question stringlengths 19 6.88k | answer stringlengths 38 33.3k |
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Problem Statement: This Knowledge Base article explains what BCU does when it finds a bad value. | Solution: The BCU accesses trends of data during trigger condition analysis, and accesses individual time-points of data during sub-batch/characteristic/command execution.
Trigger condition analysis
As per the online help you select the Ignore bad data between good samples checkbox (defined for each trigger in the Con... |
Problem Statement: How to read values from a repeat area of a record using ODBC Access through ADO in VB | Solution: This task can be accomplished by writing a Visual Basic program for a form with a command button and a listbox. The example code below gets the last hour of history from a hard coded record name ( i.e. ATCTIC301) into a recordset object then fills a list box with the results.
This code could be used in either... |
Problem Statement: The Batch Handles column can''t be removed in the right-hand pane of the Batch Query Tool. | Solution: To allow for full functionality of sorting features and drag-and-drop in the Batch Query Tool, the batch handle field must be in an actual column and visible.
Keywords: BQT
handle
References: None |
Problem Statement: Aspen Production Record Manager usually gets the process data from Aspen Infoplus.21 and stores the Batch information in a relational database like SQL Server or Oracle.
But, some customers have their process data stored in PI-OSISoft and want to to view the batch information using the process data d... | Solution: The answer is yes, you can configure Aspen Process Data for PI instead of Aspen Process Data for IP21, and Aspen Process Record Manager(APRM) and the BCU will work.
1) Open ADSA by going to Start>Programs>Commom Utilities>ADSA Client Config Tool
2) Click in the Public or User Datasource button depending if th... |
Problem Statement: When using the Aspen Add-In in Microsoft Excel and selecting New in Production Record Manager or BCU sections in the Aspen Configuration menu an error occurs.
Aspen Production Record Manger Configuraiton Add-In
BCUConfigurationViewModel::OnOpenBCUTemplate:Exception
from HRESULT: 0x800A03EC | Solution: Excel VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) is the name of the programming language of Excel. With Excel VBA you can automate tasks by writing programs called macros.
The Aspen Add-In Production Record Manager and BCU menus in the Aspen Configuration menu use VBA commands to do their work. You'll receive this m... |
Problem Statement: Aspen Batch.21 automated calculations - When variables are bound to timestamp characteristics, the timestamp is expressed in UTC. Is this the expected behavior? | Solution: Yes. this is as designed. The server is executing this in the background and all processing is UTC based.
Keywords:
References: None |
Problem Statement: When building Aspen Golden Batch Profiles a user would use one tag for one profile and a different tag for another profile etc.
The question arose as to whether it was possible to create an Aspen Golden Batch Profile using such as ={Tag1+Tag2} | Solution: The answer is NO.
You would need to create a new tag record and, using such as Aspen Calc or Aspen SQLplus, do the math to write to the new tag record and then use that when building the new Profile...
Keywords:
References: None |
Problem Statement: This Knowledge Base article shows how to resolve the following error message:
Error: Unable to create license component.
which may be received when executing a dynamic query in Aspen Production Record Manager (APRM) Excel Add-in in Microsoft SharePoint. The above error may also be received when execu... | Solution: On your Windows Server 2008 R2 64-bit system go to the following directory
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Hyprotech\Shared
and register file STRGXI2.dll using the 64-bit version of regsvr32 as shown below:
Keywords:
References: None |
Problem Statement: What are the names of the services which get installed by AspenTech client applications? | Solution: Potentially, there are only two services that get installed on client computers: a service called Noblenet Portmapper for TCP that gets installed whenever Aspen Process Explorer is installed, and AspenTech Calculator Engine service that gets installed whenever the Aspen Calc client is installed.
Below are t... |
Problem Statement: Can you change the Description field for ad-hoc calculations? | Solution: In versions prior to Version 2006, it is not possible to specify or modify the Description field for Ad-Hoc calculated pens.
However Frank Weishaeupl of Nordzucker AG pointed out a helpful work-around. Even though the Description field itself cannot be modified, by adding a single quote at the end of the fo... |
Problem Statement: Why do I get an error class not registered error when starting BCU server?
When Starting the BCU server from the Aspen Production Record Manager Administrator you get a message
Class not registered shown in first screenshot. You cannot select a data source or Start the unit scheduling.
Another err... | Solution: This error can show when the Aspen Production Record Manager files have become corrupted or not registered.
To resolve this issue follow the steps below.
1. Close the APRM Administrator and BCU administrator
2. Open a Command prompt
3. As shown in the second screenshot navigate to ... |
Problem Statement: This | Solution: outlines new features in the Aspen Production Record Manager V8.5 administrator.Solution
Aspen Production Record Manager V8.5 introduces the following new features:
1. Supporting 64-bit Installation
Aspen Production Record Manager supports 64-bit installation.
2. Working with Microsoft’s Failover Cluster
As... |
Problem Statement: In a clustered | Solution: while configuring the Aspen Production Record Manager using the Aspen Wizard, which server name is created in Database, will the Aspen Wizard use the cluster name or the single cluster nodes?Solution
When configuring the Aspen Production Record Manager using the Aspen Wizard, it normally creates a <server nam... |
Problem Statement: How do I use Ad-hoc calculations to display values for one tag on the basis of criteria applied to one or several other tags? | Solution: It is possible to write a simple join condition with a Process Explorer Ad-hoc calculation. Such a calculation would
allow the user to impose a relational context onto data stored in InfoPlus.21 tags which otherwise are by their
nature completely non-relational. The goal is to permit the user to select values... |
Problem Statement: PROBLEM 1:
After running a silent install of the AMS software, MicroSoft Excel gives the following message when loading the Aspen Process Data Add-in:
Compile error in hidden module: Atglobal
This error only occurs if the software was installed with the silent install procedure. If a normal install w... | Solution: Solution 1:
The error message is a result of the TimeDialogs.exe file not being properly registered during the silent install. To fix the problem, open a command prompt, change directory to the \Program Files\AspenTech\APEx\Pe\Addin location and manually register the TimeDialogs executable. Make sure to regis... |
Problem Statement: Some sites have complicated network configurations. In some cases, a site will use DHCP in conjunction with a WINS Server, and DNS. With this type of configuration, there are cases where Process Explorer is unable to trend data from the InfoPlus.21 Server.
The symptoms will be that the tag browser wo... | Solution: The network needs to be configured for WINS host name reSolution and reverse lookup reSolution. The InfoPlus.21 Server must be able to perform a successful nslookup of the Client PC using both the client's nodename and TCP/IP address. See the attached document for information on this configuration.
Keywords: ... |
Problem Statement: The Process Data | Get Data | Attribute Values... function will not work for Excel worksheets that contain spaces in the worksheet name. For example, changing the worksheet name from Sheet1 to Sheet 1 will cause the function to return an error similar to:
#ERROR 50103: Bad Attribute 'Sheet 1!... | Solution: The only workaround is to change the name of the worksheet so that it does not contain spaces.
Keywords: bad attribute
References: None |
Problem Statement: After a new installation of Aspen Manufacturing Suite (AMS) suite, whenever you open the AMS application, there will be a pop up message (after the product splash screen) to ask you to register for AspenTech product information.
Some user find this is not applicable for them as they are not connecte... | Solution: to bypass the pop up message during the next start up?Solution
1. Click Cancel when the pop message first appears.
2. Click Do Not Register on the second pop up message box.
This will prevent the pop up message during the next start up of the application.
However, for the AspenTech products users who have th... |
Problem Statement: Is there a way for the Map TimeStamp field to point to another field other than the key timestamp field such as IP_Trend_Time?
For example in those cases where a custom record for Lab21 data is created, this custom record might have two time stamp fields IP_Trend_Time (data insert time) and L21_Trend... | Solution: Unfortunately this is not possible, history retrieval is based on the key timestamp, not some other timestamp that might be in the history repeat area. This has always been the case for Aspen Infoplus21.
Aspen Infoplus21 history is ordered according to the key timestamp of the history events. Consequently, hi... |
Problem Statement: This knowledge base article provides possible reasons why the error message,
The following alias was not resolved
can be displayed in the Aspen Process Explorer 'Description' field when a user attempts to drag and drop a tag alias from the Alias Browser onto an Aspen Process Explorer Batch plot. | Solution: This error message is usually an indication of a configuration problem. The cause is usually one of the following:
? In some cases the Alias cannot be resolved if there is not a tag assigned to the Alias. You should first configure the unit, then the tags for that specific unit and finally the alias... |
Problem Statement: This knowledge base article explains why the error message,
Error executing method 'Item': Dispatch error 0x80004005
can be returned from a custom program or Aspen SQLplus script which calls functions from the Aspen Batch.21 application programming interface (API). | Solution: This message is returned when the user's account which runs the custom program or script does not have the necessary permissions to access the Aspen Batch.21 areas. When a custom executable is run, it runs under the user's Windows login account. The user's Windows login account is also used to run an Aspen SQ... |
Problem Statement: This knowledge base article describes how to programmatically change the time span of the global timeline in Aspen Process Explorer. | Solution: There is a sample VBForm file called TrendForm.apx which illustrates how to use the Aspen Process Explorer automation interface to control the timespan of a timeline. TrendForm.apx gets installed at this location:
Program Files\AspenTech\APEx\Samples\ProcessExplorer\VBForm
Open TrendForm.apx then examine ... |
Problem Statement: Users may receive a message like the following when working in Excel or Process Explorer:
Microsoft Visual Basic (title of dialog box)
Compile error:
Can't find project or library | Solution: This message is an indicator that some underlying VBA code is referring to AspenTech Add-Ins that are not present and no longer needed. These references need to be removed from the VBA project.
If the message appears when opening a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet choose 'Developer' tab | 'Visual Basic' | 'Tools'... |
Problem Statement: This Knowledge Base article shows how to use Themes in Aspen Process Explorer V7.1. | Solution: Themes have been added to Process Explorer and its components in V7.1. A theme can be applied at run time to change the appearance of the application. Three themes are available:
Aspen - based on AspenTech's style guide for a common look and feel
Office - similar to Microsoft Office 2007
Windows - based on sy... |
Problem Statement: When triggers do not execute the underlying cause is almost always data related. This knowledge base article describes how to enable logging such that the data and conditions processed by each trigger on a unit basis are logged to a file. This log file will assist in the determination of why a specif... | Solution: - In the Aspen BCU Administrator, go to Server | Scheduling Table
- When the Scheduling Table appears, right click on the unit in question then disable it. The unit logging cannot be changed while the unit is enabled
- Right click on the unit again then click Scheduling Properties
- In the Logging tab, make s... |
Problem Statement: The scooter timestamps in Aspen Process Explorer can sometimes be difficult to read, depending on the font color used. This can be fixed by adjusting the font color for the timestamps. | Solution: The color for the scooter timestamp corresponds to the color selected for the first tag in the legend. If you change the color used for this tag, it will change the color of the timestamp font. It is possible to change the tag color by right mouse clicking the tag in the legend and selecting properties. On th... |
Problem Statement: When reading the 'State' and 'StatusSummary' properties of the BCU 'installed unit' object from SQLplus, a number is returned. What is the meaning of these numbers?
Sample SQLplus query (after enabling the SQLplus reference for the Aspen Batch 21 BCU Application Interface through the menu item Vie... | Solution: The possible codes and associated meanings are as follows:
State:
1 - Enabled
2 - Disabled
3 - Executing
4 - Stopping
5 - NotLoaded
6 - Loading
7 - LoadFailed
8 - Aborted
StatuseSummary:
1 - Reset
2 - InProgress
3 - Interrupted
4 - WaitingForData
5 - WaitingForGate
6 - CommunicationFailed
7 - Failed
8 - OK... |
Problem Statement: The values for all tags in Aspen Process Explorer is displayed as the following error.
Aspen DA for IP.21 service is not configured | Solution: Two Aspen Data Source Architecture (ADSA) services are required to view InfoPlus.21 tags in Aspen Process Explorer.
Aspen DA for IP.21
Aspen Process Data (IP.21)
The error indicates that the Aspen DA for IP.21 service has not been configured for the data source in ADSA.
Data sources are configured using the A... |
Problem Statement: How to display Phase start and End time on a batch plot in Process Explorer | Solution: The workaround to do this is to configure the Batch List Properties for the plot.
Right click on plot legend area à Click on Properties à Click on “Batch List� à Select the Sub batch Start time and End Time as the Start and End Characteristics respectively.
Click Ok to save the changes.
Keywords: Batch... |
Problem Statement: How do I change the precision of the seconds value of the timestamp displayed within the Show Data Table feature? Can it be adjusted from whole seconds to show tenths, hundredths, or thousandths of a second? | Solution: The precision of the Aspen Process Explorer timestamp displayed in the timeline and Show Data Table can be adjusted in the legend properties.
1. Right Click on the clock face in the timeline control and Select Properties.
2. On the Time tab increase the precision from 0 to 6 for the desired number of ... |
Problem Statement: In a typical installation scenario a single Aspen Production Record Manager Server Service will connect to a single Relational Database, as defined in the ADSA Server it connects to.
Can one Aspen Production Record Manager Server talk to multiple relational databases?
Can multiple Aspen Production Re... | Solution: Multiple Aspen Production Record Manager (APRM) Server services can point back to the same Relational Database. By definition one APRM Server is a single machine as any given machine can only run one instance of the Server service.
For example: A customer currently has three separate servers hosting databas... |
Problem Statement: A right-click, Properties operation on the Server Administration node in the Aspen Production Record Manager (APRM) Administrator Tool reveals a Cache dialog:
What is this Datasource-related caching used for? | Solution: There are three usage scenarios where choosing a default Datasource and hitting Apply can help your users:
Scenario
Description
Usage Scenario 1
I have a large configuration.
No Datasource selected in the Administrator cache dialog.
I restart the batch server.
It starts but does not load up any cache until ... |
Problem Statement: While configuring a BCU unit, the designer wants a trigger that knows when, for example, Step 433 ends, in order to record the End_Time characteristic.
Typically you could use a Transition trigger type with the same conditions as the startStep trigger, and just NOT the Trigger condition. That approac... | Solution: Here is the BCU trigger logic needed to get the transition out of Step 433 (Notepad shows the entire Summary line):
Explanation of trigger:
We want the change of STEP (markdiscrete) when it no longer is 433 but it was a second ago. And of course where the batches no longer are the same.
Keywords: logic
ti... |
Problem Statement: This knowledge base article describes the various options available for viewing alarm states for records in Aspen InfoPlus.21. | Solution: Alarms for IP_AnalogDef records in Aspen InfoPlus.21 are keyed off of the field IP_Alarm_State field. The alarm limits are configured in the individual IP_AnalogDef records through the following fields:
IP_HIGH_HIGH_LIMIT
IP_HIGH_LIMIT
IP_LOW_LIMIT
IP_LOW_LOW_LIMIT
The following options can be used to vie... |
Problem Statement: After an installation or upgrade of an Aspen Production Record Manager server, when viewing a web page that includes Batch Query Criteria, the tab controls are missing: | Solution: The tab controls are part of a package of web controls from Microsoft. When this problem occurs, it is because the controls were not properly installed during the installation/upgrade. To resolve the issue:
1. Go to Start=> Settings=>ControlPanel and 'remove' Microsoft Internet Explorer WebControls
2. Go to... |
Problem Statement: When you configure the datasource in the BCU administrator or if you try and start the BCU unit scheduler in the Aspen Production Record Manager administrator tool may get the error 'B21BCU-55031: Unable to access the specified BCU data source: XXXX'? | Solution: This error will occur when the User logged in does not have access to the Registry and ADSA but are trying to configure the BCU datasource and APRM administrator BCU unit scheduling.
To resolve this issue the user logged in will need to ensure they have administrator rights and edit the registry keys in both ... |
Problem Statement: This knowledge base article provides an example which shows how to execute code when the global time line changes. | Solution: The TimeLine object has an event called TimeChangedEvent which you can use to detect when the time line updates. The following code snippet shows how to use the TimeChangedEvent with the global time line.
'----- ADD TO A VBA FORM IN ASPEN PROCESS EXPLORER -----
Public WithEvents g_globalTimeLine As AtTime.T... |
Problem Statement: After an upgrade from V7.1 to V7.2, the Production Record Manager Query Tool still shows V7.1 in the titlebar, even though Help, About shows V7.2, and the application is in fact V7.2. | Solution: If this happens, look for the file BatchQueryTool_en.dll in
C:\Program Files\AspenTech\Batch.21\Locale\
and delete it. After deleting it, the correct V7.2 title should appear.
Keywords: Batch Query Tool
upgrade failure
wrong version
References: None |
Problem Statement: This article demostrates how to add an ad-hoc tag to a Process Explorer plot using the VBA automation interface. | Solution: Note: This example references the example file 'TrendForm.apx' which is installed in the following directory:
Program Files\AspenTech\APEx\Samples\ProcessExplorer\VBForm
Procedure:
Open TrendForm.apx. Click on the 'Design Mode' button in the toolbar to make the project editable.
Add a new button to the VB f... |
Problem Statement: Is it possible to execute a calculation for a batch that has already run? | Solution: In batch detail display, right click on a characteristic where the value is determined using a calculation and select Modify. Increase the timestamp value by one second, and the calculation will re-execute for the characteristic.
You can verify that the calculation executed by checking in the Aspen Produc... |
Problem Statement: How does the Aspen Production Record Manager (APRM) StatisticValue object derive its average value? For a given Average statistic returned via the StatisticValue object, is the Average determined by equally spaced values over the time period, or simply the sum of AllGoodPointsInMyTimespan / NumberOfG... | Solution: There are two ways to compute statistics: Value or Integral. The Value is where you add up all the values and divide by the number of samples. The Integral computes the area under the curve using every actual data point.
In APRM, the computation uses an integral computation (the area under the curve). It take... |
Problem Statement: Sometimes when opening the BCU administrator you will receive an error B21BSC-500002 Relational Database Error -2147467259 [Aspentech][SQLPlus] InfoPlus.21 record batch21_configuration does not exist. How can this error be resolved? | Solution: One might receive this error upon opening BCU Administrator when the Aspen Production Record Manager service component in ADSA is set up to use a ODBC Data Source instead of OLEDB driver. In order to change this component to use OLEDB driver
1. Go to ADSA Client config tool and select the data source where yo... |
Problem Statement: When trying to plot a tag in Aspen Process Explorer, the time zone (TZ) field is giving the error:
Invalid Bias Response: <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC -//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd>
This error may occur on certain servers and from certain client machine... | Solution: To fix this error message, open the ADSA Client Config Tool and select the data source name from either Public Data Sources (if you are running from the server) or User Data Sources (if you are configured from the client). Select the Aspen Timezone Information Service and edit the Protocol to DCOM instead of ... |
Problem Statement: How do I link END TIME characteristic to another trigger or action in a journal file? | Solution: There is a file called TRIGACT.DEF, located in the
..\Program Files\AspenTech\Batch.21\Data\BatchConnect\Data
directory, which contains the mappings from triggers and actions to a specific characteristic in the Aspen Production Record Manager database. If you want to point the END TIME characteristic to anoth... |
Problem Statement: While running the Aspen Database Wizard to upgrade a much older db version (for example Version 6) the Upgrade fails with this error message: | Solution: Because of unique data usage patterns in a particular Batch database, it may be necessary to edit and run the DDL files individually to update the database, when a Wizard failure occurs. In V7.2 and after the DDL files for all products the Wizard updates are made available under:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Common... |
Problem Statement: Ad-hoc calculations are typically used in Process Explorer. But they could also provide a useful way to generate meaningful process data information in a batch context. Is that possible? | Solution: Ad-hoc calculations cannot be used directly in the Query Tool, but they can be specified together with statistics, as this example shows:
Keywords:
References: None |
Problem Statement: It is not possible to copy-and-paste an entire Batch within a Batch area. | Solution: To duplicate a batch in a batch area (i.e. copy-and-paste) first create an XML file of the Batch by exporting it from the Batch Detail Display, then submit it to Batch.21 using the Web Service Test utility. Here are the detailed steps:
1. Find the Batch you want to export using the Batch Detail Display. Cho... |
Problem Statement: In the Batch Time Range plot, the Planned Start Time and Planned End Time characteristics provide a graphical way to compare planned versus actual run times at the Batch level. As long as characteristics named Planned Start Time and Planned End Time are recorded at the batch level, this comparison is... | Solution: Right-click on the plot area and choose Planned Batch View:
For any batch that has Planned Start Time and Planned End Time characteristic instances recorded, an overlay of the planned time-range for the batch will be displayed.
Note that this Planned Start/End overlay is only available at the top leve... |
Problem Statement: When using the Excel Process Data Add-In to retrieve values for the Max/Min aggregate, the associated timestamp returned is not the timestamp of the actual Max/Min value. Rather, the timestamp provided is the anchor timestamp of the aggregate period.
For example, if the aggregate period is one hour... | Solution: In order to determine the timestamp associated to the actual Max/Min value, use SQLplus. For example, this script will return one 24-hour max aggregate value and the value's actual timestamp, for each day included in the script's span.
-- Get_Max_ValueAndTime(Tag Name , StartTime , EndTime , Period)
functio... |
Problem Statement: By default, the batch structure is shown in the Administrator and Characteristic Browser tools in the order in which the elements were created. As long as the creation order represents something meaningful that is fine. But if the structure is later edited, all new elements automatically appear at th... | Solution: V7.2 introduces the ability to sort batch structure elements within the Administrator tool (CQ00041203, listed in the Aspen Production Record Manager V7.2 Release Notes Fixed Defects section.) That sort order is then reflected in the Characteristic browser. For example, if a new AGITATE phase was added to the... |
Problem Statement: Starting from V7.2 Batch Configuration Utility (BCU) Administrator has been enhanced to dynamically create sub-batch names and characteristics. | Solution: New features in the V7.2 version of the Aspen Production Record Manager (APRM) BCU Administrator support automatic configuration of characteristics and sub-batches. Prior to V7.2, sub-batches and characteristics had to be pre-defined using the APRM Administrator tool before they could be referenced in the BCU... |
Problem Statement: Plot Start Time and End Time of Batch Overlay plot do not match start/end time of plot.
Scenario:
A user would like to be able to change the Overlay plot Legend Start Time and End Time columns to show the Run, Start Time and Run, End Time instead of the Batch Start Time and Batch End Time. They have... | Solution: Batch Start Time and Batch End Time columns in the batch plot Legend will not change to match the plot Start and End Time.
Batch Start/End Times in the plot Legend reflect the start and end time of the batch (batch level characteristics).
Plot Start/End Times reflect the setting from the Batch List Property p... |
Problem Statement: You have two (or more) Aspen InfoPlus.21 (IP.21) servers feeding data into the same Aspen Production Record Manager (APRM) database. And APRM services on both servers are using the same local user account (let's call it amsadmin).
However, in this scenario the stored procedure BATCH21_SP_INSERT_USER ... | Solution: To resolve the error, first open the dbo.users table and manually create an entry for each non-unique user account that is running APRM Server service on your IP.21/APRM servers and is configured to write batch data to the APRM database having the issue. To make it unique, the user_domain column should contai... |
Problem Statement: Error:
Relational Database Error -2147217900: ORA-01654: unable to extend index
seen in the Batch21Services log file. | Solution: This is not an Aspentech error -- refer this issue to the Oracle Administrator. The tablespace for the table noted in the log file error must be increased. The error occurs because Aspen Production Record Manager is unable to write to that database table.
Keywords: Aspen Production Record Manager
unable to ex... |
Problem Statement: This Knowledge Base article provides a list of special characters that are not supported within subbatch and characteristic names. | Solution: The following characters are not supported within subbatch and characteristic names: open ([) and closed (]) brackets and commas (?,?). Additionally, all non-printable (hidden) characters are not supported.
Testing results indicate that Batch.21 does support the following characters:
_~!@#$%^&*()_+=-`
_./?;':... |
Problem Statement: Aspen Production Record Manager only works on the server, and all users are getting locked out with no access to read information from the database. The error message shown is Unable to get pointer to Batch Areas for Data Source Access is denied. (0x80070005). Aspen Framework Security or Aspen Local ... | Solution: This indicates a DCOM security issue with the APRM server. To fix this issue, open DCOMCNFG.EXE and navigate to Console Root | Component Services | Computer | My Computer. Right-click on My Computer and select Properties. Select COM Security from the tab that opens and make sure that Edit Limits and Edit Defa... |
Problem Statement: Users often want to compare Batch data from one plant with similar data from another plant. Is it possible to view Batch plots (Single, Batch, Multiple) from more than one ADSA data source in the same Aspen Process Explorer plot window? | Solution: Yes, it is as long as you use tag aliases (it won't work with tag names) and the same tag alias represents the same process variable on both systems.
If you have several ADSA data sources configured on your ADSA server with the Aspen Batch.21 Service component configured, you would open the Batch Query Tool a... |
Problem Statement: When attempting to create a new Aspen Production Record Manager (APRM) Basic Report, the characteristics component is not loading properly and you receive the message:
Batch characteristics loading... | Solution: This is an Internet Explorer version issue and can be fixed by updating IE 9 or IE 10 with the latest patches available from Windows Update.
.
To test the issue, try loading the APRM website with another browser such as Firefox or Chrome and the characteristic component will load properly.
Keywords: Charact... |
Problem Statement: Unable to see or connect to batch areas. | Solution: To see DCOM errors, we had to add key CallFailureLoggingLevel with value of 1. This Microsoft article has information about the flag and general DCOM troubleshooting.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc738214.aspx
Setting this flag revealed error XXXX in System log of Event Viewer.
1. Click St... |
Problem Statement: As Microsoft releases new Office versions, the location of their library directories changes. Will AspenTech follow Microsoft's lead in making sure that AtData.xla is installed into the correct library? The issue here is that end users make extensive use of the Excel Add-in (AtData.xla). In the past,... | Solution: AspenTech's overall goal is to maintain consistency where the libraries are located in all releases of AspenTech software. Consistency with Microsoft's library location must also be established to provide seamless Excel functionality with the end users. AspenTech now utilizes a Microsoft function call at inst... |
Problem Statement: Aspen-Tag (non visible) component (AT_tag.ocx) is not available from v5 onwards | Solution: At_tag.ocx is no longer supported and has been removed from distribution from v5.0 onwards. If using a VBA Form with v5.0 and above then any references to At_tag.ocx must be replaced with references to Aspen Process Data Automation. To add Aspen Process Data Automation to the VBA Project Click Tools
Keywords:... |
Problem Statement: When making XML requests to the Production Record Manager Server, the Configuration information is automatically returned with the query, even though it may not be needed. Configuration information is not the data for a particular batch, but items like the Batch Definition itself (Designators charact... | Solution: Whether or not the Area configuration information is sent with the XML reply depends on a comment in the XSL file, called includeAreaConfiguration. Even though in XML terms the format of includeAreaConfiguration makes it look like a comment, it is in fact processed by the server, and it's value of 0 or 1 dete... |
Problem Statement: Developers should protect their Process Explorer VBA projects from unauthorized modification by other users. This article describes how the current features of Process Explorer and AFW/ALS security can be combined to protect a Process Explorer VBA project. | Solution: When editing a project in Process Explorer, the Tools | VBAProject Properties | Protection tab allows you to password protect your project's source code and properties from viewing by anyone who doesn't have the correct password. However, if you only lock you project this way, users with the VBA permission in... |
Problem Statement: This Knowledge Base article provides steps to resolve the following error:
B21BAI-60104: Unknown Exception...
which may be encountered when trying to save an Aspen Batch.21 Report. | Solution: Open the Aspen Batch.21 Administrator
Right click on the Reporting object for the Area in question and select Properties from the context menu (see screen grab below)
Make sure that the paths for the three folders (Template, Query, and Output) are configured correctly (not pointing to the wrong drive such as ... |
Problem Statement: Using Visual Basic for Aapplications (VBA) in Aspen Process Explorer, how do you open a Process Explorer graphic file from a command button? | Solution: Use this method: Application.Documents.Open (C:\samples\Boiler_Room_A103.atgraphic)
Keywords: None
References: None |
Problem Statement: Two numeric characteristics are defined, e.g. NUM and SUM, and SUM should be the sum of all instances of NUM. How does the auto calculation have to look to have SUM calculated whenever a new instance of NUM is added or when one instance of NUM is modified. Can it be done in Calcscript? | Solution: A good approach is to trigger on any instance of NUM being recorded and then sum all of the instances that exist in the formula. An alternative would be to use the ReturnValue below and map it to the output characteristic SUM as well.
Keywords: None
References: None |
Problem Statement: How do I install a missing AspenTech service? | Solution: AspenTech recommends completing a re-install or repair installation if services are not installed as expected. If these options are not available then the service can be installed using the SC command providing the service executable file was installed. This will require the user to have read/write access to ... |
Problem Statement: This Knowledge Base article answers the following question: What does the message BCU started with Allocation Granularity ( ..... ) really mean? | Solution: The above-mentioned error message can sometimes be seen in the BcuServer.log. This message is strictly informational in nature and it may be safely ignored. It is present only when logging is enabled and it has to do with application trying to control the size of the BCU threads. The allocation granularity in... |
Problem Statement: If you install an AspenTech product that installs Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) on a computer that has an earlier version of VBA, you may experience one of the following problems:
? When you try to run a macro, you may receive an error message similar to the following:
'Obje... | Solution: To resolve the problem, delete cached versions of the control type libraries. To do this, search your computer's hard disk for all files with the extension '.exd', and then delete all occurrences. The .exd files are re-created automatically by using the new controls the next time you use VBA.
NOTE: When sea... |
Problem Statement: This Knowledge Base article shows how to show the detail display for a specific batch handle from Visual Basic. | Solution: Below is a sample VB code that shows how to activate the detail display from Visual Basic. The batch handle in this example is Batch21 v7.1.1405.
There are three steps:
1. Create the object
2. Set the batch handle: SetBatch
3. Show the detail display: Show
NOTE: NOTHING is a check to make sure we created the ... |
Problem Statement: What does a locked batch signify in Aspen Production Record Manager? Is there still some way to edit the batch? | Solution: Once a given batch is locked, no changes can be made by anyone. Characteristics cannot be added, deleted or modified no matter what permissions the user has in the system. The only action that can be taken is that someone with the Lock privilege can unlock the batch. Of course in a compliant system (i.e. one ... |
Problem Statement: Why am I getting the Error B21BCN-54037 when opening a Journal file?
This means the specified event journal file is partially completed and is no longer in the journal_directory, or is
inaccessible. | Solution: To resolve this issue determine why the <filename> file is missing and
restore it. A missing file may be due to:
• Manual deletion of the file.
• The file may reside on a remote server that is currently
inaccessible.
• Access to a file is no longer available due to a change in directory permissions.
Keywords:... |
Problem Statement: A Trend plot added to an Aspen Production Record Manager web-based advanced report does not display the trend line when the report is generated. Also the Batch21Services log will include the following message “Failed to add tag data request to data manager: E_IINVALIDARG”.
If the Aspen InfoPlus.21 T... | Solution: Add the following entry into the registry [below] to force the direct connect method to read tag data from Aspen InfoPlus.21.
· Export the registry as a backup.
· Go to [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{710B32A1-7277-11D1-932C-00805F0F1C84}
· Add a key “ProcessList” if it does not already ex... |
Problem Statement: Can I test my APRM connection and run test SQL queries? | Solution: Starting from v8.8, Aspentech has implemented a new ODBC test utility that can be found in 32 bit and 64 bit format:
C:\Program Files\AspenTech\Batch.21\Client\APRM_ODBC_TestApp.exe -- 64 bit client
C:\Program Files (x86)\AspenTech\Batch.21\Client\APRM_ODBC_TestApp.exe -- 32 bit client
Once you select the d... |
Problem Statement: Why does the BCU service go to 100% after restarting machine? After restarting the BCU server the 'Aspen Production Record Manager BCU service' goes to 100% in the Windows Task Manager. This can cause performance issues with the APRM and BCU servers and clients. | Solution: This issue is caused when there are units in the BCU server administrator that are disabled. These units may have pointed to another data source that either does not exist or is not reachable. This causes connection errors and the BCU will try and re connect. The re connection time varies on scheduled tim... |
Problem Statement: Currently, the Aspen Production Record Manager (APRM) and BCU default log file location on aspenONE servers is:
C:\ProgramData\AspenTech\DiagnosticLogs\ProductionRecordManager
But this location is not accessible to a majority of APRM (non-privileged) users.
Can this file location be changed? | Solution: The log file location is hardcoded in the application itself and it cannot be changed.
Keywords: None
References: None |
Problem Statement: Is it possible for a process graphic to change color based upon the value of a tag attribute? Is it possible to animate an object representing a text tag? | Solution: It is possible to animate a live data object so that it changes color depending upon the value of a tag attribute. For text labels, the text string can be changed based on a tag value.
For images, an image can be changed on a tag value. Animated objects always have an associated tag and they can change appear... |
Problem Statement: Requesting data from the Aspen Batch (Aspen Production Record Manager) Data Excel Add-In gives an
Error: unable to acquire license : SLM_RN_PME_BTCHDEXCLADD | Solution: The new Aspen Batch Data Excel Add-In introduced with the 7.3.0.2 Supplemental Release patch released in March, 2012 requires the license key:
RN_PME_BTCHDEXCLADD
The error noted above is returned if this license key is not found in your license file. If you have an NCM token license agreement you may submit ... |
Problem Statement: Client PCs which use v6.0.1 or earlier versions of the Aspen Process Data Add-In are not able to use the ATGetCurrVal() function on sheets which were created with v2004 of the Aspen Process Data Excel Add-In. This is because the number of arguments has changed for the ATGetCurrVal() function in v2004... | Solution: TheSolution is to double click the cell which contains a reference to ATGetCurrVal(). When the dialog box pops up, click OK to execute the data retrieval once. After the function is executed on a PC which uses an earlier version of the Process Data add-in, the correct number of arguments will automatically be... |
Problem Statement: How does the license timeout and grace period impact the functionality of the Aspen Batch x64 ODBC Driver? | Solution: The Aspen Batch ODBC Driver allows third party applications to retrieve a batch of records from Aspen products through a ODBC connection.
The Aspen Batch x64 ODBC Driver will check out a license when it prepares a statement. If the ODBC driver is unable to contact the SLM Server while the license is checked ... |
Problem Statement: After upgrading a pre-v8.4 Aspen Production Record Manager (APRM) system you cannot find any of the Server Tools because the menu option would appear to have not been installed. | Solution: In v8.4 the management of the APRM services is handled within the Aspen Production Record Manager (Batch) Administrator. You will find them under the Local Services node in the console tree.
The APRM Administrator Help file has a new section Using the Local Services Node introducing the function of this new n... |
Problem Statement: No AM/PM parameter is shown in the timeline when the time setting is in 12 hour format. There should always be either an AM or PM suffix. | Solution: This problem is not specific to Process Explorer, but is instead a system setting. This setting is under Control Panel -> Regional and Language Options -> Customize... (button on the Regional Options tab) -> Time tab. Normally, most people use one of the four options in the pull down menu for Time format. But... |
Problem Statement: The following warning message is received when opening a spreadsheet with AspenTech Process Data Add-Ins loaded:
This application is about to initialize ActiveX controls that might be unsafe. If you trust the source of this file, select OK and the controls will be initialized using your current works... | Solution: The problem is cause by the MSGrid.ocx control. This is a standard Visual Control which is not shipped with Windows 2000 but gets installed with Aspen Process Explorer. With some versions of Excel, the MSGrid.ocx cannot be loaded by the Add-In because it is not marked as Safe for Initializing and Safe for Scr... |
Problem Statement: When I use the Aspen Production Record Manager Administrator and then close the application, I see the following pop-up window:
Why is this happening and how can I solve it? | Solution: The message Save console settings to console name? appears each time you close a console opened in Author mode.
To avoid the pop-up window set the default mode for the console to one of the user modes and then clear the Do not save changes to this console check box:
1. Go to C:\Program Files\AspenTech\Bat... |
Problem Statement: Error on BatchData XML Import
The following error message appears in Result file:
Database Error: Relational Database Error -2147217887: Invalid character value for cast | Solution: The problem may be that you are not including timestamps for your values. Timestamps should be specified when importing XML into V7.1.x. Here is an example format:
2010-01-14T14:43:00
In V7.2 timestamps are allowed to be missing (default to NOW.)
Keywords: Batch
Data
XML
Relational
Database
Invalid
Charac... |
Problem Statement: My users don't need Aspen Process Explorer, and only want to have the Aspen Process Data Add-In ( Excel Add-In) available. | Solution: text and added screen capture and updated versions
Applicable Version(s)
Multiple
Keywords: Add-in
Excel
References: None |
Problem Statement: How to create a subbatch Duration Calculation. | Solution: Creating a subbatch duration calculation requires the use of arrays. You need to create a phase duration within each individual phase and then create a rollup calculation to add up the array of individual phase durations.
To create a subbatch duration calculation:
1. In Aspen Production Record Manager Adminis... |
Problem Statement: When looking at a Q (SPC) Chart, such as an XBAR chart, with V6 or later, several new features were added. One of them was the ability to Right-Click in the plot area and select Subgroup Details. From the screen that appears, provided you are plotting a Q-Record rather than an Ad-Hoc record, you can ... | Solution: The problem is caused by not having the latest changes to 'several' records in the IP.21 database. For example, look in the record XBARRCMAP (Defined by AtMapDef). Look in the Repeat Area MAP_#Maps
For this new V6 feature to work:
Occurrence 19 should have 'Map_Attribute' value of 'Fixed Comment' and 'Map_Fie... |
Problem Statement: How does Aspen Process Explorer verify Aspen Framework (AFW) security? | Solution: Aspen Process Explorer (PE) is a securable application, using the Aspen Local Security (ALS) or Aspen Framework (AFW) security servers. Roles created on the security server can contain both individual domain accounts, and domain groups. The AFW roles can then be applied to the Process Explorer application and... |
Problem Statement: How can you execute an SQLplus query from within a graphic running in Aspen Process Explorer? | Solution: 1. In the Aspen Process Graphics Editor, create a data field.
2. In the Properties for this data field, on the General tab, click on the box for Allow Data Entry.
3. On the Data Source tab, in the Tag Name field, enter the name of the query to be executed. For the Attribute field, scroll to ... |
Problem Statement: When viewing data in Process Explore on one PC and viewing the same data in the Administrator on the IP.21 server PC, the timestamps are off by 1+ hours. | Solution: First check that the system time on the IP.21 server machine is the same as the client machine with Process Explorer, both are set to the same timezone, and both use the automatic daylight savings switch in the control panel (Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> Date/Time -> Timezone). If these are all the s... |
Problem Statement: The Aspen Tag Browser is a key component of Aspen Process Explorer and from v2004 onwards it can also be launched from the Aspen InfoPlus.21 Administrator.
Clicking on Search in the Header area brings a dropdown menu that includes Simple Search and Advanced Search.
The Simple Search allows search for... | Solution: There are two possible reasons
1) The Aspen Data Source Architecture (ADSA) configuration for a Data Source includes added components. If the Aspen SQLplus service component has not been added to the Data Source, then the Advanced Search won't be available when connecting to that Data Source.
2) Although the ... |
Problem Statement: How to increase the default size of the log file created by Aspen Production Record Manager? | Solution: By default the log file generated by Aspen Production Record Manager Services is 1MB in size.
To increase the default size of the log file created by Aspen Production Record Manager open the Production Record Manager.Profile.xml file located in the
C:\ProgramData\AspenTech\Production Record Manager
folder a... |
Problem Statement: The BCU Log file contains errors like:
B21SVR-50159 error Value for characteristic already exists
A typical cause for this error is multiple triggers firing simultaneously trying to create or populate characteristics. | Solution: If only one unit is involved, try synchronizing the triggers so they are forced to execute one after the other. In the case of multiple units, change the area properties (in the BCU Server Manager) so that less units can process simultaneously (the default number of simultaneously processing units is 3.)
Keyw... |
Problem Statement: When you open the BCU administrator and go to Scheduling Table you will notice that the Units are in a Failed state.
When you check the Diagnostic logs files for APRM you will see the error B21BSC-50002: Relational Database Error -2147217900: The transaction log for database 'PPAPRMDatabase' is ful... | Solution: This issue is caused by the Database being full or the database does not have permission
You can change the size of the database or Contact your Sql Server Administrator.
1.. Open SQL Server Enterprise Manager, and expand to the APRM Database.
2. Choose Properties on the APRM Database.
3. From the Pro... |
Problem Statement: When a user attempts to add new characteristics to a basic query in the Aspen Batch.21 reporting web page the characteristics never appear when trying to add them to the query. The Aspen Batch.21 reporting page then hangs. This knowledge base article explains why this problem occurs as well as how to... | Solution: This is caused by using a version of Internet Explorer (IE) that is older than the version required by the Aspen Batch.21 installation manual. For versions 2004 and 2006 Internet Explorer version 6 SP1 is required.
Keywords: IE6
v2004
v2006
freeze
hang
missing
empty
References: None |
Problem Statement: This | Solution: provides an overview of Batch.21 SPC functionalitySolution
Introduction
SPC plots for Batch.21 were introduced with v2004. The SPC plots available include: XBar, Range, CUSUM and EWMA.
There are two types of Batch SPC plots:
Batch.21 Ad-hoc SPC plots that can be created on the fly and can be used to analyze h... |
Problem Statement: After installing Aspen Process Explorer, the application reports the following error when started:
AttypeInfoCache::GetTypeInfoOfGuid
Invalid Type Library: 8002801d | Solution: The problem is that the ATTime.dll file was not registered properly during the installation.
From a DOS prompt, change to the directory C:\Program Files\Common Files\AspenTech Shared\APEX
From this directory, run the following command:
regsvr32 Attime.dll
.
Keywords: Attime
gettypeInfoOfguid
Invalid type Li... |
Problem Statement: Older versions of Aspen Process Explorer displayed real numbers with full precision, thus showing many decimal places whether the user wanted to see the full precision or not. This knowledge base article describes why Aspen Process Explorer shows data as formatted by each respective Aspen InfoPlus.21... | Solution: The ability of Aspen Process Explorer to display values as they are formatted in Aspen InfoPlus.21 is a feature which was put into version 6.0.1. Since Aspen InfoPlus.21 actually stores the full single or double precision real value in history it has always been possible to adjust the IP_VALUE_FORMAT of each ... |
Problem Statement: This knowledge base article illustrates how to specify the Map record from which to retrieve data using the Process Data Add-In for Excel. | Solution: Open an Excel spreadsheet. Type the Tag name in one cell, Server name in the next, and name of Map record in the following cell. It must be in this order either across or down.
Select Aspen > Process Data > Get Data > Trend/Aggregate Data Select the groups of cells you just specified as your Input area for T... |
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