Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Manually add individual components to a Component Library Environment TGML Graphics Editor Cause Components are sometimes stored as a file type TGMLCOMPONENT File with the extension .tgmlcomponent file. Resolution Open the Graphics Editor and Select a Component Category you wish to add components to Open Windows Explorer and browse to the .tgmlcomponent files. Drag the file(s) from Windows Explorer to the the TGML Graphics Editor Component Category window. Click OK or press enter to acknowledge each file as it is added.

Issue The Modbus communication stops from time to time, and never gets back until the COM port is reconfigured. The device is still online; it is only the values that will not update. This is usually only an issue if Modbus groups are used. Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment SmartStruxure 1.5 Automation Server Cause If a trendlog with a very long sample time (e.g. 1 hour) is set to log a point and nothing else is bound to the Modbus device, all values from the device will be updated at the same interval as the trendlog. This is solved in newer versions. Resolution Add a single Modbus point to a new Modbus group. Set the group poll rate to the same as the Device poll rate. To enable polling of the Modbus point, add an alarm that will not activate. This will result in polling of the device at the group poll rate.

Issue How many Function block can i add under a Local node Environment Struxureware Server (1.6) Cause Struxureware was built around that 50 function block should be supported under a local node Resolution Struxureware was built around that 50 function block should be supported under a local node however we never added a limit so you can add more, this is however not supported.

Issue The historical reads will fail from time to time due to process data failure Environment Report Server 1.6.0 and below Cause This is due to the ValueAfter and ValueBefore column in the tbEvents table of Reports db. ValueAfter and ValueBefore Columns were designed as float datatype, When the Reporting Agent tries to convert the NeuronId of a LonWorks device (which is one of the data for ValueAfter and Valuebefore Columns) as a float then this issue occurs. Due to this Reporting Agent will trigger the ES Read again. Resolution With the change of ValueAfter and ValueBefore to nVarChar datatype, the issue gets solved. These changes are included in Web reports 1.6.1. 

Issue 'TotalHistoricalRecords read so far' counter in the reporting agent log does not match the number of records read. Below is an example taken from a Reporting agent log: INFO 2014-12-09 10:41:18 - TotalHistoricalRecords read so far = 59 INFO 2014-12-09 10:41:18 - The log has IncludeInReports = true INFO 2014-12-09 10:41:18 - Trend LoggArray.FirstRecordInSource= 1 INFO 2014-12-09 10:41:18 - Trend LoggArray.LastRecordInSource= 9797 INFO 2014-12-09 10:41:18 - Last record stored in reports database = 9780 INFO 2014-12-09 10:41:18 - Getting records from server: start sequence = 9781, Number of recordsrequested = 17 INFO 2014-12-09 10:41:18 - TotalHistoricalRecords read so far = 75 In this case 17 records are requested: 9797-9780 = 17. Counter for 'TotalHistoricalRecords read so far' = 59 before getting logs. After getting logs, 'TotalHistoricalRecords read so far' = 75. 75-69 = 16.  Environment SmartStruxure WebReports Enterprise Server  Cause This is caused by 'null' values in the extended trend log being read. Any value that equals 'null' in the extended trend log will not be added to the WebReports SQL database. Resolution None. The product is working correctly.

Issue All Script programs in the AS have status unloaded. How do I get them working again? Environment Struxureware Building Operation 1.5. Cause A script program had an output binding that was linked to a PVR block in a Function block program. It looks like on the server boot up, the script engine tries to start up before the function block engine does and when an output of a script sees that the binding is null, it throws an exception and shuts down the script engine. This only seems to be a problem when binding a script programs output to any PV type in a function block program. Resolution  Bind to a Numeric output instead of a PVR block in the function block program.

Issue After changing the sa password in SQL Server Management Studio, subsequent logon attempts fail. Environment SQL Server 2008 Cause It appears that SSMS retains the last saved password in its cache when the Remember Password checkbox is selected, even when the new password is entered into the password field. Resolution Deselect the Remember Password checkbox and login to SSMS. 

Issue Does the Niagara R2 Transition Tool convert graphics? Environment Niagara R2 StruxureWare Building Operation Cause Product inquiry Resolution The tool does not convert graphical images.  It does convert bindings to inputs of a GxPage.  See the R2 Transition Guide (F-27835) for more details.  An excerpt from the guide follows: 3.4.3 GxPage The TAC I/A Series R2 GxPage object is converted to a Building Operation Graphic object. The converted Graphic object contains a Dynamic Text object for each dynamic Gx object at the coordinates of the corresponding Gx object from the GxPage. The Dynamic Text objects in the Building Operation Graphic are named to match the corresponding Gx objects from the GxPage. Graphical images from the GxPage are not converted to the Building Operation database. Bindings to inputs of the GxPage are converted to the Building Operation database as links to the corresponding Dynamic Text objects within the converted Graphic.

Issue Niagara R2 Transition Tool list of R2 Functionality that transitions and does not transition Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation, TAC IA Series Environment Niagara R2 StruxureWare Building Operation Cause Quick Reference Resolution From page 15 of the R2 Transition Tool Guide (F-27835): TAC I/A Series R2 Functionality That is Transitioned Certain functionality is transitioned to Building Operation: Common control functions BACnet/IP network BACnet MS/TP networks 1 and 2 BACnet MS/TP networks 3 and 4 as routed networks BACnet device objects BACnet shadow objects Container and object tree structure LonWorks Service LonWorks networks LonWorks device objects V2.x Standard MNL LON devices V3.x Standard MNL LON devices V4.x Standard MNL LON devices and associated application files MNL-800 LON devices and associated application files R2 Local LON Device SNVTs Many type conversion, LON multiplexer and demultiplexer objects IbsASDNetwork Service ASD network ASD Device objects TAC I/A Series R2 Functionality Not Transitioned Not all UNC functionality can be transitioned to Building Operation. This functionality is listed in the Objects report. Functionality that is not transitioned includes: BACnet Ethernet network User accounts Address book Security Trigger mechanisms TRIPL program object runtime Object bundling Command objects Right-click commands Communications other than BACnet, ASD, or LonWorks Configurable routers and repeaters LON manufacturer specific control and conversion objects External LON Network Management Tool support UNC physical points (UNC-410 NDIO)

Issue Bindings on every I/NET point in a converted graphic show the Server 1 instead of the correct server name Environment StuxureWare Building Operation Workstation I/NET 2.42 or higher Cause The INET Interface path parameter set in the Export INET Graphics to TGML converter does not revert to default after each conversion.   If the parameter is set to: /Server 1/INET Interface All binds will use that path even if the Server is named 'Building 1' Resolution OPTION 1 - Reconvert Graphics Change the INET Interface path to reflect the correct location. The most common is: ~/INET Interface The '~' symbol points the remainder of the path to the Server that the user is logged into during the import. If the user is not logged into the correct server, this may cause errors. INET Interface is the default name of the I/Net Interface but can be changed. For a site where the I/NET interface is named 'INET' and the Server is name 'Enterprise Server' the INET interface path could be set to: /Enterprise Server/INET OR ~/INET Option 2 - Change Server Name If every path on the I/NET interface references the incorrect server name: Change the Server Name to match the bindings Verify that the bindings now function with the matching Server Name Change the Server Name back to the desired name. The bindings should follow the name change.

Issue Want to make a phone call and send a voice message when in an alarm condition. Environment Alarm actions, ES, AS Cyberstation b3 controllers Cause There is no option within SBO or Cyberstation to record or send a voice message on alarm. Resolution To send a voice message when an alarm conditions is detected a third party Autodialler will be required. Autodiallers are available as add on's to the security alarm panels, they have digital inputs that when active can make a call to one or more numbers and send out a pre-recorded voice message. The products are usually sold for a specific country with the appropriate telecoms approvals for the location. An example of this type of product is: http://www.coopersecurity.co.uk/products/productsindex.aspx?intProductID=209&intTab=0   Within the controllers Script or Plain English programming the alarm condition can be detected and a digital output relay switched to trigger the autodialler to make the phone call.

Issue Unable to use Windows domain login to WebReports. Environment StruxureWare Building Operation WebReports Cause Windows domain login is not currently a feature that can be used with WebReports. Resolution The use of Windows domain login to WebReports has been entered as a future enhancement request but it is not currently assigned to a version.  UPDATE: As of EBO 2.0 the change request has NOT yet been implemented.

Issue In for example TAC Vista it was possible to specify the subnet/node address when adding a Lon device, is it possible to do this in any way in StruxureWare Building Operation(SBO)? Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment StruxureWare Building Operation version 1.6.1 and earlier Cause In version 1.6.1, this is not possible. Resolution The plan is to add this functionality to SBO version 1.7.

Issue When using the SmartStruxure Interface, is it necessary to configure any DCOM or firewall settings to run TAC Vista and SmartStruxure on different computers? What protocol is used for communication between the SmartStruxure interface for TAC Vista and the ES? Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation, TAC Vista Environment TAC Vista server TAC Vista SmartStruxure Interface SmartStruxure Enterprise Server (ES) Cause Communication issues between interface and SBO Resolution Only HTTP/HTTPS are used. You can configure the interface to use only one of the protocols. You can also configure what ports to use.

Issue Tips to speed up saved searches in StruxureWare Building Operation Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment StruxureWare Workstation Cause Searches take a large set of objects and check them against text matching and then against conditions. The more you can eliminate before checking text or conditions the better. Resolution Whenever possible use the following methods to speed up searches Use the 'In folder' field to avoid searching too large a section of the system Do not include properties or sub-servers when they are not needed Specify the smallest subset of type you are able to. For example, if you only want Extended Trend Logs, do not use the Base Trend Log object.

Issue When installing SE7000/SE8000 Room Controllers to connect them to a BACnet MS/TP network, multiple issues can arise: Leaving the Room Controller's COM address at 254 (default value out of the box) will make the room controller undiscoverable by the front end. Choosing a Com address value between 128 to 253 will cause the front end system to convert the com address to 127, causing duplicates when working with multiple Room Controllers. Room controllers with COM address set to 0 will prevent the front end from discovering any devices Product Line EcoStruxure Building Expert, EcoStruxure Building Operation, Other Environment SE8xxx Room controller SE8000 Series SER8300, SE8300, SE8350, SE8600 Viconics branding VT8000 Series SE7000 Series Controllers, VT7000 Series Controllers, 7600, 7300, 7200 Cause Master devices, those who participate in the token-passing protocol, must be addressed from 1 to 127. Addresses from 128 to 253 are reserved for slaves who do not participate in the token passing; however, they can occupy lower addresses as well. Resolution COM address must be changed to a value in the range of 1-127.

Issue Unable to control an I/NET DO object from a TGML graphic in HTML5, works in Workstation and Java based webstation Environment WebStation Cause The data type may not be correct.  The value should be written to PvControl as either a 0 or a 1.  If this is set as a string data type, Workstation can correct for this error, but HTML5 is less forgiving. Resolution locate the line of javascript where you write the value to the bind. this is typically a setValue(bind, value) function. bind = the full bind name of the pvControl binding. value = the value that is intended to be written to the pvControl bind. One line before the setValue command, enter the line " parseFloat(value)"  - This will convert that value to float. If the value is a 0 or a 1, the setValue command will now correctly set the I/NET value.

Issue Is it supported to do an export from for example StruxureWare Building Operation version1.4 and import into version 1.6? Environment StruxureWare Building Operation Cause It is always allowed to export from an earlier version and import to a later version but not the opposite way. With one exception in StruxureWare Building Operation version 1.7 exports from version 1.0, 1.1 and 1.2 will not be supported. The workaround if having a export file this old is to import it in version 1.6 and then export from there to 1.7. Resolution It is allowed to export from an earlier version and import to a later version but not the opposite way

Issue When trying to upgrade the database, the following error occurs: ESDatabaseUpgradePrepare returned: -1 Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Enterprise Server Automation Server Cause There is an issue with System default workspace_copy in StruxureWare Building Operation v1.4 that can cause an upgrade to fail. When the ES Installer fails  ("ESDatabaseUpgradePrepare returned: -1"), you have to localize the "dump.log" file on disk: C:\ProgramData\Schneider Electric StruxureWare\Building Operation 1.5\Enterprise Server\db_backup\dump\dump.log and check if this file contains an error message in this style: WARNING:　Error: Type_Error (0xd001a), module Impex(57), moduleCode 0, dispString "~/System/Domains/Builders/Workspaces/System default workspace_copy", techString "Cannot find declared instance in parents type." and then this: ERROR: Exception encountered while reading db objects or writing objects to dump file: RecoverableException: d:\dev\rb-dev-dbexport142-system\source\packages\commons\components\C3Po\utilities\impex\source\ImpexContext.cpp(248) Error: Type_Error (0xd001a), module Impex(57), moduleCode 0, dispString "~/System/Domains/Builders/Workspaces/System default workspace_copy", techString "Object is not populated with a declared instance template!" NOTE: In this example we use the domain name "Builders" and workspace name "System default workspace_copy" in your case this names can be different since it is a user that creates and names this instance. Resolution As you can see in the Error above ""~/System/Domains/Builders/Workspaces/System default workspace_copy"," the issue lies with System default workspace_copy that is related to the domain "Builders".   The copy paste issue has corrupted the workspace and only way is to remove the whole domain "Builders" and then upgrade. In your case the domain name and the workspace name can be something different since this is a name you choose when creating a domain and/or a workspace. For now we do not have a fix for this defect but the above workaround is valid.

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 How do I put a different application in an existing MNL controller under an AS? Environment AS with MNL controllers Cause An incorrect application has been installed in a device. Resolution First, the correct application must exist in the WorkPlace Tech editor list.   Expand the System Tree to expose the MNL device to be changed and the Application file under it.  Right click on Application and select delete.  Now right click on the MNL controller select MNL and Assign application and assign the correct application from the list. Once assigned right click on the controller select MNL and select Download application.