diff --git a/CoreProtocols/Saccade_AntiSaccadeStateInfo.m b/CoreProtocols/Saccade_AntiSaccadeStateInfo.m
index cbd015a6..de4f0d1e 100644
--- a/CoreProtocols/Saccade_AntiSaccadeStateInfo.m
+++ b/CoreProtocols/Saccade_AntiSaccadeStateInfo.m
@@ -325,8 +325,8 @@
 %--------------------fix within
 fixWithin = {
 	@()draw(stims); %draw stimulus
-	@()trackerDrawEyePosition(eT);
-	@()trackerFlip(eT, 1);
+	@()trackerDrawEyePosition(eT); % for tobii
+	@()trackerFlip(eT, 1); % for tobii
 };
 
 %--------------------test we are fixated for a certain length of time
@@ -383,7 +383,7 @@
 	@()updateExclusionZones(me, tS.useTask, tS.exclusionRadius);
 	@()trackerMessage(eT,'END_FIX');
 	@()hide(stims, 3);
-}; 
+};
 if strcmpi(tS.type,'saccade')
 	fsExit = [ fsExit; { @()edit(stims,1,'alphaOut',tS.targetAlpha2) } ];
 else
diff --git a/runExperiment.m b/runExperiment.m
index 55f6e5ae..29022639 100644
--- a/runExperiment.m
+++ b/runExperiment.m
@@ -671,7 +671,7 @@ function runTask(me)
 				else	
 					run(me.userFunctionsFile)
 				end
-				me.userFunctions = ans;
+				me.userFunctions = ans; %#ok<NOANS> 
 				uF = me.userFunctions;
 				uF.rE = me; uF.s = s; uF.task = task; uF.eT = eT;
 				uF.stims = stims; uF.io = io; uF.rM = rM;
@@ -795,6 +795,9 @@ function runTask(me)
 					warning('We had to reopen the labJackT to ensure a stable connection...')
 				end
 				
+				%---------set up our behavioural plot
+				createPlot(bR, eT); drawnow;
+
 				%-----take over the keyboard + bump priority
 				KbReleaseWait; %make sure keyboard keys are all released
 				if ~isdeployed; commandwindow; end
@@ -802,11 +805,7 @@ function runTask(me)
 					%warning('off'); %#ok<*WNOFF>
 					ListenChar(-1); %2=capture all keystrokes
 				end
-				drawnow; 
 				Priority(MaxPriority(s.win)); %bump our priority to maximum allowed
-				
-				%---------set up our behavioural plot
-				createPlot(bR, eT);
 
 				%-----profiling starts here if uncommented
 				%profile clear; profile on;
@@ -837,18 +836,18 @@ function runTask(me)
 					if me.doFlip; s.finishDrawing(); end % potential optimisation, but note stateMachine may run non-drawing tasks in update()
 					
 					%------check eye position manually. Also potentially log
-					% this retrieved value, but REMEMBER eyelink will save
-					% the properly sampled eye data in the EDF; this is just
-					% a backup sampled at the GPU FPS wrapped in the PTB
-					% loop.
+					% this retrieved value, but REMEMBER eyetracker will save
+					% the properly sampled eye data in the EDF; this is
+					% just a backup sampled at the GPU FPS wrapped in the
+					% PTB loop.
 					if me.needSample; getSample(eT); end
 					if tS.recordEyePosition && me.useEyeLink
 						saveEyeInfo(me, sM, eT, tS);
 					end
 					
 					%------Check keyboard for commands (remember we can turn
-					% this off using either tS.keyExclusionPattern [per-state
-					% toggle] or tS.checkKeysDuringStimulus).
+					% this off using either tS.keyExclusionPattern
+					% [per-state toggle] or tS.checkKeysDuringStimulus).
 					if tS.checkKeysDuringStimulus || ~contains(sM.currentName,tS.keyExclusionPattern)
 						tS = checkKeys(me,tS);
 					end
@@ -905,17 +904,22 @@ function runTask(me)
 				tL.screenLog.trackerEndTime = getTrackerTime(eT);
 				tL.screenLog.trackerEndOffset = getTimeOffset(eT);
 				
-				updatePlot(bR, me); %update our behavioural plot for final state
-				show(stims); %make all stimuli visible again, useful for editing 
-				drawBackground(s);
-				trackerClearScreen(eT);
-				trackerDrawText(eT,['FINISHED TASK:' me.name]);
-				Screen('Flip', s.win);
-				Priority(0);
-				ListenChar(0);
-				RestrictKeysForKbCheck([]);
-				ShowCursor;
-				warning('on');
+				try %#ok<*TRYNC> 
+					drawBackground(s);
+					trackerClearScreen(eT);
+					trackerDrawText(eT,['FINISHED TASK:' me.name]);
+					Screen('Flip', s.win);
+					Priority(0);
+					ListenChar(0);
+					RestrictKeysForKbCheck([]);
+					ShowCursor;
+					warning('on');
+				end
+
+				try
+					updatePlot(bR, me); %update our behavioural plot for final state
+					show(stims); %make all stimuli visible again, useful for editing 
+				end
 				
 				%notify(me,'endAllRuns');
 				me.isRunning = false;
@@ -931,13 +935,13 @@ function runTask(me)
 					close(io);
 				end
 				
-				close(s); %screen
-				close(io); % I/O system
-				close(eT); % eyetracker, should save the data for us we've already given it our name and folder
-				WaitSecs(0.25);
-				close(aM); % audio manager
-				close(rM); % reward manager
+				try close(s); end %screen
+				try close(io); end % I/O system
+				try close(eT); end % eyetracker, should save the data for us we've already given it our name and folder
+				try close(aM); end % audio manager
+				try close(rM); end % reward manager
 				
+				WaitSecs(0.25);
 				fprintf('\n\n======>>> Total ticks: %g | stateMachine ticks: %g\n', tS.totalTicks, sM.totalTicks);
 				fprintf('======>>> Tracker Time: %g | PTB time: %g | Drift Offset: %g\n', ...
 					tL.screenLog.trackerEndTime-tL.screenLog.trackerStartTime, ...
@@ -978,9 +982,11 @@ function runTask(me)
 				if me.diaryMode; diary off; end
 				
 				me.stateInfo = [];
-				if isa(me.stateMachine,'stateMachine'); me.stateMachine.reset; end
-				if isa(me.stimuli,'metaStimulus'); me.stimuli.reset; end
-				
+				try
+					if isa(me.stateMachine,'stateMachine'); me.stateMachine.reset; end
+					if isa(me.stimuli,'metaStimulus'); me.stimuli.reset; end
+				end
+
 				clear rE tL s tS bR rM eT io sM	task
 				
 			catch ME
diff --git a/screenManager.m b/screenManager.m
index cb8a03c3..24eacd79 100644
--- a/screenManager.m
+++ b/screenManager.m
@@ -818,7 +818,7 @@ function close(me)
 			end
 			me.isInAsync = false;
 			if me.isPlusPlus
-				BitsPlusPlus('Close');
+				try BitsPlusPlus('Close'); end
 			end
 			me.finaliseMovie(); me.moviePtr = [];
 			kind = Screen(me.win, 'WindowKind');
diff --git a/stimuli/discStimulus.m b/stimuli/discStimulus.m
index 6b5115ec..78a42d10 100644
--- a/stimuli/discStimulus.m
+++ b/stimuli/discStimulus.m
@@ -10,19 +10,19 @@
 		%> type can be "simple" or "flash"
 		type = 'simple'
 		%> colour for flash, empty to inherit from screen background with 0 alpha
-		flashColour = []
+		flashColour double = []
 		%> time to flash on and off in seconds
-		flashTime = [0.25 0.25]
+		flashTime double {mustBeVector(flashTime)} = [0.25 0.25]
 		%> is the ON flash the first flash we see?
-		flashOn = true
+		flashOn logical = true
 		%> contrast scales from foreground to screen background colour
-		contrast = 1
+		contrast double {mustBeInRange(contrast,0,1)} = 1
 		%> cosine smoothing sigma in pixels for mask
-		sigma = 31.0
+		sigma double = 31.0
 		%> use colour or alpha [default] channel for smoothing?
-		useAlpha = true
+		useAlpha logical = true
 		%> use cosine (0), hermite (1, default), or inverse hermite (2)
-		smoothMethod = 1
+		smoothMethod double = 1
 	end
 	
 	properties (SetAccess = protected, GetAccess = public)
diff --git a/stimuli/spotStimulus.m b/stimuli/spotStimulus.m
index fe668336..6d00c58d 100644
--- a/stimuli/spotStimulus.m
+++ b/stimuli/spotStimulus.m
@@ -89,13 +89,14 @@ function setup(me,sM)
 			if isempty(me.isVisible); me.show; end
 			
 			me.sM = sM;
+			if ~sM.isOpen; warning('Screen needs to be Open!'); end
 			me.ppd=sM.ppd;
 			
 			fn = fieldnames(spotStimulus);
 			for j=1:length(fn)
 				if isempty(me.findprop([fn{j} 'Out'])) && isempty(regexp(fn{j},me.ignoreProperties, 'once'))%create a temporary dynamic property
 					p=me.addprop([fn{j} 'Out']);
-					p.Transient = true;%p.Hidden = true;
+					p.Transient = true;
 					if strcmp(fn{j},'size');p.SetMethod = @set_sizeOut;end
 					if strcmp(fn{j},'xPosition');p.SetMethod = @set_xPositionOut;end
 					if strcmp(fn{j},'yPosition');p.SetMethod = @set_yPositionOut;end
@@ -125,6 +126,102 @@ function setup(me,sM)
 			computeColour(me);
 			computePosition(me);
 			setAnimationDelta(me);
+			if me.doAnimator;setup(me.animator, me);end
+
+			function set_xPositionOut(me, value)
+				me.xPositionOut = value * me.ppd;
+			end
+			function set_yPositionOut(me,value)
+				me.yPositionOut = value*me.ppd;
+			end
+			function set_sizeOut(me,value)
+				me.sizeOut = value * me.ppd; %divide by 2 to get diameter
+			end
+			function set_colourOut(me, value)
+				me.isInSetColour = true;
+				if length(value)==4 
+					alpha = value(4);
+				elseif isempty(me.findprop('alphaOut'))
+					alpha = me.alpha;
+				else
+					alpha = me.alphaOut;
+				end
+				switch length(value)
+					case 4
+						if isempty(me.findprop('alphaOut'))
+							me.alpha = alpha;
+						else
+							me.alphaOut = alpha;
+						end
+					case 3
+						value = [value(1:3) alpha];
+					case 1
+						value = [value value value alpha];
+				end
+				if isempty(me.colourOutTemp);me.colourOutTemp = value;end
+				me.colourOut = value;
+				me.isInSetColour = false;
+				if isempty(me.findprop('contrastOut'))
+					contrast = me.contrast; %#ok<*PROPLC>
+				else
+					contrast = me.contrastOut;
+				end
+				if ~me.inSetup && ~me.stopLoop && contrast < 1
+					computeColour(me);
+				end
+			end
+			function set_flashColourOut(me, value)
+				me.isInSetColour = true;
+				if length(value)==4 
+					alpha = value(4);
+				elseif isempty(me.findprop('alphaOut'))
+					alpha = me.alpha;
+				else
+					alpha = me.alphaOut;
+				end
+				switch length(value)
+					case 3
+						value = [value(1:3) alpha];
+					case 1
+						value = [value value value alpha];
+				end
+				if isempty(me.flashColourOutTemp);me.flashColourOutTemp = value;end
+				me.flashColourOut = value;
+				me.isInSetColour = false;
+				if isempty(me.findprop('contrastOut'))
+					contrast = me.contrast; %#ok<*PROPLC>
+				else
+					contrast = me.contrastOut;
+				end
+				if ~me.inSetup && ~me.stopLoop && contrast < 1
+					computeColour(me);
+				end
+			end
+			function set_alphaOut(me, value)
+				if me.isInSetColour; return; end
+				me.alphaOut = value;
+				if isempty(me.findprop('colourOut'))
+					me.colour = [me.colour(1:3) me.alphaOut];
+				else
+					me.colourOut = [me.colourOut(1:3) me.alphaOut];
+				end
+				if isempty(me.findprop('flashColourOut'))
+					if ~isempty(me.flashColour)
+						me.flashColour = [me.flashColour(1:3) me.alphaOut];
+					end
+				else
+					if ~isempty(me.flashColourOut)
+						me.flashColourOut = [me.flashColourOut(1:3) me.alphaOut];
+					end
+				end
+			end
+			function set_contrastOut(me, value)
+				if iscell(value); value = value{1}; end
+				me.contrastOut = value;
+				if ~me.inSetup && ~me.stopLoop && value < 1
+					computeColour(me);
+				end
+			end
 		end
 		
 		% ===================================================================
@@ -232,118 +329,6 @@ function reset(me)
 	%=======================================================================
 	methods ( Access = protected ) %-------PROTECTED METHODS-----%
 	%=======================================================================
-		% ===================================================================
-		%> @brief sizeOut Set method
-		%>
-		% ===================================================================
-		function set_sizeOut(me,value)
-			me.sizeOut = value * me.ppd; %divide by 2 to get diameter
-		end
-		
-		% ===================================================================
-		%> @brief colourOut SET method
-		%>
-		% ===================================================================
-		function set_colourOut(me, value)
-			me.isInSetColour = true;
-			if length(value)==4 
-				alpha = value(4);
-			elseif isempty(me.findprop('alphaOut'))
-				alpha = me.alpha;
-			else
-				alpha = me.alphaOut;
-			end
-			switch length(value)
-				case 4
-					if isempty(me.findprop('alphaOut'))
-						me.alpha = alpha;
-					else
-						me.alphaOut = alpha;
-					end
-				case 3
-					value = [value(1:3) alpha];
-				case 1
-					value = [value value value alpha];
-			end
-			if isempty(me.colourOutTemp);me.colourOutTemp = value;end
-			me.colourOut = value;
-			me.isInSetColour = false;
-			if isempty(me.findprop('contrastOut'))
-				contrast = me.contrast; %#ok<*PROPLC>
-			else
-				contrast = me.contrastOut;
-			end
-			if ~me.inSetup && ~me.stopLoop && contrast < 1
-				computeColour(me);
-			end
-		end
-		
-		% ===================================================================
-		%> @brief colourOut SET method
-		%>
-		% ===================================================================
-		function set_flashColourOut(me, value)
-			me.isInSetColour = true;
-			if length(value)==4 
-				alpha = value(4);
-			elseif isempty(me.findprop('alphaOut'))
-				alpha = me.alpha;
-			else
-				alpha = me.alphaOut;
-			end
-			switch length(value)
-				case 3
-					value = [value(1:3) alpha];
-				case 1
-					value = [value value value alpha];
-			end
-			if isempty(me.flashColourOutTemp);me.flashColourOutTemp = value;end
-			me.flashColourOut = value;
-			me.isInSetColour = false;
-			if isempty(me.findprop('contrastOut'))
-				contrast = me.contrast; %#ok<*PROPLC>
-			else
-				contrast = me.contrastOut;
-			end
-			if ~me.inSetup && ~me.stopLoop && contrast < 1
-				computeColour(me);
-			end
-		end
-		
-		% ===================================================================
-		%> @brief alphaOut SET method
-		%>
-		% ===================================================================
-		function set_alphaOut(me, value)
-			if me.isInSetColour; return; end
-			me.alphaOut = value;
-			if isempty(me.findprop('colourOut'))
-				me.colour = [me.colour(1:3) me.alphaOut];
-			else
-				me.colourOut = [me.colourOut(1:3) me.alphaOut];
-			end
-			if isempty(me.findprop('flashColourOut'))
-				if ~isempty(me.flashColour)
-					me.flashColour = [me.flashColour(1:3) me.alphaOut];
-				end
-			else
-				if ~isempty(me.flashColourOut)
-					me.flashColourOut = [me.flashColourOut(1:3) me.alphaOut];
-				end
-			end
-		end
-		
-		% ===================================================================
-		%> @brief contrastOut SET method
-		%>
-		% ===================================================================
-		function set_contrastOut(me, value)
-			if iscell(value); value = value{1}; end
-			me.contrastOut = value;
-			if ~me.inSetup && ~me.stopLoop && value < 1
-				computeColour(me);
-			end
-		end
 		
 		% ===================================================================
 		%> @brief computeColour triggered event
diff --git a/tools/behaviouralRecord.m b/tools/behaviouralRecord.m
index 382b276e..6d4297a6 100644
--- a/tools/behaviouralRecord.m
+++ b/tools/behaviouralRecord.m
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 % ========================================================================
 classdef behaviouralRecord < optickaCore
 %> @class behaviouralRecord
-%> @brief Create a GUI and update behavioural record for a behavioural
+%> @brief Create a GUI and update performance plots for a behavioural
 %> task
 %> 
 %>
@@ -87,9 +87,10 @@ function plot(me)
 		%> 
 		% ===================================================================
 		function createPlot(me, eL)
+			tt=tic;
 			if ~me.plotOnly
 				reset(me);
-				me.date = datestr(now);
+				me.date = datetime('now');
 			end
 			if isfield(me.h,'root') && ~isempty(findobj(me.h.root))
 				close(me.h.root);
@@ -100,7 +101,7 @@ function createPlot(me, eL)
 				eL.fixation.time = 1;
 				eL.fixation.initTime = 1;
 			end
-			tx = {['INFORMATION @ ' me.date]};
+			tx = {['START @ ' char(me.date)]};
 			tx{end+1} = ['RUN = ' me.comment];
 			tx{end+1} = ['RADIUS = ' num2str(eL.fixation.radius)];
 			tx{end+1} = ' ';
@@ -127,7 +128,8 @@ function createPlot(me, eL)
 			me.h.grid.RowSpacing = 2;
 			me.h.grid.Padding = [3 3 3 3];
 			me.h.panel = uipanel(me.h.grid);
-			me.h.info = uitextarea(me.h.grid, 'HorizontalAlignment', 'center','FontName',mfont);
+			me.h.info = uitextarea(me.h.grid, 'HorizontalAlignment', 'center',...
+				'FontName', mfont, 'Editable', 'off', 'WordWrap', 'off');
 			me.h.box = tiledlayout(me.h.panel,3,3);
 			me.h.box.Padding='compact';
 			me.h.axis1 = nexttile(me.h.box, [2 2]);
@@ -141,23 +143,21 @@ function createPlot(me, eL)
 			set([me.h.axis1 me.h.axis2 me.h.axis3 me.h.axis4 me.h.axis5], ...
 				{'Box','XGrid','YGrid'},{'on','on','on'});
 			
-			xlabel(me.h.axis1, 'Run Number')
-			xlabel(me.h.axis2, 'Time')
-			xlabel(me.h.axis3, 'Group')
-			xlabel(me.h.axis4, '#')
-			xlabel(me.h.axis5, 'x')
-			ylabel(me.h.axis1, 'Yes / No')
-			ylabel(me.h.axis2, 'Number #')
-			ylabel(me.h.axis3, '% success')
-			ylabel(me.h.axis4, '% success')
-			ylabel(me.h.axis5, 'y')
-			title(me.h.axis1,'Success () / Fail ()')
-			title(me.h.axis2,'Response Times')
-			title(me.h.axis3,'Hit (blue) / Miss (red)')
-			title(me.h.axis4,'Average (n=10) Hit / Miss %')
-			title(me.h.axis5,'Last Eye Position')
-			%hn = findobj(me.h.axis2,'Type','patch');
-			%set(hn,'FaceColor','k','EdgeColor','k');
+			xlabel(me.h.axis1, 'Run Number');
+			xlabel(me.h.axis2, 'Time');
+			xlabel(me.h.axis3, 'Group');
+			xlabel(me.h.axis4, '#');
+			xlabel(me.h.axis5, 'x');
+			ylabel(me.h.axis1, 'Yes / No');
+			ylabel(me.h.axis2, 'Number #');
+			ylabel(me.h.axis3, '% success');
+			ylabel(me.h.axis4, '% success');
+			ylabel(me.h.axis5, 'y');
+			title(me.h.axis1,'Success () / Fail ()');
+			title(me.h.axis2,'Response Times');
+			title(me.h.axis3,'Hit (blue) / Miss (red)');
+			title(me.h.axis4,'Average (n=10) Hit / Miss %');
+			title(me.h.axis5,'Last Eye Position');
 		end
 		
 		% ===================================================================
@@ -171,10 +171,14 @@ function updatePlot(me, rE)
 				sM = rE.stateMachine;
 				eT = rE.eyeTracker;
 			end
+
+			%-----profiling starts here if uncommented
+			%tt = tic; profile clear; profile on; 
+
 			if ~me.plotOnly
 				if me.tick == 1
 					reset(me);
-					me.startTime = clock;
+					me.startTime = datetime('now');
 				end
 				if exist('sM','var')
 					if ~isempty(regexpi(sM.currentName,me.correctStateName,'once'))
@@ -303,7 +307,7 @@ function updatePlot(me, rE)
 			
 			if ~me.plotOnly && ~isempty(me.response)
 				n = length(me.response);
-				me.trials(n).now = clock;
+				me.trials(n).now = datetime('now');
 				me.trials(n).info = me.info;
 				me.trials(n).tick = me.tick;
 				me.trials(n).comment = me.comment;
@@ -312,8 +316,9 @@ function updatePlot(me, rE)
 				me.trials(n).yAll = me.yAll;
 			end
 
-			t = {['INFORMATION @ ' me.date]};
-			t{end+1} = ['RUN time = ' num2str(etime(me.trials(end).now,me.startTime)/60) 'mins'];
+			t = {['START @ ' char(me.date)]};
+			d = me.trials(end).now - me.startTime;
+			t{end+1} = ['RUN time = ' char(d)];
 			t{end+1} = ['RUN:' me.comment];
 			t{end+1} = ['INFO:' me.info];
 			t{end+1} = ['RADIUS (red) b|n = ' num2str(me.radius(end)) 'deg'];
@@ -328,11 +333,20 @@ function updatePlot(me, rE)
 			
 			t{end+1} = ' ';
 			t{end+1} = '============Logged trial info============';
-			for i = 1:length(me.trials)
+			if me.plotOnly
+				startt = 1; endt = length(me.trials);
+			elseif length(me.trials) <= 10
+				startt = 1; endt = length(me.trials);
+			else
+				startt = length(me.trials)-10; endt = length(me.trials);
+			end
+			for i = startt:endt
 				t{end+1} = ['#' num2str(i) '<' num2str(me.trials(i).response) '>: ' me.trials(i).info ' <> ' me.trials(i).comment];
 			end
+			me.h.info.Value = t';
 			
-			set(me.h.info,'Value', t');
+			%-----get our profiling report for our task loop
+			% toc(tt); profile off; profile viewer;
 
 			if ~me.plotOnly
 				me.tick = me.tick + 1;