Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue No license is available for Vista Webstation Webstation installation issues ASP.NET Authority issue Product Line TAC Vista Environment Vista Windows 2003 Windows 7 Windows 2008 R2 Cause Sometimes it is not enough to let ASP.NET be run by NetworkServices. The user LocalSystem needs to be used instead. Resolution Windows 2003:  Go to Start and administrative tools. Click Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager. Expand application Pools Right click on  "SE ASP.NET v4.0 Classic" and choose Properties. Under "Identity" choose user "LocalSystem" from the Predefined drop list. Click OK and restart webstation. Windows 7: Right click on my Computer and choose "Manage" Go to Services and Application Click on Internet Information Services Click on application pools Right click on  "SE ASP.NET v4.0 Classic" and choose Advanced settings Under "Identity" choose user "LocalSystem" Click ok Restart webstation Windows 2008R2: Go to Start and administrative tools. Click Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager. Click Application Pools under the serve Right click on SE ASP.net v4.0 Classic and choose Advanced setting. See attachment IIS manager 1 Click the button beside Identity under the process model. See attachment IIS manager 2 Change the built-in account from networkservice to LocalSystem. Click OK and restart the webserver in Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager. If the problem persists, please see Problems installing Vista Webstation 5.1.5 or newer for additional helpful information.

Issue Can't communicate with more than 1 device on LG Gateway at the same time. Updated with solution on 12/15/2017 Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment LG Gateway Model:PQNFB17C1 Firmware version: 1.11.4 Cause The gateway can only provide one source address when there are multiple device IDs. The wireshark capture confirmed that no unique source ID provided by the gateway with different device IDs. Resolution Update the firmware version to 5.08.1h Configure the "BACnet Type Setting" to "B Type".

Issue Installed the tool under Windows 10 but was unable to assign a port in the tool's connection settings because there are no ports showing in Windows Device Manager. Product Line Andover Continuum Environment RoamIO2 BACnet Service Tool Cause Windows legacy hardware configuration. Windows 10 by default does not include the legacy ports. Resolution Legacy ports must be added to the Device Manager. 1. Open Device Manager from Windows Control Panel. 2. Select 'Action' then 'Add legacy hardware' or Go to "Start" and type hdwwiz.exe then press Enter 3. Next 4. Next 5. Next 6. Select 'Ports (COM & LTP) then Next 7. Select Microsoft/Standard Serial over Bluetooth link then NEXT 8. Complete the legacy hardware installation, Device Manager will then show the ports. 9. In the Service Tool select the appropriate port.   When the connection has been established from Windows PC to RoamIO2 device, the BlueTooth settings in Windows will indicate 'Connected'  NOTE that if it only indicates paired there will be no data transfer even though the blue LED is illuminated on the RoamIO2 device. (see screenshot below)

Issue The local time inside a Xenta programmable unit is dependent upon server time, time zone, and daylight savings time settings.  Incorrect DST settings result in incorrect times in the controller which causes problems from incorrect start times on HVAC equipment, to incorrect alarm time stamps in alarm queues. Product Line TAC Vista Environment Xenta Programmables version prior to 3.74 Xenta 280, 281, 282, 283, 300, 301, 302, 401, 401:B Cause In 2007, most of the United States and Canada changed when DST is observed to the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.  Because it had never changed prior to that, programmable controllers retained the old settings (first Sunday in April to last Sunday in October). Resolution The issue was resolved with the release of firmware MOT version 3.74.  Upgrading your controllers to 3.74 is a viable solution, however not always cost effective.  There are two ways to work around the issue. Note: For information on how to download firmware to Xenta programmable devices using the Download Wizard please see Download an .MOT file into a Xenta Programmable controller. Configure TAC Xenta Central DST Settings Refer to the TAC Vista Technical Manual Chapter 19.6 In the folders pane, right-click the folder where you want to place the time event object. Point to New, point to Object, and then click Time Event – Object. Type the name. Open the time event object. On the General tab, type a description. On the Time Event Settings tab, set a suitable repeat interval, for example, first Monday in each week. Click OK. In the folders pane, right-click the folder where you want to place the Central Daylight Settings – Xenta object. Point to New, point to Object, and then click Central Daylight Settings – Xenta. Type the name. Open the Central Daylight Settings – Xenta object. Two options are available. You can use Windows start and end times for the daylight saving time or specify your own start and end times. If you want to specify your own start and end times: Clear the Use Windows settings check box. In the Daylight saving starts box, set the start time for the daylight saving time. In the Daylight saving ends box, set the end time for the daylight saving time. In the Update schedule box, browse to the time event object that triggers the push to the TAC Xenta devices. Click Select. Click OK. Note: You must select Manual DST Mode and Central DST for each controller in the system for a global change to take effect. Manually set DST Settings for each controller The DST Xenta object is not available in all versions of Vista.  If that is not an option, DST settings on each controller can be manually set for the start day and stop day.  Unfortunately, time settings do not allow for designations of "first Sunday" or "last Sunday," only calendar dates.  So each controller will have to be edited each year to maintain correct time settings. In order to facilitate this, this utility:  ODXentaTimezoneChanger was created.  It must be used each year to update the settings, but it will allow you to change all time settings on all controllers in a Vista database simultaneously, greatly reducing the time it takes to correct a system. NOTE: If the Lonworks network has not been properly commissioned & downloaded the tree will not properly communicate with the Vista Server. Check your network tree for asterisks to see if any downloads are required.

Warning Potential for Data Loss: The steps detailed in the resolution of this article may result in a loss of critical data if not performed properly. Before beginning these steps, make sure all important data is backed up in the event of data loss. If you are unsure or unfamiliar with any complex steps detailed in this article, please contact Product Support Services for assistance. Issue Is it possible to have a link on a GxPage to run an executable file to launch an external application outside of the web browser? Product Line TAC IA Series Environment I/A Series R2 graphics Firefox web browser Cause To launch an external application via a link on graphics page in a web browser. Resolution It is not possible to launch an external application from an I/A Series R2 GxPage. Two suggested workarounds are as follows. Create a hyperlink on a GxPage that links to a standard HTML web page. There would be a link to run a script on the standard HTML page to launch the external application. If the site graphics has a HTML tree created, create a new link in the tree which will run a script to launch an external application. * Take note that the HTML web page with the script link has to reside on the same computer as the external application. As an example the following script and procedure which will launch an external application in a Firefox web browser. In this case, the script will launch Windows notepad.exe. This method has been provided as a workaround but you should use and troubleshoot any information given below at your own discretion. Example of a script to launch an Notepad in Firefox: Right Click on this link and select "Save target as" to download this script as a text file We also need to configure Firefox to allow Java script to run. Run Firefox and type in 'about:Config' at the address field. Set the 'signed.applets.codebase_principle_support' to true. Be careful not to make any other changes. NOTE: This script and browser configuration may or may not work in other web browsers. Further changes may be required for this functionality in any other web browser other than Firefox.

Issue User is not being logged out of the Keypad after the log out time. Product Line EcoStruxure Security Expert Environment Security Expert SX-KLCS (Security Expert Keypad) Cause The User had an access level with a Menu Group that had the "Installer Menu Group" option enabled. This option disables the logout time for the keypad so the user is not logged out while the system is being configured. Resolution 1. Disable the "Installer Menu Group" option under the associated Groups | Menu Groups | Option menu; 2. Which will allow the keypad to log the user out after the (10s) "Time User Is Logged In (Seconds)" [2] value set under Expanders | Keypads | Configuration.

Issue A method to remove access from a large number of Personnel by changing the Expiration Date using a Template. Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum Access Control Cause Need to know how to disable large numbers of Personnel at one time using the Personnel Expiration Date. Resolution The Personnel Expiration Date is distributed down to the Controllers and used to allow or deny access at the Door. If a future date is set then the Personnel has normal access, if a past date has been set then they do not have access and a "Person Expiration Date Passed" error will be displayed when they are refused access. See the steps below on how to use a template to mass set this Expiration Date field for a large number of Personnel at the same time.   1. Create a Personnel Template in the Personnel Templates Folder. Notice that the Expiration Date defaults to a future date of "12/31/2099 11:59:59 AM". 2. Go to the Attribute Data Source tab and set the ExpirationDate attribute to InheritFromTemplate. 3. Use this Template to create your Personnel objects. 4. Notice that Personnel created from this template should show the Expiration Date in Blue which is also un-editable in the Details tab. 5. Edit the Template and change the Expiration Date to a date that has already past. After saving the Template the changes will be made to all attached Personnel and those Personnel distributed to all online controllers. Viewing the Distribution Properties, you should see an entry for each object refreshed by the Template. 6. Looking at the Access Distribution View you should see that the Personnel have been redistributed down to the controllers successfully. 7. Test your Personnel at the Door and they should no longer have access. Looking in an active Event View you can see that the Personnel are not being granted access with the Message "Person Expiration Date Passed". When setting the ExpirationDate back to a future time they will now have normal access.

Issue Unable to access SE8000 parameters as shown in the user interface guide. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Expert Environment   SE8000 Cause Parameters to configure SE8000 are inaccessible Resolution To access SE8000, touch and hold the top middle screen until the thermostat display the SETUP menu. If the thermostat requests a password, please refer to your local customer care team for password combination.

Issue Double click on a point in Vista. The Edit Properties window should pop up allowing you to view the value, set the Forced-By-Operator setting, and set the forced value. Sometimes double clicking it does not open any window. Product Line TAC Vista Environment Vista Workstation Double or dual monitor Cause The Edit Properties window is popping up off of the screen. Either it was dragged off of the screen accidentally or a second monitor was removed or is not accessible through remote connections. Resolution To display the dialog on the main screen: Double click a point in Vista. Do not click on anything else. The invisible Edit Properties window should be the current window. Press three keystrokes in this order: Alt + Space + X.  This is the Windows hotkey combination to the File menu, and will maximize the current window on the monitor. Possibly try hitting the Alt key twice. This brings the current window to the front. Alt + Space bar, then select Move with the mouse, after a tap of any arrow key, the mouse should lock onto the window allowing you to move it To prevent this from happening in the future: Download the TAC Vista Dialog Position Reset utility. Unzip and double click the executable file to run. Hit the Reset button.

Issue When the TE2 has been added to an MPM controller and the required Zigbee setting entered, the controller will not come online. The TE2 has been setup and joined the Zigbee network shown by a solid blue light on the front. The settings in the MPM have been entered correctly and the number from the label on the TE2 has been used as the ID. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Expert Environment SmartStruxure Lite Multi-Purpose Manager SEC-TE (TE2) Cause It has been seen that the Extended Node ID sticker on the back of the TE2 is missing or has incorrect digits. Resolution Use the comm log on the MPM by pressing the service button on the TE2 for 6 seconds. This broadcasts the TE2 Extended node ID. That ID can then be copied to the Zigbee setup for correct communication.

Issue Need an example on how to program a required action where a Door Switch activation triggers alarm sounder to turn on and stay on until a Key Switch is closed. Product Line EcoStruxure Security Expert Environment Security Expert Cause Require a programming example. Resolution There may be a number of ways of doing this, one solution is to have a Door Switch trigger an alarm in the Door's Area which triggers an Alarm Output to turn on. A Key Switch Input is linked to another Automation Area that will disarm the Door's Area which turns off the Alarm Output.   In this example we will use the following objects: Input        Door_Switch_Input Input        Key_Switch_Input Output        v_Alarm_Output        (a virtual output for this test) Area        Door_Opened_Area Area        Area_Automation Input Type        KeySwitch_InputType   Setup 1. Create an Output, in my example this is virtual output v_Alarm_Output. 2. If not already created create the Area your Door is located, in my example I created Door_Opened_Area.   3. On the CONFIGURATION tab set the alarm timings to 0. 4. On the OUTPUTS tab set the Alarm Memory Output to your alarm output. 5. create the Area that will be used as an automation area to reset the door alarm. In my example I created Area_Automation for this purpose.   6. On the CONFIGURATION tab set the alarm timings to 0. 7. Create a new Input Type, in my example this is KeySwitch_InputType. On the GENERAL tab set the Control Area to the area with your door switch in it. (Door_Opened_Area) 8. On the OPTIONS (1) tab, under MISCELLANEOUS OPTIONS, set the Disarm Control Area On Input Restore and Arm Control Area On Input Alarm options. 9. If not already created, create your door switch input. In my example this is Door_Switch_Input.   10. On the AREAS AND INPUT TYPES tab set the Area to your door area and the Input Type to Instant. 11. If not already created, create your key switch input. In my example this is Key_Switch_Input.   12. On the AREAS AND INPUT TYPES tab set the Area to your automation area and the Input Type to the input type you created earlier (KeySwitch_InputType). 13. Go to a Status Page view with these two Areas listed and disarm then arm each of them. This needs to be done after any change to the Area or objects within it (such as inputs) so they will function properly with the new changes.   Notes: KeySwitch = Closed -> Alarm disarmed (Area_Automation) KeySwitch = Open -> Alarm armed (Area_Automation) To disable alarm and reset area, KeySwitch must be Closed and then Opened. DoorSwitch needs to be closed for Alarm to be re-enabled with KeySwitch.   Usage 1. Armed normal state. 2. Door Alarmed. Door_Switch opens triggering alarm in Door_Opened_Area triggering v_Alarm_Output to turn On. 3. Alarm silenced by Key_Switch. Key_Switch is Closed triggering Door_Opened_Area to be disarmed and v_Alarm_Output to turn Off . Key_Switch is Opened triggering Door_Opened_Area to re-arm. 4. Alarm will not re-trigger again until Door_Switch is closed and Area re-armed.

Issue Integration to the Powerlogic CM4000 power meter with the Xenta 500 \ Xenta 700 \ Xenta 900 and Modbus RTU Environment Xenta 511, 527, 701, 711, 721 (5.1.5 up) Xenta 731, 913 (all versions) XBuilder Powerlogic CM4000 Power Meter Cause Disclaimer: This device template is intended to provide a starting point for an integrator, and is in no way written to be the mandatory points list for your integration effort. Product Support Services-Dallas has written this device template in an effort to give our customers a starting point and solid example of how to develop a device template for the above product. The integrator will be responsible for any additions or modifications to this device template. Please report any problems to PSS Dallas at product.support@buildings.schneider-electric.com Resolution Please us the following .dev file as a starting point and a guide to the integration. This .dev file contains a set list of registers that PSS assumed would be seen as critical and important to the integration process. If any other data is needed please see this supported document to make the necessary changes.   To use these files in Xbuilder please follow these steps: Extract the .dev file from the .zip file in the link above, and place it on your harddrive. In Xbuilder, right click on the Modbus Master device and chose Add Device Browse to the needed .dev file and choose Open. Rename the newly added device to a unique name within the Modbus Master network.

Issue Security Expert PSU has Fault Icon lit and Status Light Flashing Red Every 3 Seconds indicating an issue with PSU Addressing Product Line EcoStruxure Security Expert Environment Security Expert PSU Cause The module address 254 is the default value which all modules are shipped with and is outside the range the controller can accept. This must therefore be changed during commissioning. See Page 41 of the Operator Reference Manual for details. There is an overall limit of 250 modules that can be connected to a single controller with the following limit on each type of module: Keypad Modules: 200 Input Expanders: 248 Reader Expanders: 64 Output Expanders: 32 The module addressing is defined per module type not by the position of that module on the network. You could have all modules at the same address as long as they are all different types. Example: With the following modules we could have all modules be set to use address 1: 1 x Controller 1 x Keypad 1 x Reader Expander (In this case onboard Reader) 1 x Analogue Expander (PSU) Resolution 1. Right Click on the SP-C Controller and select Module Addressing. Change the Address of the Analog Expander (PSU) from its default value of 254 in this case to a value of 1. 2. Then Update all Modules. 3. Select the Analog Expander (PSU) in the System and also change its Physical Address to also be 1. Save the changes. 4. The PSU should now come online and the Fault Icon on the PSU will no longer be lit.

Issue Need the procedure to create an Unlock Door Schedule. Product Line EcoStruxure Access Expert Environment Version 2 Hosted Version 3 Hosted Premise Cause How to create a schedule for a door to unlock during business hours and then relock afterwards. Resolution To unlock a door or doors during a particular time, a schedule needs to be created for that duration and then assigned to the Mode of the necessary doors. The following steps describes how this should be done: 1. Create a schedule for the time duration 2. Select the particular doors from the Hardware Tree 3. Select the Mode Tab on the door editor 4. Add Mode to the Door based on what is being accomplished 5. Click on the Schedule Icon to add the necessary Schedule    6. Add Schedule, Action and Access Method  7. Save and Close the Editor 8. Once the controller verifies the configuration, the Door will follow the Mode

Issue Cardholder Nickname field is showing "Nickname" instead of data entered into 2nd cardholder when previewing badges. Product Line EcoStruxure Access Expert Environment Badge preview Nickname field Cause In Access Expert the cardholder Nickname field must have unique data within the database Resolution The Nickname field must have unique data for all card holders within an Access Expert database. Do not enter 'admin' in that field for one card holder and again for another cardholder.  What is the intended use for this field? In one case, the intended use was for Job Title and a better solution was to create a Custom Attribute of Job Title instead and to place that field in the badge layout. That way the field can have the same data in it for multiple cardholders.

Issue Controller replacement Product Line Field Devices Environment Field   Cause Controller Replacement Resolution The CXC controller provided compensated control. The CSC 5252 or CSC 5253 (With time clock) is the current replacement. Downloads The CXC data sheet can be downloaded here. The CSC data sheet can be downloaded here. The CSC User guide can be downloaded here.   Please be aware: since July 2016 the CSC compensator and other descrete controllers were withdrawn from service. To see "PA-00479 - Discrete Controllers - Notice of Withdrawal - Satchwell" click here.

Warning Potential for Data Loss: The steps detailed in the resolution of this article may result in a loss of critical data if not performed properly. Before beginning these steps, make sure all important data is backed up in the event of data loss. If you are unsure or unfamiliar with any complex steps detailed in this article, please contact Product Support Services for assistance. Issue Workstations are no longer logging all points configured for Extended Logging. Lots of these errors seen in the Errors Listview and ACCtrace. "Unable to find Extended Log records to download. This can occur when a log is added to a point through offline editing and the change is never sent to the controller." Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum Cyberstation SQL Server Management Studio Cause What has probably occurred is that in the database the point is set for extended logging but in the controller this same value is not set. It happens when the controller recovers from flash and the database stored in flash didn't have the extended log points configured or it was offline edited. This could also be due to a corrupt entry in the ExtendedLogReservation table that is stopping new points from being assigned. Resolution After the troubleshooting steps in Getting error Unable to find Extended Log records to download have been followed but were unable to resolve the problem, truncating the ExtendedLogReservation table and then rebuilding it did resolve the problem in a number of situations. Please note that this is a brute force approach that requires truncating a table using an SQL query. I want to stress that even after following the below steps to re-enable logging, each affected controller should be reloaded at some point to ensure that it has the most recent up to date information. The steps below are a quicker method of getting the logging start working right away without having to wait to reload each individual controller. The best method to disable and then re-enable the Extended Logging on the points that have it configured is to use individual Listviews filtered to show them. One of Numerics, Inputs, and Outputs. The only change required, and this is a critical one, is to change the "Live Data Refresh Rate" to 0 for each of those three Listviews. This will ensure that the view is not refreshed automatically unless we do this ourselves. See image below for details. After importing the three ListViews, follow the below steps to toggle the ExtLogEnable values for all Numerics that were currently setup to trend. Run the imported listviews, Export the results to CSV files, (do this as a backup so there is a record of what points are currently configured). Edit the listviews to disable live refresh, see attached image for exact details of what to change. [** Important **] Shut down all Cyberstations and backup the ContinuumDB. Go back and confirm that step 4 above has been done. Truncate the entire ExtendedLogReservation table and rebuild it. In SQL Management Studio, run the below query to truncate the table. truncate table ContinuumDB.dbo.ExtendedLogReservation   Start up the Cyberstation Set Workstation to Offline (workstation icon in task tray) Run each of the three Listviews, select Edit->select all, select Edit-> set attribute, set the ExtLogEnable attribute to False, Wait for the changes to take effect on all, you can see when this is done (and it may take awhile) by the tasks in the Distribution Properties window. Then select all again and set the attribute back to True, wait for this to complete. Now when you start up the Workstations you should see that the ExtendedLogReservation table gets populated and slowly start to see that some of the Workstations get assigned logs to start logging. You can see which entries are assigned to a Workstation by the value of ReservingWSLo. This will be set to 0 if no Workstation has been assigned to gather the point yet or it will assigned to the IdLo value of the Workstation that has picked it up.  

Issue Creating a bar code for Time Management and the format is not working. Product Line EcoStruxure Access Expert Environment Win 8.1 and above Premise  Hosted Version 2 Version 3 Cause Kronos Bar code scanner unable to read the format printed on the card from Access Expert Resolution BarCode in Access Expert needs to be setup accordingly and the size of the bar dictates what it will read for the scanner. The following screen shots shows how this should be set up: 1. From the General Configuration tab select Badge Types and Add New Badge Type 2. Create a card for with both front and back views, design accordingly 3. Click on the Two Sided tab then click on the Back button 4. Click on the Barcode and select the type of format you want to use, in this example I chose Code 39 5. A bar code will appear on the screen, please modify the layout so it matches existing cards from previous systems, with layout and sizing 6. Edit the expression if a card number or other field is needed such as Employee Number if Time Tracking is being utilized, default is shown here 7. Add the expression by clicking Insert and delete the 0 as can be seen below 8. Once finished click on Save and Close 9. Select a user that this format will be applied to then select the Badge Preview tab 10. This is a the format and layout of the card that can be printed and given to the user

Issue Unable to connect to on premise server from client. Attempting to connect using the "Management Client" results in error "Could not connect to net.tcp://localhost:42171/KeepManagementService. The connection attempt lasted for a span of 00:00:01.9950682. TCP error code 10061: No connection could be made because the target machine actively refused it 127.0.0.1:42171" Looking at the Keep by Feenics services NONE are running, an attempt to start the Keep by Feenics Management Service results in 13816 Unknown error code. Product Line EcoStruxure Access Expert Environment On premise server Cause The server has been relocated to different machine. As a result, the server's key code has been invalidated and a new key code is needed. Resolution Send license information to your local country support group so that the new server's key code can be generated.   In the server, go to the location where the license file is located and move the file to a temporary location.   Run the Feenic.Keep.Installer.msi and do a REMOVE then install the server software.   When prompted during installation enter the new key code provided by product support.   If the issue is resolved, the license file that was moved to temporary location can be deleted.

Issue When renaming a new Enterprise Server a validation error is received that states: "Validation failed for property 'HttpPort' Path: 'Enterprise Server/HttpPort' Type 'HttpPort' The value '0' is outside the range of allowed values Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Enterprise Server Cause Whilst this issue may at first appear to be an issue with the port assignment. It is in fact an issue with the Enterprise Server certificate. Typically this occurs when a backup containing a base configuration has been used to create the new Enterprise Server. Resolution Remove the Active certificate, please see EBO Webhelp for instructions on how to remove a certificate