the matching suffix.
E.G. "cate_stand_B" creates folder "cate"
"cate_stand_A" output files are placed into folder "cate"

I then tried to rename the file to "Con" and got a general windows error "invalid device name"

This testing has led me to the conclusion that when direct RT was attempting to create the folder for the files with the prefix "con", windows blocked the action, resulting in no output file.

I looked this up and it is apparently a well known error with windows. Here is a post with the list of other reserved letter strings that would also generate this problem:

http://www.hoax-slayer.com/con-folder-name.shtml

Thanks for trying to help me on this. Glad I was able to figure it out. I hope this information is useful for you as well.

-Clint

Clint,
I cannot find the files you sent. Can you please send them again to support@empirisoft.com? Please be sure to put "5404 no output files" in the email subject line.

[jason_reed]

Clint,

I'm glad that you figured this out and resolved the issue. Very good detective work on your part! The file name prefix is indeed a new one to me. Thank you for sharing this on the forum; it is most definitely useful information to have here.

Good luck!

Jason