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System Messages

EPLAN documents all events that occur during startup or running of the system by displaying messages in a system messages dialog. The dialog is opened via the menu items Utilities > System messages.

Message number

Every system message has a six-digit message number, composed of a three-digit module number and a three-digit sequential number. In addition to the message number, the date and time of the occurrence of the message are displayed.

Message categories

There are different categories of messages that are identified by corresponding icons. The assignment and the meaning of the individual message categories are listed in the following table.

Icon

Category

Meaning

Note

You receive a note message when a specific function is performed. The program continues to function normally.

Warning

You receive a warning message when a specific function can be performed but may cause problems in subsequent planning actions. Though you can continue working with the program, you should investigate the cause of the message as soon as possible.

Error

An error message is displayed when a particular function can no longer be executed but other program elements can continue working. Exit and restart the program.

Fatal error

A fatal error occurs when a function cannot be performed and the program is in an undefined state. Immediately exit and restart the program.

Not every system message means that you cannot continue working with the program. Examples would be that a directory you wish to access no longer exists on the selected drive, or a dataset you've selected is currently being used by another person.

Therefore, please read the description accompanying each message carefully. In most cases, you'll recognize the problem and eliminate it rapidly.

Message display

System messages are output in the form of a hierarchically structured list. Each session is visualized in the list with the icon and disposes of a session and a process number. In addition the name of the editor and the workstation number are displayed. The system messages output during the respective session are displayed underneath the icon. The list of the system messages can be opened and closed by clicking the icons and .

By default the program shows the system messages of the current session. Through the Display all sessions check boxes it is possible to extend the list of system messages and to have the messages of the all the previous sessions in the database listed.

If you select a system message, it also appears in a separate text box beneath the list. The text box displays the full-length message, regardless of the size set for the system message dialog.

A system message may consist of multiple single messages in a hierarchical structure. Such messages are indicated in the list by the before the message category icon. Click this icon to open (drop down) the next hierarchical level below it with the lower-level message. A indicates that level is already open. Click the icon and the level collapses together again. When you select a lower-level message, it appears in a separate text box beneath the table.

System messages database

The output system messages of all the sessions are stored automatically in a database called EplLog.eldb. If the database exceeds the size of 30 MB, it is backed up under the name EplLog_bak.eldb during the next EPLAN start. At the same time a new database is created under the name EplLog.eldb. When the size of this database is also exceeded, the process starts again from the beginning. The old backup file EplLog_bak.eldb is then deleted.

The file path of the system message database can be defined in the settings (under Options > Settings > Workstation > Messages > System).

Note:

After a change in the file path of the system message database EPLAN has to be rebooted.

Database selection and export

Database selection

In the system message dialog you have the possibility to access any other system message database and to have its contents displayed. For example backed-up databases from previous sessions that were renamed and archived previously can be opened. The menu item Open is available to this purpose below the [File] button in the dialog.

Database export

If you want to obtain a detailed overview of the messages issued during the sessions, you can export the database from the system message dialog into a file of the type *.csv. The menu item Open below the [File] button is available to this purpose in the dialog. During an export EPLAN converts the information contained in the database by means of an internal conversion program. The export file can be opened in any application for the purpose of error analysis.

Note:

A double-click on the database file *.eldb starts the conversion program, converts the contents of the database into a file of the type *.csv and automatically opens the application linked to this file type. The application can thus be used as a viewer for the system messages without EPLAN having to be opened.

Error messages in the status bar

If a new error occurs after the system messages dialog was last opened then the error icon is displayed at the right edge of the status bar. Double-clicking this icon leads you to the system messages dialog. Once you have viewed the system message and closed the dialog, the icon is removed.