Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue A dialog box pops up in Pinpoint that says "Too many panels opened. Please close some to continue." when attempting to open more than 8 panels. Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum Cyberstation Pinpoint Windows XP Windows 7 Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2008 Cause A limitation has been built into 1.94 to restrict the number of panels open.  Having too many panels open can cause instability with the Pinpoint application. This is a restriction in the code. Resolution There can only be 8 panels open in Pinpoint. Add points to another panel. Monitor system performance. There should be less 100 links per panel. See also, Pinpoint crashes when jumping between Graphic panels.

Issue How to use the beeper in a card reader to beep a different pattern for valid access and invalid attempt. Product Line Andover Continuum Environment AC1Plus ACX5720 ACX5740 CX9702 Cause Continuum access controllers such as the AC1Plus or the ACX5740 do not have a way to drive the beeper of a card reader directly, however the beeper can be driven using the same lines that drive the LED on the card readers, using this method different beep patterns can be accomplished to audibly differentiate between valid access and invalid attempt for example. Resolution Typically the reader will have a wire labeled as beeper. Connect the beeper wire to the reader LED termination on the card reader connector at the controller. Select the reader led pattern that gives the best results for your application, see Description of LED patterns on access readers, and how to change them for steps on selecting a reader LED pattern.

Issue Over 25 user Web Clients are required Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Web Client Cause Web Client licenses are only available for 1 , 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25 users Resolution Each Web Client session can support up to 25 concurrent browser sessions, for a large system that requires additional sessions additional Web Client servers can be used, each supporting up to 25 Users. Each Web Client server however will have a different IP address / URL, so if a user finds one server fully utilized, they will then need to connect to a different server/ address to connect to the system. Also see How to determine if SU, LAN, or WEBC security keys are required for your project for information on Licensing.

Issue Standalone v1.93 system has about 1000 points being extended logged for site commissioning. There are "holes" in the extended log data. Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Standalone CyberStation v1.93 Cause Standalone v1.93 system has about 1000 points being extended logged for site commissioning. There are "holes" in the extended log data. The points are being logged at 2 minute intervals. Partner added a second (temporary) workstation to help with extended logging. This is still a standalone (SQLExpress) system. Extended log data is being extracted using Excel on the standalone server.   Even with the second CyberStation helping with the load, there are still holes in the log data. Resolution The workstations cannot handle the extended logging of ~1000 points at 2 minute intervals. Not using SQL Express on a single user even with a second workstation. See also Extended Logging gaps, performance and load balancing. This article mentions 2000 points per workstation but it is likely that this was all based on 15 minutes intervals and running full SQL Server. At 2 minutes intervals you need to gather 720,000 entries/day or 8.333 entries/sec. At 15 minute intervals you need to gather 96,000 entries/day or 1.111 entries/sec. This is a big difference. In addition, the Excel script is reading from the same extended log table being written to, at 8.333 entries/sec.   The controller log engine is completely independent of the extended log engine. The controller logs never send their data to CyberStation; CyberStation has to go get it. The extended log engine uses the general preference settings. In this case the settings are as follows and appear fine. 7. Extended log database check interval (minutes): 5 8. Extended log maximum LAN buffer interval (minutes): 30 10. Extended log automatic purge interval (days): 5   CyberStation is constantly trying to gather data from logs well before the “deadline” when the log fills and is about to be overwritten. While doing this, CyberStation also has to monitor time in the controllers, to make sure it is not too far out of sync, and this may potentially take place on field bus controllers on many network controllers, which may even be in different time zones. It also has to know when controllers have gone offline, or for some reason extended log values have not been updated. In this case, CyberStation must try to play catch up when the controllers come back online (remember, these offline controllers have most likely continued to log data). And the same “catch up” has to take place if one or both workstations are turned off, or are busy doing other tasks like running reports or polling points via Pinpoint or Listviews. The bottom line is that the CyberStation extended log data collection engine is sophisticated and complicated. To get a sense of this run AccTrace.exe (in the \Continuum folder) on a system busy with extended logs and you'll see it firsthand.  When a SQL Express system with one or two workstations is trying to collect the logs and do everything else that CyberStation does (listviews, reports, schedules, pinpoint, etc), at times, some data may get dropped. The recommendation at this site was to lighten up the CyberStation load by changing the log interval to 15 minutes and monitor if the extended log holes get eliminated.  

Issue In the datasheet some controllers have a software real time clock, others list a real time clock Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Infinet and BACnet MS/TP field controllers Cause Clarification on the operation of the 2 types of controller clock Resolution The current range of controllers have 2 different clock types, all Ethernet level controllers and the larger i2 and b3 controllers have a Real Time Clock (RTC) chip fitted with quartz crystal control for very accurate time keeping, also the controllers onboard battery will permanently keep the clock running. Some of the lower cost controllers do not have a RTC chip fitted but the controllers software operating system will update the clock every second. If the controller is not running (powered off) the clock will not update, however when a controller is connected back onto the network (Infinet or MS/TP) it will be synchronized back to the bCX or CX level controller time. So if the controller is to be ever used in a stand alone mode, it is recommended to use one with a Real Time Clock fitted. For comparison to the clocks used on the Infinity range of controllers see How do our field controllers keep their own internal time?  

Issue How to export personnel records to a .CSV file in Continuum Environment Continuum Explorer Cause -none- Resolution 1.  In Continuum Explorer, right-click on the Personnel folder, and select View.  This will open the PersonnelClassDefault Listview that will contain all personnel records 2.  In the listview, select Object > Export All.  The Open dialog box will appear. 3.  Create or select a folder on the hard drive and indicate a file name (*.csv), then click Open. If the file is newly created, it will ask you ant to create it.  Select Yes.  The CSV file will be created. 4.  Have a look at the video tutorial: http://community.se.com/videos/1562

Issue If primary access server is not online, how do the access controllers know to send the events to the secondary access server? Product Line Andover Continuum Environment CyberStation 1.74 and higher CX99xx ACX57xx ACx7xx Cause On a LAN system, customer lost access events for 3 hours when primary access server was offline. Once back online the events showed up. The secondary access server was never setup. Since the controllers did not know about the secondary access server, they buffered the access events until the primary was back online. Resolution On a LAN system make sure you set up both primary and secondary access servers and make sure all access controllers are online when you do the Teach.  When you do a teach, each controller creates a list of the workstations and other controllers. When you click the primary access server checkbox in the workstation editor and hit apply, CyberStation automatically pops up the Teach dialog box. When the Teach is done the primary access server attribute gets turned on in the above list in each controller that is on-line. The same thing happens when you set the secondary access server checkbox. Note: The same process occurs, in reverse, if you deselect the access server checkbox in the workstation editor. Remember to note any offline controllers when you do a teach. Once the controllers are online do another teach - otherwise, if you are teaching the controllers about the primary and/or secondary access servers for the first time, the offline controllers will not know where to send access events. See also Access events buffered in Controller are not delivered to Cyberstation.

Issue Can a program a controller to cycle an output based on a cardholder presenting an access card at a cardreader without having the cardholder actually open the door. Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Netcontroller II CX9680 AC-1 AC1-Plus Plain English Cause When silencing an audible intrusion alarm using an access card, typically the person silencing the alarm must have access permissions at the door. This is so an audit trail can be maintained for alarm silencing events. Resolution In order to test the authority of the card holder that is silencing an audible alarm and to provide and audit trail for such events, the PE code typically must evaluate a valid access event. Since a valid access event is not completed until the door has been opened as indicated by the door switch input, this means that opening the door must be a part of the alarm silencing procedure. IMPORTANT UPDATE In more recent versions of ACX57xx and CX9680 a new flag attribute (ValidAttempt) has been added that makes it possible to detect a valid attempt independent of the valid access flag. See New Door attribute 'Valid Attempt' added in Cyberstation 2.0

Issue What is the Continuum OPC Server Part number? Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum OPC Server Cause Can't find the OPC Server part number in any available price lists. Resolution The part number for this is CTRL-OPC-SRVR. Also see this OPC Server for some useful information on OPC Server.

Issue Is there an IE table size limit? Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Import Export Limits Cause Using IE is the most efficient way to pass data around a Continuum system, when the tables are full the system will revert to a Point to Point method. Resolution The limits are 255 in the Infinet controllers and 65535 in the CX level controller. In the CX level controllers, this is for communication to the Infinet network and any peer to peer communication between CX's. Also see the object limit for the Infinet i1 and i2 controllers that can be found in How many user defined objects can be created in a controller?.

Issue Multiple duplicate email alarms are being delivered Getting multiple email notifications out of 1 event Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum Cyberstation 1.8x Cause duplicate alarms being delivered Resolution Enable Enhanced alarm logging and delivery Shut down ALL workstations Launch Continuum database initialization Select with Server or Stand Alone depending on your database configuration Select Enhanced Alarm Logging and Enhanced Alarm Delivery Update database When database update is complete, launch Continuum workstations Also see Alarm Forward and Log settings with enhanced alarm logging causes unnecessary network traffic

Issue When looking at the waveforms on an Infinet bus some waves appear at an amplitude of 5 volts while other waves have a 3 volt amplitude. Product Line Andover Continuum Environment RS485 Infinet transceivers Pico scope Oscilloscope Cause Generation I controllers such as CX9900 and i1 and earlier versions of Infinet controllers are manufactured with a 4.5 volt transceivers. Generation II controllers such as the CX9680, i2 and b3 controllers are manufactured with a 3.5 volt transceivers. Resolution It is perfectly fine to wire an Infinet bus that contains both first and second generation controllers.  For more information on RS485 see General Information on RS-485 Communication.

Issue Not clear to as to which alarms can be sent out to SNMP traps. The cx controller the SNMP Alarming option is enabled on?  Subnet controllers? Other cx controllers without the options enabled? Product Line Andover Continuum Environment bCX1 with SNMP alarming enabled CX99xx with SNMP alarming enabled CX9680 with SNMP alarming enabled ACX57xx with SNMP alarming enabled Cause The documentation and ordering information is not clear as to what the SNMP Alarming option enables the controller to do. Resolution The SNMP Alarming option enables the controller to sent out its own alarms and the alarms of its attached Infinet controllers to SNMP traps. It will not enable that controller to do the same for other CX controllers on the network. For all alarms to be sent to SNMP traps, you will need to enable the SNMP Alarming option for each CX controller. Also see the articles below for more information on SNMP options and configuration. Options: SNMP Flashing options for Netcontrollers and BCXs Configuration: Where can I get information on SNMP Alarming?

Issue Need sample PE program for control of access to a storage cage gate by forklift operators where the gate is required to stay open (up) until the forklift operator cards at the reader a second time on his/her way out of the cage. Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum Net Controller II Continuum ACX 2 Controller Continuum ACX 4 Controller Cause Continuum PE programming guidelines Resolution This sample program was provided as proof of concept only and not intended as a complete solution to the use case.   Object : StorageCageControl Type : InfinityProgram LastChange : 1/29/2020 11:29:14 AM DeviceId : PSS\ACX2.10 Alias : StorageCageContr CreateTime : 1/29/2020 9:59:56 AM CreatedBy : Root\Acc TimeLocked : 1/29/2020 11:29:14 AM InstanceId : 7003/7002 ByteCode : 'SAMPLE program for controlling access to a Storage Cage gate 1/29/2020 AM 'Program is LOOPING/AUTOSTART ' 'DESCRIPTION 'On valid access to the cage by forklift operator, program will unlock the gate using the ' PermanentUnlock property to keep it unlocked until the forklift operator indicates the gate 'can be closed by presenting his/her card at the card reader. ' 'REQUIREMENTS '1. ACX2 or NC2 controller only, program wont work in NC1 or old ACX7xx as they don't support the PermanentUnlock flag '2. Set the StrikeTime attribute of the door controlling the gate to ZERO '3. Create GateLeftOpenALM InfinityNumeric, and attach to an alarm (Optional) Numeric CloseTimeOut Line Init CloseTimeOut = 15 'Notify gate may have been left open after CloseTimeOut minutes. Goto WaitToOpen Line WaitToOpen GateLeftOpenALM = False If CageGate ValidAccess then CageGate PermanentUnlock = True Goto WaitToClose Endif Line WaitToClose If CageGate ValidAccess then CageGate PermanentUnlock = False Goto WaitToOpen Endif If TM >= CloseTimeOut then GateLeftOpenALM = True 'Gate may have been accidentally left open Line E 'oops, runtime error, wait a bit then try again If TS > 30 then Goto Init EndByteCode Status : Active EndObject

Issue What are the PinOuts for the RS-232 Connection of the older 1st Generation CX controllers to connect through Hyper terminal. Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Hyper Terminal Continuum CX Gen 1 CX9900 Continuum CX Gen 1 CX9940 Continuum CX Gen 1 CX9400 Continuum CX Gen 1 CX9410 Continuum CX Gen 1 CX9200 Cause Need to direct connect to a first-generation controller to configure its IP address and ACC Net ID. Resolution The Hyper Terminal cable needs to have the below pinouts. RJ Connector - - - - - - - - - - - - - 9 Pin RS-232 PC Controller Comm3 Pin 1 - DTR - - - - - - - - - - - - - Pin 6 - DSR Pin 2 - CTS - - - - - - - - - - - - - Pin 7 - RTS Pin 3 - CXD - - - - - - - - - - - - - Pin 1 - CXD Pin 4 - RTS - - - - - - - - - - - - - Pin 8 - CTS Pin 5 - GND - - - - - - - - - - - - - Pin 5 - GND Pin 6 - RD - - - - - - - - - - - - - Pin 3 - TD Pin 7 - DSR - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Pin 4 - DSR Pin 8 - TD - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Pin 2 - RD On the RJ connector for the controller's comm3, Pin 1 is the furthest to the left with the insert clip facing away from you and the gold teeth facing you (download drawing). For the CX9200 and CMX controllers download the pinouts here. Download Command Terminal Reference Guide here

Issue Is there a way to translate Cyberstation to a language other than English and use different SQL collation sequences and code page? Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum Cyberstation Cause Standard Cyberstation installation installs the SQL using Code Page 850 1.x Strict compatibility. Resolution The link below is to the Language Translation support guides. These provide detail on how to translate the Continuum Cyberstation user interface to a different language. It also details in Chapter 3 how to use a different SQL sort order. This would allow the use of different character sets for use in personal names Language Translation Support Guide V1.81 Language Translation Support Guide V1.94 Also, there is an additional Continuum Language Support document available in MSWord format Here. For Arabic specifically, additional MSWord Document Here.  There are freelancers that can be of assistance to help with your site. Upwork is a site with potentially low-cost translators. NOTE - No testing has been done with Continuum v2.0 due to a lack of demand for translation See Andover Continuum v2.0 Language Translation

Issue For troubleshooting and information gathering database queries are useful Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum Cyberstation Microsoft SQL Cause At times engineers and onsite techs need some queries to gather information for troubleshooting or to correct issues. Resolution Click here to download some sample read only queries

Issue When graphics are updating, a PI Live Data error pops up randomly or values may not always update Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum Windows XP Windows Vista Windows 7 Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2008 Cause PI Live Data is a timeout error. Pinpoint is having a difficult time accessing the data from the location it is being requested. Resolution There are a number of reasons this error can occur. Try the following steps to narrow down the issue. Review the polling settings using Continuum Graphics (Pinpoint) update interval and polling speed Verify that the points that have been linked in Pinpoint are currently assigned to points that exist in an online controller. Too many points that have been changed and that are no longer linked can cause Pinpoint to timeout. Ensure that if pages are setup to navigate from one to the other that pages are not remaining open since this will multiply the number of values being requested.  Run acctrace to determine what other processes are running on the Cyberstation at the time of the crash Remove SmartStruxure if it's installed on the same PC and see if the issue goes away.

Issue Can not find Controller Web Server documentation on the web sites. Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum Custom Web Server pages Infinity Web Server Cause Unable to find Continuum Web Server documentation. Resolution The attached Web Server chapter is extracted from a Plain English programming guide.  The Infinity Web Server User Guide is also relevant to Continuum. Also an example program can be seen in How to create custom web pages in the CX controller using Plain English.

Issue Continuum errorlogs from i2 controllers show many 1465 CRC errors for each controller. There is no other information, warnings, or errors logged. Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum 1.81 CX9900, 1.52000022 I2, 3.x Cause Some controllers with special firmware contribute to 1465 CRC errors greatly. Resolution Upgrade CX controller to latest firmware version 1.53000026. For more detail about 1465 CRC, refer to What do CRC errors (1465) indicate?