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Problem Statement: User inputs a date into the future. | Solution: In summary the history has to be removed and the new date entered. To accomplish this:
Run IQ Manage, select option 4 to STOP Application Then proceed to select option 5 - IQ Context
Select option 6 to delete application.
Select the IQ application to delete
When asked if the history file should be deleted, respond YES. Then go back and restart the IQ application.
Keywords: future, date, history
References: None |
Problem Statement: Cannot run IQ Manage since a DMCplus upgrade. | Solution: Recreate Aspen IQ MPF files by issuing the command : IQ_Manage -s 10
10 is the number of Aspen IQ applications and the number can be specified as needed.
When the DMCplus software is upgraded, the MPF files are deleted and then recreated. If Aspen IQ is also on the machine, the MPF files for Aspen IQ are deleted with the DMCplus upgrade. Recreating the Aspen IQ MPF files is required, and accomplished by executing the above command. It is most successful to go to a dos prompt and to the bin directory where the Aspen IQ Manage program resides.
Keywords: Aspen IQ, MPF
References: None |
Problem Statement: How do I configure LDAP Authentication for a PowerCenter 8.1.1 repository for Aspen Supply Chain Connect? | Solution: To configure the LDAP authentication in PowerCenter 8.1.1 do the following:
1. Login to the PowerCenter Administration Console.
2. Select a Domain.
3. Click Properties tab.
4. Under LDAP Authentication Module Configuration enter the following details:
5. Select a Repository Service.
6. Click the Properties tab.
7. Set the OperatingMode to Exclusive.
8. Select the Plug-ins tab.
9. Click the Register security module link.
10. Enter the following:
o Repository Username
o Repository Password
o LDAP Directory Login
o LDAP Directory Password
11. Click OK .
12. Select the Properties tab.
13. Change the OperatingMode to Normal .
Keywords: None
References: None |
Problem Statement: Type Mismatch error occurs when calling the function CreateCalcScriptParams from third party applications.
In the CalcScheduler library the CalcCommands class has a method call:
Function CreateCalcScriptParams(pCalcDisp As Object, AutoBindingHosts As
String, pUnused, pUnbound) As Boolean
Member of CalcScheduler.CalcCommands
pUnused and pUnbound are not defined in terms of their type. When calling this method using a third party application, such as SQL server or Cold Fusion, a Type Mismatch error may occur. | Solution: The key here is that both pUnUsed and pUnbound are out parameters and defined as VARIANT*. As in any COM situation, an out pointer has to be allocated by the client. In SQLPlus, if the local variable type is not defined it will default to VARIANT.
For third party applications, such as ColdFusion or SQL Server, the variable must be defined as VARIANT and passed as an out parameter. Consult the application documentation on how to define this.
SQLPlus Example:
local calcCmd, calcLib, formula, param, params;
local unUsed, unBound;
local i integer;
local script char(100), formName char(20), libName char(20), parameter char(50);
libName = 'OlgaLib';
formName = 'test223';
script = 'alpha = beta + cappa';
calcCmd = createobject('CalcScheduler.CalcCommands');
calcLib = calcCmd.GetLibraryObject(libName);
formula = calcLib.AddFormula(formName);
formula.ScriptText = script;
calcCmd.CreateCalcScriptParams(formula, '', unUsed, unBound);
calcCmd.SaveLibraryFormula(calcLib, formName);
params = formula.Parameters;
for each param in params do
write 'Name: ' || param.Name || ' Type: ' || param.ParameterTypeText;
end
Keywords: COM
References: None |
Problem Statement: Is Aspen IQ supported on Windows XP? | Solution: Aspen IQ 3.1, the most recent version, is not currently supported on the Windows XP platform. However, the AMS 5.0 deliverable, expected by the end of 2002 will contain Aspen IQ Desktop applications, to include Aspen IQ Config, Aspen IQ Model and Aspen IQ PowerTools that will be supported and tested in the Windows XP environment. The Aspen IQ online however will not.
Keywords: Aspen IQ, XP, Windows, PowerTools, Aspen IQ Model, Aspen IQ Config
References: None |
Problem Statement: Aspen IQ View isn't working | Solution: Typically this is because the connection to the link server has been broken or Aspen IQ has not been registered to the Dais Trader. When Aspen IQ online is started it registers itself to the Dais Trader which can be seen with the Trader Manager. User can go to the Aspen IQ / Bin directory and run IQ_Shutdown and then IQ_Startup.
Another possibility is that the link server, IQLINKSRV_MAIN is not connected or working correctly. The process IQLINKSRV_MAIN needs to be terminated.
The process IQLINKSRV_MAIN can then be restarted using the command at the end of the IQ_STARTUP procedure found in the BIN directory.
When the process is restarted, Aspen IQ View should be able to connect and run as expected.
Keywords: IQview, lnksrv, trader, dais, trman
References: None |
Problem Statement: Do I need a new license key for Informatica when installing on a new server? | Solution: The key Aspen provides for Informatica Powercenter 8.6.1 can be transferred to a new machine with no problem. You must point to the new license either through Admin Console or upon initial installation of the product, depending on the way the server is configured.
Keywords: None
References: None |
Problem Statement: Aspen License Manager and Aspen IQ Model have been installed and License Manager is run and provided the license key information from the certificates associated with a superpro dongle. When the AspenIQ Model application is started, it reports that it is not licensed. | Solution: Typically what has occurred is AspenIQ Model has been installed having chosen the STAND ALONE option. Generically this is interpreted to mean running locally on the installation PC not connected to the network, however it also invokes additional functionality which we do not license for.
TheSolution is to uninstall Aspen IQ Model through Control Panel. Then re-install making sure not to select the STAND ALONE option, even if they are to run the software locally only. They can then relicense the product with Aspen License Manager and this should make the software accessible for use.
Key Words:
license, superpro, dongle,
Keywords: None
References: None |
Problem Statement: When trying to bind an OPC Item to an input in a calculation, the following error message is received after clicking on the Browse button. | Solution: This is due to the component used to browse the OPC server not registered as a DCOM component.
1. Open a command prompt by clicking on Start | All Programs | Accessories | Command Prompt.
2. Browse to the directory containing AspenCalcOPCBrowser.exe by issuing the following command.
cd C:\Program Files\Common Files\AspenTech Shared\OPC
3. Register the AspenCalcOPCBrowser.exe component by issuing the following command.
AspenCalcOPCBrowser.exe /regserver
Keywords: None
References: None |
Problem Statement: Is there a limit to how much data can be loaded into an Aspen IQ Model? I have about 45 days worth of data at 10 minute intervals and it keeps stopping at a particular spot, at 58,027. | Solution: When the import of the data stops short it is typically because of some format error in the data file rather than any maximum limit. For instance, a field or delimiter in that row differs from what was specified by the format descriptor. It is recommended to examine the given row first, and assess if there is some unexpected value there. It may or may not be difficult to spot a particualr case in a text editor. For example, the delimiter may have been specified as space only, but there is a tab in the file. Or there is some unexpected string value which is not specfied as a 'bad' value.
Keywords: import, stops, limits, valid, bad data
References: None |
Problem Statement: What does Last Actual Value, Linear regression or interpolated and As specified in database means in MS Excel? | Solution: Please reference the picture below for detailed explanation.
For “Last Actual Value” or it is called “Stepped”, there are actual values at point A, B, C. The value-time chart looks like a stepped ladder. To get the value at the time where the red line is, you can find the intersection in the chart. At the time, it is the value from B.
For “Linear regression” or “interpolated”, there are actual values at A and B. To calculate the value at the time where red line is, you draw a line between A and B. The intersection of line AB and the red line is the calculated value.
For “As specified in database”, each tag in IP.21 has attribute “IP_STEPPED”. The attribute is defined to either “Stepped” or “interpolated”. The calculation will be determined by the value there. If not defined, then “interpolated” will be the default.
Keywords: Last Actual Value
Linear regression
As specified in database
MS Excel
References: None |
Problem Statement: The Aspen Cim-IO Server goes into store mode and is unable to reconnect to the Aspen Cim-IO client.
A message similar to following appears in the file cimio_msg.log:
Thu Mar 25 2006 07:41:27 , Logged by ANYNAME on node SERVER:
Recover Store File Process had error on send; listid -2103
What does this error indicate? | Solution: In the error Store Process had error on send; listid -nnnnn - the 'nnnnn' refers to the Aspen InfoPlus.21 transfer record ID.
To determine the name of the transfer record, execute the query
select recid, name from all_records where recid = nnnnn
This error can be caused when the transfer records are modified, without first setting the field, IO_RECORD_PROCESSING, to OFF.
The correct way to modify an Aspen Cim-IO transfer record is to first turn the IO_RECORD_PROCESSING to OFF, make the necessary changes to the repeat area, and then turn IO_RECORD_PROCESSING back to ON. This will ensure that the scan list file stored on the Aspen Cim-IO server is correct.
If you turn ALL transfer records OFF, then the scan list file will be deleted from the Cim-IO server and will be rebuilt as records are turned ON. However, if you have multiple transfer records and just turn one of them to OFF, the corresponding entries from the scan list file are deleted, just as if you are 'editing' the scan list.
Keywords: Error on send
Store Process
References: None |
Problem Statement: It's possible to create Aspen InfoPlus.21 database records defined by AspenCalcDef.A Each of these records has a pointer to a pre-existing Aspen Calc calculation, as well as, a Change of State (COS) activation record/field pair.A Meaning that when the field in the record defined by COS activation changes then the Aspen Calc Calculation will be executed.
This article described why the AspenCalcDef record may be activated but the query does not get executed. | Solution: For these records to work successfully, an external task called TSK_CLC1 needs to be started from the Aspen InfoPlus.21 Manager.A However some users have found that the TSK_CLC1 would not stay running, and the .OUT file for the task showed: Error :A Invalid external task recordA A - 46
This was because the TSK_CLC1 record under ExternalTaskdef record family as seen in the Aspen InfoPlus.21 Administrator below was missing;
If the record is missing, you can reload this from the aspencalc.rld file. For information on how to load this see KB 104113 for further details.
Once TSK_CLC1 is running correctly, then calculations activated by AspenCalcDef records should work as expected.
Keywords: None
References: None |
Problem Statement: When using Aspen's Aspen Calc product often times new formulas and calculations are created, are there any restrictions as to where to save these? | Solution: Users can save new formulas or calculations to existing or new folders, but should avoid saving these in the AspenPropertiesFlash, AspenPropertiesGeneral or AspenPropertiesToolkit libraries. These libraries are distributed with the AspenCalc product, and are not saved in the default path, C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\AspenTech\Calc\lib folder.
A problem users may encounter when upgrading the Apen Calc product, the upgrade moves only the formulas and calculations the user saved in folders he created, by default these are saved in the C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\AspenTech\Calc\lib folder, this does not include formulas and calculations saved in the AspenPropertiesFlash, AspenPropertiesGeneral or AspenPropertiesToolkit libraries.
Also, the upgrade process may overwrite the contents of the AspenPropertiesFlash, AspenPropertiesGeneral and AspenPropertiesToolkit libraries, and would delete any user formulas or calculations saved in them.
Keywords: new formula calculation save folder upgrade
References: None |
Problem Statement: When you add a new node in Aspen Calc, you receive the following error message:
Failed to connect to server <servername>, permission denied | Solution: This is generally due to the permission settings of the DCOM object.
1. Click on Start and click on Control Panel.
2. Click on Administrative Tools and double click to launch Component Services.
3. Expand the Computers container.
4. Expand the My Computer container.
5. Expand the DCOM Config container.
6. Right click on AspenTech Calculator Engine and click Properties.
7. Select the Security tab
For Windows 2003 with the installation of Service Pack 1, DCOM might not work correctly. This is due to the changes in the default COM permissions in Windows 2003 SP1. Please refer to Microsoft knowledge base article ''Programs that use DCOM do not work correctly after you install Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1''.
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=892500
Choose Customize and click on Edit.
Under the Launch and Activation Permissions,
1. If the User Group Distributed COM Users is not in there, click on Add and type Distributed COM User and click on OK.
2. Click allow for all the permissions available for the Distributed COM Users, i.e. Local Launch, Remote Launch, Local Activation and Remote Activation.
3. Click on OK two times to accept the changes.
Under the Access Permission,
1. If the User Group Distributed COM Users is not in there, click on Add and type Distributed COM User and click on OK.
2. Click allow for all the permissions available for the Distributed COM Users, i.e. Local Access and Remote Access.
3. Click on OK two times to accept the changes.
In addition, administrators must add the domain user to the Distributed COM Users group by the following steps.
1. Click Start, point to Administrative Tools and then click Active Directory Users and Computers.
2. Expand Domain container.
3. Expand the Built-in container.
4. Right-click on Distributed COM Users and click Properties.
5. Select Members tab and click Add and type the User Group or user name and click on OK.
6. Click on OK two times to accept the changes.
Keywords: DCOM
Failed to connect to server <servername>, permission denied
References: None |
Problem Statement: Analyzer drift does not work on transformed IQ | Solution: When both analyzer and lab measurements are available for an inferential quality (IQ), it is desirable to track the drift of the analyzer from the lab value and take action if the calculated drift is too large, so that appropriate action can be taken to correct the analyzer problem.
In the Aspen IQ Onlines, analyzer drift (ANZRDRIFT) is defined as the difference between a number of averaged validated analyzer values at the time that a lab sample was taken, and the corresponding number of averaged lab values themselves. The validated analyzer values include the effect of a lab-to-analyzer offset (AZULABOFST), which is used to account for the difference in lab sample points and/or calibration techniques.
For inferentials that are not transformed, the calculation is done as specified above and the analyzer drift status is set to BAD if the absolute value of the calculated analyzer drift (ANZRDRIFT) exceeds the allowed analyzer drift (AVMAXDRIFT). This causes the IQ to switch to lab updating until the analyzer again tracks the lab acceptably.
However, for a transformed IQ, the drift validation calculation is bypassed. There is no perfect replacement for the missing drift calculation, although it is possible to use rate of change checks to detect gross errors in lab sample measurement entries which could cause a large value of analyzer drift. This large value of analyzer drift could cause undesirable behavior if the IQ is a CV in a DMCplus controller, and could easily cause an IQ to go off-spec because the drift-corrected analyzer value is continually being used to update the inferential model predictor (the DMCplus CV) even though the analyzer is no longer providing the correct reading due to the lack of drift validation.
When using the rate of change limits for lab values (LVROCLIMI in the upward direction, LVROCLIMD in the downward direction), remember that these limits use percent of range for transformed IQs, and therefore the limits should be set as percent of range limits. These ROC limits are converted to a percent of range in the process domain, and the percent of range is then used in the transform domain to calculate an allowed maximum change in transformed units.
Let's consider an example of an IQ with a maximum limit (LVMAXLIM) of 5.0, a minimum limit (LVMINLIM) of 0.4, and rate of change limits of 0.5 in both directions (LVROCLIMI = LVROCLIMD = 0.5). This represents a maximum allowed change of approximately 10% of the valid range for the inferential. The transform in this case is MLOG, with the Transition parameter (where we switch from log to linear transform) set to 0.3.
First, calculate the two ROC limits as percent of range limits.
LVROCLIMI% = LVROCLIMI / (LVMAXLIM - LVMINLIM) = 10.87%
LVROCLIMD% = LVROCLIMD / (LVMAXLIM - LVMINLIM) = 10.87%
Next, transform the upper maximum and minimum limits and come up with a maximum allowed change in transform units.
LVMAXLIMx = LN(5.0) = 1.609438
LVMINLIMx = LN(0.4) = -0.91629
LVROCLIMIx = LVROCLIMDx = (1.609438 + 0.91629) * 10.87% = 0.27453 (in transform units)
Since both LVROCLIMI and LVROCLIMD have the same value (0.5 in process units), it follows that the rate of change for both in transform units is also the same. However, this means that the effective rate of change limit in process units is both operating point dependent and direction dependent for the case of the MLOG transform (or any non-linear transform, for that matter). Consider the case where the last lab sample was 2.0 (in process units). Let's figure out the equivalent process ROC limits at this point:
First, transform the current lab value: LN(2.0) = 0.69315
Add and subtract the allowable change in transform units to get the maximum and minimum allowed entries for the next lab sample in transform units:
Maximum (transform units) = 0.69315 + 0.27453 = 0.96768
Minimum (transform units) = 0.69315 - 0.27453 = 0.41862
Maximum (process units) = EXP(.96768) = 2.632
Minimum (process units) = EXP (.41862) = 1.520
Effective ROC limit in upward direction (process units) = 2.632 - 2.0 = 0.632
Effective ROC limit in downward direction (process units) = 2.0 - 1.520 = 0.480
This demonstrates the directional dependence!
Next, consider what happens if the last lab value was 2.50, where LN(2.50) = 0.91629
Maximum (transform units) = 0.91629 + 0.27453 = 1.1908, EXP(1.1908) = 3.290 in process units
Minimum (transform units) = 0.91629 - 0.27453 = 0.64176, EXP (.64176) = 1.900 in process units
Effective ROC limit in upward direction (process units) = 3.29 - 2.5 = 0.79
Effective ROC limit in downward direction (process units) = 2.5 - 1.9 = 0.6
This demonstrates both operating point and directional dependence!
What does this mean? It means that the ROC limits for transformed IQs should only be used for gross error detection (such as, a slipped decimal point) on bad lab result data. The entered ROC limits in process units should be close to the values that will actually be applied in transform units, but not exactly equal.
The use of percent of range is also used for the following IQ parameters:
AVROCLIMI (analyzer maximum increase)
AVROCLIMD (analyzer maximum decrease)
AVFRZDB (analyzer freeze deadband)
LVOLRLIM (lab outlier error limit)
Keywords: Aspen IQ
Analyzer drift
References: None |
Problem Statement: How can I correct write errors in Aspen Inferential Qualities that are intermittent and appear at different frequencies? | Solution: A recommendation for occasional Aspen Inferential Qualities write errors that are intermittent and at different frequencies, can be addressed by setting the offset time at which the prediction module and execution module run (IQ online) at different times (seconds) past the minute. They are set to the default value of 0 sec. This seems to have a positive effect for resolving this issue, particularly if the cimio.dll's are current and there are no other cimio difficulties being reported by other applications using the same devices and opc servers.
Keywords: IQ, execution module, prediction module, cimio
References: None |
Problem Statement: Aspen Calc is a product that allows creation of many different kinds of calculations, retrieving data from many different sources.
A user can also execute these calculations in many different ways. Examples may be at regularly scheduled time intervals, on user request, and for events such as InfoPlus.21 database changes. Another feature allows On-Demand ?on the fly? calculations. In addition, if you have Aspen Calc installed along with other Aspen applications on your client or server, both Ad-Hoc Calculations and Stored Calculations are available.
This article is to remove confusion as to exactly which process performs the actual calculation itself. | Solution: An installation of Aspen Calc Server will include the CalcScheduler.exe which is the 'Calculation Execution server'.
Typically it is started via the Control Panel | Services applet as AspenTech Calculator Engine
It has two main functions. Process the Calculation Schedule Groups and Support the Aspen Calc User Interface.
In other words, calculations that are scheduled, or executed from the Interface, will be executed via this service.
When event-driven calculation executions (such as via a change in a value within the Aspen InfoPlus.21 database) are created, then extra things will happen. First a new Aspen InfoPlus.21 record with information about the calculation will be automatically created. That record will be defined by AspenCalcDef. That definition record points to the external task Tsk_CLC1. However that task does not execute the calculation. It only causes the event-driven calculation to be activated.
The AspenCalcDef record has a field called Node_Name. After activation by Tsk_CLC1, the calculation service on the node defined by Node_Name, will be called via DCOM to execute the calculation.
The next kind of calculations to discuss are the shared on-demand calculations. These can be created via the Aspen Calc User Interface, or directly in the Aspen InfoPlus.21 Administrator. Shared on-demand calculations are stored in the Aspen InfoPlus.21 database as IP_CalcDef records, within which you can actually see the calculation syntax, and are used to plot data directly in Aspen Process Explorer.
For shared on-demand calculations, an executable AtSharedOnDemand.exe, is launched by Tsk_Apex_Server on the Aspen InfoPlus.21 Server. When the user specifies a tag (no equal sign) on Aspen Process Explorer, it will make a DA call (via ProcessData) to the Aspen InfoPlus.21 Server and Tsk_Apex_Server receives it. Tsk_Apex_Server just simply makes a local call to get the value or history of the tags referenced in the calculation. Note: If the script has syntax to reference another server?s tag, e.g. {server:tag}, it will also get the values for that tag from that server.
Internally, the local setcim api knows that this is an IP_CalcDef record. So instead of reading it like a regular tag, it packages it and send it over (via local DCOM) call to AtSharedOnDemand.exe. Then AtSharedOnDemand.exe will fetch the script from the database and execute it. Meaning that in this case, AtSharedOnDemand.exe acts on behalf of the calc service.
The final type of calculation under discussion would be an Aspen Process Explorer Ad-Hoc tags such as a user simply specifying, say, ?=atcai*2?. That calculation is actually done locally in client box by Aspen Process Explorer. It passes the whole string including the ?=? sign to ProcessData which sees the ?=? sign and determines that this is an ad-hoc calculation. So, it invokes and passes the whole string and the ADSA source to the ProcessData Calc Data Server. The ProcessData Calc Data server will then fetch the values from Aspen InfoPlus.21 and perform the calculation. All of these ProcessData and ProcessData Calc Data Servers are in-process COM servers. As a result, Aspen Process Explorer is the one which does everything effectively.
Keywords:
References: None |
Problem Statement: When using AspenIQ Online 6.0.1ER2 on a Win2000 machine, and attempting to save the the IQF (attached) from IQ manage generates the message Save failed.
The application was deleted (not the history files), and reloaded, but the message Save failed continues to appear. | Solution: In some rare cases the iqf and/or ccf files in the ACODHome Systems folder get out of synchronization and then prevent manage from saving appliation files.
It is suggested to execute the following:
1. Use the login id used to install the software and configure it (with Admin priv).
2. Use manage stop to stop the iqf application (delete is ok too).
3. Use manage load to read the latest iqf from the applications folder located in:
Drive:\Program Files\AspenTech\AC Online\app\iqappfolder
4. Copy the file you just loaded also to the AspenTech systems folders at:
Drive:\Program Files\AspenTech\AC Online\sys\app\iqappfolder
So both should have the identical files, and this is the same as the context. The sys folder is a replica of all the app folders and this is where we save the context periodically. Thus should the pc unexpectedly crash or reboot, the latest context is saved and gets loaded upon reboot.
5. Start the iq and let it run for a few minutes
6. Try the manage save command
Keywords: IQ, save, manage
References: None |
Problem Statement: 无法运行Aspen Calc，出现如下错误： | Solution: 这是因为Aspen Calc已经在后台运行
1. 运行任务管理器.
2. 选择进程标签.
3. 选择显示所有用户的进程(Show process from all users)
4. 选择AspenCalc.exe.
5. 点击 结束进程
6. 重新运行Aspen Calc
注: 有些情况下在任务管理器中结束 AspenCalc.exe 进程后 Aspen Calc 可以运行，但是会出现闪屏。此时请确认硬盘空间是否足够，如果硬盘剩余空间较少，请尝试删除一些文件释放空间后重新运行Aspen Calc
Keywords: Run-time error '5'
Invalid procedure call or argument
CN-
References: None |
Problem Statement: How do you access Batch.21 characteristics from Aspen Calc? | Solution: You can access Batch.21 using a VBScript formula in Aspen Calc. This is very similar to using the Batch.21 COM objects in SQLplus. Here is an example VBScript formula:
dim data_source, batchquery, batchlist, ch, i
set data_sources = createobject(AspenTech.Batch21.BatchDataSources)
set batchquery = data_sources(batch21).areas(sqlplus_area).BatchQuery
batchquery.timerange.start = 12-jun-03 10:00
batchquery.timerange.end = 12-jun-03 12:00
set batchlist = batchquery.get
returnvalue = batchlist(1).characteristics.item(START TIME)
Keywords:
References: None |
Problem Statement: Is Oracle 9 compatible with Aspen Supply Chain Connect? | Solution: ASCC web application requires Oracle 9.2.04 or later. Running earlier versions is not sufficient and can result in security issues which affecting Administration Management in the ASCC Web Application. These security issues will in turn cause errors within the ASCC application. For example:
When clicking Security | Login, an error page displays.
The adminLog file may not be accessible.
Single login displays an obsolete error page.
When clicking Authorization objects Authorization Permission, a DB error occurs.
Upgrading to Oracle 9.2.04 or later will alleviate these problems.
Keywords: None
References: None |
Problem Statement: How can I reference a custom formula in an Aspen Calc Stored Calculation? | Solution: The following examples demonstrate how custom formulas using single, multiple, and special character tags can be referenced in an Aspen Calc Stored Calculation.
** Important: ThisSolution assumes that the user has a basic understanding of how to create a formula. For more detail on how to create a formula, please see the Aspen Calc online Help **
Example 1 (A stored calculation that references a custom formula with a single tag)
1. Create a custom formula named MyFormula1 where the script for MyFormula1 is: ReturnValue=a+10
2. Next create the On Demand?Stored Calculation using the following script in the command line =Myformula1(a:=TagName1)
Example 2 (A stored calculation that references a custom formula with multiple tags)
1. Create a custom formula named MyFormula1 where the script for MyFormula1 is: ReturnValue=a+b
2. Next create the On Demand?Stored Calculation using the following script in the command line: =Myformula1(a:=TagName1,b:=TagName2)
Example 3 (A stored calculation that references a custom formula with tags containing special characters)
1. Create a custom formula named MyFormula1 where the script for MyFormula1 is: ReturnValue=a+b
2. Next create the On Demand?Stored Calculation using the following script in the command line:
=Myformula1(a:={TagName1.pv},b:={TagName2.pv})
Keywords: Aspen Calc;
Stored calculation;
nested calculation;
References: None |
Problem Statement: Will Informatica Powercenter run in a VMWare environment? Is such an environment supported by Informatica? | Solution: As of the latest 9.1.x release Virtual Server environment is officially supported by Informatica. It will run in this environment, but you apparently pay a 10 - 20 % performance hit under virtual machines.
Keywords: Informatica
VM
SAP
References: None |
Problem Statement: In CalcScript create this simple series of statements:
A=16
B=32
C=A/B
Hit the Next button and click Execute in Test mode.
Note that the result is C=0, instead of the expected result of, C=0.5 | Solution: This result occurs because Aspen Calc defaults to Integer division when only integers are involved as input. Add a .0 to each constant value to force floating point division. Repeating the above steps then give these results:
A=16.0
B=32.0
C=A/B
Hit the Next button and click Execute in Test mode.
Note that the result is now correct: C=0.5
Keywords: Division
error
zero
false
References: None |
Problem Statement: When using the Thermosiphon application in Aspen Plate Fin Exchanger program, the default option for the Thermosiphon calculation is 'Find extra inlet head or pr.drop' (Input | Exchanger Geometry | Thermosiphons | Thermosiphon Definition tab). This technical | Solution: explains the calculations performed, and where to view the related results from outputs.
Solution
On Input | Exchanger Geometry | Thermosiphons | Thermosiphon Definition tab, by default it is 'Find extra inlet head or pr.drop' that is selected for Thermosiphon calculation. With this specification, the program is subjected to
find the extra inlet head/pressure drop required for the specified (fixed) flow,
and
converge on the overall pressure balance of the thermosiphon loop at the same time.
With other pressure drop contributions that may be supplied, i.e. Pressure Drop (PD), through Inlet/Outlet pipeworks, the PD through the exchanger will be determined together with the extra inlet line pressure drop to meet the above two calculation criterion. The extra inlet head pressure drop will be reported as 'extra inlet line pressure loss' in the Results | Thermal/Hydraulic Summary | Thermosiphon tab.
If the users has chosen 'External + pipework' (Input | Exchanger Geometry | Thermosiphons | Thermosiphon Definition tab) for Thermosiphon type, but did not specify any pipework (Input | Exchanger Geometry | Pipework | Pipework tab), then this is equivalent to specifying zero pressure losses in both the inlet and outlet lines of the thermosiphon loop. This means that the basic inlet line pressure losses are zero, so the `basic + extra inlet line pressure losses? will be the same as the `extra inlet line pressure losses? as reported in the Results | Thermal/Hydraulic Summary | Thermosiphon tab.
Keywords: Plate Fin, Thermosiphon, Thermosyphon, External, Pipework, Inlet line pressure drop, extra inlet line pressure loss
References: None |
Problem Statement: Sometimes with a two stream exchanger, one stream may be located in one set of parallel layers, whilst the other stream is located in two such sets, with the sets in parallel. This can often be done with cross flow exchangers as shown in Figure 1, where the blue stream is located in two parallel layers and passes twice through the heater whereas the red stream passes through once in crossflow to the blue stream.
Figure 1. Cross flow exchanger
Figure 2, shows both stream in axial flow along the exchanger, where the red stream is in two parallel layers and passes twice through the exchanger.
Figure 2. Axial flow exchanger | Solution: If the two sets of layers are not interleaved, as shown in the two figures above, then a workaround is to model as two separate exchangers for each series set and include a corresponding fraction of layers of the other stream. Solve for the first set of layers and then use the outlet conditions from the first series set as the inlet conditions for that stream in the second exchanger.
As an alternative to manually entering the new temperatures into the standalone PlateFin program, a simulation could be setup in Aspen HYSYS, using a number of LNG unit operations to model each part of the exchanger and then a T block to split the flow for one stream whilst the other can be connected in series.
Keywords: Series, Parallel, LNG,
References: None |
Problem Statement: If the following error occurs when starting the Aspen Calc user interface, this is an indication that Aspen Calc is not communicating with the data server:
Attempting communication with the data server on node: xxxx (where xxxx is the name of your server)
Attempting communication with data server on node: xxxx | Solution: Check the data server to verify it is running and the Aspen Calc server has network access to it. If the data server and connection check out then stop and restart the AspenTech Calculator Engine service.
Keywords: calc
calculator engine
References: None |
Problem Statement: In MS Excel all of the Aspen Process Data COM Add-In functions are responding with the message:
Error:Server Unavailable ( InvalidProperties ) Error ( IP.21 is not currently running on 'SYSTEM B' or is not accessible from 'SYSTEM B' )
You have checked your Aspen InfoPlus.21 (IP.21) database and it is running and there is no reason to believe it is not accessible on the client machine. In fact, if you have installed MS Office on the server you even see the error there.
In log files in the DiagnosticLogs\ProcessData folder you see these messages many times:
Exception caught in: GetServerInfo ( System.Runtime.InteropServices.COMException (0x80004005): Error HRESULT E_FAIL has been returned from a call to a COM component.
at AspenTech.PME.ProcessData.Interfaces.IAtProcessDataServer.IsWriteEnabled(Boolean& bEnabled)
at AspenTech.PME.ProcessData.Service.DataServer.getServerInfo()
at AspenTech.PME.ProcessData.Service.DataServer.GetServerInfo()
at AspenTech.PME.ProcessData.Service.DataService.GetServerInfo(Context context) )
-and-
Exception caught in: GetServerInfo ( System.ServiceModel.FaultException`1[AspenTech.PME.ProcessData.Contracts.ServiceFaults]: Error HRESULT E_FAIL has been returned from a call to a COM component. (Fault Detail is equal to AspenTech.PME.ProcessData.Contracts.ServiceFaults). )
The Legacy add-in has no issues retrieving data.
You have restarted the IP.21 database and this has not resolved the problem. A reboot of the IP.21 server may also have been tried and also did not appear to clear the problem (or even you think that the problem began with a reboot of the IP.21 server).
What else can be done? | Solution: This problem has been seen when the ADSA data source includes the Aspen Process Data Service. With this in place the Process Data functions interact with the Aspen Process Data Service registered on the IP.21 server. For unknown reasons it very occasionally fails, responding with the above errors. A reboot of the IP.21 server may not have cleared the problem because client users still had the Excel COM Add-In in use at the time.
All that is required is to restart the Aspen Process Data Service in services.msc on the IP.21 server. No other change is required and thereafter executing the Process Data functions will result in Success status for all users.
Keywords: GetCurrentValue
ShowCurrentValue
GetHistoricalValue
ShowHistoricalValue
GetHistoricalValues
ShowHistoricalValues
GetCalculationValue
ShowCalculationValue
GetCalculationValues
ShowCalculationValues
SQLplusQuery
ShowSQLplusQuery
References: None |
Problem Statement: After a system shutdown or reboot, temporary files created by the Calc Scheduler may be left in the \temp directory. | Solution: Those files are named ~DFxxxx where xxx is a hexadecimal number. The files vary in size. An ordinary shutdown removes those files. Those types of files may also be generated by applications other than Aspen Calc and you may not be able to delete them if they are in use. Also, if the AspenTech Calculator Engine is running, it may have some of those files open and you will not be able to delete them. However, if they are not being used, it is OK to delete them.
Keywords: AspenCalc
References: None |
Problem Statement: What is the default engineering password for Aspen Inferential Quality Builder View? | Solution: aspentech
Alternatively, the password is located in the registry key:
HKLM\Software\Aspentech\Aspen APC Builder\Version\IQview\. For example:
Keywords:
References: None |
Problem Statement: How do I restore a new Aspen Calc schedule group after rebooting the server? | Solution: Aspen Calc stores scheduling groups in the file schedules.atc. See our knowledge base article 130209 for the location of Aspen Calc related files. If Aspen Calc cannot update schedules.atc, newly added schedule groups will be lost when you restart the Aspen Calc server.
Make sure the Read Only attribute of schedules.atc is not checked.
Keywords: missing schedule group, lost data
References: None |
Problem Statement: On some systems, when working in Aspen Calc installed on a client machine, moving calculations from the IP.21 server to the clients (using drag and drop) works fine, but when trying to move calculations from any client to the server, you will get the following error message:
Not authorized to create, modify, delete, copy or rename any type of calculation on this node.
The above error message appears when no security has been configured on the system and regardless of whether or not the user has Admin privileges.
This | Solution: describes how to solve this problem.
Solution
The above-mentioned error message only appears when Local Security is not set up for Aspen Calc. The Aspen Calc server will only allow users on the same machine to perform secured actions (such as creating a calculation). There are no restrictions on reading calculations.
So, copying calculations from a remote Infoplus.21 server to a local client works because the calculation creation is on the same machine as the user interface. Copying from the local client to the remote server fails because the calculation creation is on a different machine to the user interface.
If you logged onto the server, you would be able to copy the calculation from the client.
TheSolution to this problem is to setup Local Security, create an entry for the server and allow the users access to the server.
This is not consistent with SQLplus and InfoPlus.21, which both allow full access, local or remote, if security is not set up. This will not change in future versions of Aspen Calc.
Aspen Calc uses DCOM to connect from the Aspen Calc client to the Aspen Calc server. This error message can also occur if the DCOM permissions are not set correctly. Run DCOMCnfg and look at the Default Access permissions under the Default Security tab. Make sure that users are selected from the correct domain and restart the AspenTech Calculator Engine service after any changes are made. Also ensure DCOM is enabled through the Enable Distributed COM on this Computer checkbox in the Default Properties tab of DCOMCnfg.
Keywords: calc
aspencalc
not authorized
References: None |
Problem Statement: Sometimes it is useful to have Aspen Calc execute a calculation when a tag has reached a certain value. For example, a user may need a calculation to be executed when a pH value has reached a certain level. This knowledgebase article will describe how to configure Aspen Calc to execute calculations based on the value of a source tag. | Solution: ThisSolution will require the use of Aspen Calc's event-driven calculation feature. The Aspen Calc on-line help states that a calculation can be set to execute when the value of a specified record is
none, all, >0, <0, =0, <>0, >=0 or <=0
To have a calculation execute when a predefined tag value exists, we will actually tell the event-driven calculation to execute every time the tag value changes. However, inside the calculation, we will place an IF statement which limits the calculation to only execute when the tag value has reached the predefined value. This is the logic of Continuous activation, conditional execution.
Set the following fields in the AspenCalcDef record like this:
CALCULATION_NAME
Event1
WAIT_FOR_COS_FIELD
atcai IP_Input_Value
COS_RECOGNITION
All
SET_OPTION
None
Next, in the AspenCalc Calculation named 'Event1' place a conditional statement which allows the calculation to execute only if the value of a tag is greater than a specified amount. In this case we will bind the IP_Input_Value of the tag atcai to the variable 'a'. Any code that needs to be executed should then appear inside the IF statement.
if a > 5 then
returnvalue = a
endif
Keywords:
References: None |
Problem Statement: Past Aspen Calc product versions allowed Client Workstations to use the COM service for Aspen Calc in order to avoid having to provide a Username and Password which is required when using the Aspen Calc Engine Service. However, as of aspenONE v2006.5 this feature has been disabled and now all client workstations are forced to use the DCOM service associated with the Aspen Calc Engine Service.
This Knowledge Base article shows how to allow the client workstation to use the COM service for Aspen Calc. | Solution: If you want to:
1
Register as a COM Server only
CalcScheduler.exe /installdebug
2
Register as a Windows Service and COM Server
CalcScheduler.exe /install
3
Remove both Windows Service and COM registration
CalcScheduler.exe /remove
Here are the step-by-step instructions:
? Go to the Command Prompt and uninstall the AspenCalc service using the syntax in step (3)
Reboot the computer
Install and register a COM Server only using the syntax in step (1)
Reboot the computer
Test binding a calculation developed on your AspenCalc client machine to tags on a remote Aspen InfoPlus.21 server
Note: The above installation/removal procedure is done at the Command Prompt. Full path to the AspenCalc engine (CalcScheduler.exe) should be provided.
Keywords: None
References: None |
Problem Statement: This knowledge base article contains a sample VBA program which returns multiple output parameters from a calculation through the COM interface. This can be useful when the value of more than 1 output parameter (such as ReturnValue) needs to be returned to a VBA program or Aspen SQLplus script. | Solution: This program writes values to parameters b and c. It retrieves values from parameters d and e. Note: These parameters must exist in your calculation in order for this example to function correctly.
Dim objCommand, objCalculation
Dim CalcName As String
' Connect to Aspen Calc server server1
Set objCommand = CreateObject(CalcScheduler.CalcCommands)
' Get calculation calc1
CalcName = calc1
Set objCalculation = objCommand.GetCalculationObject(CalcName)
' Set parameter values
objCalculation.Parameters(b) = 130
objCalculation.Parameters(c) = 456
' Execute the calculation
objCalculation.Calculate
Text1.Text = objCalculation.Parameters(d)
Text2.Text = objCalculation.Parameters(e)
Keywords: pass
transfer
pull
input/output
input
parm
References: None |
Problem Statement: The message
Failed to create CalcScheduler.CalcAppCommands object
may appear when clicking the 'OnDemand' button in the Aspen Calc GUI (graphical user interface). This knowledge base article describes how to troubleshoot this error message. | Solution: One should look for the *.atc files located in the following directory:
For version 2006 and older:
\Program Files\AspenTech\Aspen Calc\Apps\OnDemand\Calc
For version 2006.5 and newer:
\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\AspenTech\Aspen Calc\Apps\OnDemand\Calc
For version 2006.5 and newer (when running Windows Vista):
\ProgramData\AspenTech\Aspen Calc
These represent the on-demand calculations (*not* the shared on-demand calculations) that have been created on the system. Try moving them to another location and then stopping and restarting the Aspen Calc GUI. If this method works (the error message does not reappear) one can try moving them back in to the original directory one at a time until the problem happens again. Any .atc files that cause the problem to happen have become damaged or corrupted and will need to be discarded and created again if desired.
Keywords: None
References: None |
Problem Statement: Need to start and stop the Aspen IQLinksrv without running acobase shutdown and/or acobase startup. | Solution: Download the attached Iqlinksrv.Zip file, move the 2.bat files provided into the Program Files \ Common Files \ AspenTech Shared directory.
The IQLinksrv_startup.bat and IQLinksrv_shutdown.bat can be used to start or stop the IQLinksrv process. This process is required for the Dais trader to see the Aspen IQ offer for display with the AspenIq View application.
Keywords: IQView, dais, linksrv
References: None |
Problem Statement: Sometimes, when users try to create a calculation on the AspenCalc server, they get an 'Element not found' error message.
This | Solution: explains how to overcome the above error message.
Solution
Users must have READ and WRITE permissions to the following directory:
..\Program Files\AspenTech\Aspen Calc\Calc
Keywords:
References: None |
Problem Statement: After installing Aspen Calc application on the Aspen InfoPlus.21 server, the AspenCalcDef definition record may not be immediately available in the Aspen InfoPlus.21 Administrator. | Solution: The AspenCalcDef record is loaded from the aspencalc.rld file. The Aspen Calc recload file can be found in the following location: \AspenTech\Aspen Calc\Bin.
To load database records from ASCII recload (.rld) files into the database:
1. Start Aspen InfoPlus.21.
2. Load the ?AspenCalc.rld? file by running the ?EventCalc.bat? batch file. The batch file can be located in the path ?Program Files\AspenTech\Aspen Calc\bin?.
3. Open the Aspen InfoPlus.21 Manager and create an external task named TSK_CLC1. The executable for this task should be ?tsk_clc1.exe?.
a. For version 2006.5 - tsk_clc1 is located at \Program Files\AspenTech\InfoPlus.21\db21\code.
b. For versions 2006 to 2004 - tsk_clc1.exe is located at \Program Files\AspenTech\Aspen Calc\Bin.
c. For versions prior to 2004 - tsk_clc1.exe is located at AspenTech\Desktop\tsk_clc1.exe.
4. The Subsystem field may be left blank.
* For more information on adding external tasks, see the Aspen InfoPlus.21 Administration Tools Manual.
5. Create a trigger record by creating a record based on AspenCalcDef.
*For information on creating records, see the Aspen InfoPlus.21 Administration Tools Manual. Also, see sample record AspenCalcTest1.
Keywords: Records
definition
Aspen Calc
References: None |
Problem Statement: In some cases, users can setup an Aspen Calc system to gather data, run through some calculations and then dump that information back to the OPC server. This works fine with no problem if the data has a status of good. The problem comes about if the data that does get sent back to the OPC server becomes bad. The data is not accurrate yet Aspen Calc has no way to prevent a bad value from being sent to the OPC server. Is there a way to set up Aspen Calc to prevent this from happening?
Question:
1. Does Aspen Calc have the ability to set OPC quality to bad (status) to the OPC server?
2. Does Aspen Calc have the ability to prevent a number (bad value) from being sent to a point on the OPC server? | Solution: 1. On the first question, OPC DA does not provide a way to write a quality status with a value.
2. On the second question, you can prevent a bad value from being set to the OPC Server by testing the quality in the calculation.
The following is a CalcScript example of this.:
if b.status = qstatus_good then
a=b+1
end if
This does not update parameter a if parameter b has a bad status.
Keywords: OPC server
Aspen Calc
References: None |
Problem Statement: How to get the value of a tag from 1 hour ago? | Solution: Create a formula using the Aspen Calc NOW() function and subtract 1 hour from it to get the desired timeframe, then use this formula for the T1 argument in the TagHistory function to get the desired result.
My_Value=TagHistory(Tag, Now() - 1:00, Stepped)
TagHistory formula description, from the Aspen Calc online Help:
Returns the value of a specified tag at a specified time. By default, this is the interpolated value. If the Stepped parameter is specified, it is the most recently recorded value after the specified timestamp. The return value includes a quality status and timestamp.
Syntax
TagHistory(Tag,T1,Stepped)
Tag (required input) is a parameter bound to an InfoPlus.21 tag. Aspen Calc generates an error if the parameter is not bound to an InfoPlus.21 tag.
T1 (required input, timestamp) is the time for which the value is returned.
Stepped (optional input, integer) specifies interpolate (0, which is the default) or stepped (1).
Keywords: formula, time, hour, tagHistory
References: None |
Problem Statement: Can I model a two-pass arrangement for the lube oil stream in the exchanger. The lube oil returns to top end of the exchanger after turning around at the bottom (i.e. flow from End A to B through one half of the axial flow stream, then back from End B to A in the other half). | Solution: Unfortunately, you cannot model this in Aspen Plate Fin Exchanger.
Having said that, if these are single phase fluids, so the orientation of the exchanger doesn?t matter, then it can be modeled to a good approximation by imagining it is cut down the middle (at the central parting sheet), and the right hand half rotated through 180 degrees. The exchanger would then be twice as long, but half as deep (half as many layers). The width would be unchanged. The oil stream would go straight through the revised exchanger, from top to bottom, with no intervening header.
Keywords: axial flow, two pass
References: None |
Problem Statement: How to delete Aspen Calc functions from library in IQ? | Solution: Here are the steps to delete Asepn Calc functions:
1. Open the IQF in IQconfig
2. Right click on the IC or OC module and select ?Formula Library?
3. Keep the IQconfig ?Formula Library? dialog open and start Aspen Calc UI from Start menu.
4. Select ?Formulas? in Aspen Calc UI and locate the library named IQconfigIQFname and delete unwanted formulas.
5. Click OK on the IQconfig ?Formula Library? dialog and save the IQF.
Keywords:
References: None |
Problem Statement: How do I resolve the following error message when executing the Enthalpy formula in Aspen Calc?
Error executing calculation: Failed to find ProgID: AspenProperties.Formulae.1, in formula CALPRP at line 1, in formula PPMON_CALPRP at line 1 | Solution: This error generatedA because the program failed to find AspenProperties Formulae when user execute Enthalpy formula in Aspen Calc.A
To resolve this problem,A ensure Aspen Properties installed on your machine,A if Aspen Properties not installed,A please installA it to use the Enthalpy formula, otherwise the formula can't be used in Aspen Calc.
The Enthalpy formula is meant to be used with the Aspen Properties product. Aspen Properties must be installed to use the Enthalpy formula.
Keywords: Error executing calculation, Failed to find ProgID, AspenProperties.Formulae.1, Enthalpy formula
References: None |
Problem Statement: Aspen Calc실행시 아래와 같은 오류 발생 | Solution: 본 오류는 background에서 이미 Aspen Calc 가 돌고 있기 때문입니다.
1. 작업관리자 실행
2. 프로세스 탭 선택
3. 모든 사용자의 프로세스 표시(Show process from all users)를 선택
4. AspenCalc.exe 선택
5. 프로세스 끝내기버튼 클릭.
6. Aspen Calc 다시 실행
주: 만약 작업관리자에서 AspenCalc.exe 프로세스를 끝낸후 Aspen Calc 실행은 가능한데 스플래시 화면(splash screen) 이 나타나면 드라이브의 여유공간을 확인. 만약 여유공간이 많지 않으면 파일을 삭제하여 여유공간을 확장한 다음 Aspen Calc를 다시 실행
Keywords: Run-time error '5'
Invalid procedure call or argument
KR-
References: None |
Problem Statement: Is it possible to print from Aspen Calc? | Solution: Using the Detail Report option available in Aspen Calc version 3.0 and above, it is possible to print information or export it to another file. The Calculation Detail Report presents information about a particular calculation. That information includes the following:
Calculation name (If a Calculation is stored in a folder, the Calculation name must be formatted as Folder\Calculation, where the Folder is the name of the folder in which the Calculation is stored.)
Calculation description
Formulas used in the calculation
Library in which the formula is stored
ID of the user who created the calculation
Whether or not the calculation is in test mode
When the calculation was created
When the calculation was modified
When the calculation was last executed
Value
Level
Status
Error text and position, if applicable
Parameter names
Mode
Data type
Source
Unit
Description of the calculation
To generate a Calculation Detail Report:
In the Calculation or Schedule Management View, right-click the appropriate Calculation.
Select Detail Report from the context menu. The report is displayed.
Keywords: Printing
Output
References: None |
Problem Statement: A COM object in Visual Basic 6 takes a maximum of 60 parameters when they are declared as individual variables S1, S2, S3, and so on... In order to increase the number of parameters that a COM object can take, they need to be declared in an array.
The example below (and in the attached VBArrayTest.zip file) shows how to use a VB6 COM object with AspenCalc utlizing an array of parameters. | Solution: In the attached zip file, Vbstest.atc is the calculation, which should be copied to %ASPEN_CALC_BASE%\calc. Testlib.atc is an Aspen Calc library containing a COM object formula. This should be copied to %ASPEN_CALC_BASE%\lib. You need to register the COM object (vbarraytest.dll) using regsvr32.exe.
Here is the source code for an example VB6 COM object that takes an array as parameter:
Option Explicit
Public Function SumArray(a As Variant) As Variant
' This function sums the values in an array.
' The array must be an array of variants to work
' with VBScript
Dim x As Variant
Dim i As Long
x = 0
If IsArray(a) Then
For i = LBound(a) To UBound(a)
x = x + a(i)
Next i
End If
SumArray = x
End Function
Here is an example Aspen Calc VBScript that calls the object.
dim a(200)
dim i
for i = 0 to 200
a(i) = i
next
returnvalue = SumArray.function(a)
Keywords:
References: None |
Problem Statement: What is the purpose of Compute missing actuals in the Advanced Options of the Aspen Process Data Add-in? | Solution: For GetHistoricalValues, Compute missing actuals only works with multiple tags. If a tag has no actual value for a specific time, enabling Compute missing actuals will compute and insert a value into what may have otherwise been an empty cell.
An example of this is shown below:
(i) With Compute missing actuals disabled
(ii) After enabling Compute missing actuals
Keywords: Excel Add-In
GetHistoricalValues
Compute missing actuals checkbox
Computed Value
References: None |
Problem Statement: This example calculation script loops through the array elements returned from the TagHistoryArray function, then writes each element to a file. Note: Loops can only be used from formulas written in VBScript (select VBScript as the formula type in the Aspen Calc New Formula dialog box to create a VBScript formula.) Formulas written in CalcScript don't currently support loop structures. | Solution: 'Use an AspenCalc array function in VBScript to return an array of data to AspenCalc returnvalue = TagHistoryArray.function(Tag,5/5/2005 15:00:00,5/5/2005 15:20:00,10,0, 0)
'Open a file for array element output
CONST OpenFileForWriting = 2
Dim FSO
Set FSO = CreateObject(Scripting.FileSystemObject)
Dim TextStream
Set TextStream = FSO.OpenTextFile(c:\CalcArrayOutput.txt, OpenFileForWriting, True)
CONST count= 10
'Loop through array elements
i=1
Do While i <= count
'Write array elements to file
TextStream.WriteLine Value: & returnvalue(i).value & Time: & returnvalue(i).timestamp
i=i+1
loop
'Close output file
TextStream.Close
'=========
'Note: Individual array elements can also be accessed like this
r1=returnvalue(1).value
time1=returnvalue(1).timestamp
'=========
The output from this example code looks like this:
Value: 5.151151 Time: 5/5/2005 3:00:00 PM
Value: 1.035439 Time: 5/5/2005 3:02:00 PM
Value: 3.574415 Time: 5/5/2005 3:04:00 PM
Value: 1.233925 Time: 5/5/2005 3:06:00 PM
Value: 9.770622 Time: 5/5/2005 3:08:00 PM
Value: 10.32246 Time: 5/5/2005 3:10:00 PM
Value: 1.651485 Time: 5/5/2005 3:12:00 PM
Value: 2.335222 Time: 5/5/2005 3:14:00 PM
Value: 12.4564 Time: 5/5/2005 3:16:00 PM
Value: 4.181081 Time: 5/5/2005 3:18:00 PM
Keywords:
References: None |
Problem Statement: Why can't I view my calculations and schedules in Aspen Calc after an upgrade? | Solution: The ASPEN_CALC_BASE environment variable is no longer required by Aspen Calc and is not created by the installation procedure. ASPEN_CALC_BASE used to specify the base location for all Aspen Calc files including executables, calculations and formula libraries.
If ASPEN_CALC_BASE is undefined (which is now the default), the calculation, formula library, schedule, and unit conversion files are stored at the location specified by CSIDL_COMMON_APPDATA followed by AspenTech\Aspen Calc.
? On Windows Vista, this defaults to \ProgramData\AspenTech\AspenCalc
On other Windows versions it defaults to \Documents and Settings\AllUsers\Application Data\AspenTech\Aspen Calc
Following an upgrade from a previous version of Aspen Calc, the AspenTech Calculator Engine Service will automatically copy the calculation, formula, schedule, and unit conversion files to the new location.
If ASPEN_CALC_BASE is defined, it still specifies the base location for calculation, formula library, schedule and unit conversion files but this does not have to be the same location as the executable files (which are under \Program Files\AspenTech\Aspen Calc by default).
Keywords: calculations
formulas
libraries
schedules
v2006.5
References: None |
Problem Statement: How does Aspen Inferential Quality Builder (IQ) handle non-numerical lab results?
When the lab returns a non-numerical value (not received, insufficient volume, etc), what happens in IQ? IQ is expecting a number to compare against the sample it is waiting for. When no number is returned, what happens? I am having an issue when the lab returns textual values quite often. The result for the next good value is then returned for the value that was originally given as text. How can I get IQ to account for non-numerical values and put the next good result in the right spot? | Solution: Aspen IQ does not contain support for non-numerical lab samples. It may be possible to write DCS logic that turns this text lab sample into a code or numeric flag that IQ could read.
IQ is reading the NEWLAB value as a floating point number and does not support reading text values. If you connect an ASCII tag to the NEWLAB entry, I am not sure if IQ can read the value correctly when the string contents are numeric. Your best bet is to write some DCS logic to copy the lab value to a numeric tag and skip setting the lab sample and lab available flags when the sample value is invalid.
Keywords: samples, input, non-numerical
References: None |
Problem Statement: Why is the VB goto statement not supported in Aspen Calc. | Solution: VB and VBA are different from VBScript. Aspen Calc supports VBScript which is a simpler language that doesn't support the goto statement.
VBScript does support FOR, FOR EACH, DO...LOOP, IF..THEN..ELSE, WHILE and EXIT statements that can be used instead of GOTO.
See: http://msdn.microsoft.com/scripting/ for more information.
Keywords: VBA
VB
AspenCalc
References: None |
Problem Statement: An Aspen Calc client can have trouble connecting to a server for several reasons. Commonly it is due to incorrect permissions with the AspenTech Calculator Engine service or with the DCOM setup. This problem can manifest in several possible error messages:
Failed to connect to (node name), permission denied
Error reading local InfoPlus.21 field, InfoPlus.21 not available. Or the client might hang on the error message Getting Node List or Looking for Node | Solution: Here are some troubleshooting tips:
1. Check the network connection. Use the ping command at the DOS prompt with the server name. If this fails, check the physical network connection and basic network setup (under Network Properties).
2. If the ping command works check the AspenTech Calculator Engine service from the Control Panel | Services. Try stopping it (using the Stop button) and restarting it (using the Start button).
3. Make sure that the calculator engine service is set to start with the correct privileges. The service should be set to start automatically using an account that is a member of the Administrators' group. If the service is not set up this way, stop the AspenTech Calculator Engine service, make the appropriate changes and then restart the service.
4. If the Aspen Calc user interface is still not starting, the problem might be with the security setup. Run DCOMCNFG and look at the Default Access permissions under the Default Security tab. Make sure that users are selected from the correct domain and restart the AspenTech Calculator Engine service after any changes.
Keywords: None
References: None |
Problem Statement: This knowledge base article describes now to resolve the following error message, which may be reported when trying to bind a variable in the Aspen Calc product to an Aspen InfoPlus.21 record:
Error executing calculation. Error reading InfoPlus.21 fields. InfoPlus.21 not available | Solution: This error has been reported when the Aspen AspenTech Calculator Engine service is using a different account as the one used to start the Aspen InfoPlus.21 Task Service service.
Change the account used for starting the Aspen AspenTech Calculator Engine service to the same account used for starting the Aspen InfoPlus.21 Task Service service. Restart the Aspen AspenTech Calculator Engine service after making the change.
Keywords: Error executing
Calculation
References: None |
Problem Statement: How to activate an SQLplus query from AspenCalc?. | Solution: Create a new calculation, click next
Select the New Formula tab, select CalcScript, and click next
Type a = 1 for the CalcScript formula and click next
Double click on a to get the properties dialog.
Set the Bind Type to InfoPlus.21
Set the Server Name: to your IP.21 server
Set the Record Name: to the QueryDef record of interest.
Set the Field Name: to EXECUTE
Once you uncheck the Test Mode box, executing this calculation will execute the QueryDef record.
Keywords:
References: None |
Problem Statement: It is possible to access both standard Aspen Calc calculations and Aspen Calc On-Demand calculations through Aspen Calc's COM interface. However, there are no examples available which illustrate how to access the On-Demand calculations in this manner. This knowledge base article provides an example which demonstrates how to programmatically access Aspen Calc On-Demand calculations through a Visual Basic program. | Solution: You can access On-Demand calculations using the CalcAppCommands object. In order to access the CalcAppCommands object you will need to add a reference to CalcScheduler as shown below.
The trick behind this program is to use the SetBaseDirectory call using OnDemand as a parameter. The following Visual Basic 6.0 program uses this technique to list the On-Demand calculations:
Private Sub cmdListCalcs_Click()
Dim cmd As New CalcAppCommands
Dim calcList As Variant
Dim calc As Variant
Dim dir As String
dir = OnDemand
cmd.SetBaseDirectory dir
calcList = cmd.GetCalculationList
If IsArray(calcList) Then
For Each calc In calcList
lstCalcs.AddItem (calc)
Next
End If
End Sub
Keywords: list
retrieve
calcs
References: None |
Problem Statement: The Quality of an AspenCalc calculation is BAD or SUSPECT when using TagAverage function with an end time set to NOW(). | Solution: The Aspen InfoPlus.21 API call that Aspen Calc uses to evaluate the TagAverage function returns a suspect status if there is not a complete set of data for the period. This is often the case if the period ends at the current time because the most recent data point will usually be older than the current time. You can test and set the quality status of a parameter using the status property.
For example, CalcScript:
if x.status = qstatus_suspect then
x.status = qstatus_good
end if
To resolve the issue, you can change the end time in the function call from Now() to Now() - 00:10. The returned status should now indicate Good.
Keywords: None
References: None |
Problem Statement: How can I use the Formulas listed as AspenPropertiesFlash, AspenPropertiesGeneral, and AspenPropertiesToolkit? | Solution: Aspen Calc now offers access to the Aspen Properties general flash utility and ten select property calculations. The formula libraries to support this access are shipped by default with Aspen Calc but in order to use them, the user must have Aspen Plus or Aspen Properties installed on the target machine and a valid license available for each instance of Aspen Properties that will be running simultaneously.
The user must first define their problem in Aspen Plus or Aspen Properties and run the calculations at least once in order to populate the problem properties. They must then export the problem as an .APRPDF file to be referenced by Aspen Calc via the Aspen Properties formulae.
Keywords: Aspen Properties
library
.aprpdf
References: None |
Problem Statement: This knowledge base article provides an example Aspen SQLplus script which uses the Aspen Calc COM objects to programmatically create an Aspen Calc calculation. | Solution: This example requires a COM reference to Aspen Calc Components as shown below:
The following script can be pasted into the Aspen SQLplus Query Writer to create an Aspen Calc calculation named, calc1001.
local calccmd, calc, calc3 IAtCalculation3, pUnused, pUnbound;
calccmd = CreateObject('CalcScheduler.CalcCommands');
calc = calccmd.CreateCalculationObject('calc1001','', '');
calc.scripttext = 'a=b+c';
calc.formulatype = atcSimpleScript_Method;
calc3 = calc;
calc3.CreateCalcScriptParams('', pUnused, pUnbound);
calccmd.SaveCalculationObject(calc);
Keywords: API
Application Programming Interface
Automation Interface
References: None |
Problem Statement: Can OPC UA server in Aspen InfoPlus.21 V8.0 allow anonymous authentication? | Solution: The Aspen InfoPlus21 OPC UA interface was specifically designed NOT to use anonymous user authentication. You would have to use OPC UA client that accepts Username and Password.
Keywords: OPC UA
Anonymous authentication
References: None |
Problem Statement: What is the supported encoding of txt files in IQmodel? | Solution: IQmodel only accepts ANSI encoded txt files. Whenever you are trying to import vectors in a txt file, make sure it has ANSI encoding and not UTF-8, as importing process will fail with this last encoding.
You can check encoding in Notepad++ application.
Keywords: IQmodel, txt, encoding
References: None |
Problem Statement: After scheduling workflows in the Powercenter Workflow Manager, where are the log files to view if the Schedulers ran successfully? | Solution: The log files can be found in the workflow monitor. This will show if the Scheduler was successful and lists any rejects.
Keywords: None
References: None |
Problem Statement: Using the TagHistory function improperly in Aspen Calc, generates the following:
error executing Calc, error executing method tag history, No history data available. | Solution: This error is generated when the time parameter has too many decimal places and can be corrected by truncating (rounding off) the decimal value of dtime. An example below illustrates the problem.
Assuming a dtime of 1/1440 which in decimal, translates to 0.00069444 This result has too many decimal places and when the whole string is in an Aspen Calc calculation as the one below, then the aforementioned error is generated:
dtime=0.00069444
T1=NOW()-dtime
ret=TagHistory(Tag, T1, Stepped)
A more successful result can be obtained in the CalcScript by rounding off the decimal places as shown in this alternative:
dtime=0.00069
T1=NOW()-dtime
ret=TagHistory(Tag, T1, Stepped)
The error can also be generated when manipulating arrays. The correct procedure would be to use the TagHistoryArray function instead of TagHistory, indicating Np = 1 as the number of points in the time period. This function will also allow different requests to be used, including the H21_GET_TIMES2_EXTENDED (request 7). This returns the previous value from history in this case instead of an error. Replace all TagHistory with TagHistoryArray in your formula.
Keywords: TagHistoryArray
TagHistory
dtime
References: None |
Problem Statement: Where are the .atc files used by Aspen IQ applications stored? | Solution: The AspenCalcMessageLog shows:
Failed to open file :\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\AspenTech\Aspen Calc \Calc\IQonline_xxx.atc for Windows 2003 Server.
Or
Failed to open file :\ProgramData\AspenTech\Aspen Calc\Calc\IQonline_xxx.atc for Windows 2008 Server.
The path is not updated, the *.atc files are available in:
“:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\AspenTech\Aspen Calc \Apps\IQonline\Calc folder
Or
“:\ProgramData\AspenTech\Aspen Calc\Apps\IQonline\Calc folder”
Find below a screenshot of a Windows 2008 Server.
Keywords: Aspen Inferential Qualities, IQ, atc, Aspen Calc
References: None |
Problem Statement: Can I use AspenIQ View, when using WCF for the Production Control Web Server? | Solution: Yes, it is possible to use Aspen IQ View, even when using WCF protocol for the Production Control Web Server.
The Dais Trader is used for the IQ view application. By default, it is running on the online server. This is true for version V7.2 and V7.3. V8.0 no longer includes the Dais Trader.
On the Aspen IQ View machine, visit the AspenTech Shared / Dais / Bin directory and use NTCONF to configure the Master Trader and Local Trader, to point to the online server running the Dais Trader. Do not configure a Secondary Trader. Check the General tab, use TCP only, if going through a firewall. Use IIOP if not. If no firewalls are in the configuration, you might also just leave the default list of TCP, UDP, IIOP.
On the Aspen IQ online server, you will need to confirm the iqlnksrv.exe is running. If this is not running, go to APC Manage / Tools and run Startup Aspen IQ Online. This will leave any already running Aspen IQ processes running, but will start any that are not, particularly the iqlnksrv.exe.
From the Aspen IQ, online server, and from the Aspen IQ View server, you should be able to go to the Dais / Bin directory and run TRMAN.exe and the TrMan information display should open.
You should now be able to open Aspen IQ view and see the applications running on the Aspen IQ online machine. If there is more than one online server, running Aspen IQ applications, then one should be selected as the Master and Local trader and the additional online servers, along with the IQ View, should be pointing to the selected online server who has been selected as the Master and Local Trader.
Keywords:
References: None |
Problem Statement: How to add the Aspen Process Data add-in if it does not appear in the Microsoft Excel toolbar after upgrading Microsoft Office to 2007? | Solution: Microsoft office 2007 has not been tested with any versions of Aspen InfoPlus.21 (IP21) prior to 2006.5. Hence any IP21 version older than 2006.5 is unsupported with office 2007.
For IP21 version 2006.5 when Microsoft Excel is upgraded from previous versions to 2007 Aspen Process Data Add-In will not appear in the tool bar even it is added. This is because Microsoft Excel 2007 looks for a specific file named 'AtData.xlam' in the selected path. The following procedure outlines re-adding the Aspen Process Data Add-In for Microsoft Excel 2007.
1. Delete the Aspen Process Data Add-In, close and reopen the Microsoft Excel and browse for 'AtData.xlam' file in the path '..\Program Files\AspenTech\APEx\Addin'.
2. If the Aspen Process Data Add-In does not appear after using the above procedure one should un-install and re-install the Aspen Process Explorer and re-add Aspen Process Data Add-In.
3. On non-English operating systems we have seen a few scenarios that if regional settings use comma as a decimal point the Aspen Process Data Add-in will not appear in Excel. In order to resolve this please apply the ER referred in theSolution 127939 for version 2006.5 only
Keywords: Excel Add-in
toolbar
References: None |
Problem Statement: A customer asks: We have spreadsheets authored in Excel 2007 that retrieves data from Aspen InfoPlus.21 using Process Data. Can we use the Microsoft Excel Services included in Microsoft Office Sharepoint 2007 to modify the calculations and display the updated results on our portal? | Solution: Unfortunately this will not work in versions of aspenONE prior to V7.3. The Excel Services cannot load workbooks that contain add-ins. This is documented by Microsoft in the following article:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms496823.aspx
Microsoft released Sharepoint 2010 in the meantime, but also in that version, the Excel Services do not support running VBA code contained in an Excel workbook. (Note that the current versions of Role-Based Visualization are not supported on Microsoft Office Sharepoint 2010).
Update: Integration to Excel Services is supported in aspenONE V7.3
Keywords: Microsoft Excel Services
Sharepoint 2010
RBV
Process Data
References: None |
Problem Statement: An Aspen Calc client is not able to connect to the Aspen Calc server running on a Windows 2003 SP1 operating system. The client receives the error: | Solution: Add the user account(s) to the Distributed COM Users group, which is installed by default as part of the Windows 2003 operating system.
Keywords: Failed to connect to
The remote server machine does not exist or is unavailable
References: None |
Problem Statement: When calculation parameters or results are bound to Aspen InfoPlus.21 tags and these tags are deleted in Aspen InfoPlus.21 and recreated again, you may not see these tags used in the calculations. | Solution: Aspen Calc calculations bind to record ID's and not record names. This means that if a record is deleted from Aspen InfoPlus.21, and another record is created using the same name, but not the same record ID then the calculation will produce an error when executed:
In order to avoid this problem you need to make sure to use the original record ID on the new record created in Aspen InfoPlus.21, then Aspen Calc will begin to use the new tag for the calculation bindings. This would cause the new tag's values to be used in the calculation, or cause the calculation results to be written to the new tag (depending on the binding parameters).
Keywords: Bind
Updates
References: None |
Problem Statement: If you can no longer check out models or obtain versions of any of the models via the web interface, you may be experiencing a permissions issue. | Solution: In order to use Model Management to check out/in files from/to VSS, a working Windows file folder needs to be created, to hold sub-folders matching the folders at the leaf level of the project folder tree within VSS.
This working Windows file folder needs to be shared out, and the Change permission on the working folder has to be granted to the ASPNET account.
Sometimes, even if the Allow for Change box for the ASPNET account is checked, under the folder's Properties window, the ASPNET account may not have rights on the folder. In this case, Model Management cannot check in/out files.
To grant the permission to the ASPNET account:
1. Bring up the folder's Properties
2. Add the ASPNET account to the user list under Share Permission
3. Check the Allow box for the Change right on this folder
If the ASPNET account has no Change permission on this shared folder even after the Allow for Change box is checked, grant Everyone the Change permission on this shared folder.
Keywords: ASCC
MODEL MANAGEMENT
ASPNET
PERMISSIONS
References: None |
Problem Statement: When creating a new Excel based calculation you may get the following error in a pop-up window.: | Solution: The problem is that the name of the Workbook in Excel does not match the 'Excel spreadsheet' argument in the calculation; it is not named Sheet1, for example, it's named Oxygen instead.
Go to the formula and change the 'Excel spreadsheet' argument for the Calculation from Sheet1 to Oxygen, and then the calculation will work fine. (See shot below)
Keywords: error
executing
excel
workbook
calculation
References: None |
Problem Statement: How do I create a calculation that compares input time with current time to determine the return value? | Solution: It may be necessary to design a calculation that compares the input time with current time to determine the return value.
Here is an example of an Aspen Calc formula which uses the TagHistory function that returns a history value.
The formula uses an If-Then statement to compare the input time with the current time. In this case there was a need to compare the times because future times were sometimes used for input parameter values.
If the IP_Input_Time is less than or equal to the current time the TagHistory function returns the value associated with IP_Input_Time. This is the same value and time found in the 1st occurrence in history as long as compression is
not used. Otherwise the calculation returns the value associated with the 2nd occurrence in history 2 IP_Trend_Time.
CurrentTime = now()
if InputTime <= CurrentTime then
time = InputTime
else
time = TrendTime
endif
HistoryValue = TagHistory(Tag, Time, Stepped)
Calculation binding notes:
Tag: Bind this parameter to the Record, IP_Input_Value that contains the value to be returned.
InputTime: Bind this parameter to the Record, IP_Input_Time.
TrendTime: Bind this parameter to the second occurrence in history of Record, 2 IP_Trend_Time.
(2 IP_Trend_Time must be typed into the field)
Keywords: None
References: None |
Problem Statement: This knowledge base article describes which Aspen Calc files should be backed up. | Solution: Here is a list of files to backup:
- The Calculation files ..\AspenTech\Aspen Calc\Calc\*.atc.
If using Aspen Calc folders then calculations will be in folders below \calc\
- The Library files ..\AspenTech\Aspen Calc\Lib\*.atc.
- The Schedule file ..\AspenTech\Aspen Calc\Bin\Schedules.atc.
- If using Aspen Process Recipe, the Aspen Calc and Lib folders are in ..\AspenTech\Aspen Calc\Apps\ProcessRecipe\.
- If using Stored OnDemand Calculations the Aspen Calc and Lib folders are in ..\AspenTech\Aspen Calc\Apps\OnDemand\.
- If using Excel calculations within Aspen Calc the Excel files will be located in ..\AspenTech\AspenCalc\Excel\Calc
Keywords: backup
back
restore
migrate
move
References: None |
Problem Statement: Help explains how to create a COM object using Visual C++ 5.0 (or 6.0), but does not explain how to create using Visual C++ .NET. | Solution: How to create a COM object with Microsoft Visual C++ .NET 2003.
1. Start Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2003 from the start menu.
2. Select File|New|Project. The New Project dialog box is displayed.
3. Select Visual C++ as project type and ATL project as template.
4. Enter a Project Name and select a Location to store the project file.
5. Click OK.
6. ATL Project Wizard dialog box is displayed.
7. Click Finish.
8. Select Class View tab.
9. Right click project icon and select Add|Add Class and Add Class dialog box is displayed.
10. Select ATL Simple Object template and click OPEN.
11. On the ATL Simple Object Wizard dialog box, enter a name for the object into the short name field.
12. Click Finish.
13. The Class View tab should now have entries for the new Class (Starting Cby default) and Interface (Starting I by default).
14. Right-click the Interface and select Add|Add Method. The Add Method Wizard dialog box is displayed.
15. Enter a name and parameters.
For the input parameters check in check box and select parameter type and enter parameter name. Click Add.
For the return value parameter select pointer parameter type and enter parameter name and check out and retval check box. Click Add.
16. Click Finish after entering all the parameters.
17. The method implementation is shown on the display.
18. Define the function . For example;
STDMETHODIMP Catljeff::f(float x, float y, float *z)
{
//TODO:Add your implementation code here
*z = x * y;
return S_OK
}
19. Select Build | Build fro the menu bar. This creates and registers the DLL that defines the COM object.
Keywords: ＣＯＭ
ＤＬＬ
.NET
References: None |
Problem Statement: The Aspen Calc on-line help explains how to create a COM object using Visual C++ 5.0 (or 6.0), but does not explain how to create using Visual C++ 2005. This knowledge base article provides steps to create an Aspen Calc COM object using Microsoft Visual C++ 2005. | Solution: How to create a COM object with Microsoft Visual C++ 2005.
1. Start Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 from a start menu.
2. Visual C++ 2005 should be set as the default development environment.
3. Select File|New|Project. The New Project dialog box is displayed.
4. Select Visual C++|ATL as project type and ATL project as template.
5. Enter a Project Name and select a Location to store the project file.
6. Click OK.
7. ATL Project Wizard dialog box is displayed.
8. Select Dynamic Link Library (DLL) as server type and click Finish.
9. Select Class View tab.
10. Right click project icon and select Add|Add Class and Add Class dialog box is displayed.
11. Select ATL Simple Object and click OPEN.
12. On the ATL Simple Object Wizard dialog box, enter a name for the object into the short name field.
13. Click Finish.
14. The Class View tab should now have entries for the new Class (StartingC by default) and Interface (Starting fromI by default).
15. Right -click the interface and select Add|Add Method. The Add Method Wizard dialog box is displayed.
16. Enter a name and parameters.
For the input parameters check in check box and select parameter type and enter parameter name.
For the return value parameter select pointer parameter type and enter parameter name.
Click Add.
17. Click Finish after entering all the parameters.
18. OnSolution tab, select Source file <class name>.cpp.
19. Define the function. For exapmle,
STDMETHOD Catljeff::f(fload x, float y, float *z)
{
//TODO:Add your implementation code here
*z=x*y;
return S_OK
}
20. Select Build | Build of (Solution name) from the menu bar. This creates and registers the DLL that defines the COM object.
Keywords: None
References: None |
Problem Statement: Can I use the Aspen Process Data Excel Add-in with SQLA tags? | Solution: Yes, starting with v7.3, the use of the Aspen Process Data Excel Add-in supports SQLA tags.
Keywords: SQLA
Excel
Add-in
References: None |
Problem Statement: What does the parameters 'IsWriteEnabled' and 'IsXLWriteEnabled' mean? | Solution: The write enabled flags were created in V3 for Cim/21 to control access to who can write to Cim/21 via Aspen Process Data. The flags control normal writes and writes from within Excel (XL, Add-In). The Cim/21 and Aspen InfoPlus.21 data servers used these flags until security was implemented in Aspen InfoPlus.21.
Cim/21 is no longer supported and Aspen InfoPlus.21 has Aspen Framework security or Aspen Local Security so these flags are no longer needed.
Keywords: IsWriteEnabled
IsXLWriteEnabled
Process Data Add-In
References: None |
Problem Statement: Installing Informatica v8.6.1 with an SAP IDOC transformation fails with the following error:
ERROR : (5832 | MAPPING) : SDKS_38007 : Error occurred during [initializing] reader plug-in #300300.
ERROR : (5832 | MAPPING) : SDKS_38005 : Couldn't load the library [pmidocmgrdr.dll] for plug-in #300300. Error msg: [Database driver event...Error occurred loading library [pmidocmgrdr.dll]. System error encountered is 126. Error text is The specified module could not be found..].
ERROR : (5832 | MAPPING) : TM_6006 : Error initializing DTM for session [s_BCI_listener]. | Solution: This error occurs when the dependent library file libsapucum.dll or librfc32u.dll is not found.
To resolve this issue, you will have to install the SAP RFC SDK libraries. You must obtain these from Aspen support
To install the SAP RFC SDK libraries, do the following:
1. Open the folder for the Operating System (Windows) that hosts the Integration Service process
2. Copy the files from the folder to <PowerCenter installation directory>\server\bin
Keywords: None
References: None |
Problem Statement: Is there any non-volatile function available for retrieving tag attribute information (such as description) into Excel ?
If ATGetAttrVal is used, the repeated recalculation of Excel sheet (when the contents of some cells are changed) makes the sheet very slow. | Solution: The calculation and data reading are totally controlled by Excel. And the calculation could be controlled by Tools -> options ->Calculation but it is general setting for whole excel sheet and could not apply to specific sheet or row.
Aspentech excel addins provides just a function to excel.
The available work-arounds are:
In Attribute value, click settings and select format tab and check ?paste data only(without formula)?.
Set Excel calculation option to manual and do the calculation manually when needed. Click ?Tools? menu and select options. In Calculation Tab, select manual. You can press F9 when you need to calculate the whole sheet.
Keywords: Excel Add-ins
Calculation
ATGetAttrVal
References: None |
Problem Statement: In some cases there is a limit on the number of calculations that can be exported to XML. If that limit is reached, the following error appears Error export XML: Overflow. This limit is around 330 calculations which corresponds to the number of .atc files in folder C:\Program Files\AspenTech\Aspen Calc\Calc | Solution: To overcome this limitation there are two possible workarounds:
1. Copy all the atc files from C:\Program Files\AspenTech\Aspen Calc\Calc to the same location on another Aspen Calc computer.
2. From Aspen Calc, create a new folder and copy all calculations into it. Then the ?Export Calculation XML? will work.
Keywords: XML
Overflow
Error export XML
Export
Atc
Calculation
Limit
Large
References: None |
Problem Statement: Beginning with V7.3 a new set of Aspen Process Data Excel Add-Ins were released. The main difference between them and the Aspen Process Data Excel Add-Ins released with earlier versions is that the new ones are COM Add-Ins compared to earlier versions which installed Excel Addins
This article discusses how to disable the COM Add-Ins installed with V7.3 and later. | Solution: NOTE: The COM Add-Ins are NOT supported with Excel V2003 or earlier
1. Click on the the big Office Button located in the upper left corner of the Excel window and then select 'Excel Options' button then the 'Add-Ins' choice on the left of the resulting screen.
2. In the drop down box at the bottom of the screen where it says Manage: Excel Add-Ins change Excel Add-Ins to COM Add-Ins, then click 'Go'.
3. Uncheck the appropriate entries on the resulting 'COM Add-Ins' dialog box.
4. Close the dialog box by clicking 'OK'.
5. Exit Excel.
The Add-Ins can be re-enabled by going through the process above but on step 3 re-selecting the appropriate Add-Ins.
Keywords:
References: None |
Problem Statement: This knowledge base article describes why the error message:
Object Variable or With Block variable not set
may appear in Aspen Calc when trying to change the Aspen InfoPlus.21 server referenced in a calculation. | Solution: This error occurs because the Aspen Calc client cannot communicate with the Aspen InfoPlus.21 server to which a calculation is bound. Check the following items to troubleshoot this error.
1. Ensure that the AspenTech Calculator Engine service is running on the new Aspen InfoPlus.21 / Aspen Calc server.
2. If the AspenTech Calculator Engine service missing on the new Aspen InfoPlus.21 server install the AspenTech Calculator Engine service manually from a command prompt.
From the command prompt of the directory:
Program Files\AspenTech\Aspen Calc\Bin
issue the following command:
calcscheduler/install
Then configure the login properties for the service to start with the appropriate account.
Go to Windows Services
Double click on AspenTech Calculator Engine
Go to the Log On tab and enter login details of the account used to run the AspenTech applications.
3. Check the DCOM configuration: The AspenTech Calculator Engine application should be set to use the Default authentication level, and default access, and launch permissions. Next check Default Security and under Default Access Permissions and Default Launch Permissions Edit Default on each. The correct user and domain should be identified in the Permissions window. If they appear to be correct remove the user and add the user back.
4. Ensure that the correct server name is referenced in the ADSA data source.
5. Ensure that the calculation and library files (*.atc) are not corrupt. Restore any *.atc files from backup that you suspect may be corrupt.
6. If you are able to get into Aspen Calc, go to View | Options. Is the node list correct? Delete any nodes which do not belong.
Keywords: None
References: None |
Problem Statement: Aspen IQ input calc module, nested loop generates parameter not used message | Solution: There are a variety of options to use while editing the calc, CalcScript does not support nested loops, VBScript however, does. When entering the IQ Calc, use the Edit button to modify the calc, then use the back button to display a list of script options. Selecting VBScript will allow the use of nested loops.
Keywords: Aspen, Calc, Iq, loops, if, nested
References: None |
Problem Statement: Problem loading Aspen IQ models, generating difficulties with Aspen Calc | Solution: Confirm that the Aspen Calculator Engine is running, check this in the Services Panel in Administrative tools.
Register the dll's identified below:
cd c:\program Files\AspenTech\Aspen Calc\bin
regsvr32 AtAspenCalcUtilities.dll
regsrv32 CalcFunctions.dll
Keywords: IQ, iqf, model, calc
References: None |
Problem Statement: When attempting to edit an Excel spreadsheet that has Aspen Calc calculations embedded in it, users may be notified by Microsoft Office that the spreadsheet is locked and cannot be edited. Why would this happen? | Solution: If you create a spreadsheet via Aspen Calc, it should automatically be created as a shared spreadsheet that allows multiple users to open and edit it simultaneously. However if for some reason the shared property is removed, then edits are attempted, the user will be notified that the spreadsheet is locked. This is because the Aspen Calc Windows Service is considered a user of all spreadsheets it is responsible for updating. So the only options in this case are to (1) stop the Aspen Calc Windows Service, or (2) make sure all spreadsheets with Aspen Calc content are shared.
Keywords: locking
freeze
read-only
edit
References: None |
Problem Statement: I would like to run the ProcessData Administrator tool to perform testing, however I am unable to find the log files produced, where are these kept? | Solution: In v7.1:
Under Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 these are kept here:
c:\Program Files\AspenTech\ProcessData\Data\Log
In v7.2 and v7.3:
Under Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 these are kept here:
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\DiagnosticsLogs\ProcessData
Under Windows Vista 7 and Windows Server 2008 these are kept here:
c:\ProgramData\AspenTech\DiagnosticsLogs\ProcessData
Keywords: ProcessData
Administrator
References: None |
Problem Statement: A ccf files created using Inspector from Production Control Web Server (PCWS) will not contain the correct values for all user-defined entries. | Solution: A DMCplus controller monitored with AspenWatch will not have any user-defined entries historized as a default setting. This is in part due to the fixed structure of all AspenWatch records in Infoplus.21 (IP.21). However, when a controller is added or updated in AspenWatch, a text file called UserEntryTags.txt is created automatically in the folder ..\ProgramData\AspenTech\APC\Performance Monitor\App\controller_name. The file can be directly imported into AWMaker and used to add all user-defined entries in AspenWatch data base as miscellaneous tags
When a ccf file is created using Inspector from PCWS from a specified time, AspenWatch uses the ccf in the ..\ProgramData\AspenTech\APC\Performance Monitor\App\controller_name as a skeleton, it proceeds to fill the entries in the controller with historical data from IP.21 from that time. Unfortunately, it does not propagate any user-defined entries with historical data as there is no association between the miscellaneous tags and those user-defined entries.
Recommendation: after obtaining the ccf from Inspector from a specified time, manually update those user-defined entries with the correct values from IP.21 historian.
Keywords: CCF user-defined entries
AspenWatch Inspector
References: None |
Problem Statement: This knowledge base article describes how to configure Get transfer records to activate at specified intervals which start at a given time when asynchronous transfer is used. | Solution: Using asynchronous transfer the Get transfer record activations will occur at the interval specified in the IO_Frequency field. Moreover, the start time for this interval will be when the Get record is first activated (when the IO_RECORD_PROCESSING field of the Get transfer record is set to Yes). Therefore, it is possible to write an Aspen SQLplus script to schedule various Get transfer records to activate at evenly spaced intervals when asynchronous transfer is used. Such a script would look like this:
Note: This script waits until 12 pm on the current day to execute. It then schedules three Get transfer records to activate at 15 second intervals. Therefore, GetRecord1 will activate at 12:00:00, GetRecord2 will activate at 12:00:15 and GetRecord3 will activate at 12:00:30. Each of these Get transfer records will continue to activate at the interval specified in their respective IO_Frequency field.
-- Wait for a specified time stamp on the current day
Wait '12:00:00';
update GetRecord1 set IO_Activate? = 'Yes';
-- The wait command takes arguments in tenths of seconds
wait 150;
update GetRecord2 set IO_Activate? = 'Yes';
wait 150;
update GetRecord3 set IO_Activate? = 'Yes';
Keywords: stagger
evenly-spaced
spaced
interval
scan
cycle
References: None |
Problem Statement: When a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet is shared, Excel, by default, keeps a history of the changes and only writes changes back to the file when it is closed. Both of these options use memory. Using AspenCalc with Excel formulas may cause failures if available memory is at a minimum. | Solution: The way to stop Excel using up memory is to turn off these options.
Open the spreadsheet in Excel.
Select Tools | Share Workbook from the menu.
Select the Advanced tab.
Select the Don't keep change history option in the Track changes section.
Select the Automatically every: option in the Update Changes section.
Select The changes being saved win option in the Conflicting changes between users section.
Click OK.
Save the Workbook.
Note: Memory will still increase a little as the calculations run but it will go back down at the interval set in the Automatically every: dialog.
Keywords: Excel
Aspen calc
calc
References: None |
Problem Statement: After installing the client software, whenever a new calculation or On Demand calculation is created in Aspen Calc an error is received. When the Finish button is clicked to save the calculation, the following pop-up error appears:
Aspen Calc Error Saving Calculation: Error Accessing IFRoot Interface. | Solution: Re-register the AtAspenCalc.dll found in
C:\Program Files\Common Files\AspenTech Shared\. Stop and restart the AspenTech Calculator Engine.
Keywords:
References: None |
Problem Statement: Encountered an unsuccessful cimio_t_api.exe on the Aspen Cim-IO client machine. Error showed on the cimio_t_api may include System Error, errno=0 No error. Corresponding cimio_t_api.exe on the Aspen
Cim-IO server machine is working well.
CIMIO_MSG.LOG on the Aspen Cim-IO server or the Aspen Cim-IO client shows this error message: CIMIO_MSG_RECV_BADCHECKSUM, Checksum in message header doesn't match calculated value. | Solution: On the Aspen Cim-IO server computer, open CimioProperties.exe and navigate to the CIM-IO checksum tab.
- Click on the <OFF> button to turn off checksum checking OR
- Add the cimio-client hostname into the Excluded Nodes list.
Notes:
- Using cimio checksum will result in increased overheads for the cimio processes.
- TCP/IP also has checksum built-in to protect against errors in transmission.
Keywords:
References: None |
Problem Statement: This knowledge base article describes under what conditions data can become flagged with a bad status in Aspen Cim-IO. | Solution: Note: These tests were carried out on a system enabled with Store & Forward (S&F) with a normal Get transfer record.
1. The usual cause for data being flagged with a bad status is that the bad status was assigned to the data point in the DCS or in the OPC server. The status then is carried through to Aspen Cim-IO and Aspen InfoPlus.21.
2. When the Aspen Cim-IO client tasks (TSK_M_XXX, etc.) are stopped to simulate a network disconnection a point will be flagged with a bad status at the start of the data buffering for S&F. A data point will also be flagged with a Bad IP_TREND_QLEVEL and an IP_TREND_QSTATUS of 'Scan Off' 0.1 second after the last value is unbuffered from the store file.
Note: This behavior has been fixed in v2004.2 (there's no reason to flag a bad point when a store file buffers/unbuffers unless something is wrong with the data).
3. If the Aspen Cim-IO services are stopped a few data points will be flagged with an IP_TREND_QLEVEL of bad and an IP_TREND_QSTATUS of 'Req Failed'. (A gap will subsequently be shown in the Aspen Process Explorer trend plot during this time range.)
4. Changing IO_DEVICE_PROCESSING to off in the device record will result in one data point being given an IP_TREND_QLEVEL of bad and an IP_TREND_QSTATUS of 'scan off' to note that data scanning has been disabled. (The Aspen Process Explorer trend will show a data gap while the scanning is disabled in this manner.)
5. Manually performing an unclean shutdown by stopping the Aspen Cim-IO server processes through the Windows task manager also results in an IP_TREND_QLEVEL of bad and an IP_TREND_QSTATUS of 'Req Failed' being assigned to the data values. (There is then a data gap in the Aspen Process Explorer trend plot.)
Keywords: bad
status
point
flag
References: None |
Problem Statement: Customer was doing an upgrade of Aspen InfoPlus.21 and for two Aspen CIM-IO components received the following error:
There was a problem with launching install Aspen CIM-IO
Return code is 3
The Return code is 3 is a generic error, which was traced to an incomplete copy to disk of the installation DVD #2 the customer was trying to use.- It had missing folders for the Aspen CIM-IO components.
The problem was eventually traced to an incomplete copy of the installation DVD # 2. | Solution: In general this error would be produced when there are missing components for the installation program.
Using the original installation DVDs resolved the problem.
Keywords: None
References: None |
Problem Statement: How do I assign a specific timestamp to a calculated value using an Aspen Calc calculation? What is the correct way to store the value and desired timestamp in the target record which will result in a single entry in the 1st occurrence of history? | Solution: You can use the TagSetValue function found in the Builtin function library. From the Aspen Calc online help:
The TagSetValue function adds a new value to a tag. This function sets the current value of the tag if the timestamp of the value is newer than the timestamp of current value. If necessary, the timestamp is automatically incremented to make it unique.
Note: Tag is viewed as an input parameter because its current value is not written.
Syntax
TagSetValue(Tag,T1,Val)
Tag (required input) is the name of the tag. The parameter must be bound to an InfoPlus.21 tag or an error is generated.
T1 (required input, timestamp) is the timestamp used to store the value.
Val (required input) is the value and quality status to be written.
Example
TagSetValue(Tag, 11/4/2011 10:10:10, 123)
This adds the value 123 to the tag at 10:10:10 on 11/4/2011. If the tag value at the timestamp already exists, the timestamp will be increased to make it unique.
Keywords: Specific timestamp
Calculated value
References: None |
Problem Statement: A custom EIF adapter was built with V7.3 and this worked fine. However, when upgrading to V8.4 (or later) the adapter is complaining that many assemblies are missing. Why is this? | Solution: EIF V8.4 was updated from .NET 3.5 to 4.0. As .NET frameworks are not forward compatible, your application would need to be recompiled for the new environment with .NET 4.0.
Note also that the assemblies have been moved from C:\Windows\assembly to C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\assembly\GAC_MSIL
Keywords: Custom EIF Adapter
Assemblies
.NET
References: None |
Problem Statement: This | Solution: discusses what to do if you get the error Failed to edit formula. Object Already Being Edited. while editing a formula in Aspen Calc.Solution
When modifying a formula, Aspen Calc copies the library (<library>.atc) containing the formula to an editing folder. This error means that a copy of the library containing the formula already exists in the editing folder. Deleting <library>.atc from the editing folder allows you to change the formula.
The location of the holding folder depends on the version of Aspen Calc and Microsoft Windows you are using.
For versions prior to 2006.5:
Look for the <library>.atc file under the folder <drive>:\Program Files\AspenTech\Aspen Calc\Lib\Edit.
For 2006.5 and higher:
When using Windows 2003/ Windows XP, the location of the editing folder is:
<drive>:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\AspenTech\Aspen Calc\Lib\Edit
When using Windows 2008 server/ Windows Vista / Windows 7, the editing folder is located at:
<drive>:\ProgramData\Aspentech\Aspen Calc\Lib\Edit
Note: Please refer the KBSolution 111729 if you see a message Failed to edit calculation. Object Already Being Edited while editing a calculation.
If you still have the problem after deleting the <library>.atc from the folder please restart the 'Aspentech Calculator Engine Service' from the services.
Keywords: Failed
edit
edited
formula
References: None |
Problem Statement: What are the Units for X-axis on Bode plot? | Solution: The X-axis on the bode plot displays scaled frequency and the units for X-axis is (rad/time).
For example, if xi=0.5, it means wi = 2 *pi*f = 2*pi/cycle =0.5,
Then cycle = 2*pi/0.5 = 2*3.14/0.5 = 12.56 (samples)
If the sampling period = 1 min, then oscillation cycle = 12.56 min;
If the sampling period = 10 seconds = 1/6 min, the oscillation cycle = 12.56 x 1/6 = 2.09 min ;
Keywords:
References: None |
Problem Statement: The following symptoms describe the problem. This will usually happen on a computer that just had Aspen client tools installed on it.
Basically, the problem is that you cannot bind any calculations created on your local machine to any tags on any InfoPlus.21 server. The same calculations work fine after they've been copied to the appropriate server machine. When attempting to bind any element of a calculation to a tag, the following error message is received:
InfoPlus.21 binding: can't connect to server. Local aspen calc application. | Solution: Check the user account used to start the AspenCalc Service on your local machine to make sure that the account has access rights to the IP.21 server. It should be a domain based account, not a local administrator account.
Keywords:
References: None |
Problem Statement: When attempting to edit an existing calculation, the following message is displayed:
Failed to edit calculation. Object Already Being Edited. | Solution: On the InfoPlus.21 Server, a file with the calculation name exists in the Folder [drive]:\Program Files\AspenTech\Aspen Calc\Calc\Edit
Deleting the file resolves the problem and allows the calculation to be edited.
The problem may also be related to calculations contained within subfolders of the \Program Files\AspenTech\Aspen Calc\Calc directory. If .atc files are contained within folders under the Calc directory, corresponding subfolders must also be available under the \Program Files\AspenTech\Aspen Calc\Calc\Edit directory.
For example, if calculation files (ending with the extension .atc) have been manually added to the directory \Program Files\AspenTech\Aspen Calc\Calc\Calculations. For Aspen Calc to be able to edit these calculations, the system requires the directory \Program Files\AspenTech\Aspen Calc\Calc\Edit\Calculations. This subfolder allows Aspen Calc to edit the calculations. If such a folder does not exist, the Failed to edit calculation error will appear.
Keywords: error
calculation
References: None |
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