Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue An  active video event will appear on the top of Video Monitor interface when there is an alarm triggered the video. But all the video events will  be gone when close the Video Monitor and you can't find any of the video events forever. Where does the video event list save? How can I find it to search and replay. Environment Continuum 1.91 above Cause It is a design Resolution For the video event list,  we never save it anywhere in the system, you can do search and replay with the active events only, not history events. there maybe some improvement about this  in the future version. By now, you can use an add-on application software, Continuum Video Inquiry to search the recorded videos according to the alarm event etc.

Issue  Setting the values of the X Driver points that is set up for Function code 15 (Force Multiple Coils) does not send out data. Environment bCX1 4040, 9640 Netcontroller II with X Driver, XDriver, X-Driver. Cause As an array of bits has to be transmitted to the 3rd party system it has to come from the Annex point not the X Driver point itself. Resolution The data to be sent to the 3rd party Modbus device is held in a manual array in the AnnexPoint not the X Driver point itself. Create an X Driver point on the required Comm port and define: The correct slave number Function code 15. Define the Start channel address Enter the number of Bits to be written in the "Number Of Channels" In the AnnexPointName enter the name of the separate Numeric point that will hold the data to be written. Ensure that the Annex point has a manual array of at least the size of the number of channels (bits) to be written. Fill each of the array entries with 0 or 1 as required to be sent. This can be done through Command line or Plain English: For example if the system is writing to 4 relay outputs, through command line you would enter the data as: Annexpt = 1      'Relay 1 = On Annexpt[1] = 1 'Relay 2 = On Annexpt[2] = 1 'Relay 3 = On Annexpt[3] = 0 'Relay 4 = Off   Then change the value of the X Driver point to force the data to be sent.

Issue Using a repeater to extend ACC LON bus. Environment CX9900 CX9940 CX9680 IOU Modules Cause Infilink repeater is designed for the Infinet field bus. Resolution The Infilink repeaters CAN NOT be used to extend ACC LON.

Issue Create a schedule and attach a numeric to the occupancy point. Receiving error: "Cannot resolve object: in Object Property List. Please save BACnet device to database or make sure the object still exists." Click OK. Schedule opens up, but the occupancy point is empty under the configuration. However, the occupancy point that was attached is being controlled by the schedule. Environment CyberStation v1.74 SP2, 1.74SP2, 1.74 Cause Received error when editing schedule. Resolution For CyberStation v1.74 SP2, 1.74SP2, 1.74 Download Hotfix: CyberStation v1.74 TPA-BOST-08-0005.00 Hotfix For Cyberstation Above 1.74 Make sure there is no object created in the controller using a name that is the same as the name of the Network under which the controller reside. For example: If you have a controller - Root\BOC\MainCX which contains a controller user object named BOC you will see the schedule issue.

Issue Continuum analyzer reports errors in the IE Table Check. Environment Cyberstation Cause Errors need to be cleaned up using the Continuum analyzer. Resolution Clean up the errors using the Continuum analyzer then run the tests again to verify errors where corrected. If everything appears to work correctly then there is no need to reload the IE table to the controllers, otherwise: Send the IE table to CX level controllers. To send only the IE table select the 'Do not reload attached objects' in the 'Send To Controller Options' dialog window.

Issue What resources are available to get more information on the M-Bus protocol? Product Line Andover Continuum, Field Devices, Other, Satchwell MicroNet, Satchwell Sigma, TAC IA Series, TAC INET, TAC Vista Environment M-Bus Cause The M-Bus protocol information is available on www.m-bus.com. Select The M-Bus: A Documentation Rev 4.8 Resolution The M-Bus protocol specifications is broken down in multiple chapters. Basics of Serial Bus System Overview of the M-Bus Physical Layer Data Link Layer Telegram Format, Meaning of Fields, Communication Process Application Layer Structure of fixed and variable data blocks. Network Layer Appendix Table of units, medium, data field codes, VIF extensions.

Issue A power failure at the site causes all CyberStations to shut down, will the CX controllers buffer access events? what happens if the controller resets as a result of power glitch? Environment Cyberstation CX9702 CX9900, CX9940 CX9680 ACX5740, ACX5720 Cause -Power failure or controller reset due to electrical noise during thunder storm. Resolution 1. All controllers will buffer access events when they lose communication with the primary and secondary access server. 2. If the controller resets as a result of a power loss that exceeds the UPS capacity or due to a glitch or spike in the power line then whether the events will persists or not depends on the controller type. CX9702, CX9900 and CX9940 Access events in controller buffer will be lost CX9680, ACX5740 and ACX5720 Internal battery will keep RAM intact for up to 30 days Controller will warm start after a glitch or spike in the power line and maintain the events in its buffer. *** NOTE If controller has to cool start (restore its objects from flash memory) then the access events in the buffer WILL BE LOST. 

Issue Receive AccDataservice errors on startup. Environment Windows 7 Windows 2008 Server Continuum 1.93 Cause Security enhancements needs to be disabled during the install of Continuum. Resolution The list of services needs to be disabled before installing Continuum. These services can be re-enabled after the install completes. Windows Firewall.   Private, Domain and Public Windows Defender. Windows Software Protection Service. Antivirus Protection.

Issue InfinityInput (digital) not changing value when dry contact on relay changes state. Tried disabling and changing value but will not change. On bacnet side the point is set to out of service and will not change. New input points created on the UI4 are also out of service on bacnet side and will not change. Tried powering down expansion module - no luck. Tried deleting point on Infinity side and saving to database on bacnet - works fine. But when recreating the input, comes up the same way.   Environment bCX, 4040, bCX4040,  XP Expansion Module UI4, UI-4  Cause InfinityInput (digital) not changing value when dry contact on relay changes state. Resolution Replace UI4 with bCX powered off. Delete the point on Infinity side, save controller to database on Bacnet side. Drag & drop input from another bCX on Infinity side.  Save to database on Bacnet side. Point starts updating and is no longer out of service.  See also

Issue When a user logs off a Continuum workstation, they would like the workstation to login itself maybe via a program as a Guest so that the systems can be viewed (Guest Mode).   Environment Continuum Cyberstation and webClient (all versions) Cause Continuum is a security system, and as such, it requires a login for auditing purposes. Resolution There are no supported applications or features to provide auto-logins to Continuum.  Continuum is a security system, and as such, it requires a login for auditing purposes.

Issue Continuum add-on reports can be installed on the webclient PC, but can they display through a browser? Environment Continuum Webclient Windows XP Windows Vista Windows 7 Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2008 Cause Continuum Add-On Report Suite were not designed to be displayed through a browser with webclient Resolution   Continuum Add-On Report Suite were not designed to be displayed through a browser with webclient. The reports can be installed and accessed on the Cyberstation part of the Webclient PC itself, but they will not display through any of the browser PCs that connect to that Webclient PC.

Issue Controller buffering the access events as seen by the increment in the AccessLog system variables, the events stay in the controller's buffer and are not sent to Cyberstation. Product Line Andover Continuum Environment CyberStation CX9702 CX9900, CX9940 CX9680 ACX5740, ACX5720 Cause The most common cause of this problem is that the controller does not know who the primary/secondary access server is. Resolution Make sure a Cyberstation has been designated as primary access server (and a second one as secondary if applicable). Perform a teach on the primary/secondary access servers.

Issue Continuum Add-On Reports will not launch Environment Continuum Continuum Add-On Report Suite Windows XP Windows Vista Windows 7 Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2008 Cause The reports may not launch because of configuration issues or because the Workstation Instance in the database is corrupt. Resolution Ensure that Continuum Reports is installed in Add/Remove programs Check that the Programs are listed under the workstation after importing the Continuum_Reports.dmp file and that they contain the reports programming code. If they are empty, re-import or cut and paste the code from the dmp file and correct errors. Check that the programs are enabled, if not enable the report and try again. Test the report from the command line instead of launching from a button (Ex. Run Reports_Suite). The second to last line is a Shell command, check that the Reports.exe 0 ( the number represents each report) has a unique number. Reports_Suite=0, Alarms_Report=2. A duplicated number may not run correctly. As a last test, create a new program called TestCalc with the following one line of code: Shell "C:\Windows\System32\Calc.exe" Fall Thru, AutoStart=False Run TestCalc from the command line and the Windows Calculator should show. Usually if you are at this point, it will not start. If that is the case do the following to correct this. Get a database backup Go offline Edit Export everything under the Cyberstation to a text (dmp) file and verify it's contents. Delete the Cyberstation and it's folder  Exit Cyber (You will get an error that it cannot find the object in the database - click OK) Open Database Initialization and select Workstation and re-initialize the WS Create TestCalc as mentioned above and verify that Calculator opens (It should) Go offline edit and import the .dmp file that had been created for this Workstation and verify all is working. Note: If this is on a 64 bit system, the path may need to be changed. reset_password.bat  However, if you did not install Continuum Reports in the default directory, you must edit the Reset_Password.bat file and include the DOS installation path after “password” in the run string.  ie: reports reset password D:\Reports

Issue NetController or ACX57xx system variable called SystemStatus is toggling between Normal and NoComm.  This may happen as often as every minute. This can be seen in a system variable listview or access event view displaying a door on that controller. Environment CyberStation ACX57xx CX99xx CX9680 Cause Controller cannot communicate with either the primary or secondary access server workstations. Resolution Perform a teach from the primary access server workstation.

Issue An error pops up when editing a point in Video Administrator "The user currently logged on does not have edit rights for this object". Environment Continuum Video Administrator Windows XP Windows Vista Windows 7 Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2008 Cause There is an issue in earlier versions of Continuum 1.90/191 when using Video administrator that if an object was deleted from the controller and video admin is left open, you will receive the error.  Resolution Upgrade to version 1.92 or greater which corrects this issue Create another point or delete the original and recreate it.

Issue Badge layout (.dgn file) is set for landscape orientation. Print preview looks good. Attempt to print  a badge on a MagiCard Rio 2E. Badge prints with portrait orientation. Environment CyberStation MagiCard Rio Cause Magicard Rio driver properties has a selection for "Application Determines Orientation". If this printer properties setting is selected and the printer properties orientation setting does not match the application orientation setting (Continuum Make/Edit Badge, i.e. EPIDesigner ), the printout may not be what is desired.  Resolution Check the Magicard Rio driver properties setting for "Application Determines Orientation". Make sure, if this printer properties setting is selected, that the printer properties orientation setting matches the application orientation setting in EPIDesigner. 

Issue Who do I contact to repair or upgrade or get an advanced replacement for Continuum products in the Americas? Environment All Continuum controllers and CyberStation. Cause Need to repair, upgrade or get an advanced replacement of Continuum products. Resolution Email: tacus.wlcrepair@schneider-electric.com Fax: (978) 975-9435 Phone: (978) 975-9600

Issue Change the path of acctrace .csv file Environment Continuum Windows XP Windows Vista Windows 7 Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2008 Cause There are permission restrictions to the Continuum folder or there is a need to change the path to the acctrace .csv output file. Resolution If permissions are restricted to Continuum, you can change the path to this file. A good troubleshooting step is to send the file to c:\temp When starting acctrace there is a field called "Filename for trace output:" To change the path for the .csv file add the path in the field called "Filename for trace output:" Ex. C:\Temp\ACCTrace_datetime.csv   (leave the actual datetime that the program creates and only add the path C:\Temp ahead of the filename) * On a Windows7 PC, the User Account Control changes the default path where files are created by ACCTrace. If Continuum is installed on the C drive, look in the following path for the trace file that is created: c:\users\username\appdata\local\virtualstore\program files\continuum

Issue PE program will not compile, due to the following error: Syntax error, unexpected token 'xxxxx' Environment Cyberstation All Andover Continuum controllers Cause Program is using one or more reserved keywords Resolution Remove reserved keywords from program's code. See Andover Plain English Language Reference Guide appendix B for a list of reserved keywords.

Issue Customer requires SNMP disabled on CX9702. There is no flash file on the Extranet for it. Environment CX9702 Cause Customer requires SNMP disabled on CX9702. There is no flash file on the Extranet for it. Resolution Contact Product Support Services - there is a flash file available.