Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue When trying to connect to a Sigma system from SmartStruxure an "Unable to load SigXmlExport.dll" error message is displayed. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation, Satchwell Sigma Environment SmartStruxure Enterprise Server version 1.5 Sigma 4.08 Cause The Sigma to StruxureWare Support files have not been installed to the Sigma installation. Resolution Download the Sigma To StruxureWare Building Operation Support Program from the Exchange Download Center. This additional software allows a Sigma Release 4.08 installation to respond to data import requests from SBO 1.5 and takes Release 4.08 to Build 3.46.66 On the existing Sigma 4.08 Sigma server PC, run SigmaSBOSupportSetup.exe and install the software to completion. There is no need to stop Sigma clients or the server.

Issue With the "Apply initial value" property activated in a script program, there may be confusion on how this impacts the operation of the program after a cold start of the controller, which includes system upgrades. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Script Programs Cause In SmartStruxure versions up to and including 1.9.X, when the “Apply initial value” property of a script program is set to Yes, then the following scenario will occur upon a cold start of the server; The inputs, outputs, and public numerics will revert to the initial values set in the script program. Note: It is important to keep this in mind before upgrading a site that has script programs in the database. If the “Apply initial value” setting is Yes, then the Input, Output, and Public Numerics will be re-initialized with their Initial Value attribute. Depending on whether these attributes were configured and/or the application, upgrade or cold start may result in data loss or unexpected behavior. Resolution Versions up to and including 1.9.X If the values of public numerics need to be retained after a cold start in a script program: The "Apply initial value" property must be set to No. Outcome after a Cold Start: Inputs and Outputs will go to null Public Numerics will retain their last known value   If the values of the public numerics need to go to their configured initial value: The "Apply initial value" property must be set to Yes. Outcome after a Cold Start: Inputs and Outputs will go to their configured initial value Public Numerics will go to their configured initial value   Warning: If "Apply initial value" is set to No, it has been observed in upgrades to version 1.9 that some public numerics do not retain their last known value. The fix for this issue has been assigned to EBO 2.0.

Issue When a Sigma data import is carried out, the following messages are displayed on the SBO ES computer. On the Sigma server computer, the Sigma server service has stopped. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Sigma 4.08 Building Operation Workstation Building Operation Enterprise Server Cause The Sigma database’s longtext file contains unsupported characters. Resolution Option 1: If Sigma longtext is no longer required: On the Sigma computer. 1)      Stop the Sigma server service. 2)      Delete the longtext.rec file from the Sigma Data folder (C:\Sigma\Data\longtext.rec). 3)      Start the Sigma server service. On the SBO computer Carry out the data import again. Option 2: If Sigma longtext is required: On the Sigma server computer. 1)      Start the Sigma server service. Open a Sigma client, either on the Sigma server computer or the SBO ES computer or other. 1)      Log into Sigma’s operator panel 2)      Go to the System Alarm manager 3)      Under the menu “Configure” select Longtext 4)      Open each longtext entry and remove the unsupported characters 5)      Add the longtext message your require. (You may find copies of the original longtext messages you can copy the text from, under “C:\Sigma\Data\Longtext” used by Sigma before the system was upgraded. On the SBO computer 6)      Carry out the data import again.   The data import should now complete.

Issue Opening Controller Web Pages (such as those hosted by a bCX) using an external browser,  generates a 'pop up window' where you must enter authenticating credentials (username and password) before access to the controller's various settings is granted. . Using an ES, AS or AS-P Hyperlink however you can log onto to the bCX Main page, but when selecting any option from the menu, you do not see this 'pop up window' to enter your credentials and are instead greeted with an immediate Access Denied message Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment External web pages and/or controller web pages Cause Technically speaking the 'popup window' is a Frame within the web page which web servers of this kind commonly use.   Unfortunately, the ES, AS and AS-P do not easily handle such Frames or i-Frames and as such logging on becomes complicated. Resolution There is usually as single Frame which handles the Authentication which can be identified looking at the web server (in this case bCX) web page via Chrome + F12 which puts it into Developer Mode.    In this case if you allow the Authentication Frame to open in Chrome and then select cancel the Access Denied message is seen and Frame B4000MainMenu is highlighted Which can then be tested using that specific Frame in Chrome to be sure it does indeed cause the authentication window to appear every time. Once you know that this is the Frame which generates the Authentication you can create a logon Hyperlink in SBO which directly opens this Frame only After entering the correct log on credentials, you can then use a second SBO Hyperlink that connects to the Main web page of bCX and navigate to where ever you need to make changes.  CAUTION:  This authorisation will then remain active allowing access to bCX settings for anyone using that Workstation until the Workstation Session is closed (logging off is not enough)  

Issue Issues resizing SBO graphic editor frames with Windows 10 Lenovo P51 or T470 laptop with a Schneider Electric image. The following picture shows that the Graphic Editor did not re-filled the screen after resizing either the component/snippet area or the Object/property area, a border can be seen to the right and below the editor’s frame. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Lenovo P51 or T470 Schneider Electric imaged laptop. Cause Scale and layout: Microsoft .NET Framework version: Resolution 1. Scale and layout: Right mouse click on the desktop and select “Display settings” Set Scale and layout to 100% Re-boot computer   2. Microsoft .NET Framework 4.7.2: Download and install Microsoft .NET Framework 4.7.2 (Microsoft .NET Framework 4.7.2. can be downloaded from the Microsoft support site) Re-boot computer If these suggestions do not provide a solution or if you would like to provide some other feedback, please contact your local product support entity

Issue Can't communicate with more than 1 device on LG Gateway at the same time. Updated with solution on 12/15/2017 Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment LG Gateway Model:PQNFB17C1 Firmware version: 1.11.4 Cause The gateway can only provide one source address when there are multiple device IDs. The wireshark capture confirmed that no unique source ID provided by the gateway with different device IDs. Resolution Update the firmware version to 5.08.1h Configure the "BACnet Type Setting" to "B Type".

Issue A duress input is only triggering duress alarm events and not the return to normal events after the duress input is reset. The point going into alarm is seen on the Monitoring | Status page when viewing all alarms but the return to normal events are not being displayed. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation, Security Expert Environment Security Expert Cause The problem is due to how the Event Filter the Event Report is configured. Resolution Check to see that the Event Filter includes all of the Event Types that should come through as shown alarms. In the example this would be at least "Input Opened" and "Input Closed" under the "All Input Events" folder.   Event Filter: Create an Event filter and include the correct Event Types that you wish to report on.   Event Report: Add the Event Filter you configured in step 1. To show those Alarms, create/modify a Status Page under Monitoring | Setup > Status Page Editor, set the Type to Event Windows and add the Event Report from step 2 above to the Record field.

Issue When renaming a new Enterprise Server a validation error is received that states: "Validation failed for property 'HttpPort' Path: 'Enterprise Server/HttpPort' Type 'HttpPort' The value '0' is outside the range of allowed values Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Enterprise Server Cause Whilst this issue may at first appear to be an issue with the port assignment. It is in fact an issue with the Enterprise Server certificate. Typically this occurs when a backup containing a base configuration has been used to create the new Enterprise Server. Resolution Remove the Active certificate, please see EBO Webhelp for instructions on how to remove a certificate

Issue When viewing a TGML graphic from Webstation the text and values are not aligned correctly. In Workstation the text and values are aligned fine. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment StruxureWare Building Operation 1.5 Cause In the Control Panel\Appearance and Personalization\Display it is possible to change the size of text and other items on your screen. If this is set  to larger than 100% the text and Values will not be aligned in in the TGML graphic in Webstation. Resolution Set the value for Control Panel\Appearance and Personalization\Display to 100% and not more. Windows 10 Right click or press and hold on your desktop, click/tap on Display settings. Click/tap on Display on the left side. If you have more than one display connected to your PC, then select a display at the top on the right side that you want to change the DPI of. Under "Change the size of text, apps, and other items", select the DPI percentage and set it to 100% and not more. Windows 7 Open Control Panel Open Appearance and Personalization Set Display to 100% and not more

Issue Customers question the time sync function in AS-P for BACnet devices Environment SE8650, Viconic, SBO, AS-P, SmartStruxure, Room Controller, MSTP, 3rd Party BACnet Devices Cause It is important to understand what happens when AS-P or Room Controller lose power. Resolution SE8650 firmware version 1.7.1-56d and SBO 1.9.3.24 were used in the test. The testing was done with the fieldbus speed at both 38400 and 76800 baud. 1. The first test was to confirm AS-P sends out time sync signal 38 minutes after each hour periodically. A review of all the timeSync data packets during the capture reveals that the time sync packets are sent every hour when the time in AS-P is 38 after the hour minutes mark. 2. The second test was to confirm that the AS-P will send out a timeSync data packet if a device comes back online after a power outage. First the time was synchronized between the SE8650 with AS-P. SE8650 was then powered down and the AS-P server time changed so that the times in the two devices would not match.   A review of the time synchronization packets in the packet capture confirms that the AS sends out a time synchronization once the SE8650 is powered and boots up. 3. If the AS-P and SE8650 both lost power the SE8650 will boot up before the AS-P. The AS-P will then sends out a timeSync once the BACnet communication is settled.

Issue SE(R)8000 series short and long messages Product Line EcoStruxure Building Expert, EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment SE8000 Series Room Controllers SER8000 Series Room Controllers Ex. Viconics branding VT8000 Series EcoStruxure Building Operation Cause Configuration of the SE(R)8000 series short and long messages Resolution The short and long messages are set via BACnet. Take note that the short and long messages do not hold when power to the SE8000 is turned off. This is because currently, the messages are stored in RAM. The workaround is to change the name (from the AS) and back again then save to get it to display on the unit again. Below is the procedure to change the short and long messages in EcoStruxure Building Operation. Short Message: The Short Message can be written to the SE8000 room controller by populating the "Location" Property with the message   Long Message: The Long Message can be written to the SE8000 room controller by populating the "Description" Property with the message The message however will not get displayed until the "Display Long Screen Message" has been activated. Optional: you can also choose the color of the long message background by changing the "Long Message Background Color".     Discrepancy on the text written to the device, and the text shown on the device In some cases when using non-English characters in the messages, the text on the SE8000 will not be rendered as expected. The issue is caused by SE8300 not conforming to BACnet standard in string encoding and decoding. The workaround is to set "BACnet string encoding" property of the device to "ISO 8859-1(Latin-1)", or other encoding the device supports. SE8300 claims to support BACnet protocol revision 10, which requires the conforming device to interpret Character Set 0 as UTF-8 string. In 1.9, SBO started to write to devices using Character Set 0 for unicode strings, but the SE8300 fails to decode it. Setting the "BACnet string encoding" to Latin-1 for the devices fixes the problem. 

Issue Email notifications from 3rd party email account such as Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo SMTP issues Event notification Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment StruxureWare Building Operation site with any of the following: AS, ES, Reports Server Cause Sending notifications to Gmail, Yahoo mail, Hotmail, or other outside email account. Wanting to use other SMTP than Schneider Electric E-mail Server: if wanting to setup an ES or AS to send email notifications with third party SMTP, an Exchange server using port 25 supports the notifications. In release 1.7.1 and earlier though Gmail, for example, suggests port 465 and 587, the workstations alarms that the email can not be sent since it cannot connect to email server. The problem is with the Gmail-account and often other 3rd party email providers both public and private, Google requires that you connect with SSL, which have been missing in the requirements and therefore these releases do not have this functionality. In release 1.8.1 and later, you can send emails not encrypted or encrypted using either the TSL or the SSL protocol. You can select one method for the primary email server and another method for the secondary email server. The Schneider Electric Email Server does not support encrypted emails. When logging on to the email server, the user is authenticated using an authentication protocol. If no user name is specified, no authentication protocol is specified. If a user name is specified, the SmartStruxure server tries to authorize the user using the CRAM-MD5 protocol. If the first authentication fails, the SmartStruxure server tries to authorize the user using the LOGIN protocol using the CRAM-MD5 protocol. Resolution In Email Notification put the 3rd party email address such as yourname@mailprovider.com. AS and ES will use the Schneider Electric SMTP server or the POP server of your choice to send the email notification. For multiple emails, check Multiple Email Addresses for Email Notifications or Alarm Recipients. Sometimes the mail is put in the Spam folder for the recipient. Check there and change settings to Not Spam. Installing a valid SSL certificate for the Enterprise Server to allow SSL operation is not planned in a future version. Currently, the default certificate does not identify the system and is not trusted, but nevertheless enables SSL operation. ESMTP (Extended) is not supported through current release. Base64 SMTP authentication is not supported. Wanting to use SMTP other than Schneider Electric E-mail Server: An Exchange server or SMTP server which supports POP and uses port 25 supports AS and ES Notifications. Other servers which would require the setting of Primary/Secondary E-mail server fails to login to SMTP Server require an encrypted (SSL/TLS) connection which is not supported in Struxureware Building Operation versions up to and including 1.7.1. A solution is to use an SMTP proxy on the ES or another computer on the network that will handle the TLS/SSL authentication. Release 1.8.1 and later support TLS and SSL for email authentication natively. Using SmtpProxy on an Enterprise Server SmtpProxy is a small freeware application that listens on a port you choose; the default port is 25. When SmtpProxy detects a connection on this port, it does the following: Connects to the SMTP server you configure (GMail / Microsoft Live Mail / any other SMTP server) Starts an encrypted connection with the SMTP server Returns the connection information to the ES After the initial connection is established, SmtpProxy acts as a middleman. Any SMTP data received from the ES is forwarded to the SMTP server and any data returned from the SMTP server is sent the ES. SmptProxy runs as a Windows service so it can be installed on a LAN server and used by multiple devices such as AS. Note that SmtpProxy does NOT login to the SMTP server but rather credentials are passed through from the ES or AS. Note: SmtpProxy is a third party application and therefore no support is provided by Schneider Electric. Installing SmtpProxy SMTPProxy can be downloaded from http://smtpproxy.codeplex.com/ The download is a Windows Installer (MSI) file that can be used to install SmtpProxy on any machine that supports the .NET Framework v4 – Client Profile. Configuring SMTPProxy for Gmail SmtpProxy is configured using a config file. A sample config file is installed with SmtpProxy, this is a plain text file that can be edited with Notepad. Create a copy of the sample config file and rename it to: On 32 bit machines: C:\Program Files\SmtpProxy\SmtpProxy.exe.config On 64 bit machines: C:\Program Files (x86)\SmtpProxy\SmtpProxy.exe.config The following items can be configured with SmtpProxy’s config file: SmtpProxy can write a log of all its activities. The default file to write the log file to is SmtpProxy.trace.log. SmtpProxy can log several different types of activities. You can control what is written to the log file by setting the log switches. By default, they are set to Off so nothing is written to the log file. Valid switch values are Off, Error, Warning, Info, and Verbose with each one providing more information than the last. Once you have SmtpProxy working, you should turn logging Off. The Url to the SMTP server. Default is smtp.live.com. The SMTP server port. Default is 587. The port to listen on. Default is 25. Scroll to the end of the config file and locate the section SmtpProxy.Properties.Settings section and find the string mail.live.com Edit this to smtp.gmail.com After modification, you must restart the Smtp Proxy service from the services control panel for the new settings to take effect. Configuring ES to use SmtpProxy Right click on the Server in the tree and select Properties then click the Email tab Select Primary/Secondary E-Mail Server Enter Sender E-mail (e.g. Mysite@gmail.com) Under Primary E-Mail Server Settings enter Host: localhost (or 127.0.0.1) Enter the users account information. User name: e.g. gmailaccountname@gmail.com Password: MyPassword Confirm: MyP

Issue Although data is read correctly from the TSI Pressura RPM20 Hospital Room Pressure Monitor when integrated to a SmartStruxure Solution Automation Server, Modbus read errors and framing errors are seen. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment SmartStruxure Solution Automation Server SmartStruxure Solution Automation Server Premium Modbus RTU Cause The instruction manual from the manufacturer incorrectly lists  the Modbus communication parameters for the RPM20 as 9600 baud, 8 data bits, 2 stop bits and no parity. Resolution Investigation of the data from the device shows that the Modbus communications parameters are: 9600 baud 8 data bits 1 stop bit No parity Ensure that these parameters are set in the Automation Server Modbus Master Network configuration.

Issue The EWS Interface is working and object status updates show in SBO but no alarms come in. Alarms are being triggered and showing in the Alarms Status Page in Security Expert Client but these same alarms are not showing in SBO. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation, Security Expert Environment Struxureware Building Operation Workstation Security Expert EWS SOAP Cause The authentication for the interface is not set up correctly. Resolution In the EWS Configuration Manager set the Authentication to Digest and define the SBO User Name and SBO User Password that the interface will use. These same credentials need to be used in the Web Services Interface when it is setup in SBO.

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 V-Box fails to install network interface/Virtual Adapter during Project Configuration Tool Installation. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Other Environment OracleVM VirtualBox (all versions) Project Configuration Tool (all versions) Cause Some security or anti-virus software prevents V-Box from installing virtual adapter during PCT/V-Box installation or prevent PCT from connecting to a virtual adapter.   Example: The anti-virus software can flag V-Box file as possible threat. Resolution Uninstall or Disable security and Anti-virus software. Install PCT. Install or Enable the software after PCT works properly.   NOTE:  You may have to disable and/or completely remove the security software even after PCT is installed and works properly.  Contact your IT group to get assistance with getting exceptions entered to have PCT work correctly in conjunction with your security software.

Issue Moving from SBO 1.9 to EBO 2.0 and above does not allow the Tech Tool to be used on SmartX Displays. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment EBO 2.0 Cause The SmartX Display Tech Tool is being discontinued in EBO 2.0 in favour of a completely overhauled Webstation which is now designed for use on Tablets and Smart Phones as well as PCs. Resolution Tablet used here is the T580 First of all, the tablet itself will need to be brought up to Android OS 7 minimum (OS 8 works as well). Depending on how long it has been since the tablet was last connected online, the Android OS may require a number of updates before it reaches Android OS 7. Most importantly, when finished the tablet must have a firmware number ending with T580XXU2BQL1 or above.  (E.g. T580XXU2BQI9 is lower than T580XXU2BQL1). If for some reason this is not the case then please manually update the software instead. Next contact the Schneider Electric Global Expert Support Team, to obtain the latest versions of SmartX Kiosk and AD-Link application. One visible change in the Kiosk is that it now includes a Chrome shortcut as standard. The AD-Link is still required to establish the connection between the Tablet and the SmartX Server over USB using IP address 192.168.42.116. It is only the Tech Tool itself, that is discontinued. Once the AD-Link has been opened and connected, Chrome can then be used to connect to the SmartX Server using the same 192.168.42.116 Address. Successful logon can then be achieved using the same Username and Password as the Tech Tool. The new and improved Webstation interface can be accessed that is optimised for Tablet and Smart Phone screens In some cases, the customer may not want Chrome's open browser interface and may instead wish to lock down the appearance of the browser to be closer to that of the older Tech Tool. If this is the case, please refer to 'Locking Down' Chrome and Webstation in EBO 2.0 for SmartX Displays.

Issue Why does the PID example function in the Script editor library not operate like the bPID? Product Line Andover Continuum, EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Script/ Plain English differences Cause PID example does not operate as expected with regard to the integral action. Resolution The Script Program editor contains various library functions that can be selected from the "Library" tab at the lower right of the editor screen. Plain English program/ function examples were available and used in Continuum and known as the "Andover Controls Standard Modules" ACSM, they are available in Where can I obtain standard Plain English example functions? This document also contains further information about the PID use and application. In both the script PIDLoop (Long version) library function and the bPID function as used in Andover Continuum the Proportional component is the same, they both use Proportional Gain which is defined as 1 / Proportional Band. In the Script Editor Library PID function this requires the Integral Gain constant, this is defined as 1 / Integral Action Time as used in the Continuum bPID function. In the Script Editor Library PID function this requires the Derivative Gain constant, this is defined as 1 / Derivative Action Time as used in the Continuum bPID function. Either of the functions may be used in the SmartStruxure Script editor, but you need to ensure your calling program is passing the correct arguments for the PID function used.

Issue Using the OPT Block with a StruxureWare Time Schedule Object. Environment Function Block Editor Cause The Xenta Time Schedule which the OPT Block has the ability to send a positive or negative minutes till next change. The StruxureWare Time Schedule dose not include this item. This is the online help article that defines the parts of the OPT Block Resolution In the Function Block Editor, create 3 RI blocks. One will be bound to the Value attribute of the Analog Schedule One will be bound the ScheduleDefault attribute of the Analog Schedule One to the TimeToNextTransition attribute of the Analog Schedule Create an XPB block with the function "A!=B". Connect the Value RI to A and the ScheduleDefault RI to B. Label this XPB "Status". Create an XPI block with the function "a?B*-1:B". Connect the status XPB block to "a" and the TimeToNextTransition RI to B. This Block can be connected to the TmL input of the OPT block. This is an export of the demo application below which shows the bindings. (right click and choose Save link as...)

Issue Using Chrome and Webstation in EBO 2.0 for SmartX Advanced Displays generates an interface which is more open and less restrictive than the original Buildings Operation Technician's Tool it replaces. While this is a benefit, some users may require to have a 'Locked Down' interface Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Advanced Display 2.0 and above Cause The Technician's Tool app on the SmartX Advanced Display was a separate purpose-built tool which was just designed for accessing SmartX Servers only, While Webstation, in this case is using Chrome has been recently updated for use on PCs Tablets and Smart Phones in general as well as the SmartX Displays.  It is therefore a much more open interface with the opportunity of accessing the EBO System Tree as well as other Chrome tabs for Google, news and weather etc. Resolution By default, Webstation 2.0 includes a System Tree for easier navigation and the latest version of SmartX Kiosk now includes a Chrome shortcut, designed to be used instead of the old Technician's Tool (which can now be uninstalled in EBO 2.0 installations).  The shortcut can open Webstation as one of multiple Chrome tabs as designed.  While the System Tree and extra tabs should be seen as helpful features, some users may still wish to simplify the SmartX display as much as possible, removing as many menus and tabs as possible to maximise screen size and continue the look of the older Technician's Tool.  To achieve this a couple of minor changes will need to be made. Firstly, the System Tree within Webstation can be hidden altogether, this will reduce system navigation but will also free up a portion of the screen. Secondly, creating a specific shortcut to Webstation 2.0, rather than using the standard Chrome shortcut removes the additional tabs. The new shortcut is added to the tablet's Home Screen but it also appears in Kiosk Mode. 1) Ensure the AD-Link is connected. 2) Open up the Chrome shortcut. 3) Connect to the pseudo IP address to connect via USB. 4) Log in using the same Username and Password as usual. 5) Select the Webstation menu icon. 6) De-select System Tree and then close via menu icon. This will then ensure the System Tree is no longer shown when logging into Webstation. 7) Access the Chrome Settings Menu 😎 Select the option to 'Add to Page to the Home Screen. This will then add a shortcut for Webstation to the tablet's Home Screen and will also appear in the SmartX Kiosk Home Screen. Using this shortcut instead of the standard Chrome shortcut will then open the Webstation in future without additional Chrome tabs or menu bars. Whenever you connect, menu pages and System Trees are now removed allowing the object selected to take up the maximum screen space.

Issue The EWS interface in the SBO system tree shows as online but when browsing to the hardware folder all that shows up is the class folders, no objects are loaded.   When reviewing the settings in Security Expert EWS Manager.exe a prompt showing "Please set the password" is shown before loading the main configuration window.   You can then see that the Operator Password field is blank and that subsequent attempts to set this and save seem to work but when closing and re-opening the Configuration Manager that the password is not saved. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation, Security Expert Environment Security Expert Cause The current language for non-Unicode programs is set to a value other than English. In one specific case this was set to Chinese (Simplified,PRC). Resolution In the Region and Language settings for Windows go to the Administrative tab and select Change system locale... Set this to English, save and reboot the machine. The Operator Password should now be able to be set in the EWS Configuration Manager and EWS connection established.