Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Vista trend log links in reports are not updating after upgrading Vista. Environment Tac Vista 3.2.1 - 5.1.6 Excel 2000 - Excel 2010 Cause Compatibility issues between the different versions of Excel mean that it is not possible to upgrade the Vista version and the Excel version simultaneously. This is especially applicable when upgrading an older system (3.2.X) which runs on an older operating system with an older version of Excel. Resolution Below is a table with a suggested upgrade plan taking into account the introduction of the SQL logdatabase in Vista 4.5.0 and Vista/Excel/OS compatibility: Vista Version Excel Version SQL to Vista version Excel version SQL Comments Upgrade Plan TAC Vista 3.2.1 2000 -   3.2.1 2000 SP1 - Excel upgrade 3.2.1 2000 SP1 -   3.3.3 2000 SP1 - Vista upgrade 3.3.3 2000 SP1 -   4.0.1 2000 SP1 - Vista upgrade 4.0.1 2000 SP1 -   4.2.5 2000 SP1 - Vista upgrade 4.2.5 2000 SP1 -   4.5.0 2000 SP1 MSDE Vista/SQL upgrade 4.5.0 2000 SP1 MSDE   5.0.3 2000 SP1 2005 Vista/SQL upgrade 5.0.3 2000 SP1 2005   5.0.3 2007 2005 Excel upgrade 5.0.3 2007 2005   5.1.6 2007 2005 Vista upgrade

Issue There is an error in the date format in automatically generated reports. Environment Vista 5.1.X Excel Cause The regional settings are incorrect for the account running the TAC Vista service. Resolution Run a report manually and check that the formatting is ok. Check and make a note of  the regional and language settings for the user that is logged in. Check which account is running the TAC Vista service. Change the regional and language settings to those noted in point 2.

Issue Getting “Lost Sync with system clock - resetting control engine” warnings messages in R2 Enterprise Server? Environment Niagara R2, Enterprise Server, UNC-520, UNC-410 Cause The cause could be any one or a combination of several things listed in the resolution. Resolution The following settings should be verified in both the UNC and Enterprise Server. The following settings are for the Enterprise Server (ES): serverEnabled = true if syncing with UNC. clientEnabled = true if the ES is getting its time from an internet time sync server or site’s server. If not, clientEnabled= false. clientResetTolerance: the default is 30 sec with is too tight. Set it for a minute or more. (Remember to enter value as seconds, not minutes.) timeProtocolServer*: If clientEnabled = True, then all three slots should contain an address of a time sync server. If only one server is being used, then all three slots should be filled in with the one time sync server (same server). No slot should be left blank.   UNCs TimeSyncService settings: serverEnabled = false clientEnabled = true clientResetTolerance: the same would apply as the server timeProtocolServer*: the same would apply as the server reboot the UNC after any changes.

Issue When exporting a pointslist from VisiSat 2.1 build 148 to XBuilder (See pdf link in Resolution below), the format of the TACXBuilder.xmlm is not aligned in a manner that XBuilder fully understands. Environment Xenta VisiSat Points list Export Cause TACXBuilder.xmlm is not aligned in a manner that XBuilder fully understands. Resolution Install service pack 1 for VisiSat 2.1 build 148. For further information see TPA-LOND-08-0006.00 The Service pack for VisiSat 2.1 build 148 can be downloaded here. The current version of VisiSat is version 2.1 build 201 (September 2018) VisiSat 2.1 Build 196 can be download here. Two service packs are available: - for information and a download link for service pack 1 software click here. for information and a download link for service pack 2 software click here.

Issue Adding a "Short Form Edit" command to a User Menu. Environment BAS 2800+ BAS2800+ Short Form Edit User Menus Cause This option is not available by default. Resolution The add this option select "System Setup / User Menus" Select to create a "New Command" Complete command details as shown below. Having created this command add it to the required menus.

Issue Is it possible to use a Vista OPC server when having a Vista server standalone license? Environment TAC Vista 5.1.6 Cause With a Vista server standalone license it is not possible to use Vista server networks or Webstation or ScreenMate. Everything else works like normal. Resolution There are no issues using a Vista OPC server when having a Vista server standalone license.

Issue Graphics screens that used piping widgets in releases prior to 3.5.34 look misaligned when upgraded to 3.5.34 or greater. Environment Niagara G3 software Cause All releases prior to 3.5.34 had an alignment issue with the pipe widgets. This was overcome by manually moving the pipe widgets until they lined up.  Release 3.5.34 is the release in which this alignment issue has been corrected.  Therefore the manual adjustments made during creation are no longer needed.    Graphics with piping brought forward by a software upgrade to 3.5.34 or greater will look misaligned due to the manual adjustments that were made when they were created. Resolution Release 3.5.34 and 3.6 have correct pipe widget alignment so upgrading older piping graphics (created prior to 3.5.34) to this level will require manual alignment correction.

Issue All the alarms in Vista come to alarm receiver which are not wanted. For example, the system alarms are not wanted to be received by Alarm Receiver. Environment Vista Cause The possible cause is that the alarm control is not defined in Menta or Workstation. Resolution For Menta alarm blocks that do not have an alarm control object assigned to them or Menta alarm blocks that references a non-existing alarm control object in TAC Vista, the alarms are sent to the default alarm control object, $Alr_Cntrl. Define the specific alarm control in Menta or Workstation. Then only specific alarms will come to alarm receiver. Refer to the Chapter 18 of the TAC Vista Technical Manual.

Issue I reloaded a netcontroller in the Eastern Time Zone from a PC whose time was set to Pacific time.  Now all the controllers under this Continuum Network have their time set to Pacific time, not local time. Environment BCX NC CX ACX Cause Reloaded a controller from a workstation that was configured for a different time zone. Resolution When a controller is reloaded from a Cyberstation, the Cyberstation sets the controller time to the local time that configured in the Cyberstation PC. Once the date and time has been set, the controller broadcasts it's date and time to all of the Infinity network controllers on the same Continuum network.  These controllers in turn set their own time to the time that they received via the broadcast.

Issue ENC is licensed for DMS but gets error "Unlicensed: javax.baja.license.FeatureNotLicensedException: tac_llc:tacdms" when attempting to access the DMS Network property sheet. Environment I/A Series G3, ENC-520 with TAC-LLC license installed Cause When displaying the I/A Series G3 Platform details via the Platform Administration screen in the Workbench, the display shows the following for licensing: Licenses   Tridium.license (Tridium 3.5 - never expires)   TAC_LLC.license (TAC_LLC 3.5 - never expires) Certificates   Tridium.certificate (Tridium - never expires) This information shows that the Tridium and TAC_LLC licenses have been installed but only the Tridium certificate. The TAC_LLC license will not be recognized unless the TAC_LLC.certificate is also installed (as shown in the following platform details display. Licenses   TAC_LLC.license (TAC_LLC 3.6 - never expires)  TAC.license (Tridium 3.6 - never expires) Certificates   Tridium.certificate (Tridium - never expires)  TAC_LLC.certificate (TAC_LLC - never expires) Resolution There are two ways to resolve this issue depending on network connectivity of the G3 Workbench computer. If public ethernet connectivity is available, the licenses and certificates can be downloaded from the I/A Series G3 (Tridium) license server, using the Workbench "License Manager". Open Workbench and connect to the subject ENC. Open the Platform then select License Manager. In the License Manager, select [Import] then check "Import licenses from license server".  This process will download any available licenses for the selected device, along with any available certificates.  After the download is complete, the licenses and certificates downloaded will automatically be installed. If public ethernet connectivity is not available or the certificate is not found, download the TAC_LLC certificate from The Exchange Download Center. Use Workbench to import the downloaded file.

Issue Remote Alarm Manager 2.0, RAM 2.0 when first started after an install starts up in Demo mode. Environment Sigma, Micronet, Vista Cause RAM 2.0 has been installed and the RAM Console is started, RAM starts up in Demo mode and gives a 2hr trial period. Resolution This is correct. The demo mode will disappear when the Input interface e.g. Sigma R4 is created and at this point the customers dongle or the engineers PC ID code is read.

Issue The editing of Sigma objects is not working correctly on a Windows 7 PC. Environment Sigma Objects Editing Windows 7 Object File 0 Bytes Cause This was caused by a mis-configuration of the Sigma server on the Windows 7 PC, which had been set as a remote client. Resolution The original fault was described as shown below. On the newly upgraded Sigma 4.04 to 4.05 SEB system, I have encountered some problems regarding Object Editing. When finishing editing, it takes a long time for the download to finish and afterwards the object file shows that it is zero bytes. If I try to edit without uploading and downloading the same happens. The issue was traced to the configuration of the Sigma server which is set in C:\Sigma|Bin\SetupSvr.exe. This had been set for a remote Sigma client. Local Sigma client. (Client is running on the same PC as the Sigma server). Running SetupSvr.exe produces the following window. The window shows the configuration set for a newly installed system, which is assumed to be a local Sigma client. Remote Sigma client. (Client is running on a different PC to that of the Sigma server). Running SetupSvr.exe produces the following window. If the tick in the "This Computer" selection is removed, then the configuration is ready for use with a remote Sigma client. In the screen shot below, the IP address of the Sigma server has been entered, but PC names can also be used.

Issue What is the earliest version of TAC Vista and Toolpack to provide support for the Xenta 121? Environment TAC Vista, ZBuilder, Lonmaker Cause Inquiries as to the earliest version of TAC Vista and Toolpack to provide support for the Xenta 121. Resolution The Xenta 121 has been supported in TAC Vista and Toolpack since version 4.4.1

Issue Updating a application specific controller with a later firmware version Environment NL220 Cause Enhancements in firmware version need to be implemented into existing controllers of older firmware versions Resolution Here are the steps to download a new APB or NXE file in NL220. Locate the controller you wish to update in NL220. Right mouse click and select "Copy configuration values to memory" Right click on the same controller and select  "Download Program" Browse to the new APB or NXE file you want to download Once the download is complete you can paste the configuration back into the controller. Right click on the controller again and select "Paste configuration value(s) from memory" The controller is now updated with the new application.

Issue Upgrading computer to a newer version of the WorkPlace Tech Tool and need to tell customer how to upgrade his existing files. Environment Application drawings created in WPT 3.2 or earlier WPT 5.8 is now installed. Cause An internal change was made to the WorkPlace Tech Tool drawing format in WPT 3.2sp1.  Drawings must be in the format created by this version before they can be automatically be upgraded to a newer version. Resolution NOTE: DO NOT INSTALL WORKPLACE TECH 3.2 ON A COMPUTER THAT ALREADY HAS AN NEWER INSTALLATION OF THE WORKPLACE TECH TOOL SOFTWARE INSTALLED.  If this is the case, a different computer must be used for the conversion. Follow the directions in the "WorkPlace Tech Tool Version 3.2 Service Pack 1 Installation Instructions. This document along with the WPT32.exe  and WPT32sp1_Lite.exe software can be downloaded from The Exchange Download Center. Although the installation instructions document states that WPT32 runs only on Windows 2000, it will also run properly on Windows XP.  Visio 2000sp1 is required for WorkPlace Tech 3.2. The procedure for converting the application file is as follows. You may either copy the entire project folder from the existing version of WPT into the 3.2sp1 projects folder or create a new project under WPT32.sp1.  After creating the new project copy the applications to be converted into that project folder and add them to the project. Open the application to be converted using WPT2.3sp1, allow any processing to occur then compile the application. If any errors occur when processing or compiling, the errors must be corrected before continuing.  If the existing version of the application nearly or completely fills the controller there is a slight chance that the upgraded application may not fit in the controller. After correcting any errors and successfully compiling the application, make sure that the application drawing file has been saved.  The converted application file may now be copied to and added to a project in the WorkPlace Tech Tool release 5.x.x.

Issue There is a 24 character limit for an expression when entered through Epibuilder>layout properties>Encoding> Field Expression Environment Cyberstation webClient Windows XP Windows Vista Windows 7 Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2008 Cause ImageWare EpiBuilder has limited this way of entering in the expression, but offers another method for a work around. Resolution To work around this limitation issue. Define the expression first in the following place Edit> Define Expression Ex. [Info1]+[Info2]+[Info3]+[Info4] Click OK Layout Properties> Encoding> Field Expression The drop down now contains [Info1]+[Info2]+[Info3]+[Info4] which could not be entered directly.

Issue What is the point capacity of a DMS-3500?  How can it be found on a "live" system? Environment DMS-3500 Cause Adding an air-handling system to an existing DMS installation.  The point capacity of the existing DMS-3500 is required to identify how much free capacity remains for the additional programming.  Resolution A DMS-3500 has a 250 point capacity. Using OPRIF 11.x, connect to the DMS-3500 and follow the steps below to determine the actual point count on an installed system: From any screen, press F8 to enter command mode. Type CANCL (then Enter) to view the first point in the database. Type PNTID (then Enter) to view the first point's point name.  To the left of the point name is a three-digit number.  It should read 001 since it is the first point in the database. Press the F5 key which will display the last point in the system.  The three-digit number to the left of the point name will indicate a value between 001 and 250.

Issue Can a supervised input be mapped from a b3 and/or an i2 controller up to a numeric in a BCX?   Environment i2  b3 bCX Cause A project will require some supervised inputs on b3 and/or i2 controllers. Can these points be mapped to a bCX? Resolution Be aware that only certain b3 and i2 controllers support the supervised input type. Supervised inputs on these controllers can be mapped via a Plain English program to an InfinityNumeric in a bCX (or other applicable network level controllers). On a v1.93 system with a bcx9640 we mapped a supervised input on an i2800. The InfinityNumeric editor displayed all three supervised states: On, Off, and Trouble.

Issue The heating and/or cooling outputs do not work when the TAC Xenta 121-HP is configured as a slave controller. Environment TAC Xenta 121-HP versions up to 1.25 Cause If the device is configured as a slave, heating and cooling is dependent upon the isolation valve value. If there is no isolation valve configured, the heating and cooling outputs will be blocked. Resolution The isolation valve needs to be configured regardless of whether it exists or not in order to make the heating and cooling outputs work.

Issue Currently has a 1CAL Webstation license, but wants to upgrade to 12CAL. Can the upg. license part be used? Environment Vista 5.1.X Cause  Upgrading number of Webstation licenses within the same version. Resolution The upgrade licenses are intended to be used only when upgrading from a previous version of Vista Webstation, and is not applicable for an increase of CALs.