Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Sending the results of a Listview to a Report.   Product Line Andover Continuum   Environment CyberStation   Cause Available options are not commonly known   Resolution There are two ways to display the contents of a Listview in a Report.   The first method is to create a Report and set its data source to 'Listview'.  Then in the filter tab add the desired Listview as a filter. Please note that only ONE list view can be added. When the Report executes it populates data from the Listview object.   The second method is to create an HTML Report template Then the HTML Report in the Listview's Report Template field In this case the report can be invoked right from the Listview

Issue In a Vista system how do you get alarm sounds on only selected alarms Product Line TAC Vista Environment Vista 5.x.x Cause It is not clearly defined how to associate alarm sounds to a specific set of alarms. Resolution To add alarm sounds to specific alarms in Vista follow these steps. Locate the alarms that are required to sound and alarm at the PC. Set a unique ID that will be able to be filtered on. A good example would be use a unique alarm priority. Priority 7 has been used in this example. Add a new Alarm Viewer in Your Vista  Database. Right click on the new Alarm Viewer and select properties then select the Alarm Priorities tab. Add the priority 7 to the viewer. This will allow only alarms with priority 7 to be displayed in this viewer.   Then set that Alarm Viewer to sound on an alarm. In the new Alarm Viewer right click in the alarm area and select customize. Then select the Miscellaneous tab and check the Alarm Buzzer option. This will result in a new alarm viewer that only receives priority 7 alarms and will trigger the alarm buzzer when an alarm is received. This Alarm Viewer will need to be added to the program settings of the user. To change the alarm sound use the Window's Sound option (found in Control Panel) and locate the Vista alarm sound. You can then browse to a new sound if required. A tool has been developed to streamline this process: TAC Vista Alarm Notifier

Issue Webclient fails to send alarm events (using Outlook). This happens every few days. The Windows event viewer on the IIS (Webclient) server has a few errors happening at the same time. Errors include Continuum losing connection to the database and going into 'no database mode'. Then it restores the connection after few minutes. At almost the same time an error occurs related to 'accdataservices.exe'. Also, an error occurs indicating that Outlook has failed to communicate with the exchange server. Environment Webclient v1.74, v1.81, v1.82, v1.90 MS Outlook MS Exchange Cause Continuum will randomly stop sending emails for alarms that are configured to send emails. Manually sending of emails from Outlook still works but CyberStation will not send out the message. There are no Outlook errors posted in the Windows Event Viewer and there are no Cyberstation error messages related to email. Resolution There are hotfixes, for some of the above versions, to fix this issue.  Contact Product Support Services if you need these hotfixes. Note: Versions 1.91 and higher have the updated code. 

Issue Can Inovonics wireless equipment be used with Xenta Servers? Environment Xenta Servers Xenta 511, 527, 555, 701, 711, 721, 731, 913 Cause The Inovonics Frequency Agile product line which is compatible with the Xenta Server driver is being obsoleted by the manufacturer Inovonics at the end of 2011. Resolution If you have existing devices installed in the field then they should continue to work and function. New installations should explore other options for wireless sensors due to unavailability from the manufacturer. The ability to add a RS232 wireless Inovonics interface was removed from XBuilder beginning in version 5.1.8.

Issue Personnel are not deleting properly using a stand alone database in 1.82 and above Environment Continuum 1.82 Continuum 1.9x SQL Express 2005 (Stand Alone) Windows XP Windows Vista Windows 7 Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2008 Cause There is a different mechanism used to delete personnel in SQL Express than was used in previous versions of Stand Alone databases (MSDE). The SQL agent is no longer available in SQL Express so a combination of batch files, SQL queries and Microsoft scheduler are used to accomplish this task. Resolution Several things to check: Ensure all controllers are online (a controller offline can cause deletions to not happen) A personnel listview with the deletepending attribute indicates True A controller was not deleted No areas were deleted Expiration date is not greater than 2031 Check the access distribution view for any errors At times for permission issues not all the components for deletion are configured by the Cyberstation installation and it's necessary to troubleshoot those components. Click here for a Word document describing these components to help troubleshoot.

Issue When a specific application request exceeds the standard capability of I/NET it is sometimes possible to use XBuilder to expand possible applications. Product Line TAC INET, TAC Vista Environment I/NET XBuilder I/NET Host Tool Cause When a specific application request exceeds the standard capability of I/NET it is sometimes possible to use XBuilder to expand possible applications. Resolution This is a sample access control application to demonstrate the possibility. Minimum requirements for this are :Xenta 527 Web Server. If you wish to use Menta Programming, use a Xenta 731 or Xenta 913. Application: Customer Requests an Audible Buzzer be triggered when a door is forced open, but not shut off until the alarm has been acknowledged. Create a DO point to controller your buzzer/light/alarm indicator (buzzer DO) Create an internal AO point to function as a translator (logic AO) Add a Calc to the buzzer DO: ~(P0=C0) where P0 is the logic AO and C0 is 80 Perform a Station save In XBuilder, create a project for the 527 Web Server Insert or re-insert the I/NET network Add a connection object Drag the Flags attribute of the Doors DO point to the "from" part of the connection object Drag the Value attribute of the logic AO point to the "to part of the connection object Generate the Project and Send to Target. The response time of the buzzer coming on or going off is dependent on the Scan interval of the buzzer DO.  The reason it works is that the flag attribute of the Door point will equal exactly 80 if you have an alarm flag and the point is still in alarm (the alarm has a value of 64 and unack has a value of 16 totaling 80. See Decoding the I/NET signal "flags" attribute for more information). The door point will stay in alarm until it is acknowledged so this will stay at 80 until someone acknowledges the alarm, or puts the point in Manual/Test.  The Buzzer will not activate if the point is in Manual or Test The above solution will trigger off any alarm specified from the door editor (Door Open To Long, Door Forced, Bad Card read, etc).  Turn off the other possible alarms, or create an addition internal point labeled Door Forced.  The Door DO point can trigger an event sequence based on Forced door to control the additional point. If you do this the calc will need to be modified to ~((P0=C0)|(P0=C1)|(P0=C2))  C0=16 C1-64 C2=80. This will allow for the buzzer to be on until the point has been acknowledged and return to normal

Issue bCX4040 has trouble staying online, taking a reload. Environment bCX4040 Cause BCX4040 is shown online in web browser but offline in Continuum. When resetting the controller from web browser, the controller comes online for a short time in Continuum but unable to take a reload (transaction time out). Also, it's not showing up when performing find new BACnet device. Resolution There's more than one issue that can cause this symptom. In this case the controller error log had over 5000 entries in less than 2 days. All the same error: 1 W 10/09/2011 22:26:55.26 0x00001408 0x04e51900 0x02111cfe 0x000001fc 0x00000e48 The '1408' corresponding error text is 'Not enough memory'. There was a T-tap on the bCX's MSTP -  for another enclosure with b38xx controllers, approximately 25 meters away. Once reconnected as a daisy-chain the problem was solved.

Issue Getting "completion event failure" when doing a commission and download to a Xenta server running as a Lon device in Vista. Environment Vista 5.1.6 Xenta server 5.1.6 Cause If the Xenta 913 have the same IP address(which can happen if it is used as a Xenta server with lon units under it before the Vista will set subnet/node to either 1/126 or 1/127 ) as the lon network typically 1/126 or 1/127 you need to change it using for example Lonmaker. It is not possible with Vista or webpage in Xenta server. You can check the subnet/node in the webpage for the Xenta server under Utilities-Lonworks-domain table. Resolution Change the subnet/node either for the lon network in Vista or for the Xenta server

Issue Unknown meaning of object status numbers and descriptions Product Line Andover Continuum Environment Continuum Cyberstation Cause Continuum uses object status numbers and descriptions for diagnostics.  A list of these enumerations is required. Resolution See file Stsvc.txt in the Continuum directory In Continuum Versions 1.5 and higher, a new database attribute exists. This new attribute is "ObjectStatus". When the value of an object in the Continuum system is greater than zero, then an indicator icon is placed on that object in the explorer view. This indicator icon is also placed on the parent object and subsequent parent objects as applicable. This indicator icon will reveal the reason it has been placed on the object when you place your mouse over the indicator icon. This ObjectStatus attribute value is a bitwise type of attribute. ObjectStatus values and their descriptions: 0   - No mouseover, display normal 1   - Requires a Save from Controller (Parent) 2   - Requires a Save from Controller (Child) 4   - Requires a Flash Backup 8   - Object must be reloaded 16  - Object has been offline edited 32  - Object has been offline created 64  - Flash backup disabled 128 - OS update fail Combination values will display more than one description.  For example, 144 would display OS Update Fail and Object Has Been Offline Edited

Issue Workplace Commissioning Tool is showing a yellow triangle with red exclamation point on an MNB-1000 controller icon. Environment WorkPlace Commissioning Tool version 5.x.x MNB-1000 controller Cause The yellow triangle icon indicates that there is a firmware or Remote I/O Status issue on the RIO bus of that MNB-1000 controller. Resolution There are three ICON overlay symbols that can be displayed over the device icon in the WorkPlace Commissioning Tool.  These symbols are defined in the Device Icons table of Chapter 1 of the I/A Series MicroNet Commissioning Tool manual, F-27358.  Further information regarding the reason for the display of the Remote I/O Warning (yellow triangle with exclamation point) is found in Table 6.1 of that manual.  This document is installed along with the WorkPlace Tech Tool software package and can be accessed from the Help menu of the Commissioning Tool. Any R-I/O module status except Communicating OnLine is reported with the warning symbol being displayed overlaying the MNB-1000 device icon.

Issue Presented with a message saying the activation was completed but "The license file could not be found". The license was then not activated. Product Line EcoStruxure Security Expert Environment Security Expert License Activation Cause This is a credential issue. What happens during a license update is that the license is downloaded to ..\ProgramData\Schneider Electric\SecurityExpert\License folder and is then loaded from that location. If the current Windows user doesn't have the correct permissions to write or read from that folder then the process will fail and we will get the error message Resolution Go to the C:\ProgramData\Schneider Electric\SecurityExpert\License location and right-click on the folder white space and select properties.  This will bring up the properties window of the folder "License" shown in the screenshot below.  Go to the Security tab and ensure that the SYSTEM and Users accounts have  the same permissions set as what is shown in the screenshot below (specifically read and write permissions).

Issue Receive an error, "Invalid Device " when trying to download an application to an I/A Series LonMark controller with Workplace Tech. Product Line TAC IA Series Environment I/A Series LonMark (MNL-5Rxx, MNL-10Rxx, MNL-20Rxx, MNL-11RFx, MNL-13RFx, MNL-V1RVx, MNL-V2RVx, MNL-V3Rvx) Workplace Tech Cause Typically, this situation occurs when a user runs the Hardware Wizard in Workplace Tech and then downloads a controller without recompiling the application. Resolution See Technical Bulletin TB06-01 for detailed information and a solution.

Issue Field office needs to access the Web Service page so that they can perform an Ethernet network packet capture for communications troubleshooting purposes. Environment MNB-1000 with firmware 1.50E and earlier only. Cause Field office needs to access the Web Service page so that they can  perform an Ethernet network packet capture for communications troubleshooting purposes. Resolution The Web Service page has been removed from the MNB-1000 Plant Controller firmware effective with release version 1.510.  The user-name is user The password is mnb1000

Issue How is the mac address (ethernet id) of the Continuum master controllers calculated? Product Line Andover Continuum Environment bCX CX9200 CX9400 CX9900 CX9600 CX9702 CX9680 ACX5720 ACX5740 Cause Mac address must be unique. Resolution The controller mac address is assigned at the factory. The first three numbers (0:40:11) are fixed and represent the manufacturer, the next three numbers ar5e the unit's serial number converted to hex. Example: Manufacturer = 0:40:11 SN = 557746 which converted to hex = 882b2 Mac address = Manufacturer + SN ~ 0:40:11:8:82:b2   Windows calculator has a programmer mode that can be used to convert from decimal to hex.

Issue How to configure a Pinpoint button to open a PDF file. Environment CyberStation Cause How does one open a PDF from Pinpoint? Resolution Use an active button control. See attached screenshot for an example of launching the file c:\3.pdf with Adobe Reader X

Issue When defining configuration on SE7300 part no, your choice is between "0" (override) and "5" (possibility to change between °C and °F in interface). Environment SE7300 Cause its not possible to have both override and °C/°F feature Resolution When defining the part number, you will have to choose. The override feature is usually the preferred choice in industrial applications, while the °C/°F feature is used for Hotels and similar, where users are given the possibility to change unit of desired temperature.

Issue During the installation of the WorkPlace Tech Tool release 5.8 software, the following error is displayed: Environment Windows 7, Visio 2007sp2 WorkPlace Tech Tool release 5.8 installation Cause The message will be displayed if no Microsoft Office 2010 components have been installed on the computer. Resolution If Microsoft Office 2010 or any of its individual products including Word-2010, Excel-2010, Visio-2010, etc.,  have not been installed on the computer, the message can be ignored.  The Microsoft Office 2010 component upgrade failed because the no upgradable components were not found by the installer.  Click the [Yes] button to continue the installation.

Issue When installing Loytec NIC software the USB driver installation fails. Installing USB Drivers Failed LOYTEC NIC Driver Installer Error Installing USB Drivers: Could not pre-install Drivers Environment Windows Server 2003 setup on a domain. Cause The admin rights of the user is causing driver installation failure Resolution Even though you are logged on as a domain administrator the installation process fails at the USB driver stage. If you run the installation process by right mouse click on the exe file and then select run as. Then select the local administrator account the USB drivers will be installed correctly. Here are the screen captures of this process  

Issue Configuration of the OPC Server PC DCOM settings. Environment Sigma ModBMS OPC Server DCOM Matrikon Cause The OPC values could be viewed correctly via an OPC client on the local PC, but could not be viewed by another OPC client across the network. Resolution Configure the OPC Server PC as detailed in the Matrikon OPC document. Click HERE to download this document. To download the Matrikon OPC Client software, please click HERE. Having configured the OPC Server PC DCOM settings, start the MatrikonOPC Explorer programme. In "Network Neighborhood" locate the OPC server PC, and select "ModBMS-OPCserver" Using the RH mouse button, select "Add Group" from the menu. Name as required. Add the required tags to the group. Validate the Tags Using the RH mouse button de-select "Use Async I/O"   The OPC value is now displayed.

Issue Effects of leap year with schedules and BMS Product Line Andover Continuum, TAC INET Environment I/NET Site Continuum Site Time, calendar, Gregorian Calendar Cause Leap year adjustment in calendar Resolution I/NET: I/NET will not be affected by Leap Year occurrence if DST and Time Sync is correct in the host computer. For Time Sync errors, please refer to Time Sync Error, Daylight Saving setup, please refer to Configuring Daylight Savings Time. Continuum: Continuum will not be affected by Leap Year occurrence to controllers or scheduling if the Cyberstation has the correct time. There have been no incidents in the past with regards to leap year. Leap year is no different than some months having 30 days, others having 31. More information on time sync of controllers check Time sync controllers to workstations. To sync Continuum to an external time clock read Synchronize Continuum system to external time clock.