Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue How to identify when a record was edited for a specific individual is needed to be found in AMT events. Environment I/NET Cause Customer needs to filter out who and which Individual has been edited in their Access Control system. Resolution This can be realized by filtering in the Event Window in AMT 1. Create a new filter in the Event Window in AMT, name it and click OK. 2. In the Event Info column, Click on All No to uncheck all the event type to filter. Then only check on Edit-Indiv. to see the Edit Individual record. 3. In the Device Name field, enter the words following the rule Tenant Number-Individual Number. For example, the individual traced is in Tenant 1, and the individual number is 1, so just type 001-00001 here. Click OK after finished. 4. In the filter list window, click on the filter just defined and press Select. Then in the Event window, you can see all the events related with editing this specific individual.

Issue The I/A Series G3 Modbus TCP slave device is unable to establish communications with a Modbus client requesting a unit identifier of 255.  The ENC/JACE rejects the message because the Modbus TCP slave device address can only be configured with a value between 1 to 247. Environment I/A Series G3 (all versions) Cause The Modbus TCP slave device address can only be configured with a value between 1 to 247 and Workbench will generate an exception if a value outside this range is entered and saved. Per the Modbus TCP standard, the Modbus TCP/IP Application Data Unit (ADU) takes the form of a 7 byte header (transaction identifier, protocol identifier, length field, and unit identifier) plus the protocol data unit (function code + data). The 7 byte MBAP header includes the following fields: Transaction/invocation Identifier (2 Bytes): This identification field is used for transaction pairing when multiple messages are sent along the same TCP connection by a client without waiting for a prior response. Protocol Identifier (2 bytes): This field is always 0 for Modbus services and other values are reserved for future extensions. Length (2 bytes): This field is a byte count of the remaining fields and includes the unit identifier byte, function code byte, and the data fields. Unit Identifier (1 byte): This field is used to identify a remote server located on a non TCP/IP network (for serial bridging). In a typical Modbus TCP/IP server application, the unit ID is set to 0 or 0xFF (255), ignored by the server, and simply echoed back in the response. Resolution The I/A Series G3 Modbus TCP slave device address can only be configured with a value between 1 to 247 and Workbench will generate an exception if a value outside this range is entered and saved.  The workaround is to configure the value as follows. Right click on the ModbusTcpSlaveNetwork and view the ModbusTcpSlaveDevice objects. Right click on the ModbusTcpSlaveDevice object and select Pin Slots. Select the Device Address slot to pin ... select OK, Create a NumericWritable and set the value to 255. Link the output of the NumericWritable to the Device Address.

Issue When attempting to open the WorkPlace Tech Tool software, a Windows fatal error box is displayed: WptEd has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience. If you were in the middle of something, the information you were working on might be lost. Please tell Microsoft about this problem. We have created an error report that you can send to help us improve WptEd. We will treat this report as confidential and anonymous. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation, TAC IA Series Environment WorkPlace Tech Tool software WorkPlace Tech Editor Cause This problem can occur when you use an unsupported version of Visio, such as Visio 2000, prior to starting WorkPlace Tech Editor. Only Visio 2010 SP1, Visio 2007 SP2, and Visio 2003 SP3 can be used with the WorkPlace Tech Tool or WorkPlace Tech Editor. Resolution In the warning message, click [Don't send]. Close Visio. Open Visio 2010 SP1, Visio 2007 SP2 or Visio 2003 SP3.  This causes Windows to initialize and configure that specific version of Visio. When Visio opens, confirm that the selected version opens.  If the wrong version opens, you may need to repair the installation of the selected version. Close Visio. Restart WorkPlace Tech

Issue How to read Windows directory/file information such as disk free space and file size from Plain English. Environment CyberStation Cause Documentation Resolution  Plain English can’t access the windows file system directly but a batch file can be used to write certain information from windows directories and files then the created file can be read and parsed by a Plain English program running in the CyberStation. Here is an example: -A batch file (DIskspace.bat ) is created on the disk. -A Plain English program running in the CyberStation uses the Shell command to run the batch file. -The batch file outputs disk information to DSKSPACE.TMP and DSKSPACE2.TMP -PE program parses DSKSPACE2.TMP to obtain the amount of free space on the disk and puts it in an Analog Value object in CyberStation. NOTE: PE code is shown here for illustration purposes only, it is up to the programmer to implement an verify a solution appropriate for his/her use case. The Plain English program uses the shell command to run the batch file.     Shell "cmd.exe /c DiskSpace.bat" The Plain English program uses the OpenFile and ReadFile commands to get to the information OpenDskspace:       OpenFile("\winnt\System32\DSKSPACE2.TMP", ReadOnly, Dskspace)     Goto ReadDskspace ReadDskspace:   Result = ReadFile(Dskspace, localSTR, 128, CharsRead, "|13")   If Result = Eof then Goto DoneReading Then parses the information using the Search command   If search(localSTR, "bytes free") > 0 then     BytesFreePoint = StrToNum(left(localSTR, len(localSTR) - 10))

Issue SmartSensor Display blank with i2/B3-920s controllers Environment SmartSensor, 10K OHM (Type 3) Thermistor for Andover Continuum, LCD, 4-button (on/off, up/down, Celsius/Fahrenheit), blank cover (no logo) with i2/B3-920s controllers Smart Sensor Part number - TTS-SD-LCD-1 Smart Sensor, Lcd Display, 10K OHM (Type 3) Thermistor For Continuum TTS-SD-LCD-1 Infinity Smart Sensor 6-Button Keypad TTS-SD-LCD-4-2 Infinity Smart Sensor 4-Button Keypad Accurate, reliable 10K Type III Thermistor • LCD display • Programmable Keypad • Built-In service port to be used with the RoamIO-2 Service Tool • Powered directly from an i2 or b3 Field Controller Cause Connect new version SmartSensor to i2/b3-920 and write PE Program to display any character. This will render a blank SmartSensor display. Resolution New controller revision of software is expected to correct the SmartSensor with LCD display . i1 controller are still awaiting a change to the smart sensors (21 July 2014) Update Sept 2015 Firmware versions 4.500076 (b3920) and 3.300009(i2920) include this fix. Smart Sensor also modified for use with i1

Issue How to open the point extension of an I/NET point in the TGML graphic after converted into SmartStruxure, like Calculation, Event Sequence, Time Schedule etc.? Environment SmartStruxure Solution 1.4.1 and above I/NET 2.44a to I/NET 2.48 Cause Calculation, Event Definition or Time Schedule need to be changed in the TGML graphics Resolution Since I/NET 2.44a, there is a new option called "Right Click Menu" in the INET graphics to TGML converter. Select this option, convert the graphic, and right click on the point converted in TGML graphic, then a pop-up window will make it possible to add/modify Calculation, Event Definition, Time Schedule etc. Please note, the added right click options will only function when the graphics page is located on an Enterprise Server where a copy of I/NET is installed on the local Workstation.  This feature on converted graphic functions as a link to the I/NET software so will not work when that software is not locally available.  It is therefore not available when using WebStation or when viewing graphics located within a SmartX Server. From I/NET version 2.49, this right click menu option will NO LONGER be available                                                        

Issue As long as an object is inserted in I/NET graphic, it seems that the referred address can't be changed. Environment I/NET Cause The address reference of the object in I/NET graphic needs to be changed. Resolution In the current newest version of I/NET, there is a function called Address Conversion Utility. When editing a graphic: Click File > Address Conversion Choose the points that you want to change addresses on Click on the address you want to change and change it Click OK The address reference in I/NET graphic object has been changed. You can change all the Link, Station, Point and Bit addresses of these points.

Issue I/A Series R2 / G3 graphics are not displayed when using web browser after the Java version is updated to Java 7 Update 51 or later. A dialog box indicates "Application Blocked - Application Blocked by Security Settings." Product Line TAC IA Series Environment I/A Series R2 I/A Series G3 Cause From Java 7 Update 51 and onwards, Java has enhanced the security model to make user system less vulnerable to the external exploits. The new version of Java does not allow users to run the applications that are not signed (Unsigned), Self signed (not signed by trusted authority) and the applications that are missing permission attributes. Risks involved in running each kind of applications Unsigned applications: An application without a certificate (i.e. unsigned apps), or missing application Name and Publisher information are blocked by default. Running this kind of application is potentially unsafe and present higher level of risk.    Self signed application (Certificate not from trusted authority) An application with self-signed certificate is blocked by default. Applications of this type present the highest level of risk because publisher is not identified and the application may be granted access to personal data on your computer. Jar file missing Permission Attribute Permissions Attribute verifies that the application requests the permission level that developer specified. If this attribute is not present, it might be possible for an attacker to exploit a user by re-deploying an application that is signed with original certificate and running the application at a different privilege level. Resolution As a workaround, the user can use Exception Site list feature to run the applications blocked by security settings. By adding the URL of the blocked application to the Exception Site list allows it to run with some warnings. Steps to Add URL to the Exception Site list: In control panel go to the Java Control Panel Click on the Security tab and verify that the Security Level is set to "High" or "Medium". Click on the Edit Site List button Enter your site details (This example http://www.SBO-Site.com) where www.SBO-Site.com is the address of the R2 Enterprise Server or UNC serving graphics, expressed either by name or by IP address. Click the Add in the Exception Site List window. Select continue Repeat the process, adding the addresses of all the site's Enterprise Servers and UNCs/JACEs. If this computer is used for browsing I/A Series G3 site graphics or StruxureWare for Building Operation site graphics, the addresses of those sites may be added as well.

Issue When trying to download and commission a Xenta programmable controller underneath a LonWorks network in SmartStruxure, WorkStation crashes. The error give before the crash reads, A problem occurred in this application. Exception message: An item with the same key has already been added. Environment Workstation LonWorks Network Cause When a Menta file contains illegal characters in the name, such as a period, the file will fail to commission and download into a controller. After the Menta file has been created with an illegal character it will create a new AUT file every time it is saved. At this point the file has been corrupted and will not work even if the name is changed. Resolution In order to create a new Menta file based off of the original one, follow the steps below.   How to create a new Menta file without losing the original programming Right click on the Menta file that contains an illegal character in the name. Unzip the file by selecting 7-Zip > Extract Here. A folder will be created with the same name as the Menta file, click to open this folder. Within the extracted folder there will be multiple AUT files. Double click one of the AUT files to open it up. In the Menta programming window, click File > Save As... Save the Menta file in any desired location but make give the file a name that does not contain an illegal character. This newly created MTA file can now be used to commission and download the Xenta controller in SmartStruxure.

Issue After doing a save to database from a controller an attempt to reload the controller results in "Invalid Handle ID" or "Object not found in database" for every object in the controller. Environment CyberStation CX9xxx controller. Cause Bad object instance ID in the database. In the Continuum database each object in a controller contains the instance id of its owner controller in the ObjectIdHi field of its instance ID, this is illustrated in the screen shot below, Num1 is an InfinityNumeric created in the controller named NC2.42. You can see that the ObjectIdLo of NC2.42 becomes the ObjectIdHi of Num1 Somehow during the process of reloading a CX9200 via HyperTerminal followed by a save to database, all the objects end up with the wrong controller id in their ObjectIdHi resulting in the aforementioned error on reload. Resolution Put CyberStation in offline edit mode. Send the controller to ASCII file. Delete the controller. Import the file created in step 2 to re-create the controller and its objects. Put CyberStation online Reload the controller.

Issue Web Reports installation fails when creating the Virtual directories, and reports the following error; "Exception encountered during processing"   Environment Building Operation Web Reports Cause This issue was caused by the incorrect configuration of the "Role Services", where the selection of WCF Activation was missed. Resolution The required configuration is shown below.

Issue The MPM-UN controller comes with 100 AV's and 100 BV's. These may be added to the current database of the controller for various programming needs. However, when SE7000 controllers are added, they consume 14 of these AV's each (this is with the 2.5.6 firmware, which limits the ZigBee window to 14 AV points). The AV points are quickly gone from the MPM stock, and once 100 AV's are used, there are no more for further programming. If programming is done first, this is no problem, because the addition of SE7000 devices will continue to consume the remaining AV's from the original 100 available, then create AV's over 100 once the original are gone. How many AV's are available until the controller just doesn't recognize them, or stops allocating them to additional SE7000 controllers? Environment MPM-VA MPM-UN MPM-GW Cause As standard the library of objects in Building Expert displays 100 AV and 100 BV objects, however more are available but it is not clear how to access them. Resolution An MPM has capacity for up to 700 AV's and 700 BV's. Once the initial 100 are consumed, you can add Value Banks of 100 each AV and BV. Value Banks are added as devices and will be listed as sub devices under the main MPM. To add a Value Bank: 1. In the Building Expert Explorer panel, select the Add Devices icon . A new window opens. 2. Select Value Bank to add this your Controller. Added Device shows in Device to add column. 3. Click Add Devices button. 4. Repeat steps 2 - 3 to add any additional Devices. 5. Click Close

Issue Demo ES or AS download comes in as a .zip file Environment Windows OS with Internet Explorer for the web browser  Cause Site wants to download from the Extranet the Demo ES or AS. The file is downloaded as a .zip file rather than the .xbk file extension. Resolution What happens is the file is scanned by the IE browser and determines the file structure(read further from Microsoft link). This file is deemed as a zip file, and thus the name change occurs. For a workaround, you can use Firefox or Google Chrome for your web browser. From your IE browser, select Tools, Internet Options Security Tab, Local Intranet is selected and then the Custom Level button at the bottom then scroll down the list for settings, about half way is the Enable MIME Sniffing Disable MIME Sniffing and save your settings.

Issue Controller stops sending Valid and Invalid Access events but other types of events such as Exit Requests events are delivered fine. Environment CyberStation NetController I (CX9900) Cause Due to a defect in the firmware the controller can randomly get in a mode where Valid/Invalid Access Events are stuck in the controller and not delivered to CyberStation, the defect has been fixed in the second generation access controllers (CX9680 version 2.100035 and ACX57xx version 1.100037) but not in the older first generation controllers such as the CX99xx. Resolution A PE program running in the CyberStation can detect and alert of the condition and also perform an automatic reload to make the controller resume sending the valid/invalid access events. The following program is provided for illustration purposes ONLY and can be used as a guideline for creating a program in CyberStation to detect that a controller has stopped sending valid access events.

Issue To configure a door to send the raw bit stream on card swipe select 'Custom' as one of the weigand card formats for the door and make sure there is no AccessFormat(2,3,4) array created in the controller, if there is one it can be renamed to enable raw bit stream functionality and then rename back when done. In order to get the RAW bit stream data from a card the door has been configured for Custom with NO AccessFormat array created, but when a card is swiped at the reader no event comes in. Environment CyberStation CX9900 CX9702 CX9680 ACX5720 ACX5740 Cause The AccessServer system variable in the controller has a value of zero which is invalid for a CX controller (valid only for old ACX7xx) The door must be configured to validate card & site in order for the custom card event with raw bit stream to be generated, if the door is operating on site code only it will produce and invalid attempt instead. After making the changes above, the controller may have to be reloaded in order for the changes to take effect. Resolution Set the AccessServer system variable to a valid value. (ACCNetId of the Controller or ID of primary access server in the range 191-254)   NOTE: Setting the AccessServer to the AccNetID of the controller disables remote validation while setting it to the ID of the Primary Access Server enables remote validation.

Issue Script program status is "Loading" after upgrade Environment Upgrade Script Program Cause A new keyword may have been added to the new version Resolution A new keyword may have been added to the new version, for example the word "Debug" can be used as internal variables in script programs up to v1.3, but not in v1.4 onwards. In this case simply change the word "Debug" to Debug1" and all works fine. Screenshot of Script Properties shown below:

Issue Using an alarm expression with a point to act as a shunt...   Do all objects associated with this alarm have to be configured with an alarm point? or is it only those object from which we want to shunt the alarm? Environment CyberStation Cause Documentation Resolution   All objects that are using the ShuntAlarm MUST be configured with an alarm point, with the alarm expression in this example any object attached to the alarm but not configured with a Point1 will not go in alarm.

Issue Modbus write command setup and timing Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Automation Server (AS, AS-P, AS-B) Building Operation Enterprise Server (ES) Cause The Modbus value keeps being sent to a Modbus register (when write code 06 or 16 used) Resolution Control of the write timing is via the binding to the Modbus point within the Modbus network. If the Communication type is set to "Periodic" then the value will be sent based on the Period Communication Interval. If the Communication Type is set to "Change of Value" then the value will only be written when the value changes by this amount. The Re-transmit Interval should also be considered, as the register will also be written to based on this timing value, regardless as to whether it has changed or not. This value may need to be increased if the value should not be re transmitted apart from when the value changes. Up to v1.3 v1.4 and later Some Modbus devices get over these sort of issues by having a mode that can be set so that re-transmission of the same value is ignored, as the example below NOTE Block (Batch, Multiple) Writes are not supported (correct as 2020 11 01 and up to v3.2) Although they are used to write to 32, 48 & 64 bit Register types (so "Write Multiple Registers" packets will be seen when writing to 32, 48 or 64 bit registers) 

Issue Bacnet Loop object is not setting Present Loop Value or Present Loop Output based on the control points even though everything is setup so that it should be controlling properly. Changing the Min. Loop Value does show the change in the Loop Value and Loop Output but it is not controlling based on the Input and SP values. Environment Continuum BACnet Cause Something was setting the Present Loop Priority at a higher priority level than what the Loop was setting itself (default Priority 10). Resolution In the Loop object on the General tab, set Present Loop Priority to 1 (default is 10). See location of the attribute below. Loop control was resumed after forcing this to use Priority 1.

Issue Unable to import component Library into Graphics Editor. Double Clicking Archive Results in: Graphics Editor - Unexpected Error A problem occurred in this application Object reference not set to an instance of an object. Right-Clicking in the Component Library White Space shows the "Import" option grayed out. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment TGML Graphics Editor Cause The Default Libraries Location is no Longer accessible. This could be caused by a network drive being offline, an external drive being ejected or a user permissions being changed. Resolution Open the TGML Graphics Editor Right Click in the Component Library Space Click on "Libraries" Notice that no Location is bolded as this would indicate the default location Set a Location as default. Close the Libraries editor and import component libraries as desired.