Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue I get an Error message saying, "There is no folder for this object" when I try to create an object. Environment Vista Workstation Cause This error occurs if there is a dash or hyphen (–) in the name of the object being created. Vista uses the dash to define folder paths in the database, e.g. a graphic named RTU-1. Vista sees this as a graphic "1" in the folder "RTU." Resolution Do not use dashes or hyphens in the naming convention for Vista objects. Either eliminate it altogether, or use underscores (_) instead.

Issue Why Vista Workstation Remote is not supported for Internet Use Environment Vista Servers not in the same network Cause Technically Vista Workstation Remote can communicate to a Vista Server over the internet but this is not a supported practice due to the network requirements for the Vista Server. Resolution The Vista Server must be on a PC that is not behind a firewall which utilizes address translation. The IP address of the computer must be the same IP address that Vista Workstation Remote will use to communicate with it. Due to the nature of DCOM (Distributed Common Object Model) which is used by Vista Workstation Remote many ports would have to be left open on the PC and the network firewalls. Vista Workstation Remote connects to DCOM's Service Control Manager (SCM) on port 135 which will dynamically assign a port for the programs to communicate on. Since this requires ports 135 and the entire range of ports that the SCM utilizes to be open on the PC and the firewalls the risk to the network is significant. Most IT departments will not be willing to leave their network so open and exposed. Therefore, Vista Workstation Remote is not supported for Internet use. To use Vista over the internet please look into a web server (Xenta 511/527) or Vista Webstation.

Issue How do I build Vista graphics pages offline from the system running my Vista database? Environment Vista IV OGC Graphics Cause Engineering graphics on an offline database allows the work to be completed away from a customers site after the installation phase of the project has been completed. Resolution Make a backup of the Vista database so you will have the necessary points for the graphics pages. Restore backup on the PC that you want to build the graphics with. Build the graphics pages and save them as .ogc using file-save, not db save. When all pages are complete, copy the saved files to the system running the database. Create the necessary graphics objects in the Vista database. For each of these objects, right click and go to Properties and browse in the new files with the Source File button.

Issue Definable Tool Settings are not Transferable Environment I/NET Seven Cause With the introduction of I/NET Seven, the Definable Tools button is a new feature providing a useful shortcut for applications to be more user friendly. Resolution The two kinds of tools available are Events and Shortcuts. The definition below gives the description of their uses: Event - Use this tool to execute an event sequence defined in a controller. Shortcut - Use this tool to launch another application, open a file, visit a website, etc. There is a misconception though, that they can be created on a graphic page, saved and then re-applied at another location. This is not the case. These Tools and Buttons are PC Specific and cannot be transferred from one PC to another because the SQL database does not save these settings. If the user wants to set up these Tools (Events and Shortcuts) then they would have to do it for each PC, that is looking at the data or each page that it exists on. This is providing the user has rights to these buttons through the Host Passwords.

Issue Configuring Error Logging for Program Crashes Environment I/NET Seven Site Cause Dr. Watson is not the default debugging software then the following steps can be used to configure it to be used as the default debugger Resolution Dr. Watson is a debugging program that is installed with the Windows operating system that generates error reports when programs crash. These error reports are very useful in determining the cause and support personnel will typically request a Dr. Watson log file as the first step of troubleshooting the problem. If for some reason Dr. Watson is not the default debugging software then the following steps can be used to configure it to be used as the default debugger. In the Start menu Run command type "drwtsn32 -i" and select "Ok". You should receive notification that Dr. Watson has been installed as the default application debugger. In the Start menu Run command type "drwtsn32.exe" and select "Ok". You can configure the directory that log files will be placed in among other options. The default directory is "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\DrWatson\". In the Start menu Run command type "regedit" and select "Ok". Browse to "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\Current Version\AEDebug" and verify that the entry "Auto" is set to the value of 1. Dr. Watson log files should now be generated upon program crashes. The above steps should be valid for Windows 2000 operating system and newer

Issue MSDE Not Installing on a Windows 2000 Professional PC It gets to 98% and then quits without installing anything Environment MSDE Windows 2000 Professional Cause Microsoft network printer sharing settings are stopping the installation from completing. Resolution Open up My Network PlacesPrinter Go to Network and Dial up Connections Go to Local Area Connection Select the General Tab Uncheck the Files and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks Retry the install again. Once the software is installed, go back and check that box again so that Crystal Reports will run and print to a printer.  

Issue Printer Use with Emergin Software Emergin Software worked fine until I/NET 2000 was upgraded to I/NET Seven. Now the printer starts to print the Events and Alarms vertically instead of horizontally. Environment Emergin Software I/NET Seven upgraded from I/NET 2000 Cause Upgrade process requires that the COM port be added back again following the upgrade. Resolution Remove the COM Port from the Device Manager Reboot the PC so that it rediscovers it or re-adds it back again Restart I/NET Generate an Alarm and verify that it works correctly. If for some reason this does not work: Verify that you have the latest Emergin Build that is compatible with I/NET Seven, then try it again. You would have to go to the Emergin Website to get this information at www.emergin.com.

Issue I/NET Seven System Log On Environment I/NET Seven Site Cause Knowledge on I/NET Seven System Log On steps Resolution If you are logging on to the system for the first time since rebooting, restarting the driver, selecting System Log Off, or using the Signoff on Quit option, you must enter your host password. Note: You can configure I/NET to allow operators to logon simply by swiping their key/card at a Wiegand reader connected to the host workstation. Refer to User Enrollment and Auto-logon for more information. If the system is not already displaying the Log On prompt, select System Log On from the main menu. Type your Operator Name. This name can contain up to 30 characters. The following characters cannot be used within the Operator Name:" / \ [ ] : ; | = , + * ? <> The default operator name is "tac". If the system has just been installed and no operator names have been assigned, this default name should still be available. After operator names have been defined, you may wish to remove the default operator name to prevent unauthorized users from gaining access. Type your password at the prompt. This password can contain up to 127 characters. All keyboard characters are valid for use within this password. The system displays an asterisk for each character you type. The default system password is "dacs". If the system has just been installed and no other host passwords have been assigned, this default password should still be available. After host passwords have been assigned to all authorized users, you may wish to remove the default password to prevent unauthorized users from gaining access. Select OK to continue. Caution: The database server should not be shut down while I/NET is running. Shutting down the database server drops all existing connections to the database, and can result in corrupted data displays. (Only users with administrative privileges on the workstation can stop or start the database server.)

Issue Connecting to a Link or Site Environment I/NET Seven Site Cause Knowledge on how to connect to a Link or Site Resolution I/NET displays this dialog box when you select Connect from the main menu. This dialog box allows you to choose a link or remote site. Connect to a device as follows: Select Connect from the main menu. The system displays a summary list of available link devices or sites. Note: A dash (-) appearing next to a device name indicates that the device is not currently available for communication. An asterisk (*) indicates that the name of the controller or the type has changed. Highlight a link device or site in the list. Select OK to connect. After the system connects to the selected device or site, the status bar at the bottom of the screen shows the connected levels.

Issue Integrated Dial Function Environment I/NET Site Cause This function provides one-way communication between a PC and one or more LANs when you configure your system as "Dial" using the I/NET Setup program. The PC can dial out to a LAN but the LAN cannot dial out to the remote PC. You must use a US Robotics 56k modem model 5686E and a 78010 Tap at each LAN you want to call. You must have a second US Robotics 56k modem model 5686E connected to the PC doing the dialing. Resolution Define the phone numbers for the PC using the Phone Numbers Editor that appears in the Host portion of the Edit menu when you configure your system as "Dial." You must configure the modems attached at the call initiating end (modem connected to the host PC) and the call receiving end (78010 Tap on the controller LAN) so they communicate with each other. Define the address, name, modem speed and telephone number of up to 64 remote devices per host. Select Edit Host Computer Phone numbers from the main menu. The system displays the Phone Number editor. This editor allows you to add, delete, modify, or copy phone numbers. This editor also lists the remote sites you can access from this host. If you have not added any sites, the fields are blank. Select Add. The system displays the Phone Numbers - Add editor. Select the Index (0 to 63). This number determines which line in the list will display this entry. Enter a Name for the remote site (up to 16 characters). Choose a Dialing Speed from the drop-down list. The speed you select must be equal to or less than the maximum speed of the modem performing the dial out. Define a Telephone Number (up to 31 characters). Start the number with a "T" for tone dialing. No "T" indicates pulse dialing. Use a comma to indicate a two-second pause.

Issue Overall Tap Configuration Environment I/NET Seven Site Cause Need information on Tap Configuration Resolution When you update parameters in a Tap, the changes will take effect when you disconnect from the Tap. If the changes are made to a shared dial Tap, the changes will take effect when the last connected host disconnects from the Tap. Use the following steps to configure a Tap. Refer to TCON300, I/NET Seven Technical Reference Guide, for a description of Tap configuration parameters. Select Edit Tap Host (or Link, or LAN) from the main menu. The system displays the Host Tap Configuration editor. The Link Tap and LAN Tap configuration editors are similar. This procedure describes the differences. Assign a Tap Name to the Host, Link, or LAN tap (up to 16 characters). On site Taps, use the spindial to choose a LAN Address (0 to 63) to identify the tap address on the controller LAN. The LAN Address field applies only to site taps. Depending on the type of tap, do one of the following: On host and LAN taps use the spindial to choose a LAN Speed. On link taps use the spindial to choose a Speed. On dial taps choose a Tap speaker setting from the drop-down list (Off, Auto, or On). Use the Firmware Status parameters for information purposes only. These parameters show the current revision number and revision date. These fields are display only, you cannot edit them. Use the Distribution Parameters fields to specify distribution group number, message priority, and the message mask. Note: When utilizing dual Tap functions (site Tap and LAN Tap) in a 7716, 7718, 7728, or 7793 (configured as -03 or -06), the values entered under "Distribution Parameters" in one Tap editor are used by all Tap editors emulated within the same DCU. Only one set of "Control Parameters" have been provided in each DCU. Select the Distribution Group number (1–4) to match the distribution group of the host PCs to which you want the Tap to send messages. Set the Message Mask to match the mask(s) of the host PCs to which you want the Tap to send messages. Set the Message Priority to None, Routine, Priority, or Critical. The Percent Full field is for AD/AA LAN Taps only. It specifies the number of messages that will be stored in the LAN/Site Tap’s RAM, as a percent of the total available memory, before the Tap calls the host PC. This is a deferred dialing parameter for "Priority" alarms. The Time Interval field is for AD/AA LAN Taps only. It specifies the time interval that must transpire following a "priority" alarm before the LAN/Site Tap calls the host PC. This is a deferred dialing parameter for "Priority" alarms.

Issue Print Tap Configuration Environment I/NET Site Cause The Printer Tap provides communication between controllers and a printer without the use of a host. Resolution Use the following procedure to configure a Printer Tap. Select Edit Tap Printer from the main menu. The system displays the Printer Tap Configuration editor. Enter the Tap Name (up to 16 characters). Note: The Firmware Status part of the screen shows the current revision number and date the revision occurred. These fields are display only, you cannot edit them. Using the spindial, choose a Baud Rate. Choose a CTS Handshake from the pull-down list. Using the spindial choose the number of Data Bits. Using the spindial choose the number of Stop Bits. Choose a Parity from the drop-down list. Set the Group Masks as required. Select the OK button to save the settings and exit this procedure.  

Issue Problems installing TAC Config. Environment Vista IV TAC Config Cause DDP1.1sp1 –KB867460-x86.exe The upgrade patch cannot be installed by the Windows installer service because the program to be upgraded may be missing, or the upgrade patch may update a different version of the program. Windows installer This can occur if you are running Windows in safe mode, or if the Windows Installer is not correctly installed. Resolution DDP1.1sp1 –KB867460-x86.exe The upgrade patch cannot be installed by the Windows installer service because the program to be upgraded may be missing, or the upgrade patch may update a different version of the program. Verify that the program to be upgraded exists on your computer and that you have the correct upgrade patch. Windows installer The Windows Installer Service could not be accessed. This can occur if you are running Windows in safe mode, or if the Windows Installer is not correctly installed. Contact your support personnel for assistance. You will have to repair your COM+ catalog before installing TAC Vista 4.3. You can do this by following the steps in described in Microsoft’s Knowledge Base article 301919 http://support.microsoft.com/kb/301919/ Note: To do this you will have to have an installation CD for your OS (or have the files copied to your hard drive).

Issue Removing Trend Log before Upgrading to Vista 4.3 Environment Vista upgrade Cause During the addition of digital signatures to the log values, as required when upgrading to Vista 4.3, the PC may experience excessive demand of the processor and take a significant amount of time. Resolution If you do not require these trend log values you can follow these steps to avoid this potentially lengthy process. In the version of Vista that you are upgrading from create a full Vista backup by accessing the $Backup_FVB object found in you Operator Unit. Make sure that the "Include trend log files" selection is not checked before you start the backup. Upgrade to Vista 4.3 and specify a different database path then the one your old Vista database resides in. Start Vista Server and manually log in. Select "Restore Database" from the File menu in Vista Server. Browse to the backup file and specify the path you want to restore this database to. (The path to restored database must be different from the current Vista database path being used by Vista Server) Shutdown Vista Server and using Vista Server Setup change the database path to the directory you restored the backup into. Start Vista Server and the database will be upgraded without having to wait for the trend logs to get digital signatures. Once you have verified the upgrade completed made another backup of your database.  

Issue Using TOAD with Vista 4.3 Environment Vista 4.3 TOAD Cause The release notice for Vista 4.3 recommended the use of TOAD which is a free program that allows users to view and query SQL databases. This can be a very powerful tool to assist in database verification, exploration of the database for creating Crystal Reports, and running scripts. Resolution Warning: Care should be taken before making any changes to the SQL database since damage could break Vista To setup TOAD to work with the Vista database: Run Vista Server Setup and check the "SQL Server" tab and write down what is filled into the Instance and Database fields. Run TOAD_SS.exe. At the Server Login screen select "Add". Give your connection a name. Select "Use Connection String" and click "Build". Select "Microsoft OLE DB for SQL Server". Click "Next". In section "1" use the dropdown menu to select the Instance name found in Vista Server Setup. Typically the PC name or PC Name\TACVISTA. Select "Use Windows NT Integrated Security". In section "3" verify that "Select the database on the server" is selected and with the drop down menu choose the database name found in Vista Server Setup. Typically "taclogdata". Click "Test Connection" to verify it is working and click "Ok". Click "Ok" in the Data Link Properties window. Click "Ok" in the Add Registration window. Select the line your server was added to and click "Connect". You should now be connected to the server and you can use the Data Browser window to view the tables, views, procedures, and users of the database among other things. The SQL Editor window will allow you to run queries as well as other administrative tasks. Remember that all changes should be carefully considered before made to avoid breaking the database.  

Issue After using the STR-350/351 as an I/O module to a Xenta programmable controller and then using STR-350/351 LonMaker Plug-In the changes made in the Plug-in default back to previous settings Environment Vista LonMaker, NL-220 STR-350 Plugin Cause If the STR was added to the Menta application then the controller will continually update the STR with the settings programmed. Any changes made with the STR LonMaker Plug-In will then be overwritten. Resolution In order to use the STR 350/351 LonMaker Plug-In, the STR must not be set up in classic mode by adding it in the Menta application of the controller communicating with it. If the STR-350 has already been added to a Menta application it must be configured using the Menta application. Otherwise, the STR-350 should be removed from the Menta application before attempting to configure the STR-350 as a Lon node using the Plug-in.

Issue Points which were created using the MR Copy feature are not working, whether it was offline or not. This is also true for points that have been working fine for a long time and then suddenly stop. Environment I/NET Site Cause First verify that it is not a hardware failure like thermistors and sensors. Resolution There is a work around to this: Delete the points that have been copied through the MR Copy feature. Now, re-add them again through Resident I/O Points. Go to controller summary and verify that the point is now functioning properly.

Issue Printing Crystal Reports on a Line Printer Environment I/NET site Cause Desire to line print reports but site only has a Line Printer Resolution Are you trying to print a report from I/Net Seven on a line printer and nothing is happening? All the Alarms, Messages and Transactions are printing but no Reports. Crystal Reports uses Windows Print Manager, which is not compatible with Line Printers. To run I/Net Seven Reports, most any modern printer, laser or inkjet will work. Note:Reports on a Line Printer it will not work, you will need a page printer for this to work.

Issue Utilizing Equalization and an error code comes up that the file master is unable to add article, code 80044E34 Environment I/NET Seven Cause The file InetEqzCr.dll needs to be manually registered. Resolution From the windows “Command Prompt” (CMD). Change the directory to the following path; C:\ProgramFiles\ Inet Seven\ C:\ProgramFiles\ Inet Seven\ regsvr32 ineteqzcr.dll Close or exit the prompt. Restart I/NET Demote all of the clients and the file master Re-promote them again. Equalization should be working properly now.

Issue Problems communicating on your Laptop on a Direct Connect Environment I/NET Site Cause Laptop Problems communicating using Direct Connect Resolution Are you trying to connect directly to a system and you are unable to get any communications through the PC? Look at the flashing lights (Red/Green) on the I/O Server, does both of them flash simultaneously? Follow these steps to resolve this:   Open I/O Sever, modify the active profile, select Direct as the Link Type and Com Port 1 as the Port or Device. Select the proper Baud Rate (9600 or 19200) for communications. Close I/O Server and I/NET. Go to My Computer, right click and select Properties . Hardware, Device Manager, Ports, select Com Port 1 and Uninstall it. Shut down and restart your PC so that the Com Port automatically is detected by the OS. Log in and then launch I/Net, those light should be flashing red/green now to indicate that you have proper communications. Go to Host Computer, Network Configuration and verify that you can see your link and that the CNF column is blank or has a + sign. Save this and penetrate the link to see all your controllers, save these, penetrate each controller to save all the sublan devices and then close this editor You should now have the ability to connect to each controller and see all the points and work accordingly.