Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Promoting a stand alone client from a host to an equalized client and it does not work. The snapshot is done on the Filemaster but the client would not connect. When we attempt to connect we receive a message stating that "the Filemaster snapshot is not ready and to try again in a few minutes" Environment Equalization Promotion from Stand Alone Host to Equalized Client in 2.40. Cause I/NET 2.40 has a problem promoting an equalize client. An indication of this problem is a perpetual “Pending” message seen at the Filemaster configuration editor. This state is caused when promoting an equalize client using the Filemaster’s IP address and not the host name. Resolution Once an attempt is made using the IP address and not the host name. The client’s snapshot is in some corrupt state and must be deleted. To correct this problem perform the following on the client From the Filemaster make sure the 'Pending' client is dropped from the Equalization list  Demote the client if not already demoted. Delete snapshot located on the Client’s “unc” folder. The "UNC" is located in C:\ INET Seven Data\ MSTR\unc Promote the client using the host name for the Filemaster and not the IP address. This should correct the problem

Issue Outlook needs to be running before Continuum is started for email of alarms to work when configured to email alarms Environment Continuum 1.xx Windows all versions Cause Outlook was not started and/or Continuum was not configured for email alarms when Continuum was started. Resolution When enabling alarms to be emailed, Outlook (full version) has to be configured and up and running before Continuum is started.

Issue Changing the nci_PowerUpDly value in the MNL-800 has no effect.  With the nci_PowerUpDly set to 120 seconds in the MNL-800, the outputs turned on after 10 seconds, the default setting. Environment WorkPlace Tech, all versions. MNL-800 Cause The nciPowerUpDly provided in the MNL-800 does not function correctly. The design intent of the nci was to determine the time, in seconds, that must expire following a controller reset before the MN 800 hardware outputs (Digital Outputs and Analog Outputs) are activated. Resolution Be aware that the nciPowerUpDly in the MNL-800 does not work properly, and that the outputs are delayed approximately 10 seconds, regardless of the value entered for nciPowerUpDly.

Issue When directly connected to a Xenta programmable controller through a serial cable, and observing live Menta, it is possible to override inputs and outputs.  This override is the same override attribute that can be set from the OP and from the Workstation. Environment Menta Xenta programmable Xenta 280, 281, 282, 283, 300, 301, 302, 401, 401:B Cause Overriding points while simultaneously witnessing live updates of all program values is an effective troubleshooting technique. Resolution Directly connect live to a Xenta Programmable Download the correct Menta file to the hard drive of a laptop. Right click on the controller in Workstation and select Edit. File > Save As ... to the hard drive. The Menta file must exactly match what currently is downloaded into the controller or else it won't connect. Connect to the RS-232 port on the face of the Xenta programmable. Open the Menta file. Options > Simulate Click the Online button in the top left corner. Select "Connect" from the menu. View I/O and override Options > I/O Configuration This brings up a list of all inputs and outputs in the controller.  The last column says "Not overridden" for any point not currently overridden.  If it is, it will show the override value.  Choose a point and click the Override button at the bottom. Check the box to override and enter the desired value.  Click OK. The point is now in override. NOTE: This override attribute is the same override that is available through the OP and through Vista Workstation.  Points can be put into override and taken out of override from any of these 3 locations and it will dynamically update any other concurrent users.

Issue Is one access vendors card with Wiegand 26 bit output the same as another vendors Wiegand 26 bit output? Environment Continuum 1.xx Access Control Cause Replacing access card reader. Resolution When replacing access readers follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions for that particular reader. Wiegand 26 bit output type is a standard so that output will be the same.

Issue Do workstation programs disable when Continuum user logs off? Environment Continuum 1.xx Windows xpsp3 Cause Program disabled and it was questioned as to programs disabling or not when Continuum user logs off Resolution Continuum workstation programs do not disable when user logs off.

Issue Is a controller shipped from the factory with the latest firmware revision supported in older versions of Continuum? Environment Continuum 1.xx Cause Running an older version of Continuum (1.74sp2) and bought a new Netcontroller II, that has 2.10000xx for a firmware version. Resolution Please refer to the Continuum Compatibility Matrix for Continuum versions and Controller firmware versions. Andover Continuum Software and Firmware Compatibility Matrix Versions 1.94 SP1 Example: Running Continuum 1.74sp2, first Continuum version to support the Netcontroller II 9680. Bought a new Netcontroller II 9680 and the current version of Continuum available is 1.92. The firmware installed on the controller (2.10000xx) is the latest available, and for older installations of Continuum you would need to down rev the firmware a version support per the Continuum Compatibility Matrix and in the instance of 1.74sp2 that would be 2.00000xx.

Issue Cyber 1.82: 9400: Infinet commports 1 and 2: what happens if he surpasses the threshold of 127 per commport for infinet. Currently he has one commport that has 14x controllers on it. Wants to move some controllers to a different port. Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Cyber Station Version 1.xx CX9400 controller. Various versions of I2 controllers. Cause Reached the max controller limitations a single comm port. of 127 per port. Resolution Get a Current Database Backup and create dmp files as needed. Go offline editing Change the serial numbers of the original controllers to a false serial number. Manually create all the Infinet controllers on the new destination commport assigning them the same or available Infinet ID as the controller that is on the original commport but a false serial number. Drag and drop copy all the points and programs from the original controller to the new controller. Verify that all the points and programs were correctly copied and are intact. Then go into the new controllers and change their serial numbers to what the serial numbers of there originating controllers were. Then move the physical infinet connection from the original commport to the new commport. Next go back to online editing. At this point you should see all your infinet controllers come back on line. Reload the controller that previously owned the Infinet controllers Reload the controller that how owns has the Infinet controller Finally reload the complete site. This last step is essential to ensure that there are not lingering handle conflicts. It is important to note that any controllers that are referencing points in the relocated controllers will have to have these object references verified and repaired in cases where the references have been lost.

Issue Question about what causes table modifications in the ContinuumDB Environment CyberStation 1.74 SP2 Windows XP pro SP2 SQL Cause Table modifications to the ContinuumDB take place when the database is updated. Resolution Table modifications to the ContinuumDB are normal as seen in the DatabaseUpdate.txt file in the Continuum installation directory. (typically c:\program files\continuum) Tables and other database components can also be modified directly by using SQL Management Studio or Enterprise Manager, but these are unsupported unless specifically directed by Product Support. Direct editing of the database can cause data corruption or unexpected results and cause the database to not function properly. (i.e. 'Error reading database table' or 'Attempt to create duplicate database row') SQL Profiler can be used to try to target the issue by running SQL profiler at the time the issue occurs and correcting it but if that fails then recreating and rebuilding the db is the only alternative.

Issue Pinpoint will not open on one workstation or some parts of a graphic will not work Environment Continuum Windows XP Windows Vista Windows 7 Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2008 Cause Due to Microsoft updates, file redirection and/or file corruption, Pinpoint will not open when the configuration / ini file is damaged or corrupt. The points or the whole controller may need to be reloaded. Resolution Shut down Continuum Open MS Explorer Path to C:\WINDOWS Delete Pinpoint.ini Start Continuum (Starting Continuum will recreate the file) Ensure that user account control slider is turned off and/or Write/Read permissions are granted to the C:\program files\Continuum folder Reload individual points or reload the entire controller(if the issue is isolated to certain points) If these steps do not work, Go to Windows Control panel and uninstall/reinstall Pinpoint

Issue When attempting to open an I/A Series R2 graphics page, the desired page is not displayed.  A blank gray or white page or page with graphic size gray box may be displayed. Environment Niagara R2 software version 522v2, 529 or 532 installed on station being accessed. Microsoft Internet Explorer being used to access the web based graphic page. Cause A Microsoft Internet Explorer security update causes some Niagara R2 ActiveX objects to be improperly handled and therefore not displayed.  This same Internet Explorer security update is included in all newer versions (7  & 😎 of the Microsoft Internet Explorer browser. Resolution Open the I/A Series R2 station using the R2 Admin Tool. Open the "station.properties" file by selecting "Admin Tool" from the menu then selecting "Host" then "Edit File" then "System.Properties". Add the following four lines to the end of the file (do not delete the # symbol from the beginning of the lines): # This is used to disable the IE ActiveX activation fix. If set to # to false, then the user will be required to click on the applet # before he is able to interact with it (only effects IE users). ie.activex.activation=false   After adding the lines, select "Save" from the "File" menu to save the changes. Reboot or restart the station to allow the change to take effect.  

Issue When viewing access events in NetControllers door object, error "ACX database fault".  Environment NetController with AC1 I/O modules NetController II with AC1 I/O modules Cause Error is due to the Door Switch, on a dual-reader door, being wired to the Exit reader I/O module. I/O channels on the Exit reader I/O Module should not be used for Door control. Resolution Rewire the Door Switch to the Entry reader I/O Module. For an example of the correct wiring of a dual-reader door’s Door Switch, please see page 149 of "IO System Reference Guide".

Issue EventEnrollments monitoring  Modbus RTU XDriver points do not trigger when the monitored point value changes. The point values on the Infinity side of Continuum update but the BACnet side does not reciprocate this change. EventEnrollments monitor the BACnet point value, with no change in this value there is no Event transition. Environment BACnet bCX1-CR (4040) with Modbus RTU XDriver installed. Cause When a Modbus poll is initiated, the request goes into the Object Management System (OMS) running in the controller. The OMS requests the data from the XDriver software that then polls the Modbus device and passes the results back to the OMS. The OMS only pushes the value back to the requestor and does not send it to the corresponding BACnet point in a 4040 type controller. Resolution Using a Plain English program; mirror the XDriver points to other numerics and now use these mirrored numerics as the monitored objects in the EventEnrollments.

Issue In TAC Menta, under Device Specification, it is not possible to  define the actual System Version or Hardware version of your TAC Xenta device. Environment TAC Menta Version 5.1.5 TAC Xenta 280/300/401 Version 3.80, 3.84 Cause When a new System Program for TAC Xenta devices is released, TAC Menta is not always updated with the latest TAC Xenta version number. Resolution Until the correct TAC Xenta System Version number are available in the TAC Menta, you could use the closest lower version number.

Issue Changes made in TAC vista workstation are not saved in TAC Menta. Change of alarm texts made in TAC Vista workstation are not saved in TAC Menta Change of value of a PVR block made in TAC Vista workstation is not saved in TAC Vista. Environment TAC Vista 5.1 Cause In TAC Vista workstation it is possible to type in texts in the description field that are longer then TAC Menta allows. If you do this no changes made to that signal (block) done from TAC Vista workstation will be saved in the TAC Menta file Resolution Edit the Description for the block so that it is 41 characters of less.

Issue After a card swipe it takes to long/short before another card can be used? How to change intercard interval. Environment I/NET Card readers ( any type ) Cause In I/NET door editor there is a option called "InterCard Interval" This option can be changed to a desired number (second). This option will determine how long it will take for the reader to accept a another card read after the first swipe. To get to door editor navigate to Access - door - modify (The door that has the reader where the problem exist) Resolution This can be read in the "Door editor help" Set the Inter-card interval (sec). This specifies the minimum acceptable interval between key/card reads. The interval can be from 0 to 255 seconds.  

Issue When copying a graphic point, symbol, bitmap, table or anything from one page to another, everything is placed to the upper left of the new page and is all jumbled up. The user has to move each one separately and the attributes do not remain the same. In I/NET 2.40 and above Windows will still cause text object to be placed in the upper left hand corner. This also occurs in the Windows Paint program. Environment I/NET Seven revision 2.16 and higher, but below 2.40 I/NET 2.40 and above Cause Copying a graphic point, symbol, bitmap, table or anything from one page to another. Resolution This issue is resolved in I/NET 2.40.  If upgrading is not an option: Contact PSS and request the patch that is available to fix this issue. Copy the files into the root directory of I/NET Run the graphic again Workaround for I/NET 2.40 and above Group the objects you wish to copy by pressing CTRL+G Copy the group Paste the group and move it as desired Ungroup the objects.

Issue VisiSat 2.1 allows two S link sensor instances to be added to a scheme can both be used? Environment MicroNet Touchscreen controllers VisiSat 2.1 Bubbleland Cause Stencil allows for two instances of the S link sensor to be dropped onto the controller scheme. Resolution The second instance was added to support addressable S link sensors. Only one S link sensor is currently supported. There are no plans to two Slinks in the near future.

Issue User Search can be used to do a quick search for individuals, while still limiting what the user has access to change.  Record types, door attributes, and schedules will be protected. Environment I/NET Seven versions 2.31 and above. Cause Allow a user to do a quick search for individuals, but limit what the user has access to as far as changing record types or door attributes and schedules. Resolution Select Edit/Host Passwords Either modify or create a new user as the case may be. If the user only needs to have Search capabilities, then click on the All No button Click on the Individuals Button on the bottom of the editor Click on the All No button again. This would take away all rights to make any modifications to any records that the search is used on. Click OK then log on and log back on as the new user, on the Task Bar, when Access is selected the only option available would be User Search.

Issue When transferring a value from an analog value to a multistate using object transfer, negative values are inverted. Environment Vista Object Transfers Cause A problem in the Vista software. Resolution This value with need to be converted in Menta first, then connected to the object transfer. The steps to convert the value in Menta are: Select the TAC Xenta device in Vista. Right-click the device and select "Edit". Add an AI block and connect it to a ConversionAA operator. Connect the ConversionAA operator to a DELI block. Edit the DELI block - give the variable a name (Identifier) and make sure the "Public" checkbox is ticked. Save and close the Menta application. Commission and download the updated Mental application. Connect the new variable created in step 5 to the "Object Transfer" object.