Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Unable to select DVR when selecting Video source device in Video Object control in a Pinpoint Graphic. Environment Continuum Cyberstation Pinpoint Graphics Endura DVR Cause The Video Object control in Pinpoint is not able to have an external DVR as the source. It is only able to show images from internal cameras connected to the Workstation such as by USB or the older Integral Flashbus card.   Resolution The Video Object control only supports cameras connected to the Cyberstation through the means of USB or an Integral Flashbus card. Alternatively, there are two options available to show video from an external DVR/camera in a Pinpoint Graphic. Configure a VideoLayout or Video Monitor object and link this to the DVR and camera you wish to view. Create a button on the graphic to launch the required camera. If the camera is an IP camera and supports streaming, use the embedded Webpage control on the Pinpoint graphic to link to the webpage streaming the camera image. Note: This is a resource heavy way of displaying video in Cyberstation and isn't recommended. The integration that is offered to Endura or Digital Sentry are the best solutions for displaying video in Cyberstation.

Issue Need information and help deciding on the correct product and part numbers. Product Line Andover Continuum Environment All current Continuum products Cause Customers do not always know how to find sales and product information on the various websites. (i.e. Catalogue, datasheets) Resolution For EMEA & Asia Pacific markets the Continuum Catalogue defines all current products and associated part numbers, see Andover Continuum Product Catalogue For the Americas information is available from the iPortal website for product selection and part numbers: http://iportal2.schneider-electric.com   Continuum datasheets are available from the Schneider Exchange Extranet link: https://ecobuilding.schneider-electric.com/search#keyword/Andover%20Continuum%20Specification%20Sheets/tab/documents

Issue What is the life expectancy of the LCD display of smart sensors with available display? Environment Smart sensor with LCD display Cause Display life expectancy. Resolution The Life expectancy of an LCD Display is 50K hours. Note: Life is reduced if LCD works under direct sunlight. If you use a LED backlight in a LCD module the life expectancy of the LED is 30K to 50K hours, depending on the forward current. EL backlights are available but we don’t recommend them because of their short life (3K hours) and EMC problems. The AC voltage is generated by the DC to AC inverter.  

Issue We have spare Continuum CX9400 controllers which we need to replace the damaged Infinity ones on a old SX8000 installation.   Environment CX9400 Eclipse Continuum, Infinity SX8000 Cause SX8000 Flash files are not posted on the Extranet and the product is obsolete. Resolution It is not possible to downgrade a CX9400 Eclipse from Continuum back to Infinity in the field, this is a one way process to upgrade using a Continuum Flash file in SX8000. There are no Infinity flash files that would allow you to go backwards. Your only option would be to contact your local Repairs department and arrange to have the controller shipped back to the factory where they should be able to re-load in the Infinity Operating system.  

Issue Added new standalone CyberStation and bCX. Existing Phoenix controller on Siemens system generated a conflict error when the workstation is started. Environment CyberStation bCX Cause New CyberStation was assigned ACCNetID =191; Device Node ID = 191. Phoenix controller was using 191 as its address, too and so there was a conflict between the Phoenix address and the CyberStation Device Node ID. Resolution The CyberStation Device Node ID is grayed out in the device editor and therefore cannot be changed. If you run the Database Initialization (DBInit) program the Device node ID is editable. However, if you change it and try to save it you will get a duplicate IP address error. Perform the following: Shutdown CyberStation, change the workstation IP address in Windows. Run the DBInit program and create a new WS with different name, folder, ACCNetID, DeviceNode ID. Log back into CyberStation. Delete the old workstation (with the conflicting Device Node ID). Shutdown CyberStation. Change the IP address in Windows back to the one you had already assigned it.. Restart CyberStation. Edit the workstation object. Verify the Primary Access Server and Auto Download settings are correct. Perform a Teach. Make sure there are no conflicts and all the controllers are online. Reload the network controllers. Reloading the network controllers may not be required but is good practice after making changes such as this. You're better off knowing now if there is a problem than after you leave the site.   

Issue BCX randomly resets during broadcast storm on the network. Environment BCX4000 BCX4040 Firmware 4.50064 Cause During a broadcast storm, overwhelmed comm port causes controller to reset. Resolution Uprev the BCX to firmware version 4.500065.

Issue How to configure logs to update only on value change. Environment All CXs All i2s All b3s Cause Only logging a new value when the value has changed is useful to save on memory usage. It is also preferable in most binary value trends. Resolution Configure the point's log as type = LogInstantaneous AND Interval = 0 days 0 hours 0 minutes 0 seconds. This is referred to as a semi-log configuration.

Issue Is it possible to downgrade a WEBC-2-PRO-USB Security Key to a Single-user key with webClient enabled? Environment Continuum Cyberstation webClient Cause Incorrectly ordered the wrong webClient upgrade for Single User environment. Ordered a new WEBC-2-PRO-USB security key instead of ordering a "-WC2PRO" option for the current SU key.  Resolution It is not possible to change a WEBC key to an SU key. You will need to upgrade your current SU key to enable the webClient users. This can be arranged through your normal local repair process.

Issue Alarm generated on the point or EventEnrollment can be seen, but the alarm is not logged on the Workstation. The alarm cannot be seen in the Active alarm viewer, meanwhile, an error prompt pops up frequently that says "You can't access AccVideoRecordingsrvc.exe." Restarting Continuum, allows the user to see the previous alarms log on, but new alarms don't work. Environment LAN system Continuum 1.93 Cause AccVideoRecordingSrvc.exe has a problem. Resolution Copy a new AccVideoRecordingSrvc.exe to correct: Close Continuum CyberStation From the Continuum install CD, Cyberstation1.93\Continuum\Contin~1.cab, copy the file Accvideorecordingsrvc.exe and paste it into the Continuum install directory. Default is C:\Program Files\Continuum Restart Continuum and test the alarm

Issue How can I use a Combo Box control to select and launch a ListView. Environment Pinpoint CyberStation Combo Box Graphic Panel Cause Customer wants to be able to select a listview, graphic, etc. from a Pinpoint graphic panel using a Combo Box. Resolution Creating the Combo Box on a Pinpoint Graphic. Create a String object named "ObjectName.Str" Edit the graphic panel. Add a Combo Box from the Active Component menu. Right click on the boarder of the Combo Box Select the ObjectName.Str object you just created. In the selection text, add a line with the Alias of each listview you want to launch from the Combo Box. Save and run the graphic. Linking the Graphic Name to the object that is to be opened. Create a fallthru program called GraphicLaunch.Pr Have the program compare the ObjectName.Str text with the alias of specific objects. When the ObjectName.Str text is the same as the text of the object, launch that object using the Show command. For example: LINE COMPARENAME   If ObjectName.Str = "Alarms_LastHour" then     Show Alarms_LastHour     Stop   Endif   If ObjectName.Str = "Alarms_Today" then     Show Alarms_Today     Stop   Endif

Issue Do users need to be members of group 1 for Windows Authentication to work? Environment Windows XP Windows 2003 Server Windows 7 Cause Confusion regarding the On Line help definition pertaining to the use of  Windows Authentication. Resolution You do need to be a member of Group 1 to enable Windows Authentication in the general preferences. Steps to follow: Using Windows Users and Computers on the Domain Server: Add "Acc" as a member of the domain.  Note:  Acc belongs to Group1 by default. Add accounts for all the Continuum users that will have access to the application. Using any Continuum Workstation: Log on to the computer using the domain account. "Acc" Log on to Continuum using "Acc" Open general preferences and make Line 16 = True Create all the Continuum users and assign them to any group, Note: The users you create in Continuum must also have a account created in the domain. You do not have to use the same account to log on to the computer as the account you will use to log on to Continuum. The Continuum account will follow the Domains password policy.

Issue Cannot upgrade the OS of i2 controller with the error message of "Controller Type Mismatch" . Environment NetController (bCX9640) InfinetController (i2xxx) Cause When upgrading the i2 controller to the latest version AND the version of NetController (bCX9640) is couple of versions older than the i2 controllers new version. Resolution Upgrade the NetController to the latest version of OS first, reload the NetController, reload the i2 controller and then upgrade the i2 controller to the latest version.

Issue Workstation programs are periodically getting disabled. Environment CyberStation Cause Workstation programs are periodically getting disabled. Resolution If not already done, add Line E to the program. For examples and syntax refer to CyberStation help file under the LINE statement. For those not familiar with Line E, when used in a program, the program will automatically go to Line E and execute the code there when an error occurs (instead of disabling the program).  Line E can be used for many purposes. It can add a delay and then restart the program, or turn on a flag that alerts the operator of a problem, or it can run another program, or close an open commport.

Issue Is there a native solution in Continuum to totalize the hours of presence of a person in an area? Or must I do a PE program for each personnel which will calculate the time between the arrival time and the leaving time?   Environment Time and Attendance CyberStation ACX and/or AC-1 family of controllers Cause Is there a native solution in Continuum to totalize the hours of presence of a person in an area? Or must I do a PE program for each personnel which will calculate the time between the arrival time and the leaving time? Resolution There is no native solution in Continuum to totalize the hours a person has spent in a given area. It will require PE programming and entry and exit readers. The Security COE has a Continuum add-on called TimeTracker that may work for some applications. Learn more about Continuum Time Tracker.

Issue Windows processes are showing when continuum shuts down instead of just Cyberstation processes Environment Continuum Windows XP Windows Vista Windows 7 Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2008 Cause The Cyberstation installation has become corrupted Resolution 1. Verify that Continuum is running on a supported Windows Operating System for that version. Check the Continuum Compatibility Matrix. 2. Uninstall Cyberstation, Reboot, Reinstall

Issue Some door events are logged but not others. Environment CX9900 CX9702 CX9680 ACX5720 ACX5740 ACX781 Cause Door's Send Access Events not configured to send events Resolution In the door's Options tab, make sure the door is configured to send the event type in question. If the box is already checked, uncheck it and click on apply then check it and apply a second time, this will ensure that the controller door object is in sync with the door object in the SQL database.

Issue Is a controller reload required when upgrading from v1.74 to v1.93 or 1.94 to 2.02? Environment CyberStation v1.74,1.93 1.94 and 2.02 NetControllers, Infinet controllers Cause We will be performing an upgrade on a site from v1.74 to v1.93. or  v1.94 to 2.02 Do we need to reload every network controller? Resolution In this case it is not a requirement of the CyberStation upgrade that dictates if a controller reload will be required. However, in order to keep the CyberStation and controller versions compatible, a flash upgrade of some controllers may be required. (Refer to Continuum Software and Firmware Compatibility Matrix)  The process of doing a flash upgrade usually requires a reload and is generally a good idea. There are some cases where a minor version upgrade (for only a bug fix, for example) in a controller with a valid flash backup will not require a reload because the controller will reload itself automatically from flash. Even if you think a reload is not required make sure you edit a few objects in the controller after the flash upgrade. If you get an error that the object cannot be found, reload the controller and then do a flash backup. Additionally, a planned "outage"  is a good opportunity to reload a controller that may not have been reloaded in a while. It would be better to know right after the upgrade if there is a problem, than to find out after you leave the site. The Infinet controllers typically do not need to be reloaded - but make sure you test a few infinet controller alarms on all upgraded network level controllers.  

Issue When trying to change the value of point or change the description of a point and save and refresh, Continuum gets Save Object Error with the message of "You have attributes that have not been applied. Do you want to apply them  now?" Environment Continuum LAN Workstation Continuum SU Workstation Cause There is not enough disk space available on the SQL DB Server. Resolution Secure disk space by deleting old log data in ContinuumDB or delete unnecessary files from the SQL DB Server.

Issue When trying to change the value of point or change the description of a point and save and refresh,  Continuum gets Save Object Error with the message of "You have attributes that have not been applied. Do you want to apply them now?" Environment Continuum LAN workstation. Continuum SU workstation Cause Not enough available disk space on SQL DB Server PC Resolution Secure disk space ContinuumDB on the SQL DB Server PC by deleting old data from log tables such as ExtendedLog, AccessEvent, AlarmEvent, ActivityEvent, or ErrorEvent tables.

Issue How does Continuum calculate the average value when a point is configured with an Average LogType. Environment Log TrendI Infinity Controller NetController CX i2 TCX SCX Cause It is often important for the end user to know how log values are calculated in cases where trend log data may be audited. Resolution Point values are sampled stored and calculated at the controllers level, not at the Cyberstation level.  The point logging process is not dependent on the scan time of the controller and is therefore unaffected by a controllers scan time. The controller stores the most recent data polled as its data sample. The smallest interval that we can log data is 1 second.  Even when an average log type is selected, a log with a 1 second interval is essentially a non averaged log since each calculation would take one sample/second and divide it by interval in seconds (1). With points logged with an average log type at intervals that are > 1 second, each second the most recent data sample added to the summed value. The sample values are added together, (each new sample is added to the stored sample value) and the sum is divided by the number of samples taken (which would also equal the number of seconds in the log interval).  A controller calculates average point values using a weighted average algorithm at the end of the log interval period. A controller does not retain data samples when the log period ends, but rather it begins to assemble a completely new collection of sample data at the start of each interval period.