How to Resolve Information Server Error 'The Value Does Not Fall Within Expected Range' During Excel Subscriptions

To resolve the error 'The value does not fall within the expected range' when executing scheduled automated subscriptions on custom Excel report templates in SIMATIC Information Server (IS), engineers must eliminate concurrent client licensing contention. In SIMATIC Information Server, custom Excel templates designed via the Microsoft Office Excel Add-in require an active client session to compile. If the system possesses only 1 Client Access License (CAL) and an engineer is actively logged into the IS web portal or has Excel open with the IS plugin connected, the background subscription engine cannot acquire a client license token and aborts report compilation. Logging out of active web sessions, closing the Excel add-in before scheduled runs, or procuring additional Client Access Licenses resolves the issue.

Information Server Excel Add-in and Subscription Mechanics

SIMATIC Information Server (IS) enables plant engineers to build sophisticated reports using standard Microsoft Excel through the official Information Server Excel Add-in:

Interactive Design: An engineer connects to the Information Server from Microsoft Excel, queries historical process tags, alarms, or batch data, and formats tables, charts, and KPI formulas.
Template Publication: The .xlsx workbook is saved and uploaded into the Information Server web repository as a public or private report template.
Automated Subscriptions: The user configures a cyclic schedule (e.g., daily at 06:00) to execute the template, render it with fresh process data, and dispatch the completed PDF/Excel workbook via email or file share.

While interactive execution inside Excel executes under the user's desktop session, automated subscriptions run in the background under Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) and the IS Subscription Engine.

Root Cause Analysis: Single Client License (CAL) Contention

When a scheduled Excel subscription aborts with the generic COM/CLR exception 'The value does not fall within the expected range', the underlying failure is almost always license starvation:

Licensing Model: Information Server enforces Client Access Licenses (CALs) managed by Automation License Manager (ALM). Standard base packages often ship with a single client license (1 CAL).
Session Allocation Conflict:
If an engineer is logged into the IS web portal (https://<Server>/InformationServer), 1 CAL token is consumed.
If an engineer has Microsoft Excel open on their workstation with the IS Add-in logged in, 1 CAL token is consumed.
When the scheduled subscription triggers, the background service invokes the IS Excel rendering engine, which requests an available client license token.
Because the single CAL is already checked out by the interactive user, the licensing check fails, throwing the parameter range error.

Resolving License Starvation During Automated Report Schedules

To ensure scheduled Excel subscriptions execute without interruption:

Operational Workaround (Single License Systems)

On all engineering PCs, close Microsoft Excel or disconnect the IS Add-in.
Log out of all active web sessions on the Information Server portal.
In Windows Task Manager on the client and server, verify that no orphaned instances of EXCEL.EXE remain running in background sessions.
The background subscription engine will now successfully acquire the solitary CAL token during its scheduled execution window.

Commercial Resolution (Procuring Additional Client Licenses)

For multi-user production environments, operating with a single CAL is impractical. Procure additional SIMATIC Information Server Client Access Licenses (available in 1, 5, or 10 client increments):
* Install the license keys via Automation License Manager on the Information Server machine.
* This permits multiple concurrent web operators, Excel designers, and background automated subscriptions to execute simultaneously.

Configuring and Validating Excel Template Parameters

To ensure custom Excel templates are robust for automated generation:

In Microsoft Excel, open the report template using the IS Add-in.
Under Report Parameters, ensure that time boundaries utilize relative dynamic keywords (e.g., Today, Yesterday, Current Shift) rather than fixed static dates.
Verify that all tag names and archive paths reference existing Process Historian or WinCC archive variables.
Upload the updated .xlsx file to Information Server -> Templates.
Test interactive compilation by clicking Generate Report in the web interface before attaching a recurring subscription schedule.

Information Server Licensing and Template Execution Matrix

The following table outlines Information Server template behaviors under different licensing conditions:

Execution ModeRequired CALsBehavior with 1 CAL ActiveError SignatureRecommended ActionInteractive Web Report1 CALOperates normallyNone (takes active token)Normal operationsInteractive Excel Add-in1 CALOperates normallyNone (takes active token)Disconnect when finishedScheduled Subscription1 CAL (Free)Fails if user logged in'Value not within expected range'Log out or purchase CAL expansionConcurrent Subscriptions1 CAL per jobSequenced or failedSubscription timeout / droppedAdd 5-CAL expansion pack

Balancing client licensing against automated reporting schedules prevents report delivery failures.

Verification

To verify that the subscription error is resolved:
1. Ensure all users are logged out of the Information Server web portal and that Microsoft Excel is closed.
2. In the Information Server web interface, navigate to Administration -> Subscriptions.
3. Select the problematic Excel template subscription and click Execute Now.
4. Monitor execution: Confirm that the subscription status updates from 'Running' to 'Successful'.
5. Verify that the generated Excel/PDF report arrives in the designated network share folder or email inbox with complete data.

Limitations and Operational Precautions

Excel templates containing complex third-party VBA macros or external COM plug-ins may fail in unattended background server sessions; keep template logic strictly within standard Excel formulas and IS Add-in controls.
Ensure Microsoft Office installed on the template design PC matches the bitness (32-bit vs 64-bit) recommended in the Information Server release notes.
Never leave open Excel sessions running on the server console under disconnected Remote Desktop sessions.
Always validate final license quantities, client packs, and MLFBs against the applicable Siemens catalog and authorized distributor quotation.

Engineer FAQ

Why does the built-in IS template work with a subscription while my Excel template fails?

Built-in templates (Matrix, Table, Trend) render directly through Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) using native web controls, whereas Excel templates invoke specialized spreadsheet compilation engines that strictly enforce client CAL tokens.

Where can I check how many Information Server licenses are installed?

Open Automation License Manager (ALM) on the Information Server host machine; inspect the installed license list for SIMATIC Information Server - Clients.

Can multiple scheduled subscriptions run at the exact same minute?

Yes, if sufficient client licenses are available. On single-license systems, stagger scheduled subscriptions by at least 15 minutes to allow sequential execution.