Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue If creating a shortcut from an object the name of the shortcut does mirror the object. I can change the object name but the shortcuts does not reflect the change and the old name remains. Environment StruxureWare version 1.3 Cause The shortcut object doesn't need to have the same name as the original object. When the shortcut is created it gets the same name default but then you can change the names on booth the shortcut or the original object to anything you like. But the shortcut will still show the value from the original object. This is the same way as it working in Vista also Resolution That is the way it is designed to work.

Issue Use controller addresses to assist in identification of wiring problems in an I/NET controller LAN. Environment I/NET site Cause How to use controller addresses to assist in identification of wiring problems in an I/NET controller LAN Resolution It is common to find installations where the controller addresses follow the physical layout of the wire. This allows the token to be passed between nodes which are closest to each other on the controller LAN. When the controllers on the opposite ends of your controller LAN have consecutive addresses this will require the token to pass the entire length of your controller LAN between those two controllers. (This includes when the token passes between the highest node address and the first if the network addresses are assigned sequentially.) The advantage of this setup is that many communication problems can be identified quickly while your installation technicians are still on site and thus avoiding a return trip when other (new) conditions have degraded the performance of the network.

Issue TGML Script has stopped working after upgrading to Vista 5.1.5 Nothing happens when clicking on a button in a TGML graphic - it worked in Vista 5.1.4  Environment Vista 5.1.5 Graphics Editor TGML 1.1.5 Cause  The TGML language is now case sensitive to increase performance, which may result in upgrading issues. Resolution Check the script and ensure that all keywords such as Visible and Hidden have capital letters if the corresponding object attribute starts with a capital letter.

Issue When Sigma is restarted the Alarm manager does not run. Environment Sigma release 4.04 Cause The Alarmslog.rec file is too large. Resolution The archiving process in Sigma release 4.04 occasionally failed and the AlarmsLog.rec file was allowed to continue increasing in size, this file is some cases might reach 2GB, which would cause the Alarm manager to fail. To correct this issue, carry out the following: 1 - Stop the Sigma Client and Server. 2 - Using Windows Explorer locate AlarmsLog.rec in the C:\Sigma\Data folder. 3 - Either rename or delete the AlarmsLog.rec file. 4 - Restart the Sigma Server and Client. Note:- a new AlarmsLog.rec file will be created when a new alarm arrives at the Server. 5 - An alternative to this procedure would be to upgrade to the latest release of Sigma.

Issue DCom or other error message seen when running CyberStation Extended logging errors may be seen Error connecting to database may be seen, but CyberStation still runs up Alarms not getting to Active Alarm window Environment Continuum Cause An unspecified PC error, or Continuum Workstation error has occurred such that the CyberStation does not connect to the database correctly. This may be a sign of a more serious fault with the PC (hard disk, RAM fault, CyberStation installation error) but this would require further investigation. Resolution 1. If possible re initialize the database (all CyberStations need to be shut down before this is started. For a LAN install use "Server" or for a single User install use "Stand Alone") 2. Re initialize the workstation (first close the CyberStation), then test by running the CyberStation

Issue The COM ports are defined and the communications works great but when the ENC is rebooted it is unable to start up the serial port (COM3), it says “COM3 is not a valid port”.  However, once the station is running COM3 can be typed in the drivers properties and it works fine.  Environment ENC, G3, Niagara Cause The station was loading the "Drivers" before the "Services".  The Services must come first to prepare the ports before the Drivers are loaded. Resolution Open the running station in Workbench, right click on Config and pull down to "Reorder".  Change the order to load the Services first, save the change and reboot the station. 

Issue No link LED on a Desktop's and Laptop's Network Interface Card (NIC). Environment Windows OS Cause Network interface card has power management feature enabled.  This will shutdown the network interface card if no activity is present, battery is low on power, or battery is intermittent. Resolution Disable power management features under Device Manager Network Adapters. 

Issue I need an object in the UNC that works like the Select object in WorkPlace Tech. Environment I/A Series R2 (Niagara) UNC Cause Specified logic requirements for the UNC station require it. Resolution Inside the TridiumX container - programlib jar - hvac container there is an object called AiMapping that will perform a select function similar to that of the object provided with WorkPlace Tech.

Issue   In Niagara R2, what would cause an IP communication to the UNC to drop out?  There are no errors in the standard output window. Environment Niagara R2 All version; UNC-410, UNC-510, UNC-520 Cause The same IP address is assign to more than on controller. Two UNC controllers are using the same IP address. Resolution This symptom usually indicates a duplicate IP address condition. Under this condition the UNC will keep dropping offline for a period of time.  The duplicate IP address situation will need to be corrected before reliable communications can be established. Reassign one of the UNCs a different IP address that is not currently being used.  Ensure that each IP address is only assigned to one controller.

Issue Trend chart settings aren't saved. The properties dialogue is opened by right-clicking on the open trend chart and then one or more of the settings are changed. After that OK is pressed and then the chart is saved using the save button. Product Line TAC Vista Environment TAC Vista 5.1.7. Cause It appears that the new settings aren't being saved, but by clicking the save button before refreshing the trend chart the current "view" is saved - not the new settings entered in the properties dialogue. Resolution Change the settings as described Click OK when finished with the settings Refresh the trend chart immediately Save it. The view with the new settings will be saved. Another option in Windows 7: Right click on the chart object. Go to the "general" tab Uncheck Autoscale Enter the desired value.

Issue Customer does not have Microsoft Outlook/Exchange, only Lotus Notes/Domino. Environment Keywords: Email, Page, Lotus Notes Cause Customer wants email and paging of alarms but does not use Microsoft Outlook and Exchange. Resolution Lotus Notes is not a supported application for emailing or paging of alarms. Microsoft Outlook with Exchange is the only supported program for this application.

Issue When backup to flash is automatically disabled by the system due to exceeding the flash circuit breaker write limit, no system alarm is sent to make the system's operator aware  Product Line EcoStruxure Building Operation Environment Continuum i2920 Controller Cause Implementation of Continuum Infinet integration in EcoStruxure Building Operation did not include this feature. Resolution As a workaround, a user-created alarm can be used instead of the system alarm. Here is a sample implementation of this workaround:   Under the Infinet Interface create an Alarm, in this example, we are using an 'Expression' alarm Here is the algorithm used as an expression for the alarm Value = BackupDisabld In the i2 device, edit the 'StatusBackup' system variable and attach the alarm above in the Alarm Configuration tab. Make sure to tick the 'Enabled' box to engage the alarm.   The alarm will be sent when the flash circuit breaker trips which in the i2 device takes place after 10,000 backups To resume backups the feature must be manually re-enabled from Workstation by right-clicking the device and selecting DEVICE->ENABLE BACKUP TO FLASH

Issue Recovery of an I.LON 1000 in the boot state. Environment i.LON 1000 Cause The router has become corrupt. Resolution If the system image on an I.LON 1000 has become corrupt and the device enters a boot state when powered up then the following steps should be taken to correct it: Download the system image found in the "C:\Lonworks\iLON\Images\iLON x.xx" directory using an FTP client. Connect to the device with the serial cable and issue the "format" command. After the command has completed retry step 1. If neither of the previous methods worked, connect to the device with the serial cable and issue the "factorydefault" command. This should restore the device to how it came out of the box.

Issue Xenta 913 Device Template cannot map to "native" BACnet using 485 Virtual Link Layers. Product Line Andover Continuum,TAC Vista Environment Xenta 913 BACnet Cause The Xenta 913 cannot connect to anything below the IP layer. "Virtual Link Layer" is not able to be used if the points are not exposed at the IP level there is not a way to address defined modules below. Resolution Any point that needs to be exposed at the IP level must have the ability to be mirrored in the BACnet IP device. If the IP device does not have the ability to mirror the 485 layer points, the 913 will not be able to map them.                              

Issue Event Viewer in some workstation are displaying duplicate events. Swiping a valid card at a door results in the Valid Access event showing up twice in some Event Viewers. Environment CyberStation Cause Duplicate subscription entries in the Access Event subscription table of the primary/secondary access server. Resolution Close all Access Event Viewer. Reboot Primary/Secondary access server

Issue Creating a shape and then filling it with colour. Environment Sigma Graphics Combine Fill shape Cause Customer wants to design a shape and then fill it with colour. Resolution A shape created from a number of lines which have been combined into an object, does not allow you to fill it with colour. A possible way around for this problem is to use the Polygon tool, this is more difficult to use, but when the shape is finished, "Connect Closed" can be selected, and the shape can then be filled. The shape is created as follows; Create the required shape as required. Select the Polygon tool and click in each corner to copy your original shape. Press the "Escape" key to terminate the Polygon function, the shape will disappear. Save the graphic, close and then reopen it. Delete the original shape. Highlight the new shape and select "Connect closed" from the RH menu. Using the RH menu again, select "Shape fill" and choose the required fill colour. The completed shape.

Issue When attempting to build connection to a Filemaster the error "invalid I/NET seven operator" is given Environment I/NET Filemaster Equalized client Cause When building a connection to a remote database, you must use the credentials for the remote PC not the local PC. In this example, when creating the connection to a Filemaster from a Equalized client, you must use the I/NET log in credentials for the Filemaster. Resolution Change the I/NET user name and password to one that has full permissions on the Filemaster PC.  You may need to attempt to log into the filemaster PC to verify the username and password.

Issue What is the name of the database format I/NET uses within its environment? Environment I/NET database Cause Building specifications may require the database format for design or as-built documents. Resolution The I/NET database format is proprietary and does not have a name. It is a "Closed system." As a matter of baseline security, it would be unwise to share ANY such information outside of the company. The distribution of such sensitive information increases risk to all of our customers, not just the requesting customer. As a provider of security/access control products, our priority is to protect all of our customers; one way we do that is by protecting engineering details.

Issue What are the supported speeds for the Ethernet port on a Niagara R2 UNC? The UNC is not communicating at 100Mbps Environment UNC Cause The Ethernet port on a UNC is auto sensing - meaning it gets its speed and duplex settings from the device (hub or switch) into which it is plugged. The UNC is capable of supporting 10 or 100 Mbps, full or half duplex communication over the Ethernet port. Presently, gigabyte speed is NOT available on the UNC. Resolution If the UNC is not communicating at 100Mbps and full duplex, the most likely causes are: The hub or switch does not support 100Mbps / full duplex communications There is a problem with the wiring between the UNC and the hub / switch.

Issue The requirement is to save a temperature taken at 10:00am, and to compare it with the temperature taken at 4:00pm. If the temperature was found to be lower at 4pm, then the output of the programmable object will be false, if the temperature is found to be higher, then the output will be true. Environment Sigma Programmable Object Program Prog Point Cause Assistance is required to create a suitable programmable object. Resolution The following programme will meet the requirements. 10 IF TIME = 10:00 THEN XINT = 1 20 IF TIME = 16:00 THEN XINT = 2 30 IF XINT UP THEN GOTO 50 40 GOTO 100 50 IF XINT = 1 THEN XFLO = POINT 1 60 IF XINT = 2 THEN YFLO = POINT 2 70 IF XINT <> 2 THEN GOTO 90 80 IF XFO > FLO THEN YINT = 1 ELSE YINT = 0 90 XINT = 0 100 IF YINT = 1 THEN RETURN TRUE "Higher" ELSE RETURN FALSE "Lower" Lines 10 and 20 establish if this is the first or second entry. Line 30 establishes that XINT has increased. Lines 50 and 60 store the two temperature values. Line 70 decides if the comparison should be made. Line 80 decides if the 4pm temperature is higher or lower than the 10am value.