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Elements disappear in openDSS-G

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2022-01-26
2022-02-01
  • Chester Hall

    Chester Hall - 2022-01-26

    Hello,

    I followed all of the download instructions for OpenDSS-G and have been playing around with it for the past few days. (I downloaded it last week). I have found that whenever I open a file all of the circuit elements have been disappearing. As a result, I cannot highlight the elements, and the inspector tool does not reveal any of them. This happens every time that I save the project, close the program, and then re-open the software. This also happens when I import files from openDSS (such as an IEEE test file).

    Is there any solution to this?

    Thank you,
    Chester Hall

     
    • Davis Montenegro

      Hello,

      This sounds like a local installation issue. Can you please confirm the DSS-G version you are working with?

      Best regards

      Davis

       
      • Chester Hall

        Chester Hall - 2022-01-26

        Hi Davis,

        I am working with Version 4.1.0.1

         
  • Chester Hall

    Chester Hall - 2022-01-26
     

    Last edit: Chester Hall 2022-01-26
    • Davis Montenegro

      Well, this is not an expected behavior and so far nobody else has reported this issue. Have you tried by reinstalling the product?

      Best regards

      Davis

       
      • Chester Hall

        Chester Hall - 2022-01-26

        I have tried reinstalling the product. It is worth noting that I am also receiving the error "LoadShape.DSS" not found whenever I load a file.

         
        • Davis Montenegro

          Does that warning shows up if you try to reopen the model (don't close DSS-G)?

          Best regards

          Davis

           
          • Chester Hall

            Chester Hall - 2022-01-26

            No, the error does not show up when I reopen the model as you describe. The elements are still missing, however.

            Thanks,

            Chester

             
            • Davis Montenegro

              Hello,

              OK, it sounds like an error at OS level. When the circuit is generated, the coordinates for the elements are uploaded into a local SQLite database. The only reason for which the elements could be disappearing is that OpenDSS-G cannot have access to the database. I wonder, did you installed the software within the "Program Files" folder? If so, you may have to run the software as an administrator. For that, try by executing DSS-G by right clicking on the DSS-G icon and select "run as administrator".
              If it doesn't work, is because there must be something installed locally that prevents DSS-G from accessing the database, could be a firewall or anti-virus that's blocking the communication port between the two.
              Try the "run as administrator" execution and lets see how it goes.

              Best regards

              Davis

               
              • Chester Hall

                Chester Hall - 2022-01-27

                Davis,

                I installed OpenDSS-G in the "ProgramData" folder. Running as an administrator does not solve the issue. Would you recommend that I reinstall it in "Program Files"? I will look into any firewalls that may be blocking access to the SGLite database

                Chester

                 
                • Davis Montenegro

                  Chester,

                  The ProgramData folder is the right one, we moved OpenDSS-G out of the 'Program Files" folder for preventing the issues with admin privileges. It seems that our only hope now is to find the piece of SW what may be blocking the connection to the DB.
                  Have you tried in a different PC? are you getting the same behavior? Maybe this is something nobody else has reported.

                  Best regards

                  Davis

                   
                  • Chester Hall

                    Chester Hall - 2022-01-31

                    Davis,

                    I tried it on another PC this past weekend and it is working as intended. It seems to be an issue with my computer. In your experience, do you know if there is a way that I can see if there is any software blocking the connection to the DB? I am struggling to find a way to do this.

                    Thanks,

                    Chester

                     
                    • Davis Montenegro

                      Hi Chester,

                      It's hard to say, I don't know if your computer is a corporate or personal device. If corporate, talk to your IT department. Otherwise, if it's a personal device you can try with the windows defender, antivirus or any other anti-virus/spam/security-like software that might be blocking access to local ports.
                      Sometimes, the error is in the OS itself, and the only solution is to restore the OS to remove any other undesired software that could be messing around without noticing.

                      Best regards

                      Davis

                       
                      • Chester Hall

                        Chester Hall - 2022-02-01

                        Davis,

                        Thanks for all of your help. I believe I uncovered the issue and OpenDSS-G seems to be functioning now. When McAfee was conducting an "On-Access Scan" of the SQLite database it was causing the database to lock up. This seems to be an issue people have encountered with SQLite databases before (See https://community.mcafee.com/t5/Saas-Endpoint-Protection/SQLite-Problem-with-Real-Time-Scan/td-p/480972).

                        Cheers,

                        Chester

                         
                        • Davis Montenegro

                          This is great Chester!

                          Thanks for contributing to our knowledge base.

                          Best regards

                          Davis

                           
  • Chester Hall

    Chester Hall - 2022-01-27
     

    Last edit: Chester Hall 2022-01-27

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