Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Unable to create a file with a certain name such as "x". Get a message that the object already exists. The object does however not exist in the Vista database when viewed in Workstation. It seems that there are invisible objects in Vista. Product Line TAC Vista Environment TAC Vista Workstation/Server 5.1.X Cause This has been seen in older databases that have been created or edited using older editing tools such as TAMain. These system objects should disappear automatically but if they don't they will cause the error described under "Issue". Resolution This can be removed by starting the TAC Vista Database generator tool from workstation (Tools\TAC Vista Database Generator). Once started, do the following: Select Database\Export from Database. Click on the browse button in the Object field. In the field "Current object ID" type "x" (or the name of your invisible object" and the buttons on the right of the tool should be activated. Click on delete, and the object will be deleted. After this, you can check in workstation that the object has been removed by creating a new folder named "x".  

Issue The 6 character PIN for the SmartXKiosk has been forgotten so the user cannot exit Kiosk mode Note the PIN is case sensitive Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment SmartXKiosk Advanced Display v1 Advanced Display v2 SmartX Controller Cause The 6 characters PIN for the SmartXKiosk has been forgotten or lost and the user cannot locate it. Resolution In order to reset your SmartXKiosk PIN, follow the steps below:   In the SmartXKiosk application, click on Exit Kiosk Mode in the bottom right corner of the screen. In the Exit Kiosk Mode window, click on Forgot PIN?. An 8 characters or 15 characters Session ID will be generated.  Take note of this Session ID.    Open a ticket with Support to request a SmartXKiosk PIN reset and provide them with the Session ID. Once Support sends you back the Recovery PIN, click Continue on the Session ID window. In the next window fill in the Session ID from step 2. and the Recovery PIN that Support has provided. Click Continue. You can now reset your PIN. Enter your new 6-digit PIN number and confirm it before clicking Submit. The PIN is case sensitive. It must be exactly 6 characters, otherwise an error will occur.  Important Note: The Session ID generated and the Recovery PIN provided to you by Support will expire at midnight on the day that the Session ID was generated.   Note: For Advanced Display v3 please see How to recover the password for Advanced Display version 3

Issue The address used to access the Generate Authentication URL up to and including PME 9.0 no longer works. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment EcoStruxure Building Operation EcoStruxure Energy Expert (formerly Power Manager) EcoStruxure Power Monitoring Expert Cause Up to and including PME 9.0 the following address could always be used to access the 'Generate Authentication URL' page which allows a user to manually create urls/hyperlinks for specific PME pages (with and without authentication) to use in EBO: http://<yourservername>/SystemDataService/Auth/GenerateAuthURL .     However with the advent of PME2020 this address is no longer valid. Resolution The address for the 'Generate Authentication URL' page has changed in PME2020 and permission to access this new address must also be activated via a Query run on the SQL database of the PME2020 install. Page 1676 of the PME 2020 System Guide  - Manual integration steps without using the Integration Utility - shows the required steps and the new address to be used.

Issue What features are included in Building Operation evaluation (demo) licenses? Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation evaluation license Cause The features included in evaluation licenses are not shown in the documentation. Resolution License Administrator (Software Evaluation License) After adding the evaluation license in License Administrator,   Click on the "Diagnostics" Tab. Click on "Refresh the list". Local licenses list generates. Example of generated list: Local licenses: -------------------------------------------------------------------- Trust Flags: FULLY TRUSTED Fulfillment Type: TRIAL Status: ENABLED Fulfillment ID: LOCAL_TRIAL_FID_498 Activation ID: SC_57LRIHRFBOXC28SGYTPKCH98WIRKMWE Product ID: NAME=EcoStruxure Building Operation Demo License;VERSION=5.0 Suite ID: NONE Expiration date: 01-Feb-2024 Concurrent: 0 Concurrent overdraft: 0 Hybrid: 0 Hybrid overdraft: 0 Activatable: 1 Activatable overdraft: 0 Repairs: 0 Feature line(s): server.mssql (Version 5.0) client.zoning (Version 5.0) client.dashboard (Version 5.0) server.ec.auth.saml (Version 5.0) server.ws.generic.consume (Version 5.0) server.dig.signed.docs (Version 5.0) server.alarms.snmp (Version 5.0) server.ec.es (Version 5.0) server.device.es (Version 5.0) server.ws.ews.history (Version 5.0) Sigma.Server (Version 4) server.mqtt.rw (Version 5.0) graphdb.base (Version 1.0) server.esignature (Version 5.0) server.enterprise.base (Version 5.0) server.ws.ews.consume (Version 5.0) client.cad.import.tool (Version 5.0) smartdriver.license (Version 5.0) server.timescale (Version 5.0) client.script (Version 5.0) server.es.as (Version 5.0) client.graphiceditor (Version 5.0) server.device.as (Version 5.0) server.ws.ews.serve (Version 5.0) server.es.auth.saml (Version 5.0) server.enterprise.central (Version 5.0) client.functionblock.view (Version 5.0) client.station (Version 5.0)   Refer to the Webhelp EcoStruxure Building Operation Software Feature License String Description topic for an explanation of the license feature strings. Device Administrator (Embedded Evaluation License) After adding the evaluation license to the Device Administrator (see the article How to activate a demo license on an Automation Server at EBO 2022) follow the steps to view the available features: Click on the Entitlements. Click on Product Licenses. - The individual features are then shown as column headings The best way to see all the features available is to right-click on the license name under Product Name and choose Add/Remove columns.   A Select columns popup is then shown, and the available features are much easier to read.  

Issue A script program status is halted with an error indicating "Tried to divide a value by zero"   Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation MP-C Controllers  Building Operation MP-V Controllers  Building Operation RP-C Controllers  Building Operation RP-V Controllers  Cause The halted program, or a function used within the program, has within itself a divisor that equals or can equate to zero.  An example would be if using Scan as a divisor - (Err - Lerr) / Scan Resolution Ensure that no divisor within the program or function can possibly become zero.  One way to do this would be to either set the divisor to a value greater than zero prior to using it or add a small value to the divisor.  For example:  (Err - Lerr) / (Scan + 0.00001)

Issue "You need to enable JavaScript in your web browser to be able to use Building Operation" message is displayed in the browser window when accessing EBO WebStation using the URL "https://<IP>/login/login.html" Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Webstation 5.0.3 and later Cause In order to bypass automatic guest account login, some sites have used https://<IP>/login/login.html as a direct URL to the login page. In EBO 5.0.3 this direct URL has been changed to "https://<IP>/login.html" to allow PCT 2.0 to operate correctly. Resolution Use the new "https://<IP>/login.html" URL to bypass automatic guest account login and update any saved browser bookmarks.

Issue Communications with an AS can fail due to high CPU usage and it goes offline in the ES.  Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Automation Server Premium(AS-P) Building Operation Automation Server(AS) Cause A large graphic was being edited and when saved, the AS appeared to crash, but had actually gone offline to the ES. Resolution This issue was due to the AS CPU usage, which was found to be very high and was making the AS appear to be offline to the ES, when the graphic was saved. The graphic that was being edited was accessing a large number of Universal Inputs, and these input values were changing frequently, this in turn was causing the increased CPU usage. Changing the threshold setting of a Universal Inputs. Select the properties of the universal input to be adjusted. View the configuration section and select the threshold value. Enter an appropriate value for the input being modified.  

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 Information needed about how to change the "appuser" password used by the Report Server Agent Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Web Reports Cause There is no information available on whether the Web Reports "appuser" account password can be changed and how it's done Resolution NOTE: Refer to the following article Report Server "appuser" clarification for additional information on the appuser   The password defined for the user in the configuration file needs to match the actual password in the operating system. To change the password, do the following   Stop the WebReports Agent service Change the password defined for the "appuser" in Windows Change the password defined for the "appuser" in the WebReports Agent config file: C:\Program Files (x86)\Schneider Electric\StruxureWareReports\StruxureWare Reporting Agent\SE.WebReports.StruxureWareReportingAgent.exe.config Restart the WebReports Agent service

  Issue Schedule a meeting on a day when the site will be closed early. Steps are needed to ensure a door can be configured for 'card only' mode for the meeting. Product Line EcoStruxure Access Expert Environment Access Expert Hosted V3 Cause At times it's necessary to schedule a meeting on a day when the site will be closed early. Steps are needed to ensure a door can be configured for 'card only' mode for the meeting and then revert back to the normal schedule or extend the meeting until the end of the standard schedule. Resolution Steps to configure a door(s) with a schedule using holidays and 2 T&Ps to temporarily place the door in Card Only mode and then revert back to the standard schedule. In this example, the standard schedule Unlocks the door from 8a-5p.   Create a Holiday (Early Meeting) for the meeting date and ensure a Holiday Group Membership is selected Configure a schedule(Leave Early) for the meeting date(s) and length of the meeting. Select the Holiday Group in this example named 'Early Meeting Test' in the far right drop-down. The Holiday Group is needed for this to work. Note: The short-duration example was used while testing this multiple times a day. Configure a T&P (Early Meeting TP) to temporarily change the reader mode to 'Card Only' using the schedule (Leave Early). Select the Leave Early schedule and the 'Schedule-Became-Active' Event, the reader mode and the reader(s). The "Indefinite" duration drop-down selection worked. The other drop-down options did not work for this schedule implementation. Configure a T&P (Early Meeting Cancel) to cancel the Temporary Reader mode and revert control back to the standard schedule and to Unlock the door. Select the Leave Early schedule and the 'Schedule-Became-Inactive' Event, the reader mode and the reader(s). Extend the meeting to the end of the standard schedule if needed to keep it in card-only mode. Testing Results: At 3:55p the Leave Early meeting schedule became active and the TP changed the reader mode to card only. * Please disregard the Door held open highlights in the following snapshots At 4:00p the Leave Early meeting schedule became inactive and the TP canceled the temporary reader mode. The door Unlocked in this example after control was handed back to the standard schedule.

Issue Enterprise Server will not start due to no valid license file error: "nsp.csc.licensemanager No valid Enterprise Server license found. Terminating server." or Cannot find license file. (Error code: -1) Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Software Administrator Building Operation License Administrator Building Operation Workstation Cause Enterprise Server is not started and states no valid license file is found. License Server is installed on the same computer and has valid license(s). Similarly, WorkStation may not start even with a License Server installed with a valid license. If you get error -1, it means that you didn't enter the required @ before the license server address. Resolution In general, any licensed Building Operation software (Enterprise Server, WorkStation, Editors) needs to know where the license server is located. That means that the license server path needs to be entered on any PC having licensed Building Operation software installed. The "License Administrator" part of the license installer can be installed on any PC, and the license server address set using the administrator. The license server itself does not need to be installed on all PC's, but only on the PC hosting e.g. the Enterprise Server. The IP or DNS name of the PC hosting the license server is entered with an initial @, e.g. if the IP of the license server PC is 1.2.3.4 you enter @1.2.3.4 Checkpoints Remember to enter the license server address starting with a @. For example, don't use "localhost" but "@localhost". Is your evaluation license current? If not, download from EcoXpert Extranet Check that antivirus software is configured to allow the operation of the license server. (refer to SmartStruxure Workstation or editors can't get license when using firewall (errors -15 or -96)) Reboot the machine where the License Server is running. It has been observed in some cases where the error 'No valid license or Cannot find license file error' appeared after an upgrade that rebooting the machine solves the problem. Check to see if there are multiple versions of the License Server installed on the machine. If multiple versions are installed, make sure to only run the highest installed version as a Windows Service. All other License Server and License Administrator software should be uninstalled from the machine.

Issue With Script Programs in Continuum we were able to check the variable time against an integer value. Like "if time>500 then...".  In StruxureWare Building Operation time is of the type datetime, no longer an integer. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Script Program Cause In StruxureWare Building Operation a datetime internally is now a 64 bit number, so dates can go beyond the year 2038 which was the top limit for Continuum.  Numbers in script for StruxureWare, like in Continuum are just floats ( 32 bits ) so when trying to map a 64 bit number ( the date ) into a float it is not going to work.  You will get very erroneous readings, therefore the ban. Resolution Here are some examples of the correct StruxureWare program: Remember that for the dates, you can only compare dates to dates, not dates to numbers… In general,   you CAN do the following:       compare dates to dates                ==>   if Date1 > Date2  then     add numbers to dates                   ==>    LaterDate = LastDate + 24*3600     subtract numbers from dates         ==>    EarlierDate = LastDate - 24*3600   you CANNOT do the following   compare dates to numbers                ==>   if Date1 > 500  then

Issue The License Server does not start automatically when the server reboots. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Licensing Cause The License server is attempting to start before some dependent process has started. Resolution To edit the FlexNet Service go to Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services Right click on FlexNet Licensing Service and FlexNet Licensing Service 64  and select Properties. Change the Startup Type from Automatic to Automatic (Delayed Start)

Issue Need more than 50000 registers in a Modbus device Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Workstation Cause The Modbus specification sets a limit of 65535 as the largest register number. Resolution Enter the value into the Register number configuration property. The Modbus specification sets a limit of 65535 as the largest register number.

Issue Does the Niagara R2 Modbus driver support a 6-digit address format? Product Line TAC IA Series Environment Niagara R2 Modbus driver Cause Modbus 6 digit addressing is not supported when using modbus format in the driver. Resolution The six-digit address format and the five-digit format are just two different notations for the same thing - there is no difference in the protocol. For example, the first one thousand holding registers are normally represented as: (modbus) 40001 to 49999 -or- (decimal) 0 to 9998 -or- (hex) 0 to 270E When using modbus format in the driver, the left most digit, '4' in this example, is part of a convention that indicates the 'type' of point and, when using that convention, the point type does not have to be specified.  For example, for modbus point 40001 the '4' indicates that it is a holding register. But there are actually 64000 holding registers available and, using the common 5-digit modbus notation, it is not possible to specify more than 9999 of them. The six digit convention just moves this 'type' digit one space to the left. In this six-digit notation, the first one thousand holding registers would be 400001 to 409999. This 6-digit convention for 'modbus' formatted addressing is not supported but it is still possible to use decimal or hex notation to specify these addresses with Niagara R2. When 'modbus' formatted addresses are used, the driver subtracts 1 from the entered address, since modbus uses base 1 formatting and decimal uses base 0.  When using decimal or hex, the leading digit is dropped and subtract one from the register value and optionally convert to hex and use that as the point address. For example, to read data from register address = 422202 Drop the leading character = 22202 Subtract 1 = Decimal address 22201 or hex address 56B9

Issue Unable to find the latest firmware for ADv3 in EcoXpert Extranet Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Advanced Display v3 (ADv3) Cause The firmware is not publicly posted since the process to load the firmware should not be attempted without guidance from Product Support. Resolution All customers must to open a support case to receive fixes or enhancements.

Issue How to setup and use the Plain English Alarm function?   Product Line Andover Continuum   Environment PEAlmFunction, PERtnFunction CyberStation Alarm Workstation PE function Cause Manual configuration is required to create the Plain English alarm function and set certain registry keys.   Resolution As a function of Continuum CyberStation Alarm Engine, user written Plain English functions are automatically invoked at a workstation when an alarm occurs when an alarm is acknowledged when a return-to-normal condition occurs. The user optionally specifies the names of those functions in the Windows registry, and they will be called appropriately. Registry keys used for calling Plain English Alarm function PEAlmFunction : The name of the user-defined PE Alarm Function. (Ex. “AlmProcess”) PERtnfunction : The name of the user-defined PE Return-to-Normal Function. (Ex. ”AlmProcess”) Example of the Plain English Alarm function is as follows: Arg 1 A ' Network AliasName(16) Arg 2 B ' Controller AliasName(16) Arg 3 C ' Infinet Controller AliasName(16) Arg 4 D ' Object name(32) Arg 5 E ' Object AliasName(16) Arg 6 F ' Object Description(32) Arg 7 G ' Object Value(Numeric) Arg 8 H ' Alarm State(3) ALM,RTN,ACK Arg 9 I ' Graphic Object AliasName(16) Arg 10 J ' Alarm Enrollment Alarm Message(String) Arg 11 K ' Alarm Enrollment AliasName(16) Arg 12 L ' EventNotification AliasName(16) Arg 13 M ' EventNotification Priority (Numeric 1~255) Arg 14 N ' TimeStamp(16) Arg 15 O 'Logging Flag (1~255) ' String 1 Q String 80 AlmDir, Fnam File AlmF ' If M < 100 then AlmDir = "C:\" Q = chr(96) Fnam = NumToStr(random(Second)) OpenFile(AlmDir ; Fnam ; ".alm", WriteOnly, AlmF) Print L ;", " ; K ; ", " ; A , B , C , D , ", " ; G to AlmF CloseFile(AlmF) Endif Return Success Create the following registry keys in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Andover Controls \Continuum\Settings: PEAckFunction (REG_SZ) PEAlmFunction (REG_SZ) PERtnFunction (REG_SZ) PEMaxBufferedAlarms (REG_DWORD) PEPopAlarm (REG_DWORD) Set PEAlmFunction to “AlmProcess” Set PERtnFunction to “RtnProcess” Restart Continuum. Create PE programs in the workstation called AlmProcess, and RtnProcess with source code similar to the example function. Files will be created in the specified directory containing the alarm and return to normal information.

Issue A new Automation Server won't load in Device Administrator versions earlier than EBO 2022. A "Failed to process USB connection event for DevicePath:\\?" error is shown when adding the device.   Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Automation Server AS-P with Secure Boot Building Operation Automation Server AS-B Scalable Cause Secure Boot/Scalable Automation Server hardware is not supported in EBO versions prior to EBO 2022. Resolution It is not possible to install EBO versions prior to EBO 2022 in Secure Boot/Scalable Automation Server hardware. Verify the Automation Server part number to ensure it is a non-scalable/non-secure boot version. Refer to the Part Number and Hardware and Software Matrix for a list of parts numbers and their associated EBO version compatibility.

Issue Opening and running a Seven Report that uses the Calendar to define the date range feature for data after entering the values, and nothing happens. It does not pull up any data. Business Objects error is seen in the Calendar picker.  Product Line TAC INET Environment I/NET Seven revision 2.31 and higher. Seven Reports (Crystal Reports) Cause Crystal Reports has not been set up correctly on the host PC. An additional file has to be installed to handle scripts in Seven Reports. This file can be found under >Support>Sevenreport/CR_XI/PostCRSetup on the INET CD.  A read me is also located there to assist with the installation procedure: Resolution To resolve this issue, the following steps need to be implemented: Close I/NET and I/O Server Open up Windows Explorer and select the original CD Open up the Support Folder and expand it Select the CR-XI folder and run the SetupCrystalReportsXI.exe Once completed, go back into the folder again and run the Post CRSetup.exe Once this is completed, restart I/Net and I/O Servers again Open up Seven Reports again and run the associated report

Issue When using Microsoft Vista and IE 8, the calendar picker pops up a window but does not show the calendar. Product Line TAC INET Environment I/NET Seven 2.40 Microsoft Vista Internet Explorer 8 Cause Security of Internet Explorer Resolution Go to the Internet Options, Security Tab, and disable the protected mode for the Internet.

Issue Crystal Reports with I/NET 2.41 and higher Design tab is no longer available (missing) within SevenReports. Can no longer edit Crystal (Seven) Reports Product Line TAC INET Environment SevenReports (Crystal Reports) with I/NET 2.41 and higher Cause I/NET will no longer have the "Crystal Reports" Modify and Design license after May 2012. After 2.41 you must buy a separate CD for this function. Upgrades are not affected by this change. Any SAP Crystal Reports licenses used at existing installations will remain active after an upgrade. Resolution RDC version will no longer be supplied on the I/Net CD.   The NON_RDC version will still allow reports to be Viewed and Printed, as always. Modifying a "Canned" report or designing a "New" report will be impossible unless the new RDC version is installed.   This removal of the Crystal report function will start with I/Net Seven rev 2.41A and beyond.   To receive the Crystal Reports application files and license certificate, the SEVEN-REPORTS-RDC part will need to be ordered in addition to the standard I/NET SEVEN software part for each workstation requiring SAP Crystal Reports. Refer to Unable to install the RDC version for additional information and a copy of the necessary software for upgrading and installing this software.   Upgrades (from I/NET Seven Version 2.21 and above) are unaffected by this change. Any SAP Crystal Reports licenses in use at existing installations will still be active after an upgrade as long as you perform an upgrade of the existing I/NET installation.  If you perform a clean install, so you have uninstalled the previous version of I/NET, you will lose this licensing.