Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Error message "Exception from HRESULT: 0x80041038 Code: -2147217352" when logging into TAC Vista Webstation 5.0.0 Environment Webstation 5.0.0 Internet Explorer Cause This error results from an attempt to log in with an invalid user/password Resolution Check that the username and password are valid and try to log in again.

Issue Alarms cease to display and Continuum Workstation reports offline in the Workstation editor but appears as online to the CX controllers. Environment Continuum Workstation Cause On sites where this has been detected, there were alarms setup, the eventnotification settings were set for multiple entry, there was no recipient configured, and the deactivate settings required acknowledgement. This type of configuration will allow the active alarm count in the system to increase with each alarm. The active alarm buffer in the workstation by default is 3000 and when exceeded can cause the WS to appear as offline. Resolution NOTE: Before any query or access of a database make sure that you have a recent known good backup. To test for this situation, run the following query from the database: Select count(*) from alarmevent where active = 1 To fix this situation, correct the incorrectly configured event notifications to avoid the same problem. Shutdown all CyberStations. Run the following query on the database: Update alarmevent set active = 0 where active = 1 Restart Continuum.  

Issue How can the resource count be found for a Niagara R2 station? Environment Niagara R2 station Cause User can't locate the Resource counts using Workplace Pro or a web browser. Resolution There are two methods. Using Workplace Pro, Open a station (Note:  the station must be running)  Highlight the station name Select Search > Resource Count in the drop-down menu bar (alt-R shortcut) Using a web browser, In the address bar, type http://[stationHost]/prism/resources. Sign into the station using an Admin user account. This will display a summary at any level of the database. For each level there is a "Total objects" listing at the top of the page. This is where the resource count is displayed for that level.

Issue Move TGML graphics from one Vista 5 database to another and keep the links/bindings intact. Environment Vista 5 TGML Graphics Cause Linking and binding information is not stored in the TGML source file, but in the Vista database. Therefore if only the TGML graphic is saved and transferred to the new database, all of the binding and linking information would be lost. To preserve this information, a Database Export must be performed for graphics transfers between databases. Resolution In Workstation, open the database you would like to export from and select File-Database-Export. Under the Site PC tab, use the default selection of "Get a customized copy of the database" and click OK. In the Database Export window, Right click on the root object and select Add. In the Select widow, navigate to the object(s) you would like to export and click Select. Use multiselect commands (hold ctrl or shift) to select multiple objects. When you are finished selecting objects, click on the green arrow of the Database Export window to name the export file and save. In the new database, select File-Database-Import. Browse to the Exported file and click OK. (You can also click View to see the contents of the selected File before importing if you have multiple Export files). Refresh the Folder pane of Workstation and the object should now be imported.

Issue "Access Denied" errors are reported during the re-installation of the Niagara R2 software. Environment Niagara R2 software Cause The files installed in the nre\modules folder are write protected. Resolution If an attempt is made to reinstall Niagara R2 software on a computer, an installation error frequently occurs. The Niagara installer (second installation program) progresses one tick on the progress bar then displays a "Module Install Error" window containing the message "Access is Denied". Clicking the OK button to acknowledge the error results in the message window reappearing multiple times. This occurs because the files installed in the nre\modules folder are write protected when installed. To prevent this problem before attempting to reinstall any release of the Niagara R2 software, Open Windows Explorer ("My Computer") Select all files in the niagara\nre\modules folder Right-click on the selected files Select "properties" from the displayed menu. The Properties window appears.  Clear the mark in the "Read-only" box Click the OK button.

Issue Is there a way to backup a Niagara R2 UNC or Enterprise Server station from a web browser? Environment Niagara R2 UNC Enterprise Server XML-capable browser (IE 4.x or higher) Cause Need to save the station's database on the PC for possible restoration. Resolution Yes but note that this method will only backup the station database.  It will open the entire station database in XML format on the webpage.  Depending on the size of the station it may take a long time.  It is best to use this method if Workplace Pro is not available. Follow the steps below to create a station backup of a UNC or Enterprise Server via a web browser: Log into the station via a web browser Navigate to the following URL:  http://[ip-address]/prism/backup. Watch the lower left hand corner of the web browser.  The web pager loader indicator must finish. Once the web page indicates that it is done, save the page as a XML file to your PC.  Use the “Save As” choice to do this step. For more information review Appendix B of the Niagara Browser Access Guide.

Issue Settings for the USRobotics 5686 series for use with a DMS panel. Environment USRobotics 5686 series DMS panel Cause For the modems to communicate, V.92 protocol needs to be disabled. Resolution The V.92 protocol must be disabled when using these modems with older modems. To disable the V.92 protocol on a USRobotics 5686 series modems, enter the following setup string (without the quotation marks), in addition to any string specified in the referenced bulletin, before saving the settings: " AT +PIG=1 +PMH=1 +PQC=3 ". Refer to Bulletin 00-19

Issue What replacements are there for the old T99 sensors for use with the DMS system? Environment T99 sensors DMS system Cause An equivalent replacement part number is needed for the T99 sensors. Resolution Replacement sensors can be ordered through the Sourced Products group.  RobertShaw Part Replacement Description T99-301 BAP-BA / 2K-O Outdoor Air temperature Sensor T99-304 BAP-BA / 2K-D-(4) ( 4" ) Duct (application) temperature Sensor BAP-BA / 2K-I-(4) ( 4" ) Immersion (application) temp. Sensor T99-308 BAP-BA / 2K-D-(8) ( 8" ) Duct (application) temperature Sensor BAP-BA / 2K-I-(8) ( 8" ) Immersion (application) temp. Sensor T99-318 BAP-BA / 2K-D-(18) ( 18") Duct temperature Sensor T99-330 BAP-BA / 2K-S Strap-on temperature Sensor T99-340 None Unitary temperature Sensor

Issue Is WorkPlace Tech 5.x compatible with Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional and Visio 2002? Environment WorkPlace Tech 5.x Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Visio 2002 Cause WorkPlace Tech 5.x system specify Visio 2003. Resolution WorkPlace Tech 5.x is designed to function with Visio 2003. However, considerable development testing was done on Windows 2000 Professional with Visio 2002 platforms to verify functionality and compatibility. WorkPlace Tech 5.x appears to be fully functional with Windows 2000 Professional with Visio 2002.

Issue When compiling a WorkPlace Tech application, the error message "Error-Failed to create nci file" appears. Environment WorkPlace Tech Cause NCIs value is out of bounds. Resolution Typically, this occurs when an out-of-range "NA" or "NaN" value is written to a NCI by a Niagara station, LonMaker, LNC or some other head-end device. If this issue occurs, check the values of all NCIs on the application drawing.  Any NCI displaying out-of-range values (i.e. 1.#QNaN, 1.#INF or etc.) should be reset to normal values or "NA".

Issue The following error message appears when adding a LON application to a project in WorkPlace Tech 5.x from the pre-engineered "WPT Applications" zip file: AppXMLAddon Error Code: -2032465751 Code meaning: Unknown error 0x86DB08A9s. Environment WorkPlace Tech 5.x WPT Applications.zip Cause Workplace Tech encountered one or more values in the application that contain invalid characters. Generally, the most common value that causes this issue is the nciLocation SNVT. The value that should be in this SNVT is "/0", but through a previous Microsoft Visio conversion, it was replaced with a "vertical bar" character. Resolution Locate the invalid characters Replace them with valid ones or delete them. Once this is done, select "Application - Rebuild Application" from the drop-down menu.

Issue Can the existing communication wiring from a NETWORK 8000 (ASD) or DMS (Microsmart) project be re-used for a BACnet MS/TP trunk? Environment NETWORK 8000 (ASD) cable DMS (MicroSmart) cable BACnet MS/TP Cause Using ASD cable become an issue as baud rates increases pass the range of 9600 or 19.2 k. Resolution Testing has shown that existing communication wiring of a NETWORK 8000 (ASD)or DMS (MicroSmart) system is compatible at a speed setting of 9600 baud.  It is unlikely that this wire will work at higher baud rates or at extended distances.  Communications will be limited to the slower baud rates (9600 or 19200 baud) on these systems.

Issue Can third party BACnet/MSTP devices be placed on the same MSTP bus with MNB controllers? Environment MNB controllers MSTP communication bus Third-party BACnet/MSTP devices Cause Have not test MNB controllers and third-party BACnet/MSTP devices on the same BACnet MSTP communication Bus. Resolution There has not been thorough evaluation to know if third party devices can co-exist with MNB controllers. It is not currently recommended by the factory. The best solution is to create a separate BACnet network under a UNC/ENC to support the third party devices.

Issue A LON SNVT on a shadow object in a Niagara R2 UNC station takes 2-3 minutes to update after an override command is issued from a graphic. Environment Niagara R2 UNC LON SNVT on a shadow object Cause Minimum and maximum send times are not set correctly. Resolution Verify the maxSendtime and minSendtime parameters in the Local Lon Device > Config tab have the appropriate values (default values are 100 and 5 seconds respectively).   The minSendtime parameter specifies the minimum amount of time that the controller will wait before updating values. Re-upload the affected LON object from the LON controller. Re-bind the Lon object in the Lon Link Manager.

Issue The Mail Service in a Niagara R2 UNC station is configured correctly.  However, e-mails do not get sent to the SMTP server. Product Line TAC IA Series Environment Niagara R2 UNC station Cause The Niagara station needs to enable mail.smtp.auth in system.properties. Resolution In the station, the following lines need to be added to the system.properties file if authentication is required: mail.smtp.auth=true mail.useUTF=false Once these lines are added and the UNC is re-booted, the UNC will successfully send emails to the SMTP server.

Issue A Binary Output object has just been created in a Niagara R2 UNC station.  The Prioritized Output of the object defaults to a state of "Active" at a priority 10. Environment Niagara R2 UNC Cause It can be a corruption issue with the station database. Resolution Re-load the UNC station database from Workplace Pro (convert the .db file to .sns in the Admin Tool) to resolve the issue.

Issue How can a modem be configured to receive calls on a Windows XP PC? Environment PC running on Windows XP Modem (dial-up connection) Niagara systems Cause Using PC to directly dial into the Niagara systems. Resolution Open Network Connections Under Network Tasks, click Create a new connection, and then click Next. Click Set up an advanced connection, and then click Next. Click Accept incoming connections, click Next, and then follow the instructions in the New Connection Wizard.

Issue How can the version of the Cloudscape database that is running on a Niagara R2 Enterprise Server be determined? Environment Niagara R2 Enterprise Server Cloudscape database Cause The Cloudscape version can be found in Database Service properties. Resolution In Workplace Pro, Right-click the Database Service in the station, click Go then Properties In the General > Status tab, the databaseProductVersion field will have the Cloudscape version.

Issue Daylight saving (DST) settings when using external time controller. Environment Vista Server NTP External Time Controller Cause Sometimes customers prefer to use an external software and/or device to monitor and set the actual time in the computer, sometimes it also controls the daylight savings. Resolution When using TAC Vista servers in a network with an external time server (e.g. connected to the TAC Vista master server) it might be a good idea to switch of the daylight saving and only use standard time. The daylight saving/standardtime is controlled by the events, $Summer and $Winter. They can be changed in the property menu for the server object. First, make sure that all computers don’t have the checkbox “automatically adjust clock for daylight savings” checked in the date and time property dialog, with this box unchecked, TAC Vista controls the daylight savings on the computer. You also need to set TAC Vista in standard time status (if it isn't already).If it is, go to the properties menu on the server object, Time control. Make sure that “daylight saving difference” is changed from 60 min to 0 min. Then go to the daylight savings menu and uncheck the start and stoptime to make sure that the event doesn’t run next time. Do the same thing in the standard time menu. If you’re in daylight savings mode already, you have to run the standard time event. Do this by selecting weekday and month. e.g. third Wednesday in April. Change the start time to a couple of minutes later, press ok and open the properties dialog again to make sure that next event is happening soon. Check the state in the properties menu on the server object, Time control, it should be standard time now. Now do the settings mentioned in chapter 2. By doing this the external time server now can control time and daylight savings in the TAC Vista network.

Issue Why is the BACnet/MSTP controller MAC address displaying an incorrect value in Workplace Pro? Environment BACnet/MSTP Controller Workplace Pro Cause MAC address on MSTP used number from 1 to 253 Resolution In the Niagara BACnet Integration guide (page 3-8), the MSTP MAC address is expressed as a number from 1-253. Upon entering a number larger than 99, this field will cut off the hundreds digit and keep the remaining two digits. The remaining value will also be expressed in hexadecimal. A decimal 253 would display as hexadecimal 53. To correctly populate this field enter the MSTP MAC address in hexadecimal.