Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue In the Personnel Manager, the template field shows an error: "Error in datagrid DataGridViewComboBoxCell value is not valid." Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum 1.93 and below Personnel Templates Cause Error occurs while attaching the Personnel Templates to a personnel from the Personnel Manager. The selected Template is not in the default template folder (Personnel Templates). Note: It is still possible to attach the templates through the method of CSV importing/exporting of personnel. If the Templates are created under the "Templates" Folder, this error occurs. The Personnel Templates should be created under "Templates\Personnel Templates". Resolution Select all the Personnel Templates and move them (Right Click + Drag) to "Personnel Templates" Folder. It will give you an option to "Move Here". See the below screen shot. Click on "Move Here" to complete moving the Personnel Templates. Alternatively: Go to the "Properties" of the Template, then change the path of the Owner.

Issue BACnet alarm Change Of State 'Alarm On' field is blank in the Algorithm page. Product Line Andover Continuum Environment CyberStation bCX4040 b3s Cause BACnet alarm type must match the type of point that is associated with the alarm in the AlarmEnrollment object. For example, a Change Of State alarm requires a binary point. Resolution Make the object BACnet object type match the alarm event type (Change of State, Change of Value, Out of Range etc). In this example of a Change of State BACnet alarm, when the appropriate binary point is associated with the alarm, the 'Alarm On' field looks like this:

Issue Enterprise Server and the B-OWS capability Environment SmartStruxure site Cause Enterprise Server and the B-OWS capability for viewing BACnet Operator Workstation Resolution The Enterprise Server is a native BACnet/IP protocol operator workstation and controller with a built-in web server. The Enterprise Server also serves as a BACnet/IP Broadcast Management Device (BBMD). The Protocol Implementation Conformance Statement (PICS) document details the BACnet Interoperability Building Blocks that are supported in StruxureWare Building Operation. The PICS are available from the BACnet International labs for BACnet Operator Workstation (B-OWS) Continuum 1.9x The below screenshot is of a StruxureWare Building Operation 1.3 Release and the desired connection using B-OWS to a Continuum 1.94 Release. Workaround is on the BACnet Interface of the ES, highlight the IP Network then Add New BACnet Device. 1. Suggested name would be the Cyberstation Name 2. Upload from BACnet device 3. Instance ID is the Device Node ID (Right-click/Edit on the Cyberstation) 4. Create Then perform an Upload from the newly created Cyberstation. Resulting View from the Enterprise Server: (Note that Cyberstation owned objects are not available in the Enterprise Server) There is an “official” document on Continuum and StruxureWare Building Operation BACnet communication that was produced specifically for this issue. It is a TVDA produced by the Buildings StruxureLab and it is Andover Continuum BACnet with StruxureWare TVDA 1.02

Issue What is the difference between Subnet/node addressing and neuron ID addressing in Xbuilder Environment TAC Xbuilder Cause If neuron ID addressing is set the Xenta server will use the neuron ID the first time it contacts the device to ask for the subnet/node. When it get the subnet/node it will use that address until it loses contact with the device. When the Xbuilder is connected to a TAC Vista database this is set as default set and cannot be changed. With this setting you can change the addressing of the device without downloading the subnet node address. But if you replace a device then the Xbuilder project have to be updated and downloaded again. If subnet/node addressing is set then the device will only use the address to communicate. Resolution If neuron ID addressing is set the Xenta server will use the neuron ID the first time it contacts the device to ask for the subnet/node. When it get the subnet/node it will use that address until it loses contact with the device. If subnet/node addressing is set then the device will only use the address to communicate.

Issue Information on Magelis Opti PC Touch Panels Environment Site wanting to use Magelis Opti PC Touch Panels Cause Need information pertaining to the Magelis Opti PC Touch Panels. Sometimes referred to as HMI or Human Machine Interface  Resolution Magelis Opti PC Touch Panels information is located on Exchange Extranet.  Magelis Opti PC Data Sheet Magelis Opti PC Installation Guide Opti PC User Manual Opti PC User Manual (other languages) For the latest HMI software and Release Notes for VijeoDesigner, please visit the following link VijeoDesign

Issue Uninstall Process for Web Reports Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment SmartStruxure Web Reports Server StruxureWare for Building Operation Web Reports Server Cause After a re-install of webreports, certain features will not function if the original version was not completely removed. Resolution To uninstall WebReports: In Windows Control Panel, point to Programs and then select Uninstall a Program. Right-click StruxureWare Report Pack Installer and then click Uninstall. Right-click StruxureWare Reporting Agent and then click Uninstall. Right-click StruxureWare Reports Installation and then click Uninstall. Right-click StruxureWare WebReports and then click Uninstall. Right-click StruxureWare WebReports Service and then click Uninstall. In your Web browser, type the URL for SQL Server Reporting Services Report Manager. If you have installed SQL Server 2008 R2 Express, the URL is http://localhost/reports_sqlexpress Click Details View. Select the folders that contain the WebReports reports including Data Sources. Click Delete. Click OK. Click Close. Open Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio (type SQL in the Start menu Search box). Expand the Databases folder. Right-click StruxureWareReportsDB and then click Delete. In the Delete Object window, select StruxureWareReportsDB. Select Close existing connections. Click OK. Open Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager (type IIS in the Start menu Search box). In the Connections pane, expand Sites, expand Default Web Site, and then expand SchneiderElectric. Delete each virtual directory in the specified order: - Right-click WebReportsService and then click Remove. - Right-click WebReports and then click Remove. - Right-click SchneiderElectric and then click Remove. - In the Connections pane, select Application Pools. Right-click SchneiderElectric.WebReportsAppPool and then click Remove. Right-click SchneiderElectric.WebReportsServiceAppPool and then click Remove. Exit Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager. In SQL Server Reporting Services Report Manager (see previous steps), click Folder Settings. Select the NT AUTHORITY\IUSR check box and the [PC NAME] \appuser check box, and then click Delete. Exit SQL Server Reporting Services Report Manager. In Windows Control Panel, select System and Security, then select Administrative Tools. In Computer Management, expand Local Users and Groups and then select Users. Right-click appuser and click Delete, then follow any further prompts to complete the deletion. In Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio, expand Security and then expand Logins. Right-click the appuser account and then click Delete. In the Delete Object window, select appuser. Click OK. Click OK again. Right-click NT AUTHORITY\IUSR and delete it in the same way as you deleted the previous (appuser) account. Right-click [PC NAME] \appuser and delete it in the same way as you deleted the previous (appuser) account. Exit SQL Server Management Studio. In Windows Explorer, expand Program Files (x86) and then expand Schneider Electric. Right-click StruxureWare Reports Installation and then click Delete. Right-click StruxureWareReports and click Delete, then follow any further prompts to complete deletion.

Issue Inventory and Serial Numbers for each of the Host Computers Product Line TAC INET Environment I/NET sites or Multiple I/NET sites under your responsibility Cause Desire to be organized and have site information quickly available Resolution The easiest way to collect the Serial Number and Version is from Help > About INET. Request a screen capture of each workstation with I/NET installed. This will give you the exact release, build, User/Site names and the serial number. Below is the splash screen which is seen when I/NET is opened: Then organize in a spreadsheet or folder structure which is kept up to date with any changes in the field. The trick is to have the correct screen capture from the correct computer. Designating as a File Master, Equalized Client, Remote Client, or Stand Alone would also be beneficial to have. Host Number for each Host Computer and a Static IP address would be excellent to keep in the spreadsheet.

Issue Sigma Server crashes and the hard drive has filled with archived Alarm Logs all of which are of the same time. Environment Sigma Cause Sigma Server has crashed. The hard drive has filled with alarm logs with approximately the same file date. When Sigma is re-started, the Alarm Fail Safe window is filled with "Logging Database is 100% full" "Unable to archive"  Resolution What happens: When the Logging Database becomes full, it is normally automatically archived. If the c:\sigma\data\archivedlogs folder is not present then the Logging Database cannot be archived, Sigma will continuously retry to archive the database and fails continuously, each time a System Message is raised, the Alarm Log Database is filled, the Alarm Log is then archived, and the process is repeated. To resolve: The 3 folders are created when Sigma is installed. The folders may have been removed or deleted. Re-create the following folders under c:\sigma\data ArchivedAlarms ArchivedLogs ArchivedTransactions To test: Create an Action and Schedule to archive the log. Let the time pass, and check the ArchivedLogs folder and the file Sigma0nnnn.dbs is present. If successful, either remove the daily schedule or it can remain.

Issue Unable to login to Workstation. Getting error "Requested license is not available on the license Server" even though the license for the StruxureWare Enterprise Server is valid. License server does not support this feature (Error code: -18) Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment StruxureWare Building Operation v1.3/1.4 WorkStation Enterprise Server License Server Cause When using Network Licenses this possibly indicates there was no valid WorkStation license. The Enterprise Server license does not also provide a Workstation license to run Workstation. If using Local Licenses, such as the Evaluation / Demo license and you are attempting to connect to an Enterprise Server from a separate WorkStation, the License server and the demo license file must be installed on both the Enterprise Server and each Workstation since the local license can not be shared between computers. Check Online help for additional detail. Resolution Network License: A new WorkStation license is required to use WorkStation. This would need to be acquired and added to the license Server. The part numbers for these are below. WorkStation software (including editors) Part number Product name Description SXWSWWORK00001 SW-STATION-STD-0 WorkStation Standard, 1 concurrent user license, (no maintenance subscription included) SXWSWWORK00002 SW-STATION-PRO-0 WorkStation Professional, 1 concurrent user license, Professional WorkStation version includes Editor licensing, (includes TGML Graphics editor, Function Block & Script Programming, no maintenance subscription included) Depending on what your requirements are, it may be possible to use the WebStation instead of a dedicated WorkStation for light monitoring duties. There is no part number for WebStation; it is a default feature of the Automation Server and Enterprise Server (with no need for additional licensing) in v1.3. Details on the WebStation and WorkStation can be found at the below links. WorkStation WebStation Local License: If using Local Licenses, such the Evaluation/Demo license and you are attempting to connect to an Enterprise Server from a separate WorkStation, the License server and the demo license file must be installed on both the Enterprise Server and each Workstation since the local license can not be shared between computers. Check Online help for additional detail.

Issue Access control site where doors are typically held opened during business hours don't want annoying alarms during the day, specifically the site wants door ajar alarms sent only from 5:00 PM (17:00) to 8:00 AM (08:00) Environment CyberStation Cause Configure a separate Event Notification with recipient time range specified in 'From Time' to 'To Time' columns. Resolution When configured as above the alarms associated with the notification object will be logged in the database but not displayed in the Alarm Viewer during business hours.

Issue Only the first 2 rows of the Specific Data\Value column are saved in the Modbus device editor. It is however possible to edit all the cells in the value column. Environment Xenta server with Modbus interface; device editor. Cause This is by design -  these cells were not intended to be used. Resolution Only enter information in the cells adjacent to the Name and Description cells.

Issue Pictures, animations and bitmaps in a Sigma graphic fail to appear when upgraded from Sigma 4.04 to Sigma 4.05 or above.  Environment Sigma 4.04 Sigma 4.05 or above Cause When Sigma graphics are upgraded, pictures, animations and bitmaps fail to appear. The graphics will continue to work correctly in .sgi format, but when upgraded will fail in .swc format, when the scheme Commands are viewed, the link to the picture is not there, the viewer window will display will either be empty or may display something similar to the above example.  Resolution Open the graphic in its .sgi format, highlight an image and right click on "Properties". Check that the link to the picture file is still active, the picture file will be highlighted with a grey background. If not, then the link has been lost to the picture file. When upgraded to .swc format, because the link is not there, then the picture will not be displayed. The picture will also not be created in the new file path c:\sigma\data\graphics\ during the upgrade process. Reason, at some stage previous to the upgrade the link was lost. This may have been caused by the picture not being installed or not installed in the correct path as the original graphic was created, the graphic was opened and saved. To correct, in .sgi format re-establish the link by locating the correct picture and save. Continue with the upgrade. or Post upgrade. In .swc format, manually copy the folders where the pictures resided from c:\sigma\data\sgi to c:\sigma\data\graphics. Open the .swc graphic and re-establish the link by locating the correct picture and save.

Issue A Longtext number is seen when a DI Object is displayed in System Manager when an Alarm is not configured on the object  Environment Sigma Cause A Longtext number is seen when a DI Object is displayed in System Manager when an Alarm is not configured on the object. This does not occur with AI objects. Resolution An alarm on the DI object with Longtext may have been configured in the past and assigned with a Longtext number. To prevent the Longtext from being displayed: 1. Re-enable the alarm, set the Longtext number on the alarm tab to "0" 2. Disable the alarm 3. Download the Object to the controller.

Issue bCX going offline and logging multiple 0x1408s in its error log. Environment bCX4040 ALL CX master controllers. Cause Excessive traffic on the network causes controller to run out of message buffers. Every time a controller receives a communication packet it has to allocate a block of memory (a buffer) to place the packet until it can be processed. Under normal network conditions the packets are processed at a rate that exceeds the rate at which they are coming in, in some cases typically associated with network configuration issues or malfunctioning nodes on the network, (i.e. broadcast storms) the firmware in the controller is unable to keep up with the amount of packets being received which exhausts message buffers available and renders the controller unable to communicate properly. In many cases the condition is temporary and does not result in a major problem, it is not unusual to see sporadic 0x1408s in the error log but when the condition persists for longer periods it will have an impact on the ability of the controller to communicate properly on the network. Resolution Identify and remove the root cause of the excessive traffic.   In the WireShark capture above, a constant WHO-IS sent out by BBMD devices due to part of the network being disconnected was causing a "WHO-IS storm" resulting in the bCX controller on the subnet to go offline and register several 0x1408 errors per minute.

Issue How many events are buffered when contact is lost Environment I/NET Cause How many events are stored if connection is lost between the different source HostPC, X527, SLI, SCU Resolution This differs depending on where the connection is lost: Xenta 527 lose contact with Host PC A Xenta can buffer 1000 event normally, this can be raised with command Eventcap SLI ex. 7798C lose contact with Xenta 527 SCU lose contact with SLI The messages are always passed as far up the chain as the communication allows. If the DPUs are talking to a 7798 or 7793 but communication from that device to a Xenta or host PC is broken, then it is the DCU that will buffer the messages using FIFO. The DPUs will not buffer.  If any message gets FIFO'd out then there will be a TAP overflow generated when communication is restored.

Issue How do the controller settings affect the Occupation Sequence in respect of temperature control. Environment Stand alone. Part of a system. Cause Customer is uncertain of how this process works, the rooms are cold. Resolution There are a number of settings that will affect this sequence, the screen shot below shows the sequence and the settings used.  

Issue In I/A Series G3, is there an object that provides a BooleanStatus output reflecting the overridden status of a Boolean Writable or Numeric Writable? Environment I/A Series G3 Cause Need to detect and / or act upon the status conditions of a Boolean Writable or Numeric Writable object. Resolution A StatusDemux object can be linked to the Boolean Writable or Numeric Writable object to provide a Boolean output for each of the status flags (Alarm, Down, Fault, Null Status, Disabled, Overridden, Unacked Alarm, and Stale). Within the Wire Sheet that contains the Boolean Writable or Numeric Writable object: Insert a StatusDemux object (from the kitControl pallet, Util folder). Link the "Out" from the Boolean Writable or Numeric Writable object to the StatusDemux "In Boolean" or "In Numeric" input.

Issue Photos are taken with a webcam, saved as JPG and loaded from the file into the personnel record. Was working fine previously. Now they are being stretched (distorted) when added to the personnel records. Environment CyberStation with Badging Option, webcam Cause In Make/Edit Badge >> Capture >> Options the checkmark had been removed from the "Allow cropping" checkbox. Since the photo dimensions were wider than high, the resulting un-cropped photo had white space above and below it in the Make/Edit Badge screen and when that screen was saved (using the OK button) the image was stretched to fill the photo field in Continuum.  Resolution In Make/Edit Badge >> Capture >> Options add the checkmark from the "Allow cropping" checkbox.

Issue PE Programin bCX/b3 seens as disabled/idle in list view even though program is running and operating normally. AS In the screen shot above the program is reported as ACTIVE and ENABLED from a Continuum perspective (List View on the Infinity side) BUT idle and disabled from a BACnet perspective. (List view on BACnet side) Printing the programs BACnet properties from the command line shows that the program is actually In Service and executing. Environment CyberStation bCX b3 BACnet Cause Inconsistencies between Andover and BACnet protocol which in some cases have conflicting property values. Resolution When looking at properties of BACnet objects from Cyberstation make sure to be aware of the context in which the properties are being shown (BACnet or Continuum) and ignore non applicable properties. For example, if looking at the program from BACnet perspective look at the OutOfService property instead of the State property.

Issue Disable alarm using the status of another object / point Environment I/A Series G3 Workbench Cause Alarms are not required to be generated when equipment is not running. As an example, alarms should not be generated when the equipment is not running after hours.  Resolution Object alarm extensions have an 'Alarm Inhibit' property which a Boolean object can be linked to. A true value at the 'Alarm Inhibit' prevents alarm generation due to any transition or state change.  The Alarm Inhibit property is within the alarm extension. As such, it is not visible on the parent object and therefore, unlinkable. We can expose properties of an extension by using the 'Composite' function. After adding an extension to a Control object. Right click on the object and select 'Composite'. The Composite Editor window will appear.   In the Composite Editor, expand the object and the extension.   Find 'Alarm Inhibit' and double click on it. Alarm Inhibit will be added to the right of the Composite Editor window. You can rename it if required. Click OK.   The Alarm Inhibit property will now be available on the parent object and linkable from a Boolean object.