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"0x800A01B8" ... "Method '~' of object '~' failed" ... "VFP dll missing" errors when running Consolidation or Database Optimisation

Troubleshooting


Problem

User runs a consolidation or a database optimise. User receives an error message.

Symptom

Example #1
When running a consolidation (Group > Consolidate with status) with BATCHMODE = OFF, users immediately get this error:

    Standard Error
    Number: 5
    Source: ControllerProxyClient
    Description: System.Web.Services.Protocols.SoapException: Server was unable to process request. ---> System.Runtime. InteropServices.COMException (0x800A01B8): Automation error (Error occured within method=RunConsol in the module with progid=FrMiscBT. ConsBusinessT)

Example #2
When running a consolidation (Group > Consolidate with status) with with BATCHMODE = ON users see this error:
    Method '~' of object '~' failed

Example #3 - When running a Database Optimise, users receive the following error (at the end of the database optimisation process):
    Error occurred when deleting temporary VFP files: VFP dll missing

Cause

This IBM Technote specifically relates to the scenario where the root cause is that Controller application server has a problem reading the VFP DLL file components.

There are several potential scenarios which can explain why the application server cannot read these DLL files:

  • Scenario #1 - VFP DLL component files have been accidentally manually deleted
  • Scenario #2 - VFP DLL components have not been registered correctly
  • Scenario #3 - VFP DLL components have not been deleted/quarantined by a virus scanner product.

    • TIP: This is the most likely scenario if the problem appears intermittent.
    • In other words, if (at first) the Controller system works OK, but then (some time later) this problem starts occurring, then there is a high probability that a Virus Scanner is causing the issue
    This is rarely seen, and perhaps only affects some anti-virus products.
    • It has been seen with one customer using 'VIPRE Enterprise' (where it quarantined those files)
    • It has also been seen with 'Fortinet' anti-virus.

Diagnosing The Problem

There are several different potential causes for the message 'Error occurred when deleting temporary VFP files'.

  • For more details, see separate IBM Technote #1365329.

In addition, there are several different potential causes for the message 'COMException (0x800A01B8): Automation error (Error occured within method=RunConsol'.
  • For more details, see separate IBM Technote #1367431.

Resolving The Problem

The exact solution depends on the scenario that is causing the problem.

  • See below for the steps to perform for each scenario.

Scenario #1
1. Logon to the Controller application server as a Windows administrator
2. Launch Windows Explorer, and browse to the VFP DLL folder location
    64-bit servers (LIKELY - for example Windows 2008 R2 onwards):
    This is folder is here: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\server

    32-bit servers (RARE/unlikely - for example Windows 2008 32-bit and previous versions):
    This is here: C:\Windows\system32\server

3. Check to make sure that this folder contains the following required files:
  • vfp9r.dll
  • vfp9renu.dll
  • vfp9t.dll
  • vfpcom.dll

Scenario #2
1. Logon to the Controller application server as a Windows administrator
2. Launch a command prompt as an administrator.
    TIP: If using Windows 2008, then you must click "Start - All Programs - Accessories" then right-click on "Command Prompt" and choose "Run as Administrator"

3. Use the command 'cd' to change directory to the VFP DLL folder.
  • For example: cd C:\windows\syswow64\server

4. Register both the relevant DLL files, by running the following commands:
    regsvr32 vfp9r.dll
    regsvr32 vfp9t.dll

5. As a precaution, register the other VFP DLL file, by using the following command:
    regsvr32 vfpcom.dll

6. Test.

Scenario #3
1. Logon to the Controller application server as a Windows administrator
2. Check your third party anti-virus product's log for evidence of it deleting/quarantining files.
  • Search for references to the following DLL files:
    • vfp9r.dll
    • vfp9renu.dll
    • vfp9t.dll
    • vfpcom.dll
    • frangovfp.dll
3. Reconfigure your anti-virus scanning product to avoid scanning those files.

For example, put an exclusion to avoid scanning:
    • C:\windows\syswow64\server
    • C:\Program Files\IBM\cognos\ccr_64\server
[Modify those paths as appropriate for your version of Windows/Controller].

==============================
TIP: If the above does not explain/solve the problem, then check that the file 'frangovfp.dll' has successfully registered inside your COM+ application ("IBMCOGNOSCONTROLLER" or "IBM Cognos Controller Consolidation" depending on the version of Controller that you are using)
  • Specifically, check to see if the two components 'frangovfp.cglobvar' and 'frangovfp.main' appear here:

[TIP: See separate IBM Technote #1372678 for more details]

Then (if those two components do not appear correctly) either:

  • See separate IBM Technote #1372678 for instructions on how to delete/re-register all Controller DLL objects then test
  • or re-install Controller on the application server
==============================

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Document Information

Modified date:
15 June 2018

UID

swg21442198

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