Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue When a card format needs to be changed on multiple doors it can take a long time to go to each door individually to make card format changes. A way to update multiple doors at one time would save time. Environment Continuum Windows XP Windows 7 Windows Vista Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2008 Cause Editing every single door on a large access site to change the card format can take a long time. Resolution Before making any changes to the database, it is recommended to get a good database backup. The card format attribute is available in the All_Doors listview, but is not available in the set attribute drop down, so unfortunately this method cannot be used.  One way to make the change to multiple doors is to do the following: Edit the All_Doors listview and add the card format attribute Highlight the doors that you would like to change and select Object> export all or selected to a .csv (name and save the file)  Edit the .csv file to reflect the new card format for all the doors and save the file. (Textpad editor works well) The card format numbers are listed below: Inf 37=1 AC4+4= 2 Wiegand26=4 CK34=8 Custom=16 G31 bit=32 HIDCorp1000=64 * If you have more than one card format selected on the door, they are added together Ex. Infinity 37 and HIDCorp1000=65 Import the edited .scv file and verify the changes have been made. It is recommended to verify this procedure on a small subset of the doors to ensure the process is working as needed before applying it to a large number of doors.

Issue How do I wire two card readers in parallel? Environment ACX57xx AC1X ACX78X CX9702 Cause Configuration of parallel readers. Resolution Use KIM board Part #01-0009-059 to wire the readers in parallel.

Issue The station’s database indicates a “successful” start, however, the error message “Service Unavailable – Service disabled in remote station” is seen when attempting to tunnel with XPSI.  See I/A Series Enhanced ASD Driver - Release Notes for more information on this issue. Environment I/A Series (Niagara) R2 station, with VSerial service and ibsAsd service installed. XPSI 4.1 or newer. Cause The vserial and IbsAsd services use common tunnel software components, and having both services enabled at the same time causes conflicts in registering the services. Resolution The resolution to this issue requires that the I/A Series (Niagara) R2 station be running the ibsAsd 2.302.516b.v1 jar file, or later. In a station where communications with ASD controllers, and the ability to tunnel into the ASD bus with XPSI are both required, delete the vserial service and reboot the UNC.   In stations where both the ibsAsd service and the vserial service are required (not simultaneously), see the TAC I/A Series Enhanced ASD Driver Engineering Guide, F-27429-3, Appendix B, “Tunneling Example”, pp 123 – 130 for an application that will allow only one or the other service to run at a time, and prevent the conflict between them. This document and the I/A Series Enhanced ASD Driver - Release Notes are included with the I/A Series (Niagara) R2 software release R2.301.522 and newer documentation.

Issue Can no longer see BACnet point values at the Cyberstation.  BCX will not communicate with Cyberstation after IP addressing changes to the system. Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Cyberstation 1.74xx and up BCX 40xx Cause This can happen if the controller needs to be reloaded when accessing some, but possible not all objects. This can also happen if you change the BACnet Port Number - UDP in the bCX configuration webpage.  Resolution Edit the BCX and Cyberstations BBMD registrations Correct the invalid IP addresses. After adding the BCX bbmd entry, reload the controller.

Issue After replacing the badge printer with different make and model, Continuum will not print graphics on the badge.  When a badge is printed from Continuum, the card printer will issue a badge with no graphics printed on it. Environment Continuum CyberStation WebClient Zebra MagiCard EPI Designer Cause The printer has not been configured in that badge layout in EPI Designer. Resolution Do the following for all badge layouts. From Personnel Manager, select Create Edit Badge From the Make/Edit Badge window, select Edit Badge Layout Select File > Page Setup Select the new badge printer. Select OK In EPI Designer select File > Save

Issue When a Binary Input object is configured as a pulse counter, what happens when the time between pulses is longer than the interval specified in the “Pulse Input, Minimum Rate”? For example, the MNB-1000’s Fast Pulse Input, Minimum Rate  = 1 pulse per 4 minutes; what if 20 minutes pass between pulses? Environment MNL- controllers (MNL-5Rxxx, MNL-10Rxxx, MNL-15Rxxx, MNL-20Rxxx, MNL-800) MNB - controllers (MNB-70, MNB-300, MNB-1000, MNB-V1, MNB-V2) Cause Some meters transmit output pulses at a rate slower than the specified Minimum Rate of the controller. Resolution In the Binary Input object, the input is integrated over the time period, and the resulting calculated value is the object’s Output. If there is no pulse to count, the Output = 0 (no pulses, no measured output calculated over that time period), but the Count output will still be correct. Refer to the current Specifications Data Sheet for the controller for details on the Minimum Pulse Rate.

Issue The error "Security error: security logon rejected" is received when accessing schedules in webclient Environment webClient Windows XP Windows Vista Windows 7 Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2008 Cause An "&" (ampersand) that is used in a logon name or password  or another object will cause problems with webClient Resolution Do not use the ampersand, change the object name or username to use a different character.

Issue Can the Continuum Software be downloaded from the web, or ordered on CD? Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum Cyberstation software Cause Download of Continuum Cyberstation software Resolution The Continuum Cyberstation software is available for download from The Exchange Download Center. The link below will direct you to the Cyberstation software. CyberStation Software If specific older versions of software are required see Older CyberStation versions not found on the Extranet (Exchange Online). If a customer specifically requests the software on a CD, then these can be ordered through the regular Order Entry channel specifying the version required.

Issue It is only possible to remove the last I/O module in the Options > Device Specification list.  And it cannot be removed until all references to hardware I/O are also removed.  Attempts to delete it prior to this will result in: "The I/O Modules cannot be removed because it is bound to the following blocks:" If it is the second I/O module of 8 that needs to be changed to a different type, this describes the most efficient way to remove I/O references and put them back. Environment Menta Cause This warning is a precaution against leaving stranded hardware I/O points if the modules they are associated with are deleted. Resolution In Menta, go to Options > I/O Configuration Table Click the "Bound to" column header twice to sort by bindings with hardware I/O listed first In this example, remove I/O Module #8. Find all references to "M8-" Double click each output. Change the Bind to option to Not connected Double click each input. Change the Bind to option to Network Variable.  Leave the Network Address blank. Repeat these steps for the I.O module that will be replaced as well as any higher in the list. Go to Options > Device Specification Remove all I/O Modules down to the one needing to be replaced.  Add them back in in the desired configuration. Go back to Options > I/O Configuration Table Click the "Bound to" column header once to sort by bindings with Network Variables listed first Double click each converted input and output and switch them all back to Physical Input, Linear Analog Input, Non-linear Analog Input, or Physical Output, where appropriate. The physical I/O bindings are recalled when the point is changed back to physical I/O. Note:  The sensor configurations (0..10V, 2..10V, etc) will need to be set up again.

Issue Using a PE program to try and perform a readproperty on a 3rd party bacnet controller point Environment CX 9680 3rd party Bacnet controller Cause CX 9680 does not communicate with the Bacnet Protocol unless there is an Xdriver enabled and configured on the CX9680 Resolution There are 3 solutions to this issue. Either purchase an Xdriver for bacnet communications to communicate to the 3rd party IP Bacnet Device Install a BCX4040 on the site to handle the Bacnet communications. With this option you'll have much more flexibility to expand and add Bacnet capability in the future. Use a workstation program to handle the readproperty from the 3rd party bacnet device. This will work but if the workstation is shut down or the workstation has issues the communications to the 3rd party device will stop working.

Issue Need to show the name of a person triggering invalid attempt alarm at a door in the alarm's feedback message. Environment CyberStation CX9702 CX9900 CX9680 ACX5720 ACX5740 ACX701 ACX781 Cause Alarm engine does not provide functionality natively to display personnel name on invalid attempt at a door, Plain English program must be used. Resolution The basic idea is to set the door’s description to the value of the door’s LastInvalidEntry (or LastInvalidExit) attribute, and use the wild cards %N and %D to embed the Door’s name and LastInvalidEntry (or LastInvalidExit) into the alarm’s feedback messages. Since the controller is unable to resolve the path to the personnel object pointed to by lastInvalidEntry/LastInvalidExit a CyberStation program is needed. Also, because the InvalidAttempt flag of the door only persists for one scan it is necessary to latch its value into a numeric point. In the controller write a looping program to latch the value of the door’s InvalidAttempt flag. CONTROLLER PROGRAM 1:   If Vault_Door InvalidAttempt then     VaultDoorInvalid = 1         <---VaultDoorInvalid is a numeric point in the controller     Goto 2   Endif  2:   If VaultDoorInvalid = 0 then Goto 1 CYBERSTATION PROGRAM  Write a program in CyberStation to monitor VaultDoorInvalid and set the door’s description to LastInvalidEntry   WaitForInvalid:   If LocalNetwork\ACX2.13\VaultDoorInvalid then     Print LocalNetwork\ACX2.13\Vault_Door LastInvalidEntry to STR1     Goto SetDrDescription   Endif  SetDrDescription:   LocalNetwork\ACX2.13\Vault_Door Description = STR1  <--- STR1 is a String object in CyberStation   Goto ResetFlag  ResetFlag:     LocalNetwork\ACX2.13\VaultDoorInvalid = 0    If LocalNetwork\ACX2.13\VaultDoorInvalid = 0 then Goto WaitForInvalid  ALARM ENROLLMENT  Lastly, create an expression AlarmEnrollment , set it to             Description <> “” And attach it to the door.  When an invalid attempt is detected the alarm stays ON until the door object is edited (from the alarm view itself) and the description cleared.

Issue Filemaster is Full SQL 2005 and Equalized Client is SQL Express fails to equalize.  Environment Full SQL 2005 for the Filemaster SQL Express for the Equalized Client 2.31 version of TAC I/NET Seven 2.4x version of TAC I/NET Seven Cause  SQL Express doesn't start equalization services automatically. Resolution The Equalized Client refused to replicate the database with the Filemaster. Equalization is not succeeding even though the little icon may say it is equalized. Filemaster shows pending. Start I/NET and check the host passwords to see if equalization has taken place. The following steps will cause equalization to take place:  Restart the pc to ensure there isn't a program hanging in the memory. Demote Equalized Client to Stand Alone. Exit I/NET and I/O Server Go to Start/Run/CMD Maneuver to the C:\Program Files\Inet Seven folder and type the following:  ineteqzmerge /unregserver     press the Enter key ineteqzmerge /service     press the Enter key Now go to Services by selecting My Computer/Manage/Services and look for the Service running called InetEQZMerge and start the service and select Automatic. Now you should promote the I/NET workstation to Equalized Client ensuring you put the Filemaster Name rather than IP address. The snapshot will be delivered to the Equalized Client. After equalization you may need to shut down I/Net and the I/O Server one last time and then restart I/NET Seven. Now return to Services by selecting My Computer/Manage/Services and look for the Service running called InetEQZMerge where you should STOP then START the service again.  One way to test equalization from Filemaster to Equalized Client: in I/NET Seven under Edit/Host Computer/Passwords add a user/password. Check the other computer to see if the database replicated the new user/password and Vice Versa. If ineteqzmerge is already running as a service.  Try stopping and starting the service.

Issue Unable to override points in a MicroZone II from an I/A Series (Niagara) G3 station. Get error " javax.baja.sys.ActionInvokeException   at com.tridium.fox.sys.broker.BFoxComponentSpace$FoxTrapCallbacks.invoke(BFoxComponentSpace.java:355)...  ... at java.awt.Component.dispatchEventImpl(Unknown Source)  com.tridium.fox.session.ServerException: java.lang.RuntimeException: Invalid response during override.  Check username and password" Environment I/A Series (Niagara) G3 station with the tacAsd driver I/A Series Network 8000 ASD controller (MicroZone II, PEM-1, LIM) Cause The "User Name" and "User Password"  in the Property Sheet of the ASD device object (under the AsdNetwork object) in the ENC's station, and the USRn and PASn stored in the MicroZone II, PEM or LIM database do not match exactly. The USRn and PASn are case sensitive, accepting ONLY capitalized characters. The AsdZone2 device property sheet in the G3 station allows entry of lower case characters, which can cause a mismatch in the User Name or User Password, or both. Resolution Be sure to enter the correct User Name and User Password in the Property Sheet of the AsdZone2 device, and remember to use ONLY capital letters.

Issue Which Continuum controllers support RAS via modem connection? Environment CyberStation CX9900 CX9940 CX9680 CX9640 CX9200 CX9924 Cause Not all Continuum controllers support modem connection. Resolution The access point for a remote site is the controller that is configured with a modem that is used to establish a communication link with the remote CyberStation. Only the following Continuum controllers can act as access points for remote sites. CX9900, CX9940, CX9680, CX9640, CX9200, CX9924. Note that other controllers communicating with the access point controller via ethernet can fully participate in RAS communications as the access point controller will route messages to/from its peers.

Issue Is there a way to stop the beginning zeros from being truncated off  in a card number? 00123  becoming 123 when saved and refreshed. Environment Continuum 1.93 PIM FIPs. Wiegand 26 Cause Exporting and Importing card data into 3rd. Party system. Resolution The beginning zeros automatically get truncated off in a card number They get removed in all the user fields in Continuum. This is by design and cannot be altered

Issue When using the I/A Series WorkPlace Tech Tool software to engineer an application for the I/A Series LON or BACnet controllers, the Visio Shape Sheets (stencils) containing the application drawing objects may be accidentally or intentionally closed.  Due to the names of the Visio Shape Sheet files containing the WPT stencils, it is very difficult to reopen the proper series of shape sheets without repeated trial-and-error.   When upgrading an application drawing from WPT 4.0 to WPT 5.7 or WPT 5.8, this same issue may occur.  Use this procedure to reattach the proper stencils to the upgraded application file. Environment I/A Series WorkPlace Tech Tool software version 4.0.0 or newer. Cause The names of the Visio Shape Sheet (Stencil) files for the WorkPlace Tech Tool are not self-explanatory, making it nearly impossible to manually select and reattach the correct stencils to the current application file.   Resolution Open the WPT Hardware Wizard, either from the Application Menu or by Right-Clicking on the drawing, and then click the Hardware Wizard [Finish] button.  The WPT Hardware Wizard will use the information pertaining to the selected controller type, model and version to insure that the application is configured properly and the necessary drawing stencils are available, redisplaying them on the left edge of the drawing

Issue What is the A/D resolution of the Inputs and Outputs on the Xenta product line? Environment Xenta 28x Xenta 30x Xenta 4xx I/O Modules Cause Due to project specifications and requirements it is important to know the input and output resolution of the Xenta product line. Resolution The Xenta Product line has resolutions for inputs and outputs accordingly: Controller Thermistor Inputs Universal Inputs Analog Outputs 281 12 bit   12 bit 282 12 bit   12 bit 283 10 bit   12 bit 301 12 bit   12 bit 302 12 bit   12 bit 421A/422A   12 bit   451/452 12 bit 12 bit   451A/452A   12 bit 8 bit 471   12 bit   491/492     12 bit

Issue How do I add nodes to my controller? Environment Netcontroller CX99xx Netcontroller II ACX57xx BCX Series Cause Adding more nodes to a controller Resolution First you will need to contact upgrades department to obtain a node upgrade flash file for your controller.  Upgrades can be reached at upgrades.continuum@schneider-electric.com Once you have received your flash file you will being the process of updating your OS. 1.  Rick Click and Edit the controller 2.  Click update OS 3.  Path to file and select file 4.  Verify controller updated 5.  Reload Controller

Issue When Starting I/NET you get a blank error message with a Red Hand. Environment I/NET Remote Client Configuration Cause You are getting the Red Hand error because the active configuration is a Remote Client Configuration and the primary Server cannot be reached or the Network is down. The Red Hand may also appear when I/NET cannot connect to the currently configure SQL database Resolution Option 1 - Check that you are connected to the network. Ensure that the Server you are remoted into is started and online Option 2- Open I/NET Configuration Change the Active Profile to one that is Standalone

Issue A forced value from Vista Webstation does not reflect that is has been changed. A value that has been changed to read-only in Vista Workstation is still able to be forced from Vista Webstation. Environment Vista Webstation using TGML graphics Vista Workstation using read-only attributes on a value that can be forced. Cause When forcing a value in Vista Webstation, a right click will display the "forced" check box and change value field regardless if the value has an attribute of read-only.  To Webstation users, it will appear as if the ability to change any value is working.  All changes to a read-only value will be ignored by Workstation because there is not a write attribute for the User. The value in the Webstation TGML graphic will not update to reflect the desired forced change. The rejected change is never propagated back to Webstation which could give the impression that something is wrong in Vista.  Resolution If the user should be able to make a forced override of the value, modify the Read attribute to Read-Write. A solution to the issue is to grant access to the points needing changed after creating a 'User' user.  It is best in any environment to restrict all access and grant where necessary making the system less vulnerable to attacks by having a restriction not in place. If you grant access to everything for the user then restrict access, the possibility for unauthorized changes in a system are more likely.