Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue On a old MNL project, a MNL-MI device was found. Is it required to integrate into SmartStruxure? Environment SmartStruxure with MNL Cause Outdated LON product Resolution The MNL-MI provided network-level management functions for a network of MNL controllers.  An RS-232 port on the MNL-MI provided for a connection to a computer running the MicroNet Tech Tool or MicroNet View software (both obsolete).  It is not required for a SmartStruxure integration and can be removed from the LON trunk.

Issue Can a schedule or calendar be printed? Environment StruxureWare Building Operation site Cause Desire to print a schedule or calendar either from AS or ES Resolution Neither Schedules nor Calendars can be printed from Workstation or Webstation using Building Operation

Issue Has a ListView defined under a controller that shows the alarms for that controller only. Error 'Object does not exist' when trying to use 'is like' with Device ID in a list view qualifier. Example:   Environment CyberStation Cause Documentation Resolution When adding the qualifier DO NOT write the word ID after the device name in the value field, Continuum will automatically add it when the list view is saved. NOTE: If getting the error even after removing 'id' from the qualifier try entering the full path to de device.

Issue When there are multiple panels or graphics assigned to a Workspace, sometimes the layout will be in a mess when viewing it. Environment SmartStruxure Cause The layout for Workspace needs to be manually arranged and saved. Resolution After manually arranged the layout for Workspace, you need to click on the View menu and select "Save workspace layout" to save it. This work needs to be done per user, which means if you have multiple users using this Workspace, you need to log on with each user and save them separately. To set the layout back to the default, go to the View menu and select "Reset workspace layout".

Issue An existing Niagara R2 Enterprise Server was upgraded to 535 but the Vykon Alarm Client (version 2.5) cannot connect to the server. Environment Niagara R2 Cause The Server Name in the Vykon Configuration Utility must be the server's IP address and NOT the station name nor the Windows' Computer Name. Resolution See the VAS_InstallationConfiguration Guide for more details.

Issue When you use Webstation to access alarms in a Vista database you get a error in the alarm pane. Product Line TAC Vista Environment Vista 5.1.x Cause The $alarmColumns under the root directory has all of the selected columns selected for display. Resolution To get the Webstation alarm pane to display correctly uncheck one of the columns. This has been noted as a QT6670 and not to be fixed

Issue In Function Block and Menta Editor programming, once the unit of a function block has been set to a specific type, there is no option at the top of the list to set it back to "blank". Environment Function Block Programming Cause In TAC Vista Menta, the first option in the list of units for a function block is just a blank field. The blank field means that there is no unit type selected. Function Block and Menta Editor programming in SmartStruxure do not have a blank field that can be selected. Resolution Instead of using a blank field to signify that there is no unit type, SmartStruxure programs use a "NoUnit" designation. "NoUnit" can be found in the list of units alphabetically.

Issue The first time a WB-profile user connects a web browser to an I/A Series G3 station, the user is prompted to download software from Oracle. Product Line TAC IA Series Environment I/A Series G3 (AX), version 3.8.xxx Cause An earlier version of I/A Series G3 used an open-source library for 128 or 256-bit encryption.  I/A Series G3 version 3.8.xxx migrated to the Java Cryptography Extension (JCE) that requires the installation of add-on files from Oracle. Resolution Download the required files from Oracle. Depending on your version of Java, download either ... JRE8 ... http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/jce8-download-2133166.html JRE7 ... http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/jce-7-download-432124.html Otherwise, navigate to the Oracle download website and search for the links to "Java Cryptography Extension (JCE) Unlimited Strength Jurisdiction Policy Files" for your Java version ... http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html Accept license and download. This may require registration or sign in to Oracles website. Locate the Correct Java Folder on Your PC Where the Software Must Be Installed. Launch... Windows > Control Panel > Java In the Java Control Panel, navigate to the "Java" tab, and then click "View" to see the installed Java version. The name of the folder where Java is installed precedes the "bin\javaw.exe" in the text. "JavaHome" is what this document will call that folder, no matter what the full name is. In the example below, the folder name appears as "C:\Program Files\Java\jre?" -- the obscured last character will be 7, or 8, or some other number, depending on the installed Java version. Install the Files on Your PC Use Windows (File) Explorer to navigate to the Java jre folder path as shown in the step above. From the jre folder, navigate to the lib\security\ folder. Copy the local_policy.jar and US_export_policy.jarfiles contained in the Oracle download and replace the older version files. Clear the web browser's cache Delete the contents of the C:\Users\username\niagara folder. Clear the java cache (Control Panel => Java => Temporary Internet File "Settings" => Delete Files => check installed apps and applets => OK Re-start the web browser NOTE: This procedure will need to be performed on each computer accessing the I/A Series G3 station via a web browser.

Issue Veris temperature transmitter - control system is reading an inaccurate temperature reading Environment Veris temperature sensor with voltage transmitter output Cause The Veris sensor and the controller are located at different locations and using a different common as they are being powered by different power sources.  Resolution Refer to the sensor's installation instructions and ensure that the sensor and controller uses the same common. 

Issue Is there a way to determine which version of Operator Interface is installed without actually running the program? Environment DMS Operator Interface Cause Determine the version without running the program Resolution Open the file LANGUAGE.TXT in the DMS folder using Notepad and line 12 will indicate the version installed:

Issue How to set up a Operator Panel to only see the TAC Xenta controller it is plugged into Product line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment TAC Xenta Operator Panel firmware 3.7 TAC Xenta Programmable controller 3.85 or higher Cause When the Operator Panel is plugged into a TAC Xenta programmable controller the whole network of TAC Xenta controllers are listed. Resolution This option and the requirements are described in this TPA To enable the option in the TAC Xenta: How to enable this in the TAC Xenta: Edit the application and create a Public PVI-block with the name XENTASYSREG and set this block’s initial value to 8. If you have multiple TAC Xenta OP panels in the network, each one connected to a specific TAC Xenta Controller, it will be required to create this special PVI block in every one of these TAC Xenta Controller’s application code.   To enable the option in the OP Panel: 1. Open the TAC Xenta OP local service menu, by pressing and holding the “escape” and “enter” buttons for a few seconds. 2. Enter the bottom command: “11 OP connects to”. 3. Enter this sub-command, and then type in, using “+” or “-“, the specific TAC Xenta controller’s subnet and node address you want this OP to be “locked” to. The TAC Xenta controller subnet and node addresses can easily be found in TAC Vista Workstation; select “properties” for the TAC Xenta controller and the subnet/node address will be displayed. Observe that when you select, in the OP panel’s new menu, the node number and press enter the TAC Xenta OP will restart and seek for this now selected TAC Xenta controller. Note that it is still possible to access this specific TAC Xenta controller from another TAC Xenta OP in the network if that TAC Xenta OP is of a version prior to 3.70 or this new “lock-function” is not enabled in that TAC Xenta OP. However doing this, you will only here also “see the local TAC Xenta controller”. In this case you will be able to exit this TAC Xenta controller again by pressing “escape”. While in the locked TAC Xenta OP you will not be able to exit from the TAC Xenta controller it is locked to.

Issue Viewing the Foreign Device Table in an ES or AS. Environment BBMD FDT Foreign Device Table Cause Unable to locate where the Foreign Device Table can be viewed. Resolution The Foreign Device Table is located  under the server  in the System/Modules/BACnet Devices/FDT folder First create the BBMD, which will be located under the BACnet Interface/IP Network folder.        The Foreign Device Table can then be viewed by going to System/Modules/BACnet Devices/FDT. Note that the foreign device table is read-only, it displays information about what other devices have been configured as foreign devices pointing to this device (the BBMD).     NOTE: In 1.5 the Foreign Device Table has been moved as a new tab on the BBMD object.

Issue Looking at the Status Information on the MSTP network object under the BACnet Interface of the Automation Server, the status read online FALSE Environment Automation Server - AS Cause The AS is not being passed the network token. If the Automation Server sees the token being passed on the bus but it never receives the token the AS will tag the MSTP network status as OFFLINE.. Resolution Possible reasons/solutions. CAUSE: Baud rate mismatch with third party devices. SOLUTION: If device does not support auto-baud change the speed of the MSTP to that of the device. CAUSE: A device on the MSTP is using the same mac id as the MSTP port. SOLUTION: Resolve the duplicate id issue. CAUSE: A defective device on the MSTP SOLUTION: Identify the defective device and replace it.

Issue Webpinpoint runs for awhile then gives the error Failed Creation IDNLiveDataPtr Environment Windows 7 Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2008 Cause The IIS Resources are recycled after a period of time (default is 29 hours). This disconnects webpinpoint after this time. Resolution The Webclient Installation and Planning Guide describes this for Windows Server 2003 1. From the Windows Control Panel, double click and open Administrative Tools. The Administrative Tools dialog appears. Appendix A: web.Client Security and Troubleshooting Tips Andover Continuum web.Client Planning and Installation Guide 149 2. Double click and open Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager. The Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager dialog appears. 3. In the navigational directory, expand your local computer directory. 4. Expand the Application Pools directory. 5. Right click on DefaultAppPool, and from the popup menu, select Properties. The DefaultAppPool Properties dialog appears. 6. Select the Recycling tab. 7. Next to the Recycle worker processes (in minutes) checkbox, which should be checked, notice the field displaying the default number of minutes - 1740 minutes. This is equivalent to 29 hours. 8. To lengthen this time, use the field's up-arrow button to add minutes. (Use the down arrow to subtract minutes.) 9. Click OK.  Windows 7/Server 2008 Similar steps as above with a couple differences because of the interface.  In IIS Manager Select Recycling(Link in Actions Pane) Deselect Regular Time Intervals in Minutes In IIS Manager Select Recycling(Link in Actions Pane) Deselect Regular Time Intervals in Minutes then Next then Finish Select Advanced Settings(Link in Actions Pane) Idle Time-out(minutes) Set to 0 then Ok

Issue The Niagara Tunnel service in Windows 7 indicates that it is started; however the tunnel window will not pop-up Environment Niagara R2 version 5.35, Windows 7 32-bit. Cause The Interactive Services Detection service is disabled. This service must be enabled for the tunnel client to work.  Resolution Verify that Interactive Services Detection is started.  Set the service to automatic, start it, and re-boot the computer.   

Issue HotFix best practices Environment Site with StruxureWare Building Operation Cause Is it supported to have a Hotfix applied to ES/Workstation, but not the AS? Is it supported to have different HotFixes applied to the same site? In other words, HotFixes can be applied to select AS, but can you have different HotFixes on different AS, with perhaps a different HotFix applied to the ES/WorkStation?   Resolution The hot fix readme details what is necessary to install a Hotfix, generally they can be mixed as necessary on the one site, if there is any dependency’s (i.e. you need to install WS with the ES) this again will be detailed in the HotFix readme file. Remember HotFixes are now consolidated (all in the one hot fix) and the build numbering of the HotFix shows this, i.e. 1.6.0.xxx is based on fixes consolidated in consolidation point 1, again the readme tells you which fixes are included. Also remember that you can only apply a hot fix when the build number is greater than the current installed build. As a general rule you should be able to have different hot fixes on a ES, on an AS and on Workstation. However, installing a new hot fix on top of a previous hot fix for any of these will remove the previous hot fix, if the read me file for the new hotfix doesn't specify that the previous hot fix is included. It will specify this not in terms of hot fix builds but in terms of fixes for ALM defect ID's. Therefore, one needs to look at the read me files for the combination of hot fixes used at any specific site to make sure all hot fixes needed are effective and not have been overwritten by a later hot fix. The above is true for read me files whether or not a hot fix is considered to be a consolidated hot fix or not. Note, the guidelines seem to imply that all hot fixes are consolidated, which is no true.   Version of firmware on an AS: Note: Not all HotFixes apply to all sites. HotFixes eliminate issues observed and defined in a particular defect.   

Issue Why don't changes to the alarm reference points trigger the alarm to be re-evaluated in the i1, infinet controllers Environment LCX SCX TCX Infinity controllers Alarms 1st Generation Infinet controllers. Cause In the original Infinet controllers the alarm state was only checked for, when the actual Object value changed. So if an Alarm Point input to that object changes, such that the alarm expression is now true an alarm is not generated until the Object value changes or the Object is refreshed Resolution In the original Infinet controllers the alarm state was only checked for, when the actual Object value changed. So if an Alarm Reference Point input to that object changes, such that the alarm expression is now true an alarm is not generated until the Object value changes or the Object is refreshed eg. If the Enrollment Expression is Point2 = 1, and Point2 goes to 1, the Object will not go into alarm until either the Object Value changes or the Object is refreshed. i2 Controllers are enhanced so they will go straight in to alarm. Below shows an example A possible work around would be to refresh the input with a PE program, this could however adversely effect the operation of the controller, it would be unadvisable to refresh much more than once per minute eg Merck_SPF_BAS\NC107\NC107_1_SC03\TT5702305G refresh = true

Issue The binding variable "variable.OFFLINE" does not reflect an offline state. Environment Script Program Binding Attribute Offline Release 1.4.1 Cause A program has been written which uses this attribute to confirm that an I/O is online, but the state does not change. Resolution Web-Help - describes the use of the Binding Attributes Forced, Invalid, Offline and Overridden.     These attributes were originally intended to be available, but it was decided that they would not be implemented at this stage of the SmartStruxure development. This information will now be removed from the documentation, until the Binding Attributes are correctly introduced in a later release.

Issue When opening an exported .doc file from Web Reports, Word gives the following error: Word experienced an error tying to open the file. Try these suggestions: *Check the file permission for the document or drive *Make sure there is sufficient free memory and disk space. *Open the file with the Text Recovery converter. Is Microsoft Office 365 supported with Web Reports? Environment StruxureWare Building Operation Report Server (Web Reports) Microsoft Office 365  Cause Web Reports has not had any extensive testing with the Microsoft Office 365 components, but the export documents are produce for compatibility with Office 2003. Resolution In some cases the issue may be resolved by performing the following steps outlined in- Microsoft Knowledgebase article http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2749199

Issue Station down station up alarms are constantly generated even though the Enterprise Server and UNCs are not actually down. A station up alarm for the same station was generated within a short period of time (seconds).  Environment I/A Series R2 Enterprise Server and Universal Network Controllers Cause A station down alarm will be generated if the station does not respond within the timeout configured for the station.  Resolution In a station's AddressBook, the entry for a station has a 'Monitor' checkbox. A station down alarm is generated if the station does not respond within the timeout configured for the station in the AddressBook entry. The timeout by default is 1 minute. This can be increased if false station down alarms are being generated. You can also disable the station monitor if required.