'Could not locate element' error using trial


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EN
EN
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Posts: 15, Visits: 114
Hello,
I started coding an experiment where participants will watch videos and write about their impressions. However, I don't seem to be able to play the videos.
Using the code below, Inquisit returns:

Could not locate element 'showvideo1'
block 2 is unassigned.

Checking some previous posts, I saw that one should define a 'video' element, then wrap it as a 'trial' before embedding it into 'blocks'.
That is what I tried to achieve.

I am guessing I'm making a trivial mistake but any help will be greatly appreciated. I've tried the code on Inquisit 7.0.3 on a Macbook M1 Max Mac OS 15.4.1, and both Inquisit 7.0.3 and 6.6.1 on an Intel Macpro Mac OS15.4.1 but in all cases got the same error.

Thanks in advance,
EN

//--------------------
//--Code below--
//--------------------
// --------------------------------------
// VIDEO ELEMENTS (update filenames as needed)
// --------------------------------------

// Video stimulus
<video video1>
/items = ("Video1.mp4")
/playthrough = true
/position = (50, 50)
</video>

// --------------------------------------
// TRIAL: Show Video
// --------------------------------------

<trial showvideo1>
/stimulusFrames = [1=video1]
/timeout = 5000 // Duration of the first video is 5s
</trial>

// --------------------------------------
// SURVEY: Show Task Explanation
// --------------------------------------

<surveypage explanation>
    / caption = "<b>Task explanation</b>"
</surveypage>

<survey INTRO>
/ pages = [1=explanation]

</survey>

// --------------------------------------
// EXPERIMENT DEFINITION
// --------------------------------------

<expt main>
/blocks = [1=INTRO; 2=showvideo1]
</expt>
Dave
Dave
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EN - 5/16/2025
Hello,
I started coding an experiment where participants will watch videos and write about their impressions. However, I don't seem to be able to play the videos.
Using the code below, Inquisit returns:

Could not locate element 'showvideo1'
block 2 is unassigned.

Checking some previous posts, I saw that one should define a 'video' element, then wrap it as a 'trial' before embedding it into 'blocks'.
That is what I tried to achieve.

I am guessing I'm making a trivial mistake but any help will be greatly appreciated. I've tried the code on Inquisit 7.0.3 on a Macbook M1 Max Mac OS 15.4.1, and both Inquisit 7.0.3 and 6.6.1 on an Intel Macpro Mac OS15.4.1 but in all cases got the same error.

Thanks in advance,
EN

//--------------------
//--Code below--
//--------------------
// --------------------------------------
// VIDEO ELEMENTS (update filenames as needed)
// --------------------------------------

// Video stimulus
<video video1>
/items = ("Video1.mp4")
/playthrough = true
/position = (50, 50)
</video>

// --------------------------------------
// TRIAL: Show Video
// --------------------------------------

<trial showvideo1>
/stimulusFrames = [1=video1]
/timeout = 5000 // Duration of the first video is 5s
</trial>

// --------------------------------------
// SURVEY: Show Task Explanation
// --------------------------------------

<surveypage explanation>
    / caption = "<b>Task explanation</b>"
</surveypage>

<survey INTRO>
/ pages = [1=explanation]

</survey>

// --------------------------------------
// EXPERIMENT DEFINITION
// --------------------------------------

<expt main>
/blocks = [1=INTRO; 2=showvideo1]
</expt>

<trial showvideo1> is a trial, not a block.

<trial> elements display stimulus elements and collect responses.
<block> elements run trials.
<expt> elements run blocks.

You need to define a <block> element that runs the showvideo1 trial. Then your <expt> element can run that block.
EN
EN
Associate Member (104 reputation)Associate Member (104 reputation)Associate Member (104 reputation)Associate Member (104 reputation)Associate Member (104 reputation)Associate Member (104 reputation)Associate Member (104 reputation)Associate Member (104 reputation)Associate Member (104 reputation)
Group: Forum Members
Posts: 15, Visits: 114
Dave - 5/16/2025
EN - 5/16/2025
Hello,
I started coding an experiment where participants will watch videos and write about their impressions. However, I don't seem to be able to play the videos.
Using the code below, Inquisit returns:

Could not locate element 'showvideo1'
block 2 is unassigned.

Checking some previous posts, I saw that one should define a 'video' element, then wrap it as a 'trial' before embedding it into 'blocks'.
That is what I tried to achieve.

I am guessing I'm making a trivial mistake but any help will be greatly appreciated. I've tried the code on Inquisit 7.0.3 on a Macbook M1 Max Mac OS 15.4.1, and both Inquisit 7.0.3 and 6.6.1 on an Intel Macpro Mac OS15.4.1 but in all cases got the same error.

Thanks in advance,
EN

//--------------------
//--Code below--
//--------------------
// --------------------------------------
// VIDEO ELEMENTS (update filenames as needed)
// --------------------------------------

// Video stimulus
<video video1>
/items = ("Video1.mp4")
/playthrough = true
/position = (50, 50)
</video>

// --------------------------------------
// TRIAL: Show Video
// --------------------------------------

<trial showvideo1>
/stimulusFrames = [1=video1]
/timeout = 5000 // Duration of the first video is 5s
</trial>

// --------------------------------------
// SURVEY: Show Task Explanation
// --------------------------------------

<surveypage explanation>
    / caption = "<b>Task explanation</b>"
</surveypage>

<survey INTRO>
/ pages = [1=explanation]

</survey>

// --------------------------------------
// EXPERIMENT DEFINITION
// --------------------------------------

<expt main>
/blocks = [1=INTRO; 2=showvideo1]
</expt>

<trial showvideo1> is a trial, not a block.

<trial> elements display stimulus elements and collect responses.
<block> elements run trials.
<expt> elements run blocks.

You need to define a <block> element that runs the showvideo1 trial. Then your <expt> element can run that block.

Thanks!

Just for completeness, I've copied the corrected code below in case it's helpful to other newbies like me!

/ --------------------------------------
// VIDEO ELEMENTS (update filenames as needed)
// --------------------------------------

// Video stimulus
<video video1>
/items = ("20250516_1133_Cat Companionship_simple_compose_01jvbf1qm6ef38c2fcswz3mehm.mp4")
/playthrough = true
/position = (50, 50)
</video>

// --------------------------------------
// TRIAL: Show Video
// --------------------------------------

<trial showvideo1>
/stimulusFrames = [1=video1]
/timeout = 5000 // Duration of the first video is 5s
</trial>

//--------------------------------------
// BLOCK: Wrapper for Trial Show Video
// --------------------------------------
<block wrap_showvideo1>
/trials=[1=showvideo1]    
</block>

// --------------------------------------
// SURVEY: Show Task Explanation
// --------------------------------------

<surveypage explanation>
    / caption = "<b>Task explanation</b>"
</surveypage>

<survey INTRO>
/ pages = [1=explanation]

</survey>

// --------------------------------------
// EXPERIMENT DEFINITION
// --------------------------------------

<expt main>
/blocks = [1=INTRO; 2=wrap_showvideo1]
</expt>
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