Welcome to this ELAN training blog 

ELAN is a software package for annotating audio and video recordings (Nijmegen: Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, The Language Archive). 

This ELAN training blog was developed to provide an overview of the main functions needed to start coding dyadic interactions. 

Note, the functions covered in this training blog are applicable to the annotation of interactions linked to a specific type of video based dyadic interaction coding. It is therefore not an exhaustive encyclopedia of every function within ELAN, nor every type of dyadic interaction coding. For access to the coding manuals of parent-infant interactions linked to this coding blog, please email Jasmine.Siew@ugent.be. 

For a more detailed focus on the functions of ELAN, the full manual provided by the Max Planck Institute is available on their website: https://www.mpi.nl/corpus/manuals/manual-elan.pdf. 

To start using this ELAN training blog, first download the program (Blogpost 01) and follow a short course developed by Aalborg University: https://vilacourses.aau.dk/elan/#/id/5834bba15c25184daac2cc8e (specifically modules 1 & 3). This is a short introductory course to get you familiar with ELAN. Next, read through the blogposts within this training blog, in sequential order. Whilst going through each blogpost, ensure you are interacting with ELAN. 

Feel free to email any questions to: Jasmine.Siew@ugent.be

Note, for external researchers outside Ghent University, please email Jasmine.Siew@ugent.be if you intend to utilize this coding blog. 

01_Introducton: Downloading ELAN

To download ELAN (v 6.2) click on the following link (https://archive.mpi.nl/tla/elan/download) and then ELAN 6.2 (Windows or Mac) and follow the instructions.

02_Introduction: File Structure and Labelling

This blogpost covers the structure of the files you will receive for the coding of video interactions within ELAN.  

File structure

For each video interaction (i.e., each participant), you will receive several files: 

*.eaf - ELAN coding file

*.pfsx - ELAN coding file 

*.eaf.001 - ELAN coding file (note, not all participant folders include this file)

*.mp4 - video interaction file 

*.wav - audio interaction file (note, wav files are specific to speech coding only) 

File labelling 

ELAN coding files are labelling in the following format: participant ID number, time-point, assessment type, length of interaction, coding dimension (for example; 057_10M_MKI_5-min_D2_TOUCH). 

Media files are labelled in the following format: participant ID number, time-point, assessment type, length of interaction, video quality (for example; 057_10M_MKI_5-min_1280x720). 

It is important that no files are removed or deleted. All files related to the same participant must be kept within the same folder. In addition, it is important that no files are  renamed as this will interfere with the ELAN program.

Figure 1: Image depicting the file structure and labelling

03_Introduction: Launching ELAN

This blogpost will outline how to open ELAN

As discussed in the previous blogs, there are several coding and media files link to each participant. The file ending '.eaf' is the main coding file which is used to launch ELAN and open the specific coding file for that participant. To open ELAN, simply double click on this file: 

Figure 1: Image depicting coding and media files 

This will launch the ELAN coding file specific to that participant, along with the media files:

Figure 2: Image depicting the main ELAN window 

04_Introduction: Coding Modes

This blogpost will cover coding modes within ELAN

There are several different working modes within ELAN, including annotation, media synchronization, transcription, segmentation and interlinearization mode. =

Usually, when opening the main ELAN file, the annotation mode will be on view (see Figure 1, below). This is a generic mode whereby most functions are available. This is the coding mode whereby all interaction dimensions are coded in (i.e., gaze, gestures, touch and speech).  

Figure 1: Image depicting the annotation mode within ELAN

Sometimes another coding mode may be on view when the main coding file is opened. In this instance, the coding mode can be easily switch to annotation mode via. the 'options menu' (see Figure 2, below). 

Figure 2: Image depicting the options menu and annotation modes 

Note, the following blogposts will cover functions within the annotation mode

05_Navigating: Main Window

This blogpost will outline the main sections within the main window of the annotation mode

1 = annotation control bar; 2 = media file; 3 = media playback controls; 4 = selection/interval controls; 5 = timeline viewer; 6 = tier panel; 7 = crosshair; 8 = annotation section. These will each be described in the subsequent blogposts.

Figure 1: Image depicting the sections within the annotation mode 

06_Navigating: Controls Tab

This blogpost will outline the tabs within the main annotation control bar 

The annotation control bar comprises several tabs, each with a specific function. However, the tabs which will be used during the coding process are 'grid' and 'controls'. These are described in further detail below.

Figure 1: Image depicting the annotation control bar 

Grid tab 

The main function of the grid tab is to view a list of all annotations from a single tier (i.e., 1, 2 or 3). To view this list of annotations, click on the drop-down menu towards the right and select the tier you wish to view. In addition, selecting an annotation from the will take you to the position of that annotation.

 Figure 2: Image depicting the annotation control bar 

Controls tab 

In the Controls tab, both the volume and rate of the media files can be adjusted. For volume, adjust only the first slider. The second volume sliders should remain untouched. 

Figure 3: Image depicting the media control options

07_Navigating: Media File Functions

This blogpost will outline functions associated with the media file, including the zoom function, detaching/attaching, cross-referring the media and ELAN file and location media files.

Zoom function 

The zoom function can be used to focus in on a particular part of the video. To zoom in on the media file, right click on the video file, hover over ‘zoom’ and select your desired zoom level. Typically, the zoom scan be set at around 200-300% and focused on the interactive partners. 

In addition, in some videos, two extra boxes displaying alternative camera angles are integrated within the main media file. These are useful in cases whereby the main camera angle is not clear. Thus, the zoom function is useful here.

Note, this zoom function is different to zooming in on the density viewer; while the density viewer zoom focuses on the zoom when annotating, the media zoom focuses on the actual media file being coding. 

Figure 1: Image depicting the zoom function 

Detach/attach function 

It is possible to detach the media file from the main ELAN window. Detaching the media file is especially useful when working with two screens; whereby the video is displayed on one screen, and the coding file on another – although, this is personal preference and it is also fine to code without detaching. 

To detach the media file, right click on the media file and click ‘detach’. A new moveable window will appear which includes the media file. To reintegrate the media file into the main window, right click on the media file and select ‘attach’. Note, the media controls are still situated within the main window. 

Figure 2: Image depicting the detach function 

Checking the media file associated with the coding file

It is good practice to check the media file associated with the coding file the first time a new participant is coded. 

To do this, right click on the media file and click ‘player info…’. Once the dialog box appears, cross-reference the file name of the main ELAN file (top left of the main window) with file name within the dialogue box labelled ‘file location’. You want to ensure the participant ID and time-point match. 

Figure 3: Image depicting the player info dialogue box

Locating the media file

Usually, when you receive ELAN coding files, the media file will already be linked to that specific coding file. However, in some instances, when you open the .eaf coding file, you may be asked to locate the media. If this is the case, when you open the coding file, a dialog box will appear to select the correct media file (.mp4). Locate the media file associated with the participant and click open. The main ELAN program will open with the associated media file.

Note, it is crucial that the ID codes match between the .mp4 file and ELAN coding file currently open. This is because ELAN may direct you to another participant folder. For instance, in the below example, the coding file is associated to participant 005. However, ELAN was directed to the ID folder ‘001’ from the previous coding file (Figure 4, box 1). Thus, ID code ‘005’ needs to be located and attached (Figure 4, box 2). 

Figure 4: Image depicting the selection of media files  

08_Navigating: Media Playback Functions

This blogpost will cover the media playback controls and keyboard shortcuts 

The media file can be navigating using the media playback controls - using either the mouse or keyboard shortcuts (note, hovering the mouse over each control highlights the keyboard shortcut). Getting familiar with the media controls and especially the keyboard shortcuts is vital for efficient coding. 

There are two sets of media playback controls, the main media controls and selection controls. These are described below. 

Main media controls 

The main media controls (see figure 1, below) allow the media file to be navigated frame-by-frame, second-by-second, or pixel-by-pixel. Thus, these media controls allow for more fine-tuned coding. In addition, the media file can be played/paused and navigated quickly between the beginning to end. 

Figure 1: Image depicting the main media controls and their keyboard shortcuts (Windows - left; Mac - right). 

Selection media controls 

The second set of media controls, the selection controls (see figure 2, below), allow the media to be navigated annotation by annotation. For these controls to work, the 'selection mode' function must be ticked. There are four main controls:  

Play Selection: the selected annotation is played (note, in combination with Loop Mode, the annotation can be played multiple times).

Clear Selection: the previously selected annotation is deselected 

Move crosshair: the crosshair can be moved to the left or right of the selected annotation

Left/right/up/down: the direction keys allow the previous, next, upper or lower annotation to be easily selected. 

Figure 2: Image depicting the selection controls and their keyboard shortcuts 

09_Navigating: Timeline Viewer Functions

This blogpost will outline the main function of the timeline viewer, including the main viewer, crosshair and tier name panel (including showing/hiding tiers)

Timeline viewer

The timeline viewer displays the tiers and their annotations, whereby each annotation corresponds to a specific time interval. It is possible to jump to a certain point in the annotation file by clicking anywhere in the timeline viewer. The total width of this viewer represents the total duration of the media, thus making it possible to roughly estimate where to jump to (e.g. at 3/4th of the media).

The timeline viewer can also be zoomed by using the slider at the bottom right hand corner of the screen. Since the level of coding detail we are aiming for is high, typically, the timeline viewer is set to a minimum zoom level of 300% (roughly half way). Another way to access the zoom feature is by right clicking anywhere in the annotation section and clicking zoom.

Crosshair

During playback, a red vertical bar, the crosshair, moves through the annotations and indicates the current point in time, within the timeline viewer. Normally the crosshair will start from the left if it reaches the right side of the viewer. One way to quickly inspect the annotation file is by dragging the crosshair from left to right.

Tier Name Panel

The tier name panel to the left of the timeline viewer gives an overview of the different existent tiers. One of the tiers in the panel is always active (indicated by its underlining and red color), which means that new annotations will be added to this tier. To change the active tier, double click on another tier. 

Figure 1: Image depicting the timeline viewer, tier panel and crosshair 

It is also possible to show or hide certain coding tiers within the tier panel. This is useful when focusing on a specific participant (e.g., parent vs infant). 

To show/hide tiers, right click on the tier panel and select ‘show/hide more’. This will display a dialog box. Tick/untick the tiers you wish to view or hide and click ok.  

Figure 2: Image depicting the show/hide tier function