question stringlengths 19 6.88k | answer stringlengths 38 33.3k |
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Problem Statement: How can I choose my own color scheme for the Procedure, Operation and Phase levels in the Order Tracking module? | Solution: AeBRS allows you detailed control over the display colors used in the Order Tracking module.
Typically, the default colors should meet most needs. However changing colors might be useful to conform to a corporate standard, or perhaps to accommodate a user who is not able to differentiate between certain color... |
Problem Statement: In an AeBRS environment, often all the client config files are set to use a shared location. So how can a setting for the local workstation be effective if the config information is all shared? | Solution: The mechanism for sharing configuration information in an AeBRS information is as follows:
On each client, in the file config.m2r_cfg, the CONFIG_PATH key is set to something like:
CONFIG_PATH = \\<myAeBRSServer>\\Program Files\\AspenTech\\AEBRS\\
where <myAeBRSServer> is a shared folder on the server.
A few ... |
Problem Statement: It might take up to one minute for the EBRS MOC client to open. | Solution: If MOC takes a long time to open, the issue may be a slow connection to the JDK components that are resident on the server. If improving network performance is not an option, then a work-around to the problem is to install the JDK components on each client, and then modify the eBRS configuration files so that... |
Problem Statement: When trying to create a Master Recipe (MR) via the API, customer gets an error. What is the minimum XML definition needed to use that function? | Solution: At a minimum, both the ID and the Version of the Master Recipe need to be specified in the XML:
MR name specified in the function call; and
MR version controlled by AeBRS.
The Master Recipe name is required because the BatchML schema dictates it (it is a standard from WBF.)
The version should not be required.... |
Problem Statement: What does Parent Product and Product's Subsystem in Aspen Operations Reconciliation and Accounting (AORA, formerly called Aspen Advisor) mean? | Solution: What is Parent Product?
In AORA, Parent Product defines a hierarchical relationship between different products. For example, three products can be defined as Gasoline, Unleaded Regular, and Unleaded Super. The Parent Product for Unleaded Regular and Unleaded Super can be set to Gasoline. This association is s... |
Problem Statement: What algorithm does Advisor use to determine Daylight Savings Time (DST) changes? | Solution: DST switches come from the operating system, and more specifically, the C-runtime libraries associated with the compiler or operating system.
Keywords:
References: None |
Problem Statement: Gauge instruments in Aspen Advisor have a checkbox which says Outage Gauge. See below for an example.
This knowledge base article defines the term outage gauge. | Solution: A typical gauge used for most tanks measures the height of liquid in the tank by measuring the distance from the bottom of the tank to the top of the liquid in the tank. This type of gauge is referred to as an innage gauge. An outage gauge works in somewhat the opposite way from an innage gauge. Namely, for a... |
Problem Statement: This knowledge base article describes the Oracle server and client version combinations that are supported for Aspen Operations Reconciliation and Accounting (AORA, formerly called Aspen Advisor). | Solution: The following versions of AORA support the referenced versions of Oracle database server and client combinations.
V7.3
Oracle 9i Database Release 2
Oracle 10g Database Release 2
Oracle Client 10.2.0.4
Oracle Client 10.2.0.5
V7.2
Oracle 9i Database Release 2
Oracle 10g Database Release 2
Oracle Client 9.... |
Problem Statement: This knowledge base article describes how to put Aspen Advisor into debug mode for troubleshooting purposes.
Setting Aspen Advisor into debug mode may impact system performance. This should be done at the recommendation of AspenTech support. | Solution: Aspen Advisor can be placed into debug mode by adding the following entries to the iisys.ini file then restarting Aspen Advisor.
[Debug]
enabled=1
path=C:\AdvisorModels
where path references the folder where you want the debug files to be created.
Note: To disable debug mode, set the enabled flag to 0 t... |
Problem Statement: This knowledge base article explains which timestamps should be given to continuous flow readings and to inventory readings. | Solution: Inventory readings are typically given the timestamp which corresponds to the last minute of the day. If the accounting day begins at midnight then inventory readings are typically timestamped for 11:59 PM. However, this is not absolutely necessary. In fact, when Aspen Advisor Connect retrieves the inventory ... |
Problem Statement: This knowledge base article describes how Aspen Advisor processes events when span more than a single accounting period. | Solution: Aspen Advisor will separate the amount of material moved through a pipe during an event based how long the event flow occurred during each accounting period while assuming a constant flow rate. The following example demonstrates this behavior.
In the example below an event flow of 10,000 barrels (Bbls) star... |
Problem Statement: How do I create a Demo Database to use with Aspen Operations Reconciliation and Accounting (AORA)? | Solution: AORA installation comes with an executable Demo Database.exe that can be used to create a demo model for learning/ demonstration / troubleshooting purposes.
This executable is located in the following folders when using
32 bit Operating System:
C:\Program Files\AspenTech\Advisor\Documents
64 bit Operati... |
Problem Statement: This | Solution: outlines the best way to get the raw data back into Aspen Advisor even after you did Reconciliation (Initialize, Reconcile and Save) for the data come in on that particular day?Solution
Please note that the following steps requires a user with superuser privileges to be logged into Aspen Advisor Model.
Once l... |
Problem Statement: An automated install (also known as a silent or unattended install) can be desirable when many clients need to be deployed. Does AeBRS support this method? | Solution: Version 7.0 is the first version to support a silent install method.
Keywords: installation
enterprise
deploy
References: None |
Problem Statement: Customers have inquired to find out if there are problems with certain versions of Adobe Acrobat. | Solution: Even though the AeBRS Installation Guide for version 6.0 specifies version 4.0 or 5.0 of Adobe Acrobat, there have been no reported problems with later versions of Acrobat.
Keywords:
References: None |
Problem Statement: Exception messages written to the APIServer debug file may sometimes indicate a problem with the product or the operating environment. However some exception reports may occur that do not indicate a problem or cause the product to operate outside its design specification. This | Solution: collects various types of exception reports that are acceptable, and provides explanations for each.
Solution
13:41:58: AeBRSNotifier: Client Listener Exception activation listener:java.net.SocketException: socket closed
This exception happens when the listening sockets is closed from the other side of the co... |
Problem Statement: The message The Expert System option was not installed can be returned for several reasons. This article describes the various circumstances under which this message can be displayed to the user. | Solution: 1. As of Advisor 8.0, the Expert System is licensed separately from the model configuration tool. If a user attempts to load the Expert System on an Advisor installation where the Expert System was not installed, this message will be generated. This is the intended purpose of this message.
2. If the... |
Problem Statement: When running an Advisor model, it should always open on the most recent operating date which should be the current accounting date. Sometimes, due to operator error or system failure, the model opens with a different date than expected. The question arising in this situation is:
How to change the Ope... | Solution: In order to change the Operating Time of a model, you can click on File | Time | Change Operating Time... from the Advisor GUI to set the operating date to the correct date. When the automated batch scripts in Advisor Connect run to import data from the historian, they advance the operating time by one day. S... |
Problem Statement: Sometimes, when trying to save the reconciled results, a random error message may appear in Advisor. The error reads,
Cannot connect to target model: AdvUtilP; Unknown Exception Critical Failure! System Shutting down
and then the Advisor GUI disappears. | Solution: The problem is usually caused by insufficient amount of Random Access Memory (RAM) on the PC running Advisor. TheSolution is to add more RAM on the PC.
Another possibility is an intermittent network problem, which can results in temporary inability to access Advisor database.
On rare occasions the above error... |
Problem Statement: The Expert system documentation incorrectly described the behavior of 'Use Estimated Events' in versions prior to v.8.2. The description below correctly describes how estimated events are treated when the 'Use Estimated Events' expert option is checked. | Solution: When the Use Estimated Events option is checked in the Expert | Preferences | Expert dialog box, all estimated events are treated by the expert system exactly as though they are firm events. When the Use Estimated Events option is NOT checked, the expert system treats all estimated events as true estimated ev... |
Problem Statement: This knowledge base article describes the steps to follow when creating a new strap table in Aspen Operations Reconciliation and Accounting (AORA). AspenTech recommends creating new strapping tables when updated tables are available for a tank unless specific site plans to modify one or two points in... | Solution: Step
Directions
1.
Log into AORA and go to Configure --> Global --> Straptables.
2.
A list of all the strapping tables currently configured for the AORA model will show up in the Straptables Listing dialog box .
3.
Click the ADD button to add a new strapping table. You will be prompted for a name and descript... |
Problem Statement: This knowledge base article describes what can cause the error message
Unable to initialize math solver
when the Aspen Least Square Reconciliation (ALSR) engine is executed on a model. | Solution: This error has been seen to have the following two causes:
1. The ALSR engine encountered an object name which contained a character that it could not process. This has been observed to occur when pipe, instrument or vessel names contain various non-English characters.
2. The ALSR engine encountered a modelin... |
Problem Statement: Why does my Aspen Advisor Database still include some or many of the Aspen Advisor (Report) Temporary Tables after running the Standard Aspen Advisor Database Reports, or in some cases when I have run Custom Reports or even after I have tried running DROP TABLE queries to delete these Tables? | Solution: NOTES:
The Temporary Tables in question here are the tables where the table name starts with R.
You first need to confirm which Standard Reports and Custom Reports (if any) your site uses and runs on a regular basis. Once confirmed, those reports should then be the source of most if not all of the R Temporary... |
Problem Statement: Occasionally within the Manufacturing Industry companies are bought and sold. The sales contract between companies often do not include execution rights to third party software. Therefore it becomes necessary to determine which workstations need to have the software removed. This knowledge base artic... | Solution: There are several ways to determine if the Aspen Advisor product has been installed on a workstation.
1. Use Windows Explorer to search for any of the executables listed below:
Advisor.exe
SSInterface.exe
Report32.exe
DBTools.ex
If any of these executables are located then the workstation is capable of exec... |
Problem Statement: If a site is running both Aspen Advisor using Advisor Connect to retrieve tank inventory readings from a real-time plant database, and Pumper Log, there is a possibility that Advisor may end up with two inventory readings for the same tank gauge with apparently identical timestamps but slightly diffe... | Solution: The cause of the duplicate time-stamped readings with different values is in the seconds for the reading. In the first case, Advisor Connect uses a time of 23:59:00 to retrieve its readings, while Pumper Log uses a time of 23:59:59. When viewing the readings in Advisor, the two readings will be displayed with... |
Problem Statement: How does one change the temperature range for an existing product in Advisor? | Solution: To change a temperature range for a product do the following.
Go to Configure | Global | Products...
Click on the P in the product listbox. This will display the properties of the product when the user double clicks on the product.
Double click on the product for which one would like to change the temperature... |
Problem Statement: How can I tell if service pack 1 has been applied to Advisor 7.0? | Solution: To find out whether or not service pack 1 has been installed on top of Advisor 7.0 do the following:
Navigate to the Advisor root directory. Usually this will be Program Files | AspenTech | Advisor.
Right click on the executable Adv32.exe then select Properties. This is the main Advisor executable.
The versio... |
Problem Statement: From version 5.5 onwards, Advisor allows configuration of time frames of less than 24 hours for reconciliation. Most standard yield accounting uses 24-hour periods and this is how Advisor was originally designed to be used. As the usage of Advisor has expanded beyond yield accounting, additional flex... | Solution: The reconciliation period time frame is configured in the details tab of a Reconciliation Base. Go to Configure | Global | Reconciliation Bases and either select an existing reconciliation base or create a new one. In the Details tab, select the desired time frame from the drop-down list box of the Time Frame... |
Problem Statement: This | Solution: outlines the procedure on how to lock and unlock a model in Aspen Advisor.Solution
Locking A Model
Aspen Advisor models can be locked on a specific date and after the model has been locked one can only view the data prior to the lock date and data cannot be changed.
To lock a model:
Note: Any user logged into... |
Problem Statement: Once a User Table has been created in Aspen Production Execution Manager (APEM), it cannot be edited or changed. Other tables exist in APEM that track the table attributes, and if the table structure is modified directly using DB tools, warnings will be raised. This Read Only status for created table... | Solution: . Code that writes data to a User table can always rely on that table having the structure the original developer created.
But what happens if the data being written to the table changes? For example if a column that holds string data was originally defined with string length of 20 characters, but now longer ... |
Problem Statement: How do I use the CompileProc? | Solution: The CompileProc command can be used to Compile the Aspen Production Execution Manager Database. This will help with performance and integrity of database.
To run the CompileProc command follow these steps
1. Open a Command Prompt with Administrator privileges.
2. Navigate to the folder c:\Program Files(x86... |
Problem Statement: When user wants to generate a Standard report available from Aspen Reporter using batch script, what are the commands that set the start and end time of the report? | Solution: The beginning date of the report is set using the ChangeTimeBegin command and the command to set the ending date is ChangeTime. The following example of batch script allows the user to generate a Monthly charge and yield report that includes data from March 1st through March 10th
OpenModel modelname, username... |
Problem Statement: If the log options are enabled, Monitors will stop working after few days (may be a week or 10 days or 15 days depending upon debug level) even though they are running in the services. | Solution: By enabling the log file option, Aspen AtOMS Monitor continuously writes lot of information in to log files for every 5 minutes. At the end of the day, the size of the log file could become 50 MB or more. When the file is getting bigger, accessing the log file itself takes more time causing the Monitor to han... |
Problem Statement: Does Aspen Operations Reconciliation and Accounting (formerly known as Aspen Advisor) support any standard methods that can be used for Exporting or Printing the Entire GUI Model View to Microsoft Excel or any other Media? | Solution: NO, other than Printing to a selected Printer or Plotter using the Standard File | Print Form available in the Advisor GUI, AspenTech DOES NOT officially support or offer any other standard methods for exporting or printing the Entire GUI Model View to Microsoft Excel or any other Media.
<<See AspenTech KBSol... |
Problem Statement: While logging into Aspen Operations Accounting and Reconciliation (AORA, formerly called Aspen Advisor) model, is it possible to use the Windows logon account rather than using a separate account for AORA. This knowledge base article describes how to force AORA to use the Windows logon account. | Solution: By default AORA uses Mixed authentication mode i.e. a user can either use Windows authentication (that forces AORA to use the Windows logon account) or Legacy mode (specifying user name and password in the AORA logon screen).
In order to force AORA to use the Windows logon account, select an AORA model to ope... |
Problem Statement: Errors like this are displayed when running a particular Aspen Production Execution Manager (APEM) Basic Phase after upgrading from a Version 2006.5 or earlier version:
APEM V7.1 (fully patched) introduced a new feature called Structured Variables. Much like Visual Basic exposes properties and meth... | Solution: where two variables that were unique in the earlier version are now equated as being part of the same structured variable because of the naming convention used, along with the use of the dot separator.
Solution
For example a Basic Phase has three text fields named like:
vE_ABCD_UOM1
vE_ABCD_UOM2
vE_ABCD_UOM... |
Problem Statement: In the Aspen Production Execution Manager scripts are taking several minutes or more to run and need to restart Apache service. | Solution: This problem occurs if the scripts are taking the memory up from the Apache tomcat Java pool.
You may access the Apache Configuration tool by accessing the Icon in the windows toolbar or by navigating to Start | All Programs | Apache Tomcat 5.5 | Configure Tomcat
You can set the Memory Pool to at leas... |
Problem Statement: When trying to open the MOC thick client, the following error is displayed: | Solution: This error indicates that an incorrect path is in the local.cfg file. This .cfg file should not be edited directly, because it will be overwritten automatically the next time you make a configuration change in the AeBRS\cfg_source directory and run codify_all.cmd
Looking in codify_all.cmd (located in cfg_sour... |
Problem Statement: When the user updates strapping tables in Advisor with new calibrations, older data is being overwritten by the new data in the strapping tables, and calculations based on the old strapping tables can no longer be repeated. | Solution: Users should not delete old strapping tables or overwrite them with newer data, as calculations using the older data and tables may need to be re-run.
Instead of overwriting the existing strapping tables with new calibrations, the user should simply add the new strapping tables into Advisor (with different na... |
Problem Statement: This | Solution: illustrates which database table in the Aspen Operations Reconciliation and Accounting database contains the product states, types and classes.Solution
GCOFEDST is the table in Aspen Operations Reconciliation and Accounting database that contains the configuration information for all products (feedstock) in t... |
Problem Statement: What relational databases does V7.2 of Aspen Operations Reconciliation and Accounting (AORA, formerly called Aspen Advisor) support? | Solution: AORA is an ODBC-compliant database application, which means it will support any relational database that is compliant to the Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) standard.
The newest release which is V7.2 has been specifically tested and supported when using any of the following database versions with the approp... |
Problem Statement: Can Advisor perform flow compensation on raw flowmeter readings? Where is the best place to perform flowmeter compensation? | Solution: Flow compensation usually can be performed at many levels in the plant information system. Compensation for actual flowing conditions (temperature, pressure, density) can be done at the meter level, in the distributed control system (DCS), in the plant historian, and in Advisor itself. Flow compensation must ... |
Problem Statement: Is there a batch command that selects a particular zone for processing? | Solution: The SETMODELZONE command will select a previously defined Group Zone within Advisor. The selected zone will then be used for any successive batch commands.
Syntax: SETMODELZONE zonename;
where zonename is the name (tag) of the zone to be used in processing.
NOTES: The SETMODELZONE command must precede the O... |
Problem Statement: Following are the Reconciliations statuses that are available under Expert System Preferences
'Not Saved', 'Preliminary', 'Intermediate', 'Complete', 'Finalized' and 'Locked'
This | Solution: explains the purpose of above mentioned Reconciliation status.Solution
'Not Saved' appears by default before the save command is run during the process of Initialize, Reconcile, and Save (IRS) sequence.
'Preliminary' status is shown after expert results are saved.
'Intermediate', 'Complete' and 'Finalized' ar... |
Problem Statement: When should a default product be assigned to a configured pipe in an Advisor model and when is it used? | Solution: The default product for a pipe should be assigned in the Details tab of the pipe object. The default pipe product is used when creating new readings for the pipe. This is the default for that reading when it is created. It is also used to determine the product default properties of a pipe, if it gets to that ... |
Problem Statement: An installation of Aspen Operations Reconciliation and Accounting results in a file called IIEQUA32.dll being placed in
A A C:\ProgramFiles\CommonFiles\AspenTechShared
Another three files called IIEQUA32_US,A A IIEQUA32_M15A andA IIEQUA32_M20A are also installed in
A A A A A A ...\AspenTech\Advisor\M... | Solution: Via Windows Explorer rename the file IIEQUA32.dll in the C:\ProgramFiles\CommonFiles\AspenTechShared to such as iiequa32_orig.dll
Copy the required 'measurements' dll from
A ...\AspenTech\Advisor\MeasurementsA A A A toA A A C:\ProgramFiles\CommonFiles\AspenTechShared
Rename the copied file to IIEQUA32.dll
Key... |
Problem Statement: How to set up an ODBC connection to the Aspen Operations Reconciliation and Accounting Model (AORA)? | Solution: Following are the Steps on how to set up an ODBC connection
1. Download the models to your Local Computer. Go to Data Sources ( ODBC) through Start -->Programs -->Control Panel --> Administration Tools. Using the ODBC data source create a new DSN ( System DSN or User DSN based on your profile in the Computer.... |
Problem Statement: How to determine which Temporary Tables are generated and used when executing selected Aspen Operation Reconciliation and Accounting (AORA) Reports, or when creating Custom Reports from the Standard Crystal Reports?
REASONS FOR ASKING:
We are modifying some of AORA's Standard Report Files to build ou... | Solution: IMPORTANT:
Please read entirely all instructions and notes provided below before proceeding with the documented Temporary Table determinationSolution procedures.
The procedure required to View and/or See and Test specifically which Temporary Table or Tables get created for each Standard Report or Custom Repor... |
Problem Statement: What can one adjust if the Reporter shows other components but not the parent component? | Solution: ThisSolution is quite simple. Go to File | Preferences | Display and set the ''Number of Parent Levels'' field to zero. This tells the reporter to report ALL components (the parent level is the lowest level). A common mistake is to set this field to 1 which shows all levels EXCEPT the parent level.
Keywords: ... |
Problem Statement: When a new Aspen Advisor model is created, what is the default username and password? | Solution: When a new Aspen Advisor model is created, the default username is 'superuser' and the password is 'superuser'. This default password should be changed after the first time the model is opened.
Aspen DBTools can be used to modify the password by opening up Aspen DBTools => File => Change password. You can als... |
Problem Statement: After installation of Aspen Advisor, the following errors are noticed when one attempts to run the expert system.
AionDS/PC: Setup table not found - NLS.AES
Error Starting the expert system - Error #19217
Error starting session for document | Solution: These errors indicate that the path to the expert system has not been defined correctly. Make sure that one has the correct path to the expert system. Do this as follows:
Log in to Advisor as superuser or an equivalent.
Go to File | Preferences and select the Expert tab.
The Expert Path should point to the Ex... |
Problem Statement: Aspen Advisor can be used to track product composition in tanks. If product tracking was not initially set up when the model was created, it can be added to the model later. A start date must be select to begin track the products in the tank, it is best to select the start of a month to do this. | Solution: As an example, tracking is going to begin April 1st and the model is using Fractional Gauges for the tanks.
The first step is to manually initialize the product compositions in the tanks on March 31st. Open the model in the Advisor GUI and change the time to March 31. Initialize the composition readings in th... |
Problem Statement: Where is the density of air stored in Advisor? Can the default value for the density of air be modified? | Solution: The air density is stored in the OLOCONFG table. There is no way to modify the air density through the Advisor GUI, however, the air density value in OLOCONFG can be modified through a SQL script or by manually changing the value in the OLOCONFG table.
Keywords:
References: None |
Problem Statement: The Advisor simulator has two strategies for simulating properties to the next accounting day. This article describes how to configure individual properties to be simulated by the linear blend algorithm or be updated from readings. | Solution: You can simulate physical properties, components, and product components for all tanks and streams defined in an Advisor database model by using the Simulator tool.
The Update from readings strategy simply propagates today's physical property, components, and/or product component values forward to the next ac... |
Problem Statement: When upgrading an Advisor database from earlier versions (5.0 and earlier) to more current versions (7.0 and later), the automated database upgrade scripts will fail. An ODBC error message will appear when the scripts attempt to upgrade the database from version 5.5 to 7.0. Following this error, the ... | Solution: When upgrading from pre-5.0 Advisor databases, an error occurs in the 5.0 to 5.5 step because the upgrade script does not correctly drop the TEMP_TBL temporary table. This table is created during the 5.0 to 5.5 step, and the problem occurs when the 5.5 to 7.0 step tries to create this table and generates erro... |
Problem Statement: This | Solution: will document the cause of the error message
Invalid UOM Type for reading
Solution
The message Invalid UOM Type for reading indicates that an instrument has a UOM defined for it which is not compatible with the product associated with the vessel or pipe.
For example, this error message will occur if one attem... |
Problem Statement: What heirarchal logic does Advisor use to obtain property values? | Solution: Actual readings are taken to be the most accurate information and are, therefore, given the highest precedence by Advisor.
Simulated values are used with second highest priority. Simulated properties are propagated to pipes and/or vessels with the understanding that most of the simulated values will be overw... |
Problem Statement: How are liquid meter readings calculated in Advisor? | Solution: Advisor calculates a compensated flow value as follows:
Compensated Flow = Meter Reading Meter Factor Correction Factor
The correction factor that Advisor uses for Liquid Meters is as follows:
Correction Factor = SQRT ((New SGflowing/Old SGflowing)*(Old SGbase/New SGbase))
where
New SGflowing = Actual specifi... |
Problem Statement: How upgrading from an older version (i.e. v4.2) to the latest version (i.e. v7.1) works in the background. | Solution: Suppose you want to upgrade from a v.4.2 model to v.7.1. When you attempt to open your 4.2 model with 7.1, a call is made to the Advisor database dll for a table version check. The Advisor database dll will notice that we are asking it to open an older model so it will ask us if we want to upgrade. Once we se... |
Problem Statement: As Aspen Operations Reconciliation and Accounting (AORA, formerly called Aspen Advisor) is enhanced from version to version, it is usually necessary to modify the database to accommodate these enhancements. This | Solution: discusses how to upgrade an existing AORA (database) to a new version of the software.Solution
Nothing special has to be done by the user or the database administrator to upgrade the AORA model/database to the newer version. The upgrade will be done automatically by AORA for the first time the model is opened... |
Problem Statement: It is the policy of many IT departments to periodically require a user to change their network login password for security reasons. If the login account is used for a machine running Microsoft SQL Server which contains an Advisor model, SQL Server may not start up properly and the user will not be ab... | Solution: One of the reasons Microsoft SQL Server may fail to start could be the way the services are configured in Windows NT.
In Control Panel | Services, the following services should be checked:
MSSQLServer
MSSQLServerOLAPService
SQLServerAgent
If Log On As: is This Account: Domain\Username, then you may have to ch... |
Problem Statement: Aspen Technology is pleased to announce the availability of the Aspen Manufacturing Suite - Production Management family of products version 2.0 | Solution: Aspen Technology is pleased to announce the availability of the Aspen Manufacturing Suite - Production Management family of products version 2.0. This suite of products is currently distributed with the Information Management System release 3.0.
This release, in particular, focuses on integration with Aspen F... |
Problem Statement: When the Table adjusted for roof displacement option is checked in the straptable Details tab, the Roof displacement attributes become available. This knowledge base article describes how the roof displacement attributes are used when calculating the volume of material in a tank from a straptable. | Solution: If the straptable has been created with the floating roof correction already built-in, a second calculation must be done to account for the difference between the reference density (used when the straptable was built) and the observed density of the measured temperature of the material in the tank. This calcu... |
Problem Statement: Aspen Advisor may crash with the error:
Abnormal Termination: Unknown Exception Critical failure! System shutting down
when running the Expert system. | Solution: 1.) First, check that the PC where Aspen Advisor is installed has enough RAM. This problem can sometimes be caused by an insufficient amount of Random Access Memory (RAM) on the PC running Aspen Advisor. TheSolution is to add more RAM on the PC (http://support.aspentech.com/webteamasp/KB.asp?ID=116532). I... |
Problem Statement: This knowledge base article addresses the issue of how to send an Aspen Operations Reconciliation and Accounting Model (AORA, formerly called Aspen Advisor) to a Print Plotter. | Solution: One can use the Print button from the AORA Graphical User Interface (GUI) directly with a plotter. The model needs to be defined somehow to see the pipes, instruments and other objects on the appropriate scale. When using a plotter you may need to make some changes under the Diagram | Preferences menu to make... |
Problem Statement: How to build a batch file to reconcile and save over more that one day? | Solution: Please see attached example to loop through several days.
Keywords:
References: None |
Problem Statement: This knowledge base article provides an Excel spreadsheet which calculates volume correction factors (VCFs) using the American Petroleum Institute (API) standard 2540. API standard 2540 is the standard by which Aspen Advisor calculates VCFs. | Solution: The calculations in this spreadsheet can be used to determine the VCF for the Metric or English unit systems. However, the temperature and density data needs to be entered in units of degrees C and Kg/m3 regardless of which units are used in your Aspen Advisor model.
This spreadsheet calculates VCFs for e... |
Problem Statement: If a MOC client or Web Client is left open, but with no activity for a long period of time (This can be few minutes to hours depending on machine performance, and network) it may hang and be unresponsive. Examining the debug output, messages like Database error and The connection is closed are found ... | Solution: MOC requires a constantly open port to the relational database (by default, port 1433 in SQL Server.) However network/firewall configurations in some environments monitor open ports and, if no activity is detected for a set period of time, then the ports are closed. This can also occur if the Client is Minimi... |
Problem Statement: Customers have occasionally reported that when checking the Aspen Production Execution Manager (APEM) screenshot report for a Basic Phase, some of the screens are missing. What can cause this problem? | Solution: This problem has been reported on V7.1, but because the underlying issue is a Java error, it could happen on any version which is supported on a JDK 6 1.6 variant:
APEM Version
Officially Supported Java JDK Version
V7.1
Sun J2SE 1.4.8, 1.5.12 (JDK 5), 1.6.2 (JDK 6)
V7.2
Sun J2SE 1.4.8, 1.5.12 (JDK 5), 1.6.2... |
Problem Statement: When trying to open MOC Thick Client, the message Error loading workstation is displayed | Solution: Every node (workstation) that is part of an AeBRS system must be defined in the Workstation table. Typically this is either the short or long-form of the nodename of the workstation (like MyComputer, or MyComputer.Company.corp) When defining a thin-client workstation (i.e. one that will only access AeBRS via ... |
Problem Statement: In the Aspen Production Execution Manager (APEM) Administrator tool, attempts to start the Audit & Compliance Extractor Service, or edit the Connection string, or change the debug level result in errors like this:
Or the above dialog, where the first line says:
Error at testing database connectio... | Solution: The above errors occur because the Administrator account must be specifically granted rights to do Audit & Compliance Extractor operations. These rights are currently separate from the general Administrative rights that give a user in the Administrator role rights to all other APEM activities.
To grant the Ad... |
Problem Statement: Copy and paste functionality could help expedite work with RPLs -- i.e. copying and pasting Unit Procedures, Operations and Basic Phases from one RPL to another, or to a Control Recipe. | Solution: This functionality exists in the product:
In the source RPL, with the focus on the correct object, choose Copy. This copies the contents to the Windows clipboard.
Go to the correct target location (another RPL or a Control Recipe) and paste on the appropriate link (i.e. with a focus on a Unit Procedure link ... |
Problem Statement: You get errors when using Extended desktop or multiple monitors when using MOC.
You may get errors such as Exception java.lang.IllegalArgumentException or MOC will close without warning. | Solution: Extended desktop or using multiple monitors while using Moc is not supported. Open MOC only on the main screen.
Keywords: Aspen Production Execution Manager
MOC
Extended Desktop
Multiple Monitors
References: None |
Problem Statement: This error message 'Error message address already in use JVM_Bind' will occur when attempting to use multiple MOC sessions. By Default MOC client uses port 8888. When multiple sessions of MOC are loaded it will use port 8888 and fail as the port is already in use. | Solution: There are two possibleSolutions to this issue.
1) Install multiple copies of MOC in different location then the default install or the location of your MOC install.
Once installed in a different location you need to edit the Config.M2r.cfg located in the AeBRS\cfg_source folder. Edit or Add the key NOTIFICATI... |
Problem Statement: How do I resolve the error message Error: E603:Positive number expected in method window validation action when using variables in graphical components? | Solution: This behavior can be prevented by disabling the flag:
COMBO_CLEAR_INVALID_VARIABLE=0
The flag can be added or edited in the file flags.M2R_CFG in the ..\Aspentech\AeBRS\cfg_source folder.
Once you have made the changes make sure you run the 'Codify_All' batch file in same folder.
Keywords: E603, MOC, Graphi... |
Problem Statement: After patches are applied to an Aspen Production Execution Manager (APEM) server the MOC clients start displaying a message like this:
The problem persists even after the server is restarted. | Solution: This problem is typically caused because Java updates have been applied, and Apache Tomcat has automatically been redirected to use the latest JDK. For V7.3 and earlier, there are compatibility issues with JRE6. So if an automatic update starts running Apache under JRE6, Apache will no longer start up, and MO... |
Problem Statement: Every time a User Table is created in Aspen Production Execution Manager (APEM), two indexes are created by default. The primary index is PK_table, and a second index on the signature field to help speed up the record signature process, table_SIGN_KEY.
Internal SQL applies these defaults during the c... | Solution: CQ00428111 adds the ability in V7.1 or later to customize the SQL that is executed during specific Config module activities:
SQL_CREATE_TABLE = create table {0} ( {1},constraint {2} primary key ( {3} ))
SQL_CREATE_INDEX = create index {1} on {0} ( {2} )
SQL_DELETE_TABLE = delete from {0}
SQL_DROP_TABLE = dr... |
Problem Statement: After upgrade of Aspen Production Execution Manager you start MOC and get the Error E4147 and In the MOC debug you get the error message EBR_CONFIGURATION_0.Invalid record
signature:ITEM=DB_VERSION,VALUE=11.3.0,SIGNATURE=1234567890 after an upgrade | Solution: This error may occur after you upgrade and start MOC without runing the AeBRS installer.
On the Aspen Production Execution Manager server run the AeBRSInstaller.
To do this open command prompt and navigate to to the AeBRS folder and then Run the command AeBRS AeBRSInstaller.
The command is case sensitive.
Key... |
Problem Statement: After the initial DVD install of the product, then running the Aspentech Database Wizard, the AeBRSInstaller must be run as the final configuration step of a new Aspen Production Execution Manager installation. However the following error may occur when launching the AeBRSInstaller: | Solution: This error can occur if manual edits are done to the configuration files in the aebrs\cfg_source directory, after the initial install, but before running the AeBRSInstaller program. It happens because once the Installer detects that changes have been made to the files, it expects there to already be data in t... |
Problem Statement: What are the possible approaches for having Basic Phases repeat? | Solution: To repeat a Basic Phase, or a series of Phases, there are two possible approaches:
1. Use the RPL Transition component of type Step transition to control whether the previous RPL element is executed again, once the flow of execution reaches the transition. If the transition evaluates to No, the flow of execut... |
Problem Statement: How do I set Time Zone or/and Clock in Aspen Production Execution Manager MOC application?
The MOC application will use the Regional time settings on the Client machine by default. | Solution: You may want to change the time zone settings to show a different time zone.
To change this navigate to the location of your MOC configuration files.
By default this will be c:\Program Files (x86)\AspenTech\AeBRS\cfg_source.
1. Open the flags.m2r_cfg file with 'Notepad' in windows.
2. Sear... |
Problem Statement: This | Solution: illustrates the reason why Atoms2Advisor is not sending the Temperature Reading on Temporary Integrators when importing movements from AtOMS to Aspen AdvisorSolution
By design AtOMS will NEVER send the actual temperature of an integrator to Advisor. For all the integrators AtOMS will send NET volumes to Advis... |
Problem Statement: Sometimes a User account no longer works. Why? | Solution: A User account in eBRS may go to Inactive status for two reasons: (1) the user account has had three successive log-in failures; (2) the current password has expired. If no password expiration date is set by the Administrator, an account will automatically go to Inactive status after 365 days.
Because of the ... |
Problem Statement: This knowledge base article describes how to change a data historian tag for a tank level in Aspen AtOMS. | Solution: o Modify the Instrument in Aspen Operations Reconciliation and Accounting (either TAG or TAG ALIAS).
o Go to the ATOMS ADMIN tool.
o In the Node Instruments tree, locate the LEVEL instrument to be modified. (sorting by NODE will help)
o Edit the instrument
o Modify NAME with the new TAG (not necessa... |
Problem Statement: Aspen Tank and Operations Manager (AtOMS) monitors cannot connect to database on Windows 2008 R2 x64 platform. | Solution: The Connection Error was a Result of the ODBC connection in Windows 2008 Server 64 bit. The connection string used in AtOMS Config is not the same as the one used by the AtOMS Monitors.
The AtOMS Config points to the DSNs configured in Windows 64 bit OS which is normally accessible in the Control Panel; whi... |
Problem Statement: When trying to log in to MOC authentication can fail with different messages. This knowledge base article explains why these error messages occur. | Solution: 1. Problem: Correct account, but not sufficient privileges.
means that MOC is successfully contacting the Aspen Local Security or Framework server, but that the Windows user account does not have sufficient privileges to log in. Make sure that the Role the user belongs to has at least MOC user permission.... |
Problem Statement: Aspen Production Execution Manager (APEM) Basic Phase Designer includes an image component.
However it does not allow a .BMP image to be referenced successfully for display on a BP screen: | Solution: BMP is not a supported format. All images added must be either GIF or JPG format.The restriction is not directly imposed by APEM in fact, but is inherited from the Java environment, which does not support BMP images.
Depending on the image source, a BMP file can be very large, several megabytes, but the sam... |
Problem Statement: Even after following advice in Knowledgebase Article 114292 to increase memory available to the MOC execution environment, you may get Out of Memory problems when working within modules like Config, Templates and Audit. Why? | Solution: This happens because Templates, Audit and Config are really separate programs being launched from the MOC environment, so they have their own default memory parameters (Workstation and other MOC functionality all execute within the memory space defined according to Knowledgebase Article 114292.)
A global allo... |
Problem Statement: When trying to run the Version 2006 AeBRS Installer program like this, for example:
This error results: | Solution: Java is a case-sensitive programming language. Because the call is a request to a Windows CMD file (AeBRS) which is not case-sensitive, but carrying a parameter to a Java program which is (AeBRSInstaller) it is important to type the argument to AeBRS precisely as shown below (and as documented in Appendix D o... |
Problem Statement: If a connection to an Aspen InfoPlus.21 database is configured in the Aspen eBRS external_db.m2r_cfg file using a DSN based on the SQLPlus driver, the connection inherits the credentials of the interactive window session, not the username and password specified in the connection properties. If no Asp... | Solution: SeeSolution 121868 for general information on how to configure the external_db.m2r_cfg file. ThatSolution explains each element of a connection definition. As discussed in detail in that article, connections to external relational databases are defined, and any necessary username/password information can be s... |
Problem Statement: How do Effective and Expiration dates work within Aspen eBRS? | Solution: Effective and Expiration dates physically block objects from being used. However the blocking action is based on hierarchical relationships. Therefore a Recipe (RPL) operating within its own Effective and Expiration dates can use an expired Basic Phase Library (BPL.) And in turn a Master Recipe (MR) operating... |
Problem Statement: When calling OpenUserConnection(), user is unable to obtain a session identifier and gets 0 instead. | Solution: This is due to permissions issue.
1. Check that the domain logon name is specified in the following format: domain_name\username.
2. Check that the domain logon name is assigned to a role with permission to make API calls.
Keywords: OpenUserConnection
API
session identifier
References: None |
Problem Statement: The Software Requirements section of the Aspen Production Execution Manager Installation Guide does not mention IIS. Does that mean it is not required on a Production Execution Manager server? | Solution: IIS is not listed as a requirement because the Production Execution Manager web server is an optional subcomponent of the installation. If thin clients are part of theSolution being deployed, then the web server is required. The web server itself can be installed on the server or another node. Wherever it is ... |
Problem Statement: How do I test for Null or Empty Array Element values in Aspen Production Execution Manager? | Solution: This problem lays in the fact that what it is stored in EBR_MASTER_RECIPE_PARAM.VALUE is an expression, not actually a value. So, there are strings containing (two double quotes), not simply an empty string (which, by the way, cannot be recorded into the Aspen Production Execution Manager database and end up... |
Problem Statement: It is possible to use Aspen Production Execution Manager (APEM) run-time variables to dynamically change various background and foreground object and text colors. But where is the Documentation? | Solution: Documentation will be added in a future version.However to see the properties and their syntax, load the attached .CHK file into an empty Basic Phase in a BPL, and then execute it from the BPL library to see the effect of run-time background and foreground color settings, and examine the code to see all the s... |
Problem Statement: A customer administrating an Aspen Production Execution Manager (APEM) system where the server and all workstations have French Regional Settings asks the following:
How come in codify_all.cmd, the codified language source file is written to a language file with the extention lng_en.lng?
example :
..... | Solution: If there is no need for custom vocabulary (i.e. the system default for a new install) then you will see in path.m2r_cfg
LANGUAGE =
In this case nothing extra is specified. Of course most customers have custom terminology they want to define and, if they have the same application in use in different locations,... |
Problem Statement: The variable explorer in Aspen Plus will help you determine the correct path-to-node name and find-node names for most Aspen Plus objects (see | Solution: document 106094). The trouble is that that the syntax for the methods and properties of those objects is not always obvious. Tabular data is also challenging to format the correct syntax.
Are there any VB or VBA tools to aid in creating the proper syntax for retreiving and manipulating these Aspen Plus object... |
Problem Statement: The display value for density in Specific Gravity is rounded to 2 decimal places even though it accepts 4 decimal places (as it should be). This applies to movements and tank events. The value in the database tables is correct, but since the display is rounded, it confuses the operators. | Solution: Following are the steps to overcome this problem:
1. Go to Atoms Administrator
2. Expand Instrument_type
3. Double-click on DENSITY
4. Set the value DECIMALS to 4.
5. Press on ACCEPT
Keywords: None
References: None |
Problem Statement: Aspen AtOMS application can access a database such as Aspen Infoplus.21, to create cut-off for a tank and movements. There are some situations, where Monitor can read Current value from the database, but it is not creating cut-off. | Solution: If ADSA Connection protocol is 'DCOM' and the system has DCOM configuration issue (default DCOM is changed for some reason), then AtOMS Monitor can read current value from the database, but can not create Cut-off instruments.
In this case, please change the ADSA Connection protocol to 'Web Services'; it shoul... |
Problem Statement: Can Aspen Tank and Operations Manager handle LPG Vapor space for Mass calculation ? | Solution: Yes. Starting from V7.1 and above Aspen Tank and Operations Manager starting (AtOMS) handles LPG Vapor Space for mass calculations, similar to the way Aspen Operation Reconciliation and Accounting(AORA) handles.
In AORA, we need to choose product type as LPG, to enable this Vapor Mass Calculation.
Total Mass ... |
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