Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue “Invalid certificate for https communication” alarm pops up after upgrading to EBO 4.0     Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment EcoStruxure Building Operation Cause "Invalid certificate settings for Server to Server communication" is set to enabled (Generate Alarm) by default for new installations/upgrades. This function was deliberately designed to alert existing installations that their sites might be subject to security-related issues, and necessary action needs to be taken. Resolution If users want to get rid of this alarm, they need to: Suppress the alarm by unchecking the “Generate alarm” under Security Settings/ Invalid certificate settings for server to server communication   Or Replace the server certificates with one that can be validated against a CA certificate.   Note: Please refer to the following web pages for more information. CA Certificate Management Security Settings – Control Panel  SSL Certificates 

Issue Unable to login to Webstation when it is embedded in an iframe on a webpage even though the security setting Enable WebStation to be embedded into another website is set. Clicking Log on after entering credentials just makes the login page reload. Security Setting "Enable WebStation to be embedded into another website" security setting   Webstation login page in iframe Webstation might even go into a login loop if the Guest account is activated and Webstation logs in automatically to this account: Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Enterprise Server Building Operation Enterprise Central Building Operation Webstation Building Operation Automation Server Building Operation Automation Server Premium Building Operation Automation Server Bundled Cause The Webstation login functionality relies on HTTPS redirect to function properly when it is embedded in an iframe. Error message in the browser developer tool console says: Blocked autofocusing on a <input> element in a cross-origin subframe. Resolution Webstation needs to redirect web clients to HTTPS. There is a setting in Security Manager that controls this. Follow the steps below to activate the redirect: Login to Workstation and go to Control Panel and then Security Settings. Check Redirect web clients to HTTPS and save the change.

Issue WorkStation will play audible alarms but the same alarms will not play in WebStation Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation WebStation   Cause Alarms can be viewed in WebStation but they do not have audible alarm sounds.  Resolution Audible alarms are available in WebStation from 3.2 onward.   See online help topic: WebStation and WorkStation Differences - EcoStruxure WebHelp

Issue Users or engineers may be unsure of how to access the best support for issues with EBO Smart Connectors, especially where site specific Smart Connectors have been developed, or believe the issue is with the underlying framework. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Integration Cause Unlike EBO, which is a standard EcoStruxure product that falls under normal R&D, the Smart Connector (formerly known as Mongoose) was developed by Schneider Electric Buildings Labs and a separate R&D Team.   Resolution If using a Smart Connector developed specifically for a project by a separate Integration Team within Schneider-Electric, then it is always best to go back to that team with your technical issues. In all other cases, the Smart Connector Framework is now supported via normal Product Support channels by raising a support case with your local Customer Care Centre, just as you would for any other EcoStruxure Issue.   The  SmartConnector Developer Forum: can still also still be found on the community.  

Issue Numbers are rounded. Why two values of nearly equal magnitude are subtracted, significant digits are lost.  This occurs in a variety of places within EcoStruxure Buildings Operation, and explained using a script program in the example below. Product Line Ecostruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Enterprise Server Building Operation Automation Server Cause In a string program and the NumToStr function, if a number (example 5.7) is entered and Save is selected, then the Value in the Variables window at the bottom shows 5.6999998. The value is altered from the original. Resolution When looking at a value in the watch window or variables view, there is no rounding so you are going to see the full length of the float number which suffers from a thing called “loss of significance” More information on float numbers can be found at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loss_of_significance This phenomenon happens everywhere. An alternative would be to add a formatting feature to do the rounding. Script handles numbers as IEEE754 single precision floats, so the accuracy is limited to (IIRC) seven significant digits. The accuracy loss starts around 1.677E7. On www.binaryconvert.com/convert_float.html?decimal site, a decimal number can be converted to binary and then back to decimal in order to see how the decimal number will be handled in Script. Script handles numbers as IEEE754 single precision floats, so the accuracy is limited to (IIRC) seven significant digits.   The accuracy loss starts around 1.677E7.   On this site you can convert a decimal number to binary and then back to decimal in order to see how the decimal number will be handled in Script. http://www.binaryconvert.com/convert_float.html?decimal

Issue Site upgrading ES from 3.2.1.630 to 3.2.3.59. After the upgrade, some graphics and custom types are missing Before Upgrade: EBO 3.2.1.630   After upgrading to EBO 3.2.3.59   Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Workstation Building Operation Enterprise Server Cause Error "is not defined in the target version, discarding object ~ " is found in the upgrade log. Resolution This video demonstrates the steps to upgrade ES successfully displaying all Graphics and Custom types Upgraded ES from 3.2.1.630 to 3.2.3.59 Graphics and custom types were missing Used CP11 3.2.3.1300 to upgrade Successful upgrade showing all Graphics and Custom Types When upgrading within the same version (from 3.2.1 to 3.2.3) we must use a hotfix. We shouldn’t be using the Full installer since the work folder and original folder is the same.

Issue If an application hangs or crashes, Windows systems are sluggish or have problems, or new software fails to install properly one of the first places to look for information on what may be happening is the Windows Event Log. Product Support personnel may ask to see a copy of the Windows Event Log. Product Line TAC INET, TAC Vista, Andover Continuum, Satchwell MicroNet, Satchwell Sigma, TAC IA Series, Field Devices, EcoStruxure Building Operation, Other, EcoStruxure Building Expert, Access Expert, Security Expert Environment Windows Operating System Cause If an application hangs or crashes, Windows systems are sluggish or have problems, or new software fails to install properly one of the first places to look for information on what may be happening is the Windows Event Log. Resolution   Open the Event viewer by one of the ways below: Start Event Viewer by pressing Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box and type eventvwr. Right-Click on "This PC" and select "Manage" then navigate to Computer Management (Local) > System Tools > Event Viewer. Select the type of logs the need to be exported. Application, Security, and System logs in the Windows Logs and Schneider Electric Security Expert logs under Applications and Services Logs (for Security Expert cases) are required.  For each log, view recent messages then click the "Action" menu and select "Save All Events As". Enter the log name, include the log type (Application, Security, or System) in the log name, and location the click "Save". For non-English Windows, make sure to select English (United States) in "Display information" then click OK. 

Issue The WorkPlace Tech application drawing contains a hardware tag that is outlined in red and displays this error message when viewing the right-click Display Errors option for the tag Product Line TAC IA Series, EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment I/A Series WorkPlace Tech Building Operation Workstation (WorkPlace Tech Editor) Microsoft Visio Cause The issue may be caused by incorrect copying and pasting of objects inside or between drawings.  An absolute cause has not been determined  Resolution Open the application in WorkPlace Tech or Editor.  Don't open the .vsd or .vsdx file in Visio alone. Enable the Developer in the Visio ribbon. File/Options/Customize Ribbon/check "Developer"  The Developer must be enabled to have the Show ShapeSheet option available  Right-click the Input object and select Show ShapeSheet In the ShapeSheet:  Step 1. Select the corrupted string for the Connection Points Step 2. Delete the string Step 3. Click the green check mark to save Unlink and Relink the connector between the previously corrupt object, UI01 in this case, and the Analog Input object.  Note, that this could be a Binary Input object as well.  This will add the correct string to the Connection Points.  

Issue Unable to use the “Contact Open” nor the “Battery Low” statuses of a SED-WDC-G-5045 on EBO.   Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Workstation Building Operation Automation Server Premium Cause The SED-WDC-G-5045 points (Contact Open, Battery Low and others) are not exposed individually but in a string of 10 points, bit 0 to bit 9.     Resolution 1. Add a: New object / Program / Script program. 2. Rename it to identify it, in this example it has been renamed Script program SED 3. Right-click on it, click on Edit, Script Editor window will open 4. Paste the below 4-lines script 5. Save 6. Change the “Type” from “Floating” to “Boolean” 7. Save 8. Close Script Editor window   Numeric input IASZone Numeric output ContactOpen, BatteryLow ContactOpen = (IASZone Bitand 2 ^ 0) > 0 BatteryLow = (IASZone Bitand 2 ^ 3) > 0       9. Right-click on “Script Program SED”, click on “Edit bindings” 10. Drag the “IAS Zone” point and drop it on the “Input / IASZone” bindingSave     12. Create a Digital Value 13. Bind it to the Contact Status point from the” Script Program SED” output. 14. Save      

Issue When launching Workplace Tech or Workplace Tech Editor (EBO), the Workplace Tech ribbon does not appear or displays an error indicating it has not executed. Product Line TAC IA Series, EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Workstation (Workplace Tech Editor) I/A Series WorkPlace Tech Cause Smartware Studio 360 release 5.1.540 and later contains a 64-bit version of the Microsoft Access database.  It was modified to allow for installation with either Office 32-bit or 64-bit.  Workplace Tech and Editor requires a 32-bit version of Visio.  Microsoft normally does not allow 32-bit and 64-bit applications to be installed on the same OS.  Because of this, the COM Add-in for the Workplace Tech ribbon can fail. Resolution The Microsoft Access DataBase engine can be uninstalled in the Programs and Features of Windows.  For Studio 360 to function properly, it will need to be reinstalled.    

Issue Proper handling and preparation of existing .vsd files help eliminate the crashing and lockup of the Visio application. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation, TAC IA Series Environment Workplace Tech Editor EcoStruxure 1.9.x - 3.2.3 Workplace Tech 5.9.1 - 5.9.4 Visio 2013, Visio 2016 Note: This does not apply to Workplace Tech Editor EBO 2022 (and newer) and Workplace Tech 5.10.x Cause The product is affected by the version of Visio in use as well as the file size and unused objects in the drawing. Resolution When using Workplace Tech 5.9.x with Visio 2013 or 2016, the file has to be opened in "Compatibility Mode." DO NOT CONVERT. Illustration 1 While the .vsd file is open in Visio, not in Workplace Tech, use the "Reduce File Size" option and select the boxes in Illustrations 1&2. Illustration 2 In Visio 2016, after opening the "Inspect Diagram," (Illustration 3), select the first 3 boxes in the "Reduce File Size" option (Illustration 4). Illustration 3 Illustration 4 Save the file for use in the Workplace Tech Project or to be imported into your AS-P as a .vsd. Add the "cleaned" file to your project or import it to Workplace Tech Editor. Make sure the Visio 2013 or 2016 is at the most recent version and build. You can find this under the file/account/About Visio. If Version 1802 is available in your Microsoft Office update Channel, use it. Version 1801 was used in testing. For Visio 2013 Build 15.0.4971.1000 MSO 15.0.5007.1000 was tested (Illustration 5) Illustration 5

Issue Need to upgrade sites with Report Server to EBO 2022 or higher. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Enterprise Server Building Operation Enterprise Central Building Operation Report Server Building Operation Timescale Database Cause WebReports/Report Server isn’t supported in EBO 2022 (V4.0) or higher. Resolution Since WebReports/Report Server isn’t supported in EBO 2022 (V4.0) or higher, there is a Data Migration Assistant (DMA) tool available which read data from a WebReports 3.x and write it to External Log Storage. You use External Log Storage feature to store historical data from EcoStruxure BMS. The amount of stored data is limited only by the equipment you use, and not by the capacities of the feature.  When the External Log Storage feature is activated and configured, WorkStation and WebStation display the historical data in the event and trend views from the External Log Storage. Any server in the system can be configured to write historical data to the TimescaleDB database.   Data Migration Assistant (DMA) Tool can be downloaded from here. License required: External Log Storage requires license, refer to Software and Features that Require Licenses and Part Number Summary and Hardware Software Matrix  Hardware and Software requirement for External Log Storage: Ensure that the hardware and software requirements for TimescaleDB (www.timescale.com) and PostgreSQL (www.postgresql.org) are met. High-performance SSD storage is required and additional CPU/RAM capacity is required for larger EcoStruxure BMSs. As an example, at least 64 GB of RAM is recommended for systems with 100 EcoStruxure BMS servers. Refer to: Information Technology System Planning Guide (se.com) Merging Log data: External Log Storage decreases the amount of extended trend logs retained on the EcoStruxure BMS servers. You can merge log data from an extended trend log to the source log in External Log Storage. For more information, see Merging of Trend Log Data. Enhanced Reporting (XLSX Report Templates): The EcoStruxure BMS servers (3.2 or higher) provide built-in functionality for basic reporting that can deliver reports in any text format and XLSX, without any dependencies to other external software. Reports for XLSX can be enriched by using advanced functionality such as formulas, conditional formatting, charts and sparklines. If External Log Storage is configured and connected (PostgreSQL/TimescaleDB), then historical report data can be fetched from there. Refer to: Examples for the new native EBO Notification Reports - Communities (se.com)  

Issue Is it possible to edit a document object like a text file from WebStation? Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation WebStation Cause From WebStation, it is only possible to view a document. Resolution No it is not possible to change a document object from WebStation.   For other differences between WorkStation and WebStation, see the online help topic WebStation and WorkStation Differences

Issue EBO can't overwrite notification report file. "System alarm: File access error: sharing violation:" Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Enterprise Server Building Operation Enterprise Central Building Operation Workstation Cause Notification file is used by another program and "Uniqueness" paramter is set to "None" so EBO can't write on it, ex, Microsoft Excel opens the notification report.  Resolution Make sure that notification report is not used be another program, ex. Microsoft Word or Excel. If the program locking the notification file is not known, Windows Resource monitor can be used to know which process is locking the file, as below: Press Windows key+R to open "Run" dialog box. In "Run" dialog box, write “resmon” and pres Enter. In Resource Monitor "CPU" tab, expand "Associated Handels"  In "Search Handels" box, write the notification file name. In "Image" tab, note the process name. To end the process which is locking the file, Right-click on the process and then click on “End Process”. It is also possible to append or prepend a timestamp to the file name, so EBO can generate a new file each time.

Issue Where can you obtain the Database Schema for the EBO WebReports / Report Server Database Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Report Server Cause From EBO version 3.2.x WebReports/RS is no longer being developed as we move to External Log Storage with Postgres and Timescale DB.    To allow our customers to continue to work with existing WebReports/RS databases if they so wish, it may be helpful to provide the DB Schema. Resolution An inbuilt Report already exists within WebReports call 'Database Schema' which allows you to select which Tables you would like to see in the WebReports / RS Database Running this will produce a .pdf Report detailing the RS Database Schema tables, to aid with 3rd Party integrations and other DB manipulation. A full database schema report is attached for reference (Version 3.2.3) 

Issue How to create custom reports in Building Operation WebReports Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation WebReports up to version 3.2.  Note: WebReports is no longer included in Building Operation 2022 and above. Cause Custom reports are typically created by modifying another report and then saving these changes. Typically used are the factory-supplied reports as the base for a new report then enter the filtering criteria that are required to be used in the new report. Assign a unique name to the custom report and save the new report as a dashboard or prompted report.  There may be a need to create a report not based on any of the standard reports provided in these Report Packs, this article covers this process. Resolution To create a non-factory-supplied report within WebReports it is necessary to use an editor.  Since WebReports use Microsoft Reporting Services it is recommended to download the Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Report Builder 3.0 or MS MSQL Server 2012 Report Builder.  This is a free tool provided by Microsoft that provides an intuitive report authoring environment for business and power users. This download provides a stand-alone installer for Report Builder 3.0.  Please note that Product Support does NOT provide support for Report Builder.  After downloading and installing the Report Builder application, the steps are as follows:  Each of these steps is also located on the Building Management System WebHelp site, a link for each of these steps is provided for additional reference and guidance. Start Report Builder and create a new blank report, see Creating a Basic Report for the steps.  After Creating the report create a data source that connects this report to StruxureWareReportsDB, see Creating a Data Source for these steps Then create the Data set, so add to the report which tables, views, stored procedures, and fields from the StruxureWareReportsDB are required to use in your report, see Creating a Dataset for these steps. This data can then be added to the custom report as required.  See Setting Up a Report for an example of setting up a report. See Adding an Image to a Report  on how to add images to the report  The new report now must be deployed to the Reports Server where it can be accessible to WebReports. To complete this procedure use SQL Server Reporting Services Report Manager. See Deploying a New Report to the Reports Server to view these steps in detail.  Finally, the report must be synchronized in WebReports to be deployed and therefore appear in the WebReports Reports Tree. Use WebReports with a Web browser to complete this procedure.  See Synchronizing WebReports with a New Report for the steps to complete this. Once all these steps have been completed successfully the new Report should be visible in the tree - the placement of these reports will depend on where they have been uploaded in step 5 above.  See the image below:

Issue The room controller is replaced on-site, and you need to copy the same configuration of the faulty Controller. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation, EcoStruxure Building Expert Environment Building Operation Workstation Building Operation Automation Server SSL SE8000 SSL SE7000 Cause The wrong file format might have been used Resolution This Video explains detailed steps to copy the configuration to a new or a replacement controller:   Please note that the older controller will probably have an older firmware version, and thus, you might have to downgrade the new controller to the same version. Also, note you can’t downgrade to below 2.0.0. If the older controller has a version before 2.0.0, this solution will not work and will have to configure the new one manually. Only After the configuration has been transferred successfully you can upgrade the controller to a new firmware version.

Issue A new feature in EBO 3.2.X where the value is grayed out when the binding on the priority of a BACnet object matches the BACnet Default priority level Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment EcoStruxure Building Operation Cause Missing Release note documentation about the new feature added to EBO 3.2.X. Resolution In EBO versions prior to 3.2.X, when a bind in Priority matches the Default BACnet Write Priority, the values can be changed without forcing. From EBO 3.2.X, users need to force the value, let it change, and then un-force it. The following screenshots show this feature in more detail. The following image shows the Default BACnet write priority has been set to 16. Now, for example, if a program output is bound to Priority 16 of an analog value: The value property would be greyed out and has to be forced if changes are needed.   This is a new feature in EBO 3.2.X which is not mentioned in the Release Notes documentation.   Hint: A defect # 45570 has been documented in Release Notes 3.2.X about “Webstation - BACnet analog value's value property is not greyed out when there is a bind to the default priority.”. This issue has been fixed in EBO 4.0.X.   

Issue The automation server password policy is grayed out making it unavailable to make configuration changes. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Enterprise Server Building Operation Workstation Building Operation Automation Server Premium   Cause When an Automation Server is attached to an Enterprise Server, all of the password policy configurations are inherited from the enterprise server. Therefore the AS settings cannot be changed.  Resolution The password policies of the Automation Server must be administered from the ES when it is connected to an Enterprise Server.   In order to make changes to the password policy settings in the Automation Server directly, it must be detached from the Enterprise Server. Note: For EBO V 1.9.X and lower, the password policy settings can be located under Control Panel > Security and Communication > Security settings area. For EBO 2.0.X and higher, the password policy settings can be located under Control Panel > Security and Communication > Password policy.

Issue Resource Advisor platform, which serves as a repository for water, gas, and electric invoices, enabling customers to focus on evaluating metered data. Assisting organizations that are committed to sustainability. Setup information. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation, EcoStruxure Resource Advisor Environment Building Operation Automation Server Premium Building Operation Enterprise Central Building Operation Enterprise Server Cause Information on setting up Resource Advisor is not available for download Resolution Click this link for an overview of Resource Advisor. Attached is a more detailed document including EBO Setup Guide and links for additional Resource Advisor information.