Error while running On-Line Builder 1.3-1 after install in "No Engineering Board" mode

Hello,

Is there anybody know about On-Line Builder 1.3-1 in CBA softwares ?

I Installed the On-Line Builder 1.3-1 in the "No Engineering Board" mode. But I can not works with ONB offline and while running it this error occurs:

"None of the specified servers can be used.

The On-line Builder will be closed."

I attached the errors picture.

1- Wht is wrong about it?

2-Basically is it possible to directy connect my Laptop that contains On-Line Builder 1.3-1 (CBA 1.3) installed and licensed to the MasterAid220 COM port that is indicated in the second picture attached? Or it is necessary to have a PU410 engineering unit or an on-board PU516 engineering board on the Laptop?

more details about our old ABB Master system is in the third attachment. Our CPU is DSPC 172.

Thank you for your help.

Best Regards.

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mojtabasadeghi44 Rank: 591

Asked 3 years ago

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PU516 or PU410 are mutually exclusive, you only need one of them to connect to an Advant Master controller. Both allow serial or MB300 connection.

CBA 1.3/1 shall be able to work with either (I actually believe CBA 1.3/1 still support the even older ISA based engineering board). Since you seem to have a PCI based PU516 I would recommend it in favor of the external PU410 box.

I suggest that you remove and reinstall CBA, now choosing PU516 board during installation.

Once the PCI driver has been installed, check in Device Management (devmgmt.msc) that you have a "PU515 Multiport Serial Adapter" device available (same driver is used for 515 and 516)

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by Rob Lyon AKS expert

Rank: 2 on 6/24/2015 5:09:03 PM | Like (0) | Report

Err - I don't think that the pictures he posted are of the PC that the new software is installed on. It sounds like he purchased a new copy of Control Builder A but didn't buy a PU516/PU410 to go with it.

I have not seen a picture of a PU410 posted - The picture labeled as a "PU410" seems to be the back of the MA220.

If Version 1.3/1 of CBA supports the older ISA based PU515 then it can perhaps be moved to another PC with an ISA slot - but these are pretty rare nowadays.

Anyway, my suggestion would be to leave the MA220 untouched and copy the source code from the MA220 to the new Control Builder Laptop and open it in FCB.

by Rob Lyon AKS expert

Rank: 2 on 6/24/2015 5:15:02 PM | Like (0) | Report

e: Maybe he did buy a PU410 ?

by Stefan Stromqvist AKS expert

Rank: 1 on 6/24/2015 9:47:17 PM | Like (0) | Report

Yes, I agree.

And, if there is an old MasterAid, why install new CBA version over the old? The new works with Windows 7 *BUT* also require the new licensing? The older CBA version shipped with the MA does not need license server. Old version KF CBA media is still possible to obtain (I believe), but you should also stay on pre-Win7 OS I guess.

by mojtabasadeghi44 Rank: 591 on 6/25/2015 7:05:02 AM | Like (0) | Report

The "PU516.jpg" & "PU410.png" Pictures attached were downloaded and I only prepared Control Builder A 1.3. But "MasterAid 220 PORTs.jpg" is a real picture of our MA220's behind ports. I'm talking with you to know two things:
1- Can I access to the source DB and PC codes of our CPU with the old MA220 and transmit it to my new laptop using Floppy Disk?
2-Can I read these old source programs in my laptop with Function Chart Builder?
3-Can I apply deep changes in the process control program with the existent MasterAid220 in the product line?
Or to achieve this purpose I need to buy PU410 , PU515, PU515A, PU516, ore PU516A?

by Stefan Stromqvist AKS expert

Rank: 1 on 6/25/2015 12:47:10 PM | Like (1) | Report

1) Yes
2) Yes
3) Yes

The engineering board type and CBA version does not matter. Additional CBA libraries may need to be installed if option is used in controller.

The reason for more than one engineering board type is computer hardware evolution. First there was (E)ISA, then PCI and eventually ABB stopped producing internal boards and chose to provide an external and hardware decoupled solution, the PU410.

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Stefan Stromqvist AKS expert

Rank: 1

Answered 3 years ago

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To me seems that you can not work with online builder without the board. The online builder is trying to connect to someone and there is no board there to do that...

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Willians Dutra Rank: 169

Answered 3 years ago

If the masteraid also contains CBA 1.3/1 (which I doubt )you could use that otherwise you will need a PU410 for what you like to achieve.

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WvanWees

Rank: 5

Answered 3 years ago

There is no such thing as "offline" mode for Online Builder.

The "No Engineering Board" option is for when you are using the software in a network and will share an engineering board in another computer on the network. The remote computer that has the engineering board is called the server - hence your error message. You have no server with a board installed.

The PU516 board is a full sized PCI board and likely will not fit inside any modern laptop. The PU516 has one Serial port that connects direct to the front of your CPU and One 15-Pin AUI Ethernet Port that can connect to your MasterBus *IF* your controller has masterbus installed.

The PU410 can also be connected to your CPU using the DSUB socket marked CBA. Make sure you order the correct cable at the same time as you order the PU410. (Its a separate item) The PU410 can be used with your laptop.

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by Rob Lyon AKS expert

Rank: 2 on 6/24/2015 6:25:30 AM | Like (0) | Report

Also, your last picture "MasterAid.jpg" shows you already have a working On-Line Builder connection to your CPU. I'm unsure what you are trying to gain by replacing a working Master Aid on such an old CPU ?

by mojtabasadeghi44 Rank: 591 on 6/24/2015 8:26:52 AM | Like (0) | Report

Thanks,
At first what do you mean about cable? do you talk about PU410 power cable that is in three uk, us and europe kinds?
Thanks,
at first what do you mean about cable? do you talk about PU410 power cable that is in three uk, us and europe kinds?
You're right, a DOS OS based old masteraid220 is I n the "product line" that prepares online access to the program but we need "offline"access to the process control program to have an analysis on it in the "office" to understand that how the product line is working and what changes is required to apply to the product line's control program to overcome it's errors.
Regards

by Rob Lyon AKS expert

Rank: 2 on 6/24/2015 8:43:22 AM | Like (0) | Report

> At first what do you mean about cable?

The serial cable between the CBA port on the PU410 and the Serial port on the front panel of the DSPC172 CPU. or do you have a MB300 network that you can use instead ?

> DOS OS based old masteraid220

When you say "DOS Based MA220" what EXACTLY have you got ? Maybe post a picture. ABB used to call a DOS and Windows 3.1 PC with Control Builder A an "MA220". (But there was also a much older product about the size of a very large suitcase that was jokingly called "Portable". From the picture you posted that does not seem to be what you have.)

Has it got a floppy disk drive ? You can dump the source code using the MA220 and copy it to your new Control Builder A and open it with Function Chart Builder.

Or you can print it directly from On Line Builder.

Or is your DOS based MA220 a PC that has got Function Chart Builder already installed on it ?

by mojtabasadeghi44 Rank: 591 on 6/24/2015 10:23:14 AM | Like (0) | Report

Yes, we have a MB300 network.
Are you sure? I thought that a personal computer that have a Control Builder A software is called "Engineering Station" and it is the new replacement of old MasterAid stations. Basically the replacement of MasterAid and AMPL is Control Builder. I'll already post a picture in an answer.
Yes this MasterAid220 has a flopy disc drive. With the instructions in an ABB document called "PC PROGRAMMING" I have runned the "DUMP" command in the DOS environment and I saved it to the Floppy but the file saved is a 600 KB "RMC19201.AD" file. It seems to be a back up file not Source Code of PLC programm. I think that true file should has extensions ".AA" & ".AB" that is PC and DB source codes.
I think that our system is ABB old DCS system called "Asea Master" or "ABB Master" or "Advant Master" that contains a MasterView230 for HMI, I MasterPiec260 rack contains CPU and a PG called MasterAid220.

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Rob Lyon

Rank: 2

Answered 3 years ago

MasterAid 220 attached

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mojtabasadeghi44 Rank: 591

Answered 3 years ago

MasterAid 220.jpg

Your MA220 is a re-badged hardened portable with a PU516 installed. ABB also sold the same software installed on your portable along with the PU516 so that it could be installed on the customers own PC.

ABB went through a long period of renaming stuff so your control system has a variety of names - depending on who sold it to you and when you actually bought it - but yes the old ASEA MasterPiece and the New Advant Master controllers are pretty much all the same underneath. And the MA220 did indeed become the "Engineering Station" eventually. Your new "On-Line Builder 1.3-1" software is basically identical to your existing MA220 running online builder.

Anyway ...

You cant use the Engineering board in the MA220 with your new software. Its an old ISA board that wont fit into a modern portable and AFAIK it is not supported by the newer versions of Control Builder A. So you're going to need a new PU516 or PU410 if you didnt already buy one.

The On-Line builder commands you need to dump source code are ...

DUDBS - Dump Database Source

DUPCS - Dump PC Source

See the help for exactly how to use these commands. You then need to convert the source code files so they can be opened by Function Chart Builder - which is the off-line programming tool. ( A version of FCB might even be installed on your Master Aid. )

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Rob Lyon

Rank: 2

Answered 3 years ago

Dear Rob,
I guess that our MasterAid is not such old.
According to the pictures of the questionof MasterAid220's behind and PU410 picture in the attachment it seems that it is possible to connect "15 pin CBA port" of PU410 to the one of MasterAid's 15 pin ports and DUMP DB and PC source codes from CPU according to the connection that is bitween the MasterAid and CPU. Is'nt it?
Is there any Interface to connect the ISA or EISA slot of our MasterAid220's old PU516 to one of the new laptop's ports?
Are you sure that in our MasterAid220 there is an on-board PU516?
PU516's picture attached but I can not find it's two 15 pin ports in the MA220's behind!
Do you know a simple and fast way to understand the process control program after the DB & PC source codes achieved and opened with Control Builder A 1.3 's Function Chart Builder software?
Thanks.
Best wishes

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mojtabasadeghi44 Rank: 591

Answered 3 years ago

> "Do you know a simple and fast way to understand the process control program after the DB & PC source codes achieved and opened with Control Builder A 1.3 's Function Chart Builder software?"

Yes..... Its called a "Purchase Order" :)

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Rob Lyon

Rank: 2

Answered 3 years ago

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Error while running On-Line Builder 1.3-1 after install in "No Engineering Board" mode

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