Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue When trying to download a b3866 device, receive an Untranslated BACnet Error. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Workstation Building Operation Automation Server (AS, AS-P, AS-B) BACnet b3 or Infinet i2 Controller Cause Infinet ID 0 or duplicate Infinet Id Resolution Export the objects in the controller. Delete the b3866 (or other b3 or i2) controller. Re-learn the controller. Manually assigned the Infinet ID to the next one available. Software reset the b3/i2. Download the b3/i2. Back up to flash. Import the objects. Download the b3./i2. Back up to flash.

Issue Converting I/NET Symbol Libraries to TGML Components Environment I/NET TGML Graphics Converter Cause Many users want to continue using the same graphic libraries they had in I/NET while in StruxureWare. The TGML conversion tool, will convert these libraries to TGML components. Resolution From Either I/NET or StruxureWare Workstation, open the I/NET graphics Conversion tool Select the Symbols check box on the right hand column Browse to the source and destination folders Select the files you wish to convert. Click Convert In Windows Explorer Browse to the destination folder. You can double click on each component to automatically add it to your "My Components" Component Library. NOTE: Be sure the TGML Editor is closed while you do this. Once you have finished this, open the TGML Editor and note that your My Components Library is now full. If desired, you can change the name of this library for sorting purposes or future exporting.

Issue When a modbus AO is created and set to 32-bit real swapped, the correct value is not seen at the modbus device. 1000 is written and 1000 is shown correctly at the Modbus device. 1001, 1002, 1003 are written but 1000 is seen at the Modbus device. 1004 is written and 1004 shows correctly at the Modbus device. And so forth. The larger the number, the larger the error increase. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Enterprise Server (ES) Automation Server (AS) Cause When 32 bit real swapped is selected Further down the configuration page, the write function code defaults to "06". 06 is to set a single 16-bit register write and this needs to be changed. Resolution Use the drop down tab and set the function code to "16". 16 is to preset multiple registers i.e. 2 off consecutive 16-bit registers or a 32-bit register.

Issue Older I/A Series G3 stations will not connect to an Enterprise Server that has been upgraded to a release with the 2013 security updates.  Versions with the 2013 security updates include: 3.7.106 (AX-3.7u1) 3.6.406 (AX-3.6u4) 3.5.406 (AX-3.5u4) 3.8.37 (AX-3.8) Niagara Network Fox Connections State remains "Not Connected" and the Last Failure Cause indicates ...        com.tridium.fox.session.InvalidCommandException: Expecting 'challenge', not 'rejected' Environment I/A Series G3, Enterprise Server, ENC, SoftJace Cause To increase system security, the update releases significantly modified how I/A Series G3 station password storage is maintained.  Any system with an I/A Series G3 Enterprise Server that transitions to an update release for the first time has a few extra steps involving the Enterprise Server station. Schneider Electric strongly recommends reviewing your security situation and upgrading the latest I/A Series G3 software with updated security measures. Resolution The following is an excerpt from the NiagaraAX 2013 Security Update document included in the docs folder for each of the 2013 security update builds.  The steps detail how to modify the Legacy Authentication setting to relax security for stations operating at previous builds. Setting Legacy Authentication within the Fox Service: In Workbench, open the running Supervisor station (Fox connection). In the Supervisor station, open the property sheet of its NiagaraNetwork - Config > Drivers > NiagaraNetwork. Expand the FoxService and look for a new property Legacy Authentication. Change Legacy Authentication from the default “Strict” to “Relaxed Until” (shown below) and then Save.  For further details, see “Fox Service properties” in the NiagaraAX Drivers Guide. This should be a temporary setting only. Reset this to “Strict” in the Enterprise Server’s FoxService after you complete upgrading I/A Series G3 in the subordinate ENC/JACE hosts (represented in the Enterprise Server’s NiagaraNetwork).  Relaxed authentication in the Enterprise Server’s FoxService allows its subordinate ENC/JACEs to continue to communicate with the Enterprise Server until they have been upgraded.  This is necessary to continue operations like remote alarming, archiving histories, and so on. However, you should NOT leave the Enterprise Server in this state, as this negates much security (see Caution). Caution:  Unless set to “Strict”, either “Relaxed” option is effectively the same as setting the FoxService property Authentication Policy to “Basic”, as this is the only “common ground” authentication between a legacy Fox client (Workbench or another station) and this update release station. Thus, passwords for client connections to this station are passed in clear text. Obviously, this is not a desired operating state.  For this reason, you should seldom (if ever) set the Legacy Authentication property to “Always Relaxed”.

Warning Potential for Data Loss: The steps detailed in the resolution of this article may result in a loss of critical data if not performed properly. Before beginning these steps, make sure all important data is backed up in the event of data loss. If you are unsure or unfamiliar with any complex steps detailed in this article, please contact Product Support Services for assistance. Issue How to convert a NL220 database into a LonMaker database. Environment NL220 LonMaker LNS Cause There are a number of steps that must be taken to convert a NL220 database to LonMaker.  Resolution Note: Before beginning this process make sure that the NL220 database has all devices underneath one root system (In this example, everything was moved into the InfraStructure root system). If this is not done, the controllers will not appear in the LonMaker Visio drawing. Make a backup of the NL220 database before doing anything else.   Create a new LonMaker database and open it up (For this example it was named NLtoLM). Note: You do not need to register any plug-ins or go OnNet at this time. Now close the LonMaker project.  Go to the location of the NL220 database and copy all of the folders and files in the database that you want to convert. In most cases you can find the database files here; C:\NLprj\PROJECT NAME. Go to the location of the LonMaker database that you just created and delete all of the files located in the project folder. In most cases it will be located here; C:\Lm\DB\PROJECT NAME. Paste the project folders and files from the NL220 database into the LonMaker database folder. Now go back to LonMaker and create the Visio drawing for the new LonMaker database. Make sure to select the project you created in the Drawing directory field and to select " " in the Drawing name field. Click Create Drawing. You may get a Database error. Click OK. The LonMaker database has now been created with the Visio drawing. The drawing may be a mess and will require additional time to move nodes around and clean up the appearance of the database. If there are subsystems in the project it will create each subsystem layer in a separate Visio drawing. In order to combine the subsystems back into one drawing follow steps 8 through 13.   On the main Visio drawing, click and drag a new subsystem to the Visio drawing. Give the new subsystem a name that is not used in the database. Go to the subsystem that you want to move and select everything on the page. Right click and go to Move Device > Change Subsystem... Navigate to the new subsystem that was created in step 8 and click OK. Repeat steps 8 through 10 for each subsystem you want to move. Go back to the main Visio drawing and delete the original subsystems that were on the page. Now the new subsystems can be renamed to the original subsystem names by right clicking and going to Properties. You now have one LonMaker Visio drawing for your entire database.

Issue Need the pinout for the righthand side connector on the PS-24 to troubleshoot. it. Environment PS-24, AS, IO Modules Cause PS-24 had failed with no output to the AS and IO Modules. The pinout for the PS-24 is not documented so was unsure if it was the PS-24 or the AS that failed. Resolution The top row left and second row left are nominal +24VDC and the top row right and second row right are -24VDC. See also Automation Server Family Hardware Reference Guide p/n 04-13001-03-en, page 33 for more information.  

Issue Is it possible to customize the active alarm view in status line mode to remove the weekday from the date field? Environment Continuum Cyberstation Cause Do not want the name of day  (weekday) being shown in the Active Alarm View. Resolution The weekday can be removed from being displayed in the Active Alarm View. You will need to change the "Long Date" field in your Windows Regional Settings to remove the preceding weekday name.   Change "dddd,d MMMM yyyy" to "d MMMM yyyy" and you will see that the entry in the alarm bar goes from having the name of the day shown; To only showing the day, month, and year;

Issue Create EWS between SmartStruxure and SmartStruxure Lite Product Line EcoStruxure Building Expert, EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment StruxureWare Building Operation site SmartStruxure Lite site Cause Steps to create EWS (EcoStruxure Web Service) between SmartStruxure and SmartStruxure Lite Resolution Release requirements: SmartStruxure Building Operation Release 1.3.938 and higher SmartStruxure Lite Version: Schneider Electric 2.7.0 and above Verification the Enterprise Server is running Open Building Operation Software Administrator. If Status shows Stopped, you must configure Building Operation. Otherwise, proceed to step 2. Ensure all Ports are correctly configured. Click Start Service and wait until application running shows in Path field. Click OK. Building Operation is now ready to integrate with SmartStruxure Lite The following example is using Server 1 in System Tree tab. In System Tree tab, right-click on Server 1. In newly opened window, select New. In newly opened sub window, select Interface. Click on Web Service to expand. Select EcoStruxure Web Service. In Name field, enter EcoStruxure Web Service. Click Next button. In Server field, enter IP address of Multi-purpose Manager (MPM) Controller you are connecting with. In Protocol field, ensure Communication port matches that on your server. In SOAP Endpoint field, enter ews in lower case letters. Take note that from SBO version 1.5 onwards, 'SOAP Endpoint' has been renamed to 'EWS Path'. IMPORTANT: You must enter ews in lower case letters in step 11. NOTE: If you are connecting to another StruxureWare Server, you must use an account that is in the default domain for log in credentials. Click Create button. Allow database to save completely before moving on to next step. In Server Tree tab, ensure new interface shows. You are now ready to connect your MPM Controller with Building Operation. Refer below to “Procedure - Connect MPM Controller to Building Operation." Procedure - Connect MPM Controller to Building Operation Ensure your MPM is physically connected to your workstation. In Server Tree tab, expand System folder. Expand Hardware folder. Expand EcoStruxure Web Services folder. Right-click C2G_root folder and select Host EWS Objects in sub window. Expand EcoStruxure Web Services folder. Select EcoStruxure and then select Web Services Properties Tab. Set Alarm Polling to Disabled. Procedure - View and Watch Data Points Expand CAN2GO controller. The List View tab shows all Objects available in Device. NOTE: EWS Consume in Building Operation server does not support connection over a ProxyServer.

Issue Getting javax.baja.xml.XException: Error parsing value error message when attempting to add a new driver network to the I/A Series G3 station's Drivers container. Drag and Drop - drag network container from palette and drop onto the Drivers container Copy and Paste - copy network container from palette and paste into the Drivers container Drivers Manager (New selection) - wizard to add new driver Error details displayed:  com.tridium.fox.session.ServerException: javax.baja.xml.XException: Error parsing value [38:4] Environment Enterprise Network Server, ENS, ENC, JACE Cause The module associated with the driver has not been installed in the local modules folder or remote station. Resolution Enterprise Network Server Stop Workbench Copy the missing module directly into ~\modules directory for the version of I/A Series G3 being used. Restart Workbench ENC or JACE Open the platform for the ENC/JACE Install the module using the Software Manager. A station reboot may be required.

Issue Does the Automation server have Lonmark Certification   Environment Automation Server Cause Specification requirement is for Lonmark certified devices Resolution There are no current plans for this.The reason is there is no suitable profile. LonMark have been working on a profile for these types of devices over many years now, and their is no information on  if/when this will be approved.  The AS is design and developed to behave like a LonMark certified device, but it contains no application which all existing profiles requires.

Warning Potential for Data Loss: The steps detailed in the resolution of this article may result in a loss of critical data if not performed properly. Before beginning these steps, make sure all important data is backed up in the event of data loss. If you are unsure or unfamiliar with any complex steps detailed in this article, please contact Product Support Services for assistance. Issue Exporting data from a corrupt taclogdata database because it's no longer possible for Vista to log data to the database. Product Line TAC Vista Environment Tac Vista 5.1.X SQL 2005 or newer SQL Management Studio Cause The original database is corrupt, there are no backups available and Vista is unable to write to the database. Resolution If not already installed, download and install SQL server management studio. Use a search engine to search for the appropriate version for your installation. Once installed, log on to your database instance (localhost\TACVISTA by default) and locate/select the taclogdata database in the Object explorer. Then follow the steps below: BACKUP! BACKUP! BACKUP! before starting this procedure! Create a new clean DB via Vista server setup - don't start Vista. Right click on the source DB in SQL management studio and select Tasks->Export Data. Follow the wizard and select the source and destination DBs. When you get to the "Select Source Tables and Views" stage, select the tables you want to copy. For each table selected, select the table and click on the "Edit Mappings" button. In the dialogue that appears, select "Append rows to the destination table" and check the "Enable Identity insert" check box. Click Next twice and then Finish. The data should be copied from the old database to the new. The progress can be monitored in the wizard.

Issue The selection list only shows the IP address of 127.0.0.1 instead of the IP Address(es) assigned in the computer's network configuration, as shown in the following screen capture.  How do I assign / select the proper IP address? Environment WorkPlace Tech Tool software release 5.7.x or later. Cause Invalid computer name. According to the information displayed by running "IPConfig /all", the computer's "Host Name" is "localhost", as show in the following image.  This name is a reserved name that cannot be used as a  computer host name. Resolution Change the computer Host Name from "localhost" to any other valid unique Host Name.

Issue There are many existing TGML graphics templates, components and snippets. Many of them have the animation binding with the digital value 0/1. But for SmartStruxure, especially the values from Continuum controller, it will show ON/OFF or ACTIVE/INACTIVE instead of 0/1. If binding these values directly to the graphic, the animation will not work. Environment SmartStruxure Cause The binding text or property should match the real value from the controller. Resolution Instead of modifying the TGML graphic, we have a better way to solve this problem. Double click the value that needs to be bound, and open the property window of the value. There is a property called 'Active Text' and 'Inactive Text' for this value. We can change the 'Active Text' to '1' and 'Inactive Text' to '0', then all the bindings can be used without any modification. But it depends on the workload of the project. If there are many values with a few controllers, maybe modifying the graphics is a more efficient way.

Issue Notifications (email or text file) are sent when an alarm is enabled by the shunt variable Environment Notifications Cause The Alarm object has 6 possible states that it can take   Normal - Idle state where the alarm monitors the variable. Alarm - When an alarm is triggered, the state of the alarm changes from the normal state to alarm state. Disabled - You can disable an alarm when the alarm is triggered by faulty reasons, the alarm toggles between the alarm state and reset state, or maintenance will trigger the alarm. A Disabled alarm can be hidden in the Alarms pane or Alarm Views. To reset the alarm, you have to show hidden alarms and then enable it. When you show disabled alarms, enabled alarms are hidden. Alarms are also disabled by using the Shunt Variable in the alarm configuration. Reset - The monitored variable has returned to a value that is within the normal condition of the alarm, but the alarm has to be acknowledged by a user before the alarm returns to normal state. Acknowledged - A user or user group has acknowledged the alarm. Fault - If a BACnet device reports values that it knows are not trustworthy, the monitoring alarm is put in fault state. The notification is triggered by transitioning to any of these states as selected in the "Notify on transition to" portion of the notification configuration This means that if you wish to receive a notification on transition to the Normal state, you can check the Normal box. However, this means that not only are notified when the alarm transitions from Alarm to Normal, but from Disabled to Normal or Fault to Normal.  Some of the scenarios may be undesirable. Resolution There are two ways an alarm can go to Normal: Alarm to normal Disable to normal In the Email notification main filter, you can choose to not get a notification from disarm but you might want to get a email about normal since you want to get a email when an alarm goes to normal. To accomplish this you need to add another filter called "Previous alarm state." (This filter does not work in releases prior to 1.3 SP1.) To add the filter Previous Alarm State: Click on the green + Check the boxes you want: Acknowledge Alarm Normal Reset Make sure Disable is not checked This means that when the previous state was disabled (shunted), a notification will not be sent.   Example1: This object will always trigger a notification on Alarm.  The notification will be triggered regardless of Previous State. If the Alarm is Disabled by a shunt, then enabled, but the Monitored Variable is still out of Range, a notification will be sent.   Example2: This object will only trigger a notification on the Transitions from Alarm to Reset, Alarm to Normal, Acknowledged to Reset or Acknowledged to Normal. This might be desirable for a user that wished to know when an object in Alarm returns to normal operation, but not know when an alarm goes from Disabled to normal operation.

Issue At times it is necessary to manually delete MSMQ messages Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum Windows XP Windows 7 Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2008 Cause Under certain conditions messages build up in queues and don't clear out from msmq (i.e. Cyberstation offline that is configured to receive alarms) Resolution To open MSMQ Go to Windows Control Panel> Administrative Tools>Computer Management Expand Services and Applications Expand Message Queuing Expand Outgoing Queues and select one of the entries Right Click on queue messages and select AllTasks>Purge Are you sure you want to delete all messages? Yes Repeat this for the queues that require purging Note: The IP of the Cyberstation is listed in the Outgoing Queue Channel (an offline Cyber will keep building up messages) Here is a snapshot of the queues below.

Issue A Windows dialog box pops up when trying to access an I/A Series R2 or I/A Series G3 graphic page indicating that there is a Security Exception -- "Your security settings have blocked an application from running with an insecure or expired JRE." Environment I/A Series R2 I/A Series G3 Cause Java security warning caused by trying to run a self-signed java applet. Resolution Open the Java Control Panel found in the Windows control panel, click the security tab in the displayed window then change the security setting from High (or Very High) to Medium.  Click [OK] to close the window saving the settings.  This image of the control panel security page shows the security level already set to medium.

Issue Customer has a Microsoft Office site license for the 2013 version of the Microsoft Office Suite of software.  How can they get and install a copy of Visio 2010 for use with the current version of the WorkPlace Tech Tool software? Environment WorkPlace Tech Tool software version 5.7.x or 5.8.x Visio 2013 installed by customer's IT department Cause Microsoft sells only the current version of their software products but allow some specific classes of users to install and use earlier versions of the software product. Resolution According to the Microsoft document "Microsoft Volume Licensing Product Use Rights (Worldwide English, April 2013)", the following conditions apply:  On page 9, "General License Terms", the following statement is shown:  Page 20 of the same document makes the following statements regarding the "Product-Specific License Terms" noted the "Rights..." paragraph, above:

Issue Wants to hide the Visio 2010 Ribbon bar selections that are not useful for normal WorkPlace Tech use. Environment WorkPlace Tech Tool 5.7 or newer (only versions that support Visio 2010) Visio 2010 Cause Microsoft changed the Visio user interface from a menu bar type interface to a "ribbon bar" type interface.  The ribbon bars not used for operations within the WorkPlace software are confusing to the users that are not trained in the use of Visio 2010 Resolution Visio Ribbon Bar selections not needed can be hidden from view by using the "Customize the Ribbon" Visio options screen.  Select the "File" menu and select "Options". In the left column menu of the Visio Options window, select "Customize Ribbon".  The "Customize the Ribbon" screen is displayed. In the selection box under "Customize the Ribbon:" (right side of window), make sure that "Main Tabs" is selected: Uncheck the Main Tab selections that you do not wish to see.  I suggest leaving the Home and View menu selections in addition to the WorkPlace Tech and Stencil menus.  The View menu should be left enabled because it contains the Zoom and Window selections.  Hiding the Stencil menu will cause the stencil selection window at the left side of the application window to be hidden and would prevent the selection of objects to be added to the application.  This image shows the minimum tabs needed:   Click the [OK] button at the bottom of the window to close the window, saving the selection changes.

Issue When launching Continuum the following error window comes up   The main menu splash is not displayed and the application randomly crashes with an MFC error. The following Application error is seen in the windows log.     Continuum.exe 1.94.0.1 4f735b82 MFC80.DLL 8.0.50727.6195 4dcdeca2 c0000005 00023b10 f94 01ce6c36e741312b C:\Program Files (x86)\Continuum\Continuum.exe C:\Windows\WinSxS\x86_microsoft.vc80.mfc_1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b_8.0.50727.6195_none_cbf5e994470a1a8f\MFC80.DLL 295d2fa7-d82a-11e2-9a81-00188b6cfffd     Environment CyberStation Cause Corrupted Continuum.MNU menu file. Resolution Remove the corrupted menu file and replace with a good file from another WS. Note: When copying a menu file from another WS make sure it is the same type in terms of 32 versus 64 bit as there are paths in the file that differ depending on the OS type.

Issue Are there any limits on the number of entries for Path Permissions? Environment AS ES Cause Documentation Resolution There are no hard limits on how many entries can be added in the software permissions, the limit is only determined by the availability of resources such as memory.