OPD FAQ (Last updated on: 2011-08-11)

While executing the script that opens the OPD (OPDGUI.exe PictureName&#&TagName), nothing happens. ... 2

While opening the OPD, an error message appears: “Error! No connection to OPD database. Contact System

Administrator.” ........................................................................................................................................................ 3

While opening the OPD, an error message appears: “Problem while reading data from PLC. Check the name of

the tag that represents the OPD block instance or the memory usage on your station” ........................................ 5

After “Executing” the OPD, the OPD ES Messages are not created in WinCC. .................................................... 6

The “EXECUTE” button on the OPD is grayed out. ............................................................................................... 7

How do I add new units? ........................................................................................................................................ 9

How to make a backup and how to restore from backup? ................................................................................... 10

How to move the OPD database from computer A to computer B? ..................................................................... 11

While executing the script that opens the OPD (OPDGUI.exe
PictureName&#&TagName), nothing happens.
Cause of the error:
1. The path to the OPDGUI.exe is not configured correctly. Make sure that the path
is: “C:\Program Files\SIEMENS\OPD\OPDGUI.exe
WinCCPictureName#&#Tagname#&#Area” (with one space between OPDGUI.exe
and the WinCC Picture Name).

2. The user that is logged on to Windows has no permissions to run the

“OPDGUI.exe” file. Browse to the folder where the OPD has been installed
(default: C:\Program Files\SIEMENS\OPD\). Right click on the “OPDGUI.exe” file
and select “Properties”. Under the “Security” tab, make sure that the logged on
user has the permission: “Full Control”. Perform the same check for the following
files: OPDEdit.exe, OPDUA.dll, OPDES.dll, OPDdb.dll and OPDAS.dll.

2
While opening the OPD, an error message appears: “Error! No
connection to OPD database. Contact System Administrator.”
Cause of the error: The ODBC connection cannot find the specified server. Check
the following:
1. The OS server, where the OPD database is installed, is up and running and
that you can ping the server from the client.

2. If redundancy is used, check that the redundancy tags are created on the OS
Servers under the folder:
“Tag ManagementInternal tagsRedundancy”.

The following tags should exist: @RM_MASTER, @RM_MASTER_NAME,

@RM_SERVER_NAME, @RM_OFFLINE_UA_NAME.

3. The ODBC configuration is setup correctly.

Open ODBC configuration: Control PanelAdministrative ToolsData

Sources (ODBC)

Select the “System DSN” tab.

If you are using a redundant OS server pair, there should be the following
ODBC connections:
 OPDdb_AAA,
 OPDdb_BBB,
 OPDES_AAA,
 OPDES_BBB,
where “AAA” and “BBB” are the computer names of the redundant OS
servers where the OPD database is installed.

Double click on each connection and check that the “Server” is: AAA\WINCC or
BBB\WINCC. Check if the server is selectable in the combo list.

Check the connectivity using the User ID: “OPDUser” and password:
“OPDUser”.

If you are using only one OS server, there should be the following ODBC
connections:
 OPDdb,
 OPDES.

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Double click on each connection and check that the “Server” is: AAA\WINCC,
where “AAA” is the computer name of the OS server where the OPD database
is installed. Check if the server is selectable in the combo list.

The ODBC connections are setup by the install wizard. If problems occur,
it is recommended to reinstall the OPD client and carefully select the
options provided by the installation wizard.

4
While opening the OPD, an error message appears: “Problem
while reading data from PLC. Check the name of the tag that
represents the OPD block instance or the memory usage on your
station”
Cause of the error: The tag name in the script that opens the OPD is not found.
Check the following:

1. The OS Server has been properly compiled and that OPD tags exist on the OS
Server.

2. The tag name should consist of the CFC chart name, where the OPD block
instance is placed, followed by a “/” and the name of the OPD block instance
e.g. “EM1001_PRES/OPD”, where “EM1001_PRES” is the chart name and
“OPD” is the name of the OPD block instance.

3. If the script is run on the OS client the tag name should include the server prefix
(e.g. OSS01::EM1001_PRES/OPD).

5
After “Executing” the OPD, the OPD ES Messages are not
created in WinCC.
Cause of the error: The messages have not been configured on the OS Server (see
chapter 5.2 in the manual) or the “Activate Store ES WinCC” option is not activated in
the OPDEdit menu (see chapter 3.2 in the manual)

ES messages

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The “EXECUTE” button on the OPD is grayed out.
Cause of the error:
1. The OPD message is still in “PRELIMINARY” state. Change the state to
“RELEASED FOR TEST” (see chapter 3.7 in the manual).

2. All the required fields (operator inputs) have not been filled in. If the “Store
Operator Values” flag have been set, and the OPD have been filled in,
closed without executing and reopened again, all the fields have to be
reentered again.

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How do I add new units?
Make sure you are logged in as Administrator. Open the “SQL Server
Management Studio” on the OS Server where the OPD database is installed.
Use the Tree View to browse to:

“Microsoft SQL ServersSQL Server GroupComputer Name/WINCC

(Windows NT)DatabasesOPDdbTables”.

Right click on the table: “OPDUnitTable”. Select: “Open TableReturn all

rows”. At the bottom of the table, add a new number with a corresponding unit.
Close “Enterprise Manager”.

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How to make a backup and how to restore from backup?
1. Use the OPD Database Tool (OPD Database Tool.exe).
The tool will help you to backup and restore the OPD database. You have to use the
tool locally, on the same machine where the database is located.

2. To make a backup of the database, copy the “OPD Database Tool.exe” to the Server
where the OPD database is located. Write down the destination for the database e.g.
“D:\Temp\OPDdatabase20110630”. Press “Backup Database”.

This will create a copy of the database on the path that you have specified.

3. To restore the database, copy the database file (e.g. OPDdatabase20110630.mdf) to

any path on the Server where the OPD database is located. Using the “OPD Database
Tool.exe” select the file as “Source Path” and press “Restore Database”.

This will replace the current database with the “backed up” copy.

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How to move the OPD database from computer A to computer
B?
Same procedure as in “How to make a backup and how to restore from backup?”

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