Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Microsoft Security Update KB2744842, issued on September 21, 2012, prevents Internet Explorer 9 from remotely executing possibly malicious executable code contained in web pages. This security update prevents the Java applets used to display the G3 graphics from being downloaded into the browser.  After this security update is installed the graphic page will be displayed as a blank white page with or without a boxed red X in the upper left corner of the graphic page. For more information on the vulnerability, refer to Microsoft Security Bulletin MS12-063, available from the Microsoft web site. Use of alternate web browsers such as Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are not affected by the installation of this update. Environment I/A Series G3 ENS or ENC with web access Internet Explorer 9 being used to display the graphics pages. Cause Microsoft security update prevents Internet Explorer 9 from executing potential malware infected modules. Resolution If the ENC or ENS station is running the I/A Series G3 software release 3.4 or earlier, there is no module upgrade available to correct the issue.  A new web.jar module is available that allows Internet Explorer 9 to download and execute the Java applets used when displaying I/A Series G3 graphics. If the site is running G3 release 3.5.34, you will need to upgrade to release 3.5.39 with the latest security patches before installing the 3.5.403 web.jar file. If the ENC or ENS station is running I/A Series G3 release 3.5.39, upgrade the web.jar to release 3.5.41.1.  If the ENC or ENS station is running I/A Series G3 release 3.6.x, upgrade the web.jar to release 3.6.48.1. The upgraded web jar files are available on The Exchange Download Center. After installing the new web.jar module, the following cache folders must be cleared on any computer that has been used to attempt to view the G3 graphics from an unpatched G3 station running on an ENC or on an ENS-1 system. Clear the IE9 "temporary internet files" cache using the following procedure: From within Internet Explorer 9, select Internet Options from the Tools menu. On the General tab, select Browsing History then click [Delete]. Uncheck all check boxes except "Temporary internet files" then click [Delete]. Close the Internet Options window. Delete the wbapplet cache folder.  The location of the folder is  //users//niagara where is the login name of the current Windows user.  This folder can be accessed by typing the location into the Windows search box on the Windows Start menu. Clear the Java browser cache using the following procedure: Open Java from the Windows control panel. Click the [About] button on the General tab to verify what version of Java is installed. If running Java 6, On the General tab, in the "Temporary Internet Files" section of the window, click [Settings] then in the "Delete Temporary Files" window, make sure that "Downloaded Applets" and "Downloaded Applications" checkboxes are checked then click [ok] to delete the files.  When the delete process is complete, click [ok] to exit.. If running Java 7, On the General tab, in the "Temporary Internet Files" section of the window, click [Delete Files...] then make sure that "Downloaded Applets" and "Downloaded Applications" checkboxes are checked then click [ok]. Close the Java Control Panel window.  Note: These three caches must be cleared regardless of the browser being used if the web.jar file is been updated on the ENS or ENC being accessed.  If accessing some systems with the old web.jar file and some systems with the new web.jar file, it may be necessary to clear these caches any time you switch from accessing a system with the old web.jar file to a system with the new web.jar file.    There are two ways to resolve the issue when running G3 release 3.4 or earlier: Upgrade the installation to a newer I/A Series G3 software release (3.5.x or 3.6.x or when available, 3.7.x).  This is the preferred option because these newer releases correct many known issues with the release 3.4 and earlier versions. Use a browser that is not affected by the Microsoft Security update.  The known unaffected browsers include Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Microsoft Internet Explorer version 7 or 8.

Issue Chinese Characters cannot be shown correctly in Seven Reports. Odd characters will be shown instead. Environment I/NET Seven Reports Chinese Operation System Cause The default font in Seven Reports cannot be shown correctly for Chinese characters. Resolution The default font in Seven Report is Tahoma. Change to any Chinese font, and it will work fine.

Issue Unable to associate TGML files with TGML editor after installing Vista. After right-clicking on the TGML file and selecting "Open With" it is not possible to browse in the graphics editor's .exe file. The file can be located but it doesn't appear in the dialogue. Environment Vista 5.1.X Windows 7 Cause The TGML editor application hasn't been correctly registered. Resolution Try the following steps. Check between each step to see if it's possible to associate the TGML editor with TGML files. Reinstall Vista using "Run as administrator" In regedit: Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\TAC\TAC Graphics Editor\5.1.8 ( HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\TAC\TAC Graphics Editor\5.1.8 on 32bit PCs) Check that the path given is correct under "ExecutablePath" Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.tgml and delete .tgml Reinstall Vista as an administrator

Issue Getting error FiringOrder error when sending data to a controller "Unable to reload object Network\Controller\FiringOrder.           You do not have sufficient access to do the requested operation" Environment Continuum Cause Firing Order is a Group Object, so if Group Objects are not open to the user then they can not be sent to a controller. Resolution Firing Order is a Group Object thus when reloading a controller (send to controller) the user requires security rights for Groups.

Issue How can a deleted Pinpoint graphic be restored that was mistakenly deleted. Environment Pinpoint Graphic Cause A Pinpoint graphic was mistakenly deleted. Resolution In order to restore a deleted graphic and hope to have it restored with all the points from the database attached, in addition to the PIN file and background being in the correct drive and folder, you will need either a text export (.dmp) of the graphic file (which you would import) or you would need to restore the database from before the deletion. The PIN file has all the control objects but no link to the points that were attached on a certain graphic file. The database has the links to the points in the ObjectList of the Panel table. This is how you could have just one VAV.pin file and use it for hundreds of VAV boxes in a building. If you cannot restore a backup of the database and you do not have a text export of the graphic you will need to use the PIN file and background (if applicable) and manually attach the points to the control objects in the graphic.  To do this create a New >> Graphics in the location of your choice in ContinuumExplorer. Then using the menus go to File >> Import Panel File... and navigate to the PIN file and import it. This will bring in all the control objects in the locations they were before the deletion. Then add the background to the graphic by going to File >> Configuration and the Canvas tab. You then have to attach the points to the controls.

Issue On the webClient interface, it is not easy to find a way to create personnel. Environment Continuum webClient Cause No manuals describe how to create personnel via webClient user PC Resolution Log onto webClient Click "Search" on the top of the interface. From the left side of the interface click "All Objects" From the drop down list, select "Personnel" On the top of the new window, click "New Personnel", A personnel editor appears Following the same steps required for creating personnel objects in CyberStation, completing the necessary items. Click "Save " at the bottom of the editor Note: webClient does not support adding or editing photos for personnel objects. Go to CyberStation to do this.

Issue Periodic Report is not printed. Environment TAC Vista 5.1.7 Cause If the box "Automatically set printing area" is checked in the properties for the report, the report is not printed. If it is left unchecked, the report will print. Resolution Uncheck the box "Automatically set printing area" in the properties for the report .

Issue While rebuilding a database by bringing controllers online then initiating a Send to Database we find that the B4920 controllers do not offer a send to database option. Environment B4920 Send to Database Cause Send to database option was never added to the B4920. Resolution The controller will have to be rebuilt manually.

Issue Microsmart controllers not following commands from a Niagara R2 schedule Environment Niagara R2 (all versions) Microsmart controllers (all versions) Cause Power failure in building The UNC does a 'graceful' shutdown, using its backup battery, 60 seconds after main AC power is lost.  If the power failure in the building lasts less than 60 seconds, the Microsmart controllers come back online.  The UNC never shuts down and thinks the Microsmart controllers are online.  Meanwhile the Microsmart shadow objects in the station are no longer updating.  The link between them and the points in the Microsmart was lost (during the power failure) and does not automatically recover. Resolution Reboot the UNC

Issue Command Request / Command Response window not available in the Niagara G3 DMS driver Environment Niagara G3 Microsmart driver Cause Not carried over from the Niagara R2 driver Resolution Only option is to tunnel to the Microsmart controllers with OPRIF

Issue An unknown automation error occurred while upgrading the application [-1:-1] Environment WorkPlace Tech 3.2 service pack 1 Visio 2000 Cause File corrupt File opened with a different version of Visio (than the one used with WorkPlace Tech 3.2sp1 which is Visio 2000) Resolution Use a backup file or rebuild application from scratch. Copy paste anything that can be re-used.

Issue An unknown automation error occurred while upgrading the application [-1:-1] Environment WorkPlace Tech 3.2 service pack 1 Visio 2000 Cause Corrupt file (perhaps opened/saved with a different version than Visio 2000) Resolution Use a backup copy or build a new application file from scratch (copy/paste any programming from existing file -- if possible -- to save time)

Issue Need to generate a list of all alarms in the system. Environment Vista Cause Vista has a search function to find out what alarm objects exist in the system. Resolution To search for all the alarm object in the system: In Workstation, click on Search Go to Type of devices and objects and click on the button right of view Search for "Event"  and then "Message" mark "Alarm" and click ok All objects are now listed and can be copied and pasted to an Excel sheet.

Issue SCR sensors working with AC Voltages Environment SCR Series Sensors Cause An issue was found with AC voltages below 22.8VAC Resolution Any SCR units that have been shipped since 1 March 2012 will be fine with the full AC supply range (as per their datasheet), however we had an issue with older units that require the AC supply to be above 22.8 Volts to ensure there are no problems. DC supply voltages operate correctly on all SCR sensors. See TPA-FD-12-0002.00 and TPA-FD-12-0003.00 for full details of the issue and changes made to the sensors.

Issue Controller resets sporadically, when it comes back online there is no database found in the controller (all points have been deleted) and it needs to be reloaded. After reloading, the Controller responds very slowly and time SystemVariables such as Date, Minute, Hour, are not updating. Environment Netcontroller II (CX9680) Cause The problem ended up being traced down to some XDriver points that were configured with an annex point that was also configured as an XDriver point. They were fighting each other. Resolution Removed the XDriver point configured as an annex point in another XDriver point and the Controller started to respond normally.

Issue The "Run" function in the programmable Object editor causes the editor to crash. Environment Programmable point Run option Cause When a programmable point is edited and the "Run" option chosen, the editor crashes. Resolution This issue is caused by the controller object number being used. Sigma X96 controllers have traditionally used object numbers in the range of 1 to 250, but with the introduction of Integrated Controllers which use the range of 1 to 1000, the issue will arise. If a controller object number in the range of 251 to 1000 is used for a programmable object, and the "Run" option is required, then the object text should be copied into a spare object with a number in the range of 1 to 250. Once tested the object text can be copied back to its correct object number. Note: this issue does not effect the object operation in the controller itself.

Issue Remote Alarm Manager - What TCP ports are used? Environment RAM TCP Ports Cause Customers RAM Console is unable to communicate with the RAM Engine. Customer cannot communicate with RAM webserver. Resolution Remote Alarm Manager uses TCP ports 8090 and 8091 between the RAM Console and RAM Engine. Remote Alarm Manager uses TCP port 80, but also recommends this to be changed to 781 - 785 as defined in the settings page.  

Issue What template to use for TAC Xenta 102-B What template to use for TAC Xenta 102-VF What template to use for TAC Xenta 102-EF Environment TAC Xenta 102-B TAC Xenta 102-VF TAC Xenta 102-EF Cause The Xenta 102-B TAC Xenta 102-VF and TAC Xenta 102-EF uses the same template. Resolution Use the TAC Xenta 102 template

Issue What is the control signal to the actuator for a Xenta 102B? Environment Xenta 102B Cause The 102B is designed to be used with a Belimo actuator. This is why the out signal is not specified anywhere in the documentation.   Resolution The out control signal to the actuator is 0-10V.  

Issue Sigma Server failure Environment Sigma Site Cause Sigma has worked OK previously but now the Sigma server fails every time and quickly after starting. Resolution A new anti-virus definitions file has been downloaded either manually or automatically and has detected that a Sigma file may be suspect, this will normally be a fault of the definitions file. There will be a report in the Windows event viewer that Sigma services has failed. Anti-Virus software is often set to move suspect files into a "quarantined" directory.  There will be a log to show this. Check these for any Sigma files quarantined. Anti-Virus software can also be set to automatically delete suspect files.  There will be a log to show this. Check this for any Sigma files shown as deleted. 1. Disable the Anti-Virus software on either the whole of c:\sigma\data or c:\sigma\bin. Note: The site IT may need to be involved and approval may be required. 2. Either re-instate the files from the quarantined folder or re-install Sigma.