FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions:

ASComm.NET Component - Installation

• During installation, "Fatal Error" dialog appears with the message "Insallation ended prematurely because of an error."
• During installation, "The system cannot open the device or file specified" error message occurs.

ActiveX Controls - Installation

• During installation setup application hangs when using Zone Alarm virus protection products.

ActiveX Controls - General

• Receive license exception when attempting to run .NET application hosting Automated Solutions ActiveX Controls
• Missing license file after VB Packaging and Deployment Wizard (or other setup utility) installation is run on development machine.
• In Visual Basic, how do I pass an integer value greater than 32767 to the ActiveX control’s .Data property?
• How to dynamically add ActiveX controls that require run-time licenses in Visual Basic .NET or in Visual Basic 2005
• How to dynamically add ActiveX controls that require run-time licenses in Visual C# .NET or in Visual C# 2005
• Attempting to run an application built under Windows Vista Business (or Ultimate) 64-bit results in runtime exception
• How do I use a single control to read/write non-contiguous data areas in sequential transactions? 
• Where do I find the descriptions for the error codes returned by the control?

A-B Ethernet ActiveX Control

• When I try to use the A-B Ethernet ActiveX Control with a MicroLogix 1100, I get result code 10061.
• When I try to use the A-B Ethernet ActiveX Control with a 1761-NET-ENI module, I get result code 10061.
• Receiving communications timeouts even though TimeoutTrans property is set sufficiently high and network is working properly.
• ControlLogix Unsolicited Message Generates error 16#0008 (Unsupported Service Requested).
• Accessing a ControlLogix String Variable.

A-B Serial ActiveX Control

• A-B Serial Control returns error code 0xf00b (Access denied, improper privelege) when attempting to write to a memory location.

OPC Servers - Installation

• During installation, "Fatal Error" dialog appears with the message "Insallation ended prematurely because of an error."
• During installation, "The system cannot open the device or file specified" error message occurs.

OPC Servers

• I can connect to your OPC Server from an OPC Client on the local PC, but cannot connect to the OPC Server from a remote PC. Error indication is 'Access is Denied.'
• Using OPC via DCOM with Windows XP Service Pack 2.
• Microsoft DCOM bug affects OPC callbacks on Windows 2000.
• DCOM issue for Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003.
• COM issue for XP SP2 and Server 2003 SP1

   

   

KB0020: Receive license exception when attempting to run .NET application hosting Automated Solutions ActiveX Controls

SYMPTOMS

When you run a .NET application that is hosting one of Automated Solutions' ActiveX Controls, you receive the following error message at run time:

An unhandled exception has occurred in your application. You do not have a license to use this ActiveX control.

CAUSE

This error occurs when one of Automated Solutions ActiveX Controls is hosted in a .NET application, and the control was dynamically created through code rather than placing an instance of the control on a form.

Since Automated Solutions ActiveX Controls are licensed, to create the control dynamically you need to perform additional licensing steps.

RESOLUTION

Refer to related Microsoft Knowledgebase articles:

How to dynamically add ActiveX controls that require run-time licenses in Visual Basic .NET or in Visual Basic 2005

How to dynamically add ActiveX controls that require run-time licenses in Visual C# .NET or in Visual C# 2005

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KB0019: ASComm.NET/OPC Server - During installation, "The system cannot open the device or file specified" error message occurs"

SYMPTOMS

When you try to install ASComm.NET or an OPC Server, you receive the following error message:

The system cannot open the device or file specified

CAUSE

This behavior occurs because the Temp folder and possibly other folders used during installation are encrypted by using the Encrypted File System.

RESOLUTION

Refer to related Microsoft Knowledgebase article:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/318080

The following directories need encryption disabled during installation

1. Directory where you saved the downloaded setup.msi file

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KB0018: ASComm.NET/OPC Server - During installation a "Fatal Error" dialog appears with the message "Insallation ended prematurely because of an error."

SYMPTOMS

During installation of ASComm.NET or an OPC Server a "Fatal Error" dialog appears with the message "Installation ended prematurely because of an error."

CAUSE

There is a problem with the Visual Basic Script runtime on your system; the vbscript.dll needs to be registered.

RESOLUTION

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KB0017: ActiveX Controls - Attempting to run an application built under Windows Vista 64-bit editions results in runtime exception

SYMPTOMS

Attempting to run an application built under Windows Vista 64-bit editions results in runtime exception:

CAUSE

ActiveX Controls are 32-bit technology.

RESOLUTION

Applications using ActiveX Control must be built for 32-bit targets.

1. Open the 'Properties' page for your project.

2. Select the 'Build' tab.

3. In the 'General' section, click the 'Platform Target' dropdown list down arrow.

4. Select 'x86'.

5. Close the 'Properties' page.

6. Rebuild the application.

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KB0016: OPC Servers - A COM client application no longer runs as expected on a Windows XP SP2-based computer, and you may receive the following error message: "E_ACCESSDENIED"

SYMPTOMS

KB0015: OPC Servers - When you call a method for a remote OPC Server, the RPC_E_DISCONNECTED error code may be returned intermittently.

SYMPTOMS

KB0014: ActiveX Controls, Installation - During installation, setup application hangs when using Zone Alarm virus/spy protection products.

SYMPTOMS

During installation, setup application hangs when using Zone Alarm virus/spy protection products.

RESOLUTION

Zone Alarm must be uninstalled prior to installation. After installation, Zone Alarm can be re-installed.

We don't currently know the cause of this problem and will attempt to resolve this with Zone Alarm Technical Support.

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KB0013: A-B Ethernet ActiveX Control - When I try to use the A-B Ethernet ActiveX Control with a MicroLogix 1100, I get result code 10061.

SYMPTOMS

MicroLogix 1100 is the first in the MicroLogix family to use EIP/CIP protocol. You must tell the ActiveX Control that the target device uses EIP/CIP.

RESOLUTION

Version 2.6 and higher: Add 'EIP:' to the NodeAddress property anywhere after the third field.

Version 2.5 and below: upgrade to current version, then follow these instructions.

Example:

To communicate with a MicroLogix 1100 at IP address '192.168.0.11', set the NodeAddress property as follows:

Asabtcp1.NodeAddress = "192.168.0.11,,,EIP:"

Refer to Help > Properties > NodeAddress for complete details.

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KB0012: A-B Ethernet ActiveX Control - When I try to use the A-B Ethernet ActiveX Control with a 1761-NET-ENI module, I get result code 10061.

SYMPTOMS

When I try to use the A-B Ethernet ActiveX Control with a 1761-NET-ENI module, I get result code 10061

CAUSE

1761-NET-ENI module uses a different wrapper protocol than direct PLC connection.

RESOLUTION

You must tell the ActiveX Control that you wish to communicate with the target device through a 1761-NET-ENI module.

Version 2.1 and higher: Add 'ENI:' to the NodeAddress property anywhere after the third field.

Version 2.0 and below: upgrade to current version, then follow these instructions.

Example:

To communicate with a MicroLogix through a 1761-NET-ENI module at IP address '192.168.0.61', set the NodeAddress property as follows:

Asabtcp1.NodeAddress = "192.168.0.11,,,ENI:"

Refer to Help > Properties > NodeAddress for complete details.

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KB0011: OPC Servers - I can connect to your OPC Server from an OPC Client on the local PC, but cannot connect to the OPC Server from a remote PC. Error indication is 'Access is Denied.'

SYMPTOMS

I can connect to your OPC Server from an OPC Client on the local PC, but cannot connect to the OPC Server from a remote PC. Error indication is 'Access is Denied.'

CAUSE

Default DCOM settings vary from system to system. Generally, default DCOM settings on the server machine restrict OPC Client applications from accessing a remote OPC Server.

Windows Firewall can also present problems on Windows XP and higher systems.

RESOLUTION

Refer to this technical note for Automated Solutions' recommended settings:

DCOM and Windows Firewall Configuration for Automated Solutions OPC Servers

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KB0010: A-B Ethernet ActiveX Control - receiving communications timeouts even though TimeoutTrans property is set sufficiently high and network is working properly.

SYMPTOMS

You receive communications timeouts even though TimeoutTrans property is set sufficiently high and network is working properly.

CAUSE

Rockwell Automation processors use overhead time, or background task time, to perform overhead tasks such as responding to a polled communications message request.

The overhead part of the scan is executed after inputs are read, ladder code is executed, and outputs are written.

RESOLUTION

The A-B tech note G54059311 outlines how to increase the time or bandwidth in the processor available for communications.

1. Go to http://www.ab.com
2. Select Support, Online Support, Knowledgebases
3. Use search method 3: 'Tech Note ID - Find a previously viewed tech note'
4. Query for tech note G54059311
5. Follow the instructions for your processor type in article titled 'Setting the Overhead Time Slice or Increasing Processor Bandwidth for Comms'

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KB0009: ActiveX Controls - How do I use a single control to read/write non-contiguous data areas in sequential transactions? 

DESCRIPTION

Automated Solutions' ActiveX Controls can read/write contiguous data areas in a single transaction. The size of the transaction is largely determined by the hardware's capabilities. 

For non-contiguous data areas, consult the readme.txt file that shipped with your ActiveX Control to determine whether the version that you own supports synchronous operation. 

SOLUTION

If your version supports synchronous operation, then you can simply make sequential SyncRefresh calls to read non-contiguous areas. 

If your version does not support synchronous operation, you have two options:

1. Contact Automated Solutions to purchase an upgrade that supports synchronous operation. See technote for details.

Technote: Activex Control synchronous versus asynchronous code comparison

2. Automated Solutions has written sample 'tasking code' for all of its products. The code is very flexible, easy to expand, and easy to incorporate in into your project. Call or to request the VB tasking source code for the product that you are working with.

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KB0008: OPC Servers - Using OPC via DCOM with Windows XP Service Pack 2

DESCRIPTION

The major goal of Windows XP Service Pack 2 is to reduce common available scenarios for malicious attack on Windows XP. The Service Pack will reduce the effect of most common attacks in four ways:

1. Improvement in shielding Windows XP from the network

a. RPC and DCOM communication enhancements

b. Enhancements to the internal Windows firewall

2. Enhanced memory protection

3. Safer handling of e-mail

4. Internet Explorer security enhancements.

Most OPC Clients and Servers use DCOM to communicate over a network and thus will be impacted due to the changes in Service Pack 2. When Service Pack 2 is installed with its default configuration settings, OPC communication via DCOM will cease to work.

SOLUTION

View the following OPC Foundation document for a complete description of the problem and configuration steps for workaround. 

Using OPC via DCOM with XP SP2 v1.10.pdf

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KB0007: A-B Serial ActiveX Control - Result property returns 0xf00b (Access denied, improper privelege) when attempting to write to a memory location.

SYMPTOMS

A-B Serial Control returns error code 0xf00b (Access denied, improper privilege) when attempting to write to an A-B SLC500 or PLC5 memory location. 

CAUSE

Channel or file is write protected.

RESOLUTION

To disable channel write protection, go to the General tab on the Channel properties dialog. To disable file write protection, go to the file properties dialog.

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KB0006: A-B Ethernet ActiveX Control - ControlLogix Unsolicited Message Generates error 16#0008 (Unsupported Service Requested)

SYMPTOMS

When using a MSG block from a ControlLogix processor to send unsolicited messages to an ASABTCP ActiveX Control the following error is generated in the MSG block:

Error Code: 16#0008
Error Path: ENET
Error Text: Unsupported Service Requested

CAUSE

RSLinx is running on same PC as A-B Ethernet ActiveX Control.

RESOLUTION

Shut down RSLinx service on PC running ASABTCP and retry MSG.

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KB0005: OPC Servers - Microsoft DCOM bug affects OPC callbacks on Windows 2000

SYMPTOMS

On a few large installations several vendors have seen some strange behavior with ConnectionPoint callbacks over DCOM in both DA2 and AE connections. The symptoms are that after anywhere from a few hours to a few days, some clients on one or more computers connected to OPC servers over DCOM will stop updating. The client still successfully "pings" the server with calls to GetStatus() and DCOM never cleans up any of the established connections, so to our clients it just looks like no new alarms are coming in and all the DA items have stopped changing. Quitting the applications and running them again always corrects the problem. Sometimes it is also sufficient to Unadvise and Advise to the connection point container. All of the installations where this happens run Windows 2000. Local COM clients never have this problem.

RESOLUTION

Apply one of the following updates:

1. Service Pack 3 for Windows 2000

http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/downloads/servicepacks/sp3/default.asp.

2. COM+ Rollup Package 18.1 (Q313582)

http://www.microsoft.com/Windows2000/downloads/recommended/q313582/download.asp.

(This article reprinted from OPC Foundation website)

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KB0004: A-B Ethernet ActiveX Control - Accessing a ControlLogix String Variable.

DESCRIPTION 

How do I access a ControlLogix string variable?

SOLUTION

A string variable is actually a structure composed of two built-in data types.

Format: 

DESCRIPTION

Visual Basic Integers are in the range –32768..32767. An attempt to load a value above 32767 to the AciveX control’s .Data property will generate an overflow error.

For more information and additional conversions, refer to MSDN Article ID: 189323

SOLUTION

The function shown below will take a value greater than 32767 and convert it to its signed equivalent. Once converted, the signed number can be passed to the ActiveX control’s .Data property. The underlying protocol ignores the sign and simply passes the 16 bit stream across the wire to the PLC.

Private Const OFFSET_2 = 65536
Private Const MAXINT_2 = 32767

Function UnsignedToInteger(Value As Long) As Integer
  If (Value < 0) Or (Value >= OFFSET_2) Then Error 6 ' Overflow

  If Value <= MAXINT_2 Then
    UnsignedToInteger = Value
  Else
    UnsignedToInteger = Value - OFFSET_2
  End If
End Function

Example:
Dim I as Integer, L as Long
L= 40000
I = UnsignedToInteger(L)
Asabtcp1.DataWord(0) = I 'The value 40000 is converted to -25536 for signed storage

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DESCRIPTION

Where do I find the descriptions for the error codes returned by the control?

SOLUTION

Error descriptions can be accessed via the ActiveX control's ResultString property.

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