Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue When attempting to add an object or connection to a WorkPlaceTech Tool application drawing, a WPObEvt error box is displayed indicating the following error condition: Unhandled Exception during event     Class:   Document     Object:  (drawing file name)     Event:   "ConnectionsAdded", "ConnectionsDeleted", "ShapeAdded" (depends on action)     Error:   (blank) Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation, TAC IA Series Environment Building Operation Enterprise Server (WorkplaceTech Editor) Building Operation Automation Server (WorkplaceTech Editor) I/A Series WorkPlace Tech Microsoft Visio Cause The comma is the default decimal symbol on international versions of Windows. Visio does not understand the use of the comma as the decimal separator character when used in Workplace Tech or Workplace Tech Editor.  Resolution Depending on the machines operating system, i.e. Windows 7, or Windows 10, and page configuration, the appearance will be slightly different. Open "Control Panel" Select "Region" Click "Additional Settings...." button near bottom right Select the period instead of the comma for the "Decimal symbol"

Issue Does TAC Vista 5.1.6 work with a TAC Danduc OPC server? What OS works with TAC Danduc OPC server?  Product Line TAC Vista Environment TAC Vista 5.1.6 Cause TAC Danduc OPC server is tested on many sites in Denmark using Vista 5.1.6. Only 32-bit OS works with TAC Danduc OPC server. Resolution TAC Vista 5.1.6 is works fine with TAC Danduc OPC server. All operating systems also work fine as long as they are 32-bit. 

Issue When viewing a Xenta log through Vista, estimated values are seen at a specific time period. Taking note of these times, a pattern develops. Product Line TAC Vista Environment Vista 5.x.x Cause The trend log backup object $Backup_LDB has been set to run and has the Retrieve trend log data option set. This causes Vista to go to every Xenta trend log and retrieve the latest values. On large sites with many logs, this can take up to 8 hours and create excessive traffic on the Lonworks network. This excessive traffic can cause Xenta logs to fail in the upload process giving estimated values. Resolution Uncheck the Xenta Retrieve trend log data option and backup the values in the SQL database only.

Issue Need linkage kit for TAC ball valves: VB-2213-XXX-9-XX and VB-2313-XXX-9-XX. Product Line Field Devices Environment Ball Valve Linkage Kit Cause Replace linkage components on the valve bodies. Resolution Part # AV-610 Click here to download the Installation Instructions from the Exchange Extranet.

Issue Error launching EpiBuilder or EpiDesigner outside of Continuum Product Line Andover Continuum Environment EpiBuilder Continuum Cyberstation Windows XP Windows 7 Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2008 Cause Running EpiBuilder or EpiDesigner prior to running it through Continuum will generate this error. Resolution Create a personnel object in Continuum, open that object in Personnel manager and select, Create/Edit badge. This will open EpiDesigner for the first time in Continuum. After that, you can open EpiDesigner independently from Continuum.

Issue When printing a graphic page using the CTRL P feature, the page prints but then the page links stop working. Product Line TAC INET Environment I/NET site with Graphics Pages Cause Printing out a graphic page causes the page links to no longer work. Resolution Press Ctrl+P and allow the page to print Right click once on the page marker Double left click on the Page Marker again. It should now work.

Issue Can a 7798C be used in an I/NET 2000 System? Product Line TAC INET Environment I/NET 2000 I/NET Seven rev 1.16 and above 7798C SLI Cause AMT is different in I/NET 2000 than it is in I/NET Seven and any message and transaction from this SLI will not report correctly. Resolution This SLI cannot be used in I/NET 2000.  Even if 7798C Bin files are loaded into I/NET 2000, the SLI will not work. This SLI is designed to ONLY operate correctly in I/NET Seven Rev 1.16 and above.

Issue A Network 8000 GCM is outfitted with a dial-out modem.  It sends alarms via the modem to a remotely located computer running SIGNAL. The same modem handles dial-in connections from the SIGNAL computer. How does SIGNAL handle receiving alarms while it is connected and viewing dynamic data? Product Line TAC IA Series Environment SIGNAL and Network 8000 / DMS Cause Lack of more than one phone line. Resolution When SIGNAL is viewing real-time data via the MONITOR program, it will not display alarms (or exceptions). Once the MONITOR program is stopped, alarms are allowed to pass through from the remote GCM or DMS panel to SIGNAL's alarm handler. To avoid missing critical alarms, it would be best to install two modem on the GCM or DMS and two modems on the SIGNAL computer. Once modem will be dedicated for dial-in (to view real-time data or modify schedules) and the other for receiving alarms/exceptions.

Issue Turned off the "Backup Main Database Every Night" to stop back up of a server but it is still backing up the event database. Product Line Security Expert Environment Security Expert Server Cause Even though the "Backup Main Database Every Night" option is turned off, the "Event Database"->"Generate Differential Events Backup" is running ever night.  Resolution Log on to the Security Expert System then go to Global->General-> under the events tab. Uncheck/remove the "Generate Differential Events Backup" option along with "Backup Main Database Every Night".  The event's backup will stop. Generate Differential Events Backup Main and Events DB backup Settings

Issue I/A Series G3 graphic pages can be displayed in a web browser but any graphic images on the page are not rendered properly or are rendered as blank after the Java version is updated to Java 7 Update 65 or later. The issue may not immediately appear but generally appears after navigating between various pages containing graphic images. This issue is most apparent when the user is logged in to the I/A Series G3 system via a WB profile. Product Line TAC IA Series Environment I/A Series G3 systems of any release. Cause Java language issue Resolution If the I/A Series G3 graphics server is running I/A Series G3 release 3.7.106, install the updates from the file Consolidated_Patches_3.7.106_SE_01222015.zip. If the I/A Series G3 graphics server is running I/A Series G3 release 3.8.37, install the updates from the file Consolidated_Patches_3.8.37_SE_01222015.zip. Updates for this issue in other I/A Series R2/G3 releases are not available.

Issue When attempting to upgrade the firmware in an MNB-1000, this error appears: "Error 7 updating firmware--cannot start bootloader". It appears like the MNB-1000 is running for a short period and then resetting. Product Line TAC IA Series Environment I/A Series MNB 1000 Cause On occasion, activity on the MSTP trunk will cause this error. Resolution Access the MNB-1000 and disable the MSTP trunk. Attempt to upgrade the Plant controller again. Note: Use an IP connection to the MNB-1000 for the upgrade. Re-enable the MSTP trunk once the upgrade is complete.

Issue COV subscription links are being lost between MNB controllers Product Line TAC IA Series Environment MNB Controller Cause This is caused specifically by changing certain required link properties or by removing the objects that contain the link data. Resolution See TPA-RKFD-08-0001.00 "Avoid accidentally removing COV subscriptions (links) between MNB controllers" on The Exchange Download Center.

Issue How to get BACnet B3xx controllers to know whether its parent BCX1 is online with its MSTP network or not. Product Line Andover Continuum Environment BACnet B3xx BCX1 MS/TP Network Cause There may need to be some action taken if communication is lost with the parent controller. Resolution Use the BACnet attribute of System_Status of the BCX1 with BACnet full path in the B3xxx's PE program. Make sure that you need to delay the program with enough waiting time, otherwise, it could make the MSTP congested. For example: Line Checking If BACnetDevices\MyBCX4040 System_Status = Operational then Goto Wait10Secs Line Wait10Secs If TS > 10 then Goto Checking Line E 'Do something to process the BCX offline situation in the b3 controller. Goto Wait10Secs

Issue The sort order for data in Reports was changed in TAC Vista version 5.1.7. The newest data should be in the bottom, but in TAC Vista 5.17 the newest is in the top. When inserting a trend log to a report with period "Number of values" chosen, "Start/Stop Time" and "Period" works like they did in previous versions. Product Line TAC Vista Environment TAC Vista 5.1.7 Cause This is an error and have been fixed in hotfix 41 for TAC Vista 5.1.7. The sort order is correct in TAC Vista 5.1.8 and later versions. Resolution Install hotfix 41 for TAC Vista 5.1.7, or upgrade to TAC Vista 5.1.8 or later.

Issue Error when running the Checklic license utility: "InitCrypkey Error -103: NETWORK: REPLY FROM NETWORK DRIVER IS BAD" "InitCrypkey Error -102: NETWORK: NETWORK DRIVER APPEARS TO NOT BE SERVING THIS DIRECTORY" Product Line Other, TAC Vista Environment LNS 3.0 LNS Turbo Edition (Ver 3.2) LonMaker 3.0 LonMaker 3.1 LonMaker Turbo (Ver 3.2) Vista Cause A problem has occurred with the LonMaker licensing. Resolution There are two procedures for fixing this problem. Try Procedure 1 first, and if the license still has the same problem, try Procedure 2. Internet access may be required for Procedure 2 to in order to download the setupex.exe and cks.exe programs and request a replacement license. Procedure 1: Confirm that the Windows Crypkey License service is started. To confirm, click Start > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services. Verify the Crypkey License status is Started. Also verify that the startup type is Automatic. If not, right-click the name and then click Start. Double-click the name to enter the properties dialog and change the startup type to Automatic. Close the Service window.   Confirm the Crypkey NetworkX driver is started by running C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\MSInfo\Msinfo32.exe. Expand System Summary > Software Environment > System Drivers in the category tree in the left pane, then locate NetworkX in the right pane. Confirm that the State is Running and the Status is OK. Close the System Information window. If you cannot find these software components, uninstall the Echelon Software product, reboot, and reinstall the product. Antivirus and Internet security software can interfere with the proper installation of the software. Disable such software before you re-install the Echelon software product. At this point, if you are still unable to run your LonMaker or LNS application because of a License Access error message and if the Checklic license utility still reports a -102 or -103 error, follow the steps in Procedure 2. Procedure 2: Check to see if two files exist in the C:\Windows\LNS Licenses folder. setupex.exe cks.exe The LNS Licenses folder is hidden; if you do not see it, open the Windows Explorer Tools menu, click Folder Options, and in the View tab, select Show Hidden Files and Folders and clear Hide Protected Operating System Files (Recommended). If you don't see these files, download them from Echelon and extract them to the C:\Windows\LNS Licenses folder. Open a Windows command prompt by clicking Start > Run and typing in cmd (or command for Windows 98). Type the following command to change your working directory: cd "\Windows\LNS Licenses" Type the following command: setupex /U Reboot the computer. Repeat steps 3 and 4, and then type the following command: setupex Reboot the computer. Open a Windows command prompt and enter "checklic lonmaker.vsl" for the LonMaker Tool or "checklic nsseng.exe" for other LNS tools and applications. If no errors appear, then the LNS application should start. Exit now. If the GetAuthorization Error -4/GetAuthorization Error -1 error is shown, which is expected, try opening/creating network. If the -4/-1 error remains, use the license wizard to request replacement credits. If the InitCrypkey Error -102/-103 error is shown, delete the following files under C:\Windows\LNS Licenses (do not delete other files from the LNS Licenses folder): For the LonMaker tool: LonMaker.rst LonMaker.ent LonMaker.key LonMaker.41s For an LNS tool or application other than the LonMaker tool: nsseng.rst nsseng.ent nsseng.key nsseng.41s Delete esnecil.ind in the C:\windows\system32 folder. Reboot the computer. Run the Checklic license utility again. If the GetAuthorization Error -4/GetAuthorization Error -1 error is shown, which is expected, try opening or creating a network. If the -4/-1 error remains, use the license wizard to request replacement credits. Once the license is fixed, download and install the LNS Licensing Update 2006.

Issue Where is the Modem Settings registry key in the Windows 95/98 Registry? Product Line TAC INET Environment Windows 95 Windows 98 Cause Modifications to modem settings must be performed in the registry editor. Resolution Open the Registry Editor (Start > Run > regedit) Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\Modem\xxxx\Settings

Issue Network 8000 HOST will not boot up, message "Unrecoverable error has occurred." In some cases where the HOST loses power or is shut down without exiting properly, it will not boot up, and displays the following series of messages: "Strong possibility that 3:/DMC.fmon / 011 has lost data. ** ERROR** In Shell call to fcompress to Routine error –1. ** ERROR** In Routine rebuild_fx_file error -14. ** ERROR** In Call to routine rebuild_db_file. ** ERROR** Unrecoverable error has occurred." Product Line TAC IA Series Environment Network 8000 Cause Host was not properly shut down. Resolution To correct the problem, login to the QNX operating system and perform the following steps. QNX commands are enclosed in angle brackets, < cmd >. Type just the command, not the brackets, followed by ENTER. See the HOST 8000 Troubleshooting Guide, F–26369, for more details on QNX commands and syntax. Check disk space, < files 3:/ >, note results, if less than 90% full, no problem. Check for busy files, < files 3:/ +b >, note results. Check for busy directories, < files 3:/ +d +b >, delete the 3:/tmp temporary directory, < zap 3:/tmp >. Should be prompted “file zapped”. Check the 3:/DMC.fmon directory, delete file new.f if it exists. Change directory, < cd DMC.fmon >. Verify change of directory, < pwd >,should be “3:/DMC.fmon” List contents of directory, < ls > ( lower-case L, not the number 1). Delete file new.f if it exists, < zap new.f >, should see “file zapped”. Delete the 011 file group, as follows: < zap 011.f >, should see “file zapped”. < zap 011.k >, should see “file zapped”. < zap 011.x >, should see “file zapped”. Verify file deletion, < ls > ; 011.f, 011.k, and 011.x should be gone. Recreate the 011 file group, as follows: < fconstruct 011 > < kconstruct 011 > Verify files have been rebuilt, < ls >; contents should include 011.f, 011.k, 011.x as well as the 021 and 054 files. Reboot the system, it should now boot all the way to the white Barber-Colman login screen.

Issue How to permanently purge all alarms in Vista and start fresh. Product Line TAC Vista Environment Vista Workstation alarm queue Cause Sometimes alarms can get stuck in the alarm queue during certain engineering processes. In later versions, these can be erased using the purge feature. Resolution To get rid of all old alarms in Vista, browse to the database location: C:\Program Files\TAC\TAC Vista 5.x.x\Db\$thisdb Note: The example is using the default database path for Vista. If you are unsure of the database location, go to Vista Server Setup where your Vista Database path is from the Vista Database tab. Shutdown the Vista Server if it is currently running. In the vista DB folder, rename $this.alr and $this_bp.alr to something else (e.g. this.alr.old) for future offline use, or delete the files permanently. Restart the Vista server, and the alarms should be cleared with the exception of current active alarms.

Issue Which Modbus driver is required for a Niagara R2 UNC to support Modbus RTU RS-485? Product Line TAC IA Series Environment Niagara R2 UNC Modbus RTU RS-485 Cause The correct Modbus driver must be installed to allow communication between Niagara R2 and Modbus RTU RS-485. Resolution The Modbus drivers can be installed on the UNC-510-1 and UNC-520-2 models with a maximum supported baud rate of 19.2k for the UNC-510 and 76.8k for the UNC-520. The part numbers are: IA-DRV-MOD (master) IA-DRV-MOD-S (slave)

Issue Since the NPR supports Telnet and SNMP, can someone dial into the modem and gain access to a user's network? Product Line TAC INET Environment I/NET site Cause Cybersecurity of the network is important, and any vulnerabilities should be identified and mitigated. IT professionals may ask about the Telnet and SNMP capabilities of an NPR and whether that represents a risk. Resolution The NPR cannot initiate a Telnet session, therefore it will only respond to Telnet prompts. It cannot create an outgoing Telnet session into the local LAN. It is also very limited in SNMP. It will respond to a query with a packet of information. That is all it can do. It does not conduct two-way or bi-directional communication. Hackers can not use these modes to "leapfrog" into a local LAN.