Schedule Plus 5 Beta Release Notes
February 2014
CONTENTS
Contents ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
What’s New .................................................................................................................................................................................... 2
Web Server ................................................................................................................................................................................ 2
Multi-Client Access and Control ................................................................................................................................................ 2
Database Logging, Archiving and Reporting .............................................................................................................................. 3
Project Snaphot, Full System Backup and Recovery ................................................................................................................. 4
Full System Backup and Archive Location Update .................................................................................................................... 4
Common Drawing Image Support ............................................................................................................................................. 4
Improved Licensing ................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Known Issues .................................................................................................................................................................................. 6
ODBC Data Source Configuration .............................................................................................................................................. 6
Sharing an SQL Server With DALIBuildings ................................................................................................................................ 6
Provider Error After Restoring Database ................................................................................................................................... 6
HTTPS connection to the web server ........................................................................................................................................ 7
Version History ............................................................................................................................................................................... 8
Schedule Plus 5 Beta Release Notes
February 2014
WHAT’S NEW
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Web Server
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Multi-Client Access and Control
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Database Logging, Archiving and Reporting
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Project Snapshot, Full System Backup and Recovery
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Full System Backup and Archive Location Update
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Common Drawing Image Support
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Improved Licensing
WEB SERVER
The included web server enables control of C-Bus via a web browser, and offers the following functionality:
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Works with all popular browsers (Google Chrome, Apple Safari, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Opera)
Connection to the server can be via standard HTTP or secured HTTPS
Access to the web server is controlled by Profiles
Most Schedule Plus functionality and components can be controlled
Multiple connected clients will be synchronized, i.e. if you turn a group on in one client, then the other clients will be
synchronized to present a consistent state
View and download Schedule Plus logs
Create database backups and reports via the web browser
MULTI-CLIENT ACCESS AND CONTROL
Support for multiple authorized web clients to access the web server and view and control the C-Bus system remotely.
Web client control of the C-Bus system includes the ability to modify time schedules, irrigation, user system I/O and scenes.
User Profiles in conjunction with Access Control allows different authorized web clients to have restricted views and control over
common and/or different parts of the C-Bus system.
Synchronized reflection of the C-Bus system across multiple authorized web clients. Changes made via one client are reflected
in other clients.
DATABASE LOGGING, ARCHIVING AND REPORTIN G
The following (selectable) C-Bus application data can be logged to an SQL Server database (2008 R2 and above).
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C-Bus System Data (Networks, Applications, Groups, Levels)
C-Bus Lighting Compatible Application Data
C-Bus Measurement Application Data
C-Bus Error Reporting Application Data
C-Bus HVAC Application Data
C-Bus Irrigation Data
Selected Schedule Plus Log Messages.
The database can be automatically archived at intervals to Network, UNC or FTP paths. This enables the Schedule Plus Database
to operate efficiently whilst preserving archived data for reporting purposes.
There are pre-defined Crystal Reports for the following database reporting functions:
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Run Report Special Function (single predefined reporting period and template)
Database Reporting dialog or web page (configurable reporting period and multiple template)
Users can retrieve and analyze varied historical trend data for the above mentioned C-Bus applications. Logged historical trend
data can assist clients to:
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Improve the energy efficiency of their C-Bus system.
Improve the maintenance of their C-Bus system.
SQL Server 2008 R2 and above databases are supported due to their Enterprise Edition support for the following.
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Failover Clustering.
Database Encryption using Transparent Data Encryption.
To configure database logging please see the section in the Manual titled ‘Using the Schedule Plus Software > Database’.
PROJECT SNAPHOT, FULL SYSTEM BACKUP AND RECOVERY
The Schedule Plus installer/administrator can generate project snapshots that save the look and feel of the Schedule Plus
project. A Schedule Plus project can then be restored to a known working state and/or look and feel in the event the Schedule
Plus project becomes corrupted and no longer works as expected or cannot be opened.
The Schedule Plus installer/administrator or authorized user can generate a full system backup. This allows the Schedule Plus
database and project to be restored to a known state in the event of a catastrophic Schedule Plus server hardware failure.
Automated backups of Schedule Plus Data (database and project files) can be run daily, weekly, monthly or annually.
The backup location can be configured to allow backup files to be stored to and restored from Network, UNC or FTP Paths.
FULL SYSTEM BACKUP AND ARCHIVE LOCATION UPDATE
An authorized Schedule Plus user can update the locations of Full System Backups and Database Archives stored in the Schedule
Plus Database in response to backup files and archive files being moved. This allows the following issues to be avoided.
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Backup file not found (Full System Restore).
Archive file not found, request to be mounted or skipped (Configurable Database Reporting)
Archive file not found and skipped (Pre-defined Database Reporting)
COMMON DRAWING IMAGE SUPPORT
It is possible to import common drawing image formats (including DXF and DWG) and convert them to image formats supported
by Schedule Plus (including jpg, bmp and png). This feature is provided through the SolidWorks eDrawings 2013 utility which is
an optional component in the Schedule Plus installer.
IMPROVED LICENSING
NOTE: This feature does not apply in the Beta release but will become applicable in the Final release.
Schedule Plus 5 now supports software (product key) licensing in addition to hardware (dongle) licensing.
If no valid license is found, Schedule Plus offers the user a number of options to proceed.
KNOWN ISSUES
ODBC DATA SOURCE CON FIGURATION
This only applies if you are configuring database logging.
The Schedule Plus manual section ‘Using the Schedule Plus Software > Database > ODBC Data Source’ describes how to
configure the database connection information for Schedule Plus via the ODBC Administrator in Windows. This information is
incorrect and out of date. Configuration of the database connection is now handled directly through the Database Options
window in Schedule Plus.
IMPORTANT: In this release of the public beta, you will need to set up your connection information through Schedule Plus.
SHARING AN SQL SERVE R WITH DALIBUILDINGS
This only applies if you are configuring database logging and also use the DALIBuildings application.
Both Schedule Plus 5 and DALIBuildings offer an optional install of SQL Server Express 2008 R2.
It is okay to let these applications install two separate SQL Server instances on your machine but you may wish to have both
applications share the same instance. One way to do this is to:
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Install DALIBuildings with SQL Server Express. By default the instance will have the name ‘SQLEXPRESS’.
Install Schedule Plus 5. Ensure the option to install SQL Server Express is left unchecked.
Create an ODBC Data Source (see other known issue above). Configure it as follows:
Driver
: SQL Server Native Client 10.0
Name
: SQLEXPRESS
(any name of your choosing)
Description
: DALIBuildings SQLEXPRESS
(any name of your choosing)
Server
: (local)\SQLEXPRESS
(must match the DALIBuildings instance name!)
In Schedule Plus under Database Options on both the Standard Options and Administrative Options tabs, configure the
new ODBC driver and select Windows Authentication.
You should now be able to test the connection and create a database on the DALIBuildings instance of SQL Server.
PROVIDER ERROR AFTER RESTORING DATABASE
After restoring a database backup from within Schedule Plus you may see one of the following errors (or similar):
Shared Memory Provider: No process is on the other end of the pipe
or
TCP Provider: An existing connection was forcibly closed by the remote host
If this occurs then you will need to close and re-start Schedule Plus for database logging to continue working.
HTTPS CONNECTION TO THE WEB SERVER
When the Schedule Plus web server is configured to use secure SSL connections, the web browser will remain on the log in page
after clicking the Login button. Schedule Plus is correctly validating the given credentials and sending the correct response back
to the browser. It is the browser that is not updating. This is a known issue and is being investigated.
VERSION HISTORY
5.0.0.10
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Initial public beta release.
5.0.0.11
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FIXED: Issue with Report Show special function.
FIXED: Issue with Backup Show special function.
FIXED: Issue with Run Report special function.
FIXED: Various memory leaks with the web server.
FIXED: Various general leaks.
5.0.0.20
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MODIFIED: Database connection properties no longer require ODBC Administrator.
FIXED: Invalid date error when opening a project.
FIXED: Database errors when opening a project due to issues with saving project.
MODIFIED: Automatic project snapshot algorithms.
NEW: Load Replacement window allowing load replacement information to be recorded.
FIXED: The No Valid Licence window displayed no licence information at all.
FIXED: Database Options window could fall behind the main window.
FIXED: Database recovery method not applicable for SQL Server Express edition.
5.0.0.29
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FIXED: Incorrect font displayed when using the web client from Firefox.
FIXED: Button captions and other text not aligned properly when using the web client in Internet Explorer.
FIXED: Component initially shown with an incorrect state in the web client.
FIXED: Components visible in the web client when they should be hidden according to the logged on profile.
FIXED: Various rendering and functionality issues with components when using the web client.
MODIFIED: Updated to be compatible with the latest version of C-Gate.
MODIFIED: Schedule Plus now uses the native look of the OS it is running on.
FIXED: Licensing now selects an installer dongle over a standard dongle when both are available.
FIXED: Issue with multiple web cam components on a page with a high refresh rate.
5.0.0.31
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FIXED: Minor fix to button component rendering when using the web client.
FIXED: Licensing information was updated to include full software master dongles as part of the licence compatibility
check.
5.0.0.34
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FIXED: Issue with the database name not being saved to the project file.
MODIFIED: Increased the number of irrigation zones.
FIXED: Measurement application items now recorded.
FIXED: HVAC application zones and zone groups now recorded.
5.0.0.44
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FIXED: Issue with access control login page in Internet Explorer.
FIXED: Issue with the enter key on the login page in Internet Explorer.
FIXED: Truncation of folder paths in the Create Database window.
MODIFIED: The web server is now limited to 10 clients.
TESTED: Tested for compatibility with Microsoft Windows 8.
5.0.0.49
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FIXED: Cannot focus a disabled or invisible window error after restoring a snapshot.
FIXED: Issue with C-Bus button font colour in the web client.
FIXED: LDK run-time not deployed to client machine.
FIXED: Incomplete HVAC zone group and zone data logged.
FIXED: Dongle recheck period inaccuracy.
FIXED: Demonstration mode still set after successfully acquiring a licence.
FIXED: Invalid column name: false error.
FIXED: Issue with web client sessions not being released.
FIXED: Various database backup, restore and snapshot issues.
5.0.0.55
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FIXED: Issue with logging of parent data for the irrigation application.
FIXED: Access violation error with the graph component when graph type is area.
FIXED: Issue with reconnecting database logging after backing up and restoring the database.
FIXED: Various memory leaks in the web server.
FIXED: Issue with commas in information being logged to the database.
FIXED: Page navigation not working on Android and iPad tablets.
FIXED: Issue with logging in to the web client.
MODIFIED: Database documentation in the help file updated to reflect recent changes and fixes.
MODIFIED: Web server documentation in the help file updated to reflect recent changes and fixes.
NEW: Additional reporting templates have been added.