Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Unable to import component Library into Graphics Editor. Double Clicking Archive Results in: Graphics Editor - Unexpected Error A problem occurred in this application Object reference not set to an instance of an object. Right-Clicking in the Component Library White Space shows the "Import" option grayed out. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment TGML Graphics Editor Cause The Default Libraries Location is no Longer accessible. This could be caused by a network drive being offline, an external drive being ejected or a user permissions being changed. Resolution Open the TGML Graphics Editor Right Click in the Component Library Space Click on "Libraries" Notice that no Location is bolded as this would indicate the default location Set a Location as default. Close the Libraries editor and import component libraries as desired.

Issue Need information on how exactly SmartStruxure checks whether BACnet devices are still online or have gone offline. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Enterprise Server - ES Automation Server - AS BACnet devices Cause Understanding how communication status is verified can help with troubleshooting comm loss issues. Resolution After a device is discovered via the WHO-IS/I-AM service and moved into the SmartStruxure database, SmartStruxure uses the following scheme to check on the communication status of the device. For IP Device The server will send a Read Property message to read the devices's system status*** every minute, as long as a reply is received the device is deemed to be ONLINE. If no reply is received by the APDU Timeout the server will retry up to 3 times, if there is no response the device will be considered to be OFFLINE. For MSTP Device The server listens as the token is being passed around the bus and if a device fails to get the token it will be tagged OFFLINE. For both IP and MSTP Device Once the device is tagged OFFLINE, the server will check on the device once a minute by sending a WHO-IS message with the ID of the device, if an I am is received the device will be considered back ONLINE and the ReadProperty 'probe' check (for IP) or token pass check (for MSTP) will resume once a minute. ***In version 1.4 and below the ReadProperty will read the name property of the device. See sample Wireshark capture below, NOTE that in the sample below 10.169.90.31 is the Broadcast address of the sub net where the ES is located. NOTE: For efficiency the BACnet engine may combine the reading of the system status property with other read property requests into a single Read Property Multiple.

Issue In SmartStruxure, how can Network 8000 objects be linked with non-Network 8000 objects?  For example, sharing an outside air temperature value from a LON integration on the same Automation Server with a Network 8000 integration Environment Network 8000 StruxureWare Building Operations Cause No outside air temperature reference is available in a Network 8000 integration.  Resolution Use APT (A=analog), DPT (D=digital), RnetAv, or RnetDv objects to bring non-Network 8000 data into the Network 8000 integration. These objects behave similar to a 'middle man'.  Each of these objects has a global reference on the 'Inputs' tab. Using the APT object as an example, the Inputs tab has an Analog Global Reference section with two settings: Analog global value & Analog global reference. Bind the output of a Function Block Program (for example) to the Analog global reference. Watch the Analog global value as it will display the value once the binding is done. The output of the APT object can now be linked to as many Network 8000 objects as required. Note: The Global Reference takes highest priority. Therefore, the order of input priority is as follows: 1st = global reference, 2nd = input constant, 3rd = input reference. The input constant and input reference are carry-overs from Network 8000 GCM blocks. The global reference was added for SmartStruxure integrations and took over 'top spot'. In order to use the input constant or input reference, the value of the global reference must equal NULL. This is only for inputs. Any output of a Network 8000 object can be bound directly to any non-Network 8000 object.  

Issue What is the BACnet point data refresh rate and how is the rate changed? Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Enterprise Server Building Operation AS-P and AS-B Cause Subscriptions are the connection between the value from the BACnet Interface point to the value on the ES or AS. Resolution These subscriptions can be edited using the Binding of the value. Using 1.4, edit the configuration of the Binding as shown below: Here, the default 10 seconds interval in the Requested Transfer Rate can be changed. The default is 10 seconds. This allows changing the default interval of 10 seconds down to a minimum 100 milliseconds a maximum 24 hours:  Using 1.3: Edit the configuration of the Binding as shown below:  Here the default 10 seconds interval in the Requested Transfer Rate can be changed. The default is 10 seconds.

Issue BACnet device can't be discovered but instead shows up under the 'Unconfigured devices' in the server's hardware folder. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment WorkStation Enterprise Server - ES Automation Server - AS Cause A BACnet device name must be unique. Devices with duplicate BACnet names can't be discovered. In the screen shot below a device by the name AbesbCX already exists under Network1, when performing a device discovery on Network1 a second device with the same name is found, Since StruxureWare already has a device with the same name it adds the device to the list of unconfigurable devices. NOTE: “The <<N>> means the device was discovered on a directly connected network (such as the local IP network, or a directly connected MSTP bus).  The 2 indicates it was “port” 2, (port numbers are really an internal detail) The server's Trace Log shows the following information, which includes the device's ID. The entry gives the reason as duplicate device name. Resolution 1.8.1 and above BACnet device name duplication is allowed, the duplicates will still land in the unconfigured folder and the system alarm will be generated BUT you can drag the duplicate device from the unconfigured folder to the desired network. When finished, manually delete the device from the unconfigured/non-conformant folder. Alternatively, you can also  warm start the server to force the unconfigured/non-conformant devices list to be updated. Note that the devices with duplicate names will still stay in the unconfigured/non-conformant folder until the name conflict is resolved. 1.7.2 and below A workaround is to create the device manually and specify a BACnet name during the create process. When manually creating the device you need to know the Device ID, you can get the id from the information in the trace log as shown above. SmartStruxure will send a message to the device to change its name to the specified BACnet name. The entry in the unconfigured devices folder should automatically update after a few minutes, you can also re-start the server to force the unconfigured devices list to be updated, the entry for AbesBCX should be gone now that the devices has been manually configured.

Issue Referring to a local array by name in Plain English references data element one ([1]) instead of data element zero ([0]) as is the case when the array is a global point or value. In the example below, setting theArray and setting theArray[1] is actually the same, the value 10 is overwritten by the value 20 Environment Enterprise Server - ES Automation Server - AS CyberStation CX b3 i2 Cause Function as designed. Resolution Function as designed. This is the way Plain English works, the ability to access data element one ([1]) by just naming the array is provided for convenience.

Issue What are the rules for inheritance in TGML? Environment TGML editor Cause In order to create TGML components that function as designed,  it is important to understand the TGML rules for inheritance Resolution Attribute inheritance means that a child element inherits (gets) the attribute value from an ancestor element if the attribute value is undefined (omitted) and if the attribute has been specified for an ancestor (any of the parents). In the example below, Rectangle will inherit the Fill value from the component.

Issue How to change the Domain/Groups/Administrators setup Environment SmartStruxure Cause Domain/Groups/Administrators setup is grayed out and thus cannot be modified Resolution Domain/Groups/Administrators setup is grayed out and cannot be modified, this is to avoid major changes being made the Administrators Group such that everyone could be locked out of the system. This can be seen on the following screens           To change the Users or Workspaces within the Administrator Groups, go to Users or Workspaces modify the Group Membership here  

Issue  Found Webhelp link entitled "Configuring a BACnet Pulse Converter (Generic)" but cannot create one. Environment v1.4 Cause Object type is not available in any devices currently discovered on the system. Resolution A BACnet Pulse Converter (and BACnet Accumulator) are BACnet Object Types. There are currently no Schneider Electric SmartStruxure products that contain either of these object types. Therefore, the only devices that have these BACnet object types are Third Party Devices. You will first need to discover one of these devices and then when the properties are discovered you will see that the device has one or more BACnet Pulse Converters and/or BACnet Accumulators object. It is then that you can configure settings for the object(s). Below is a partial screenshot of the Webhelp configuration page for the object type.  

Issue A TGML graphic has been selected in the Attachments options of a Alarm and also been selected to "Display on Alarm" but does not auto display Environment StruxureWare Building Operation 1.3 and above Cause There are two reasons that can stop this functionality working. The alarm has already been triggered and not cleared from the alarm Queue. There is no Alarm View displayed in the users configuration. If you cannot see the alarm in the users workspace the Graphic page will not be displayed. In StruxureWare Building Operation 1.3 if using custom Alarm Views (i.e. not defined in the default workspaces) the Attached "Display on Alarm" does not function.  This is corrected in release 1.4.0.818 and above.  Resolution Check that the user has an alarm view visible within their login. An example of this is the default Workspace Administrator. In its default setting the Alarm Pane is not set to display. If you log in using the Engineering Workspace the Alarm Pane is displayed and the function works. Here is the two default workspaces that show the alarm pane option 1. Administration Workspace with the Alarm pane not set 2. Engineering Workspace with the Alarm pane set to be displayed   The alarm will also need to be returned to normal and acknowledged so it is not left in the alarm queue. The display on alarm function works on the alarm entering the alarm queue, if it is already present in the queue the display on alarm option will not work. StruxureWare Building Operation Release 1.4 Note: In StruxureWare Building Operation 1.3 if using custom Alarm Views (i.e. not defined in the default workspaces) the Attached "Display on Alarm" does not function.  This is corrected in release 1.4.0.818 and above. 

Issue Adding StruxureWare Building Operation license from file fails. The following are the error messages. "License Administrator Major error number: 50044 Minor error number: 71013 System error number: 1 System error message: Description: Error occurred during call to repair locally. Define: LM_TS_LOCAL_REPAIR"   Environment StruxureWare Building Operation License Administrator Cause The cause for this problem is unknown at this time.  Resolution If the problem is not resolved after an uninstall and re-install of the License Server / Administrator then follow the procedure listed below.  Please contact Product Support for further investigation if the problem is not fixed with this procedure.  Exit all StruxureWare Building Operation applications. Stop the License Server (in Windows Services). Uninstall the License Administrator / Server using Windows Add/Remove Programs. If you have multiple versions installed, uninstall all versions. In Windows paths detailed below, search for files that are in the format 'taclic_*_tsf.data' and delete them. There could be other files in the this directory that ends with 'tsf.data' as there could be other 3rd party applications using FLEXnet licensing. Delete only the files that starts with 'taclic'. Windows 7 go to the 'C:\Program Data\FLEXnet\' directory (Windows 7).  Note:This folder may be hidden by Windows 7, Click Here on how to view these paths. Windows XP, the path to the FLEXnet folder is 'C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\FLEXnet'. or C:\Documents and Settings\All Users.Windows\Application Data\FLEXnet). Note:This folder may be hidden by WindowsXP. Install the License Administrator and add the license file as per the normal procedure.  Note: If you are unable to delete the files in step number 4, go to Windows Services and stop the FLEXnet Licensing Service and try again. 

Issue How can Email notifications be configured so that notifications are delivered only at certain times of the day? Environment Versions 1.5 and older Email Notification Schedule Cause Email notifications are required to go out only during non work hours. Resolution Verisons 1.5 and older SmartStruxure versions up to 1.4 cannot filter Notifications based on Time of Day alone (i.e. time without a date component) because it is built on a platform that does not parse out time of day without date. In short, it evaluates time relative to an epoch or specified point in time.  However scheduled notifications can be done in the following way below.   Create a User named Email Delivery. Create an Automatic Assignment to assign Email Delivery to the alarm. Add a schedule to the Automatic Assignment object that controls when the assignment is made. 5. Set up the Notification Alarm Filter to look for alarms that are assigned to Email Delivery.

Issue Unable to read the Analog Inputs / Universal Inputs values in StruxureWare Building Operation. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Xenta I/O Modules Xenta  421A, 422A, 451A, 452A as standalone LON nodes StruxureWare Building Operation (SmartStruxure) Cause When using the Xenta Input Output modules 421A, 422A, 451A, 452A as stand alone Lonworks node, the UCPTConfiguration must be set to the necessary integer value for the required input, by default the values are set to zero so can not be configured. Resolution Please see the supporting documentation for the TAC Xenta 421A/422A and TAC Xenta 451A/452A that gives each nci value for the needed input type. To configure each input to the correct type please follow these steps: Navigate to the node in your Lonworks network Expand the controller to view all of the inputs, outputs, and configuration properties. Find the Universal Input module for the input you need to configure, and locate the nciInput(x) variable within that module Set the value of Absolute count to one of the following : 1 = 1.8 kohm thermistor 2 = DI with green indication 3 = 0-10 vdc 4 = 0-20 mA 5 = 10 kohm thermistor 6 = DI with red indication 7 = DI with green inverted indication 8 = DI with red inverted indication   Up to SBO Version 1.7.x     SBO Version 1.8.x and on in the "Variable Fields" tab overwrite the string "Min" with for example 6 

Issue Choosing a terminator, found there were several choices (Loytec and TAC). Which one should I choose? What are the differences between them? Environment Vista LON physical network FT-10 Cause There are several types of terminators for different use in the LonWorks network. Resolution TAC terminators One TAC terminator has 4 wires, however, only need to connect two wires (red or green). Red wires are used for bus topology Lon structure. And, green wires are used for free topology Lon structure. TAC terminators can only be used in FT-10 (78kbps) LonWorks network. In addition, one TAC terminator can only connect to ONE end of a channel. Which means, a channel without a repeater, you need TWO TAC terminators, and a channel with a repeater, you need FOUR TAC terminators. Note: To test an end of the line resistor (EOL), take a reading of the capacitance across the leads (either the two green or two red leads). You should read somewhere around 50 uF.  LOYTEC terminators (L-term) For LonWorks networks, Loytec has 3 different types of terminators: LT-03, LT-13, and LT-33. LT-03: One network terminator for TP/FT-10 channel (bus or free topology), similar to TAC terminators.  LT-13: One network terminator for TP/FT-10 channel (bus or free topology), and one network terminator for TP/XF-1250 channel (bus or free topology). Barely used in TAC Vista system. LT-33: Two network terminators for TP/FT-10 channel (bus or free topology).  One connection is on the top, and one is at the bottom.  Since you cannot separate two connections, most likely it is used before and after a repeater.

Issue When downloading the SmartStruxure evaluation license from the Buildings Business Extranet it saves as an XML file rather than the correct ASR file type. Environment Internet Explorer Buildings Business Extranet Cause When Windows Internet Explorer downloads a file, it goes through several steps to ensure that the type of the file matches the MIME type declared by the HTTP server. This is known as MIME handling. Internet Explorer performs a "MIME sniff," scanning the first 200 bytes of the file to determine if the file structure matches any known MIME types. If the MIME sniff detects a MIME type known to Internet Explorer, and the file has not been loaded by a mimefilter already, Internet Explorer sets that file name extension before placing the file in the local browser cache. Since the content of the SmartStruxure evaluation license is XML a MIME sniff determines the file type as XML despite it's extension being set as .asr For further information on MIME handling in Internet Explorer see this MSDN article Resolution MIME sniffing can be disabled for certain internet zones from Internet Explorer options: 1. In Internet Explorer select Tools> Internet options 2. Select the Security tab and click Custom level   3. Scroll down and locate the "Enable MIME Sniffing" entry and set it to "Disable" 4. Press OK twice to close the dialogue boxes.

Issue Importing an MSTP network. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Importing Import MSTP Network Cause Customer had made some identification mistakes in the BACnet Interface configuration, and decided the export the MSTP network, recreate the BACnet interface, and then import the MSTP network back in again. Resolution If the MSTP network is exported, deleted from the tree, and then imported back again, all controllers will show offline. When an MSTP network (and thus the b3 devices underneath it) is exported, we don't export the device ID, MAC ID, or serial number of the devices (they cannot be copied, therefore are non-exportable). When the object set is imported back in, these values are empty. After importing, go to the properties of the MSTP network and put back the Network ID if found to be blank. The simplest way to regain these values is to drag/drop the physical device from the hardware folder to the logical device under the MSTP network. You may need to run a discovery on the MSTP network first to make sure the hardware folder's view of the world is current. Assuming the association of the physical and logical devices is successful, you should only need to download from the AS to the devices, to make them fully operational.

Issue While upgrading to StruxureWare Building Operation 1.4, the upgrade fails due and the following error occurs. Backup should include historical data! Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Upgrade Backup Historical data 1.4 Cause A Configuration Only backup was done to the AS prior to upgrading the database.  Resolution The upgrade workflow process described at StruxureWare Building Operation Web Help calls for the AS or ES to be backed up at the beginning of the upgrade process.  A note at the end of section 10.2.1 of the release notes for 1.4 state the following: Automation Server will now upgrade in a two stage process where the first step copies the backup file from the Automation Server to the PC running Device Administrator and does all of the necessary activities to upgrade the database. In order for this to be accomplished the backup that is kept in the Automation Server must include historical data. If the backup stored in the Automation Server is Configuration only, the upgrade will fail. The workaround is: Run another backup and include historical data Remove and re-add, from the Device Administrator, the AS with the failed message. Re-run the upgrade.

Issue The icon in device administrator used to launch the PuTTY console is no longer on the toolbar. Environment Device Administrator Cause Starting in SmartStruxure version 1.4, the PuTTY console is no longer used to change the IP settings of the automation server. Resolution In order to change the IP settings of an automation server, follow these steps below. Add the automation server into the Device Administrator. Select the controller and go to the View menu > Network settings. You can also right click on the controller and click "Network settings". In the Properties window under the Network tab, all of the IP settings can be entered for the automation server. You can still access the PuTTY console by holding down the shift key and right clicking on the automation server. You will have the option to open 'Console'.

Issue System tree pane not working in webstation Get failed "Unable to locate path /your/path/../ Either the path is invalid or the location is currently offline" Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Webstation Cause If the root path is changed in a workspace then the issue below occurs. Webstation is trying to locate the system pane in the folder indicated in the Root path. Resolution Go to Server > System > Domains > Your domain > Workspaces Click on the workspace that us used Click on the content tab Change the root path back to ~

Issue When changing IP settings, the change needs to be activated, before the RP-C uses the new settings. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Building Operation Room Controller (RP-C) Cause RP-C configured with static IP goes off-line or has an unexpected IP address after restart. Resolution If the RP-C is hosted as Dynamic but it is required to be provided with a static IP address. RP-C IP settings can be changed to Static and saved. However, this doesn’t save the new settings to the RP-C controller, they are only saved at the automation server level. Therefore, if a power cycle is carried out, the RP-C is still set to Dynamic and gets an IP from the router, although it shows as static in workstation and the Ecommissioning tool. Note: If the router is not setup as a DHCP server, the RP-C may not come back on-line, because the RP-C is looking to be provided with an IP address by the DHCP server.   Any changes to the IP settings of an RP-C made in the workstation, need to also be activated in the RP-C controller. This is done by right mouse clicking on “IP Network Settings” selecting “IP Commands” then “Activate changes” Now when seen in device discovery window the IP address is the static IP address configured and not the one collected from the DHCP server. If changes are made to the IP settings using the Ecommissioning tool, prior to hosting the RP=C, the same applies, activating the changes must be done by selecting “Device restart” and selecting “Activate IP Changes” followed by “restart”.   Additional information is available by logging into the Ecostruxure Building Help page. https://ecostruxure-building-help.se.com/bms/Topics/show.castle?id=12275&locale=en-US&productversion=3.0&a=1