iFIX 5.1 (FIX.EXE) Crashes when using TOP Servers PDB Interface on Vista/Windows 7/Windows 2008 Server

iFIX 5.1 crashes on startup when the TOP Server is connected to using the PDB interface - but the crash is seen only when the logged in Windows user is not part of the Administrators Group. A crash on startup is not seen when logged in as a user that is part of the Administrators group. If the standard user is added to the Administrators group then iFIX starts error free - why?

Power user rights are required to run iFIX on Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 2008 server. This is documented in the e-books for iFIX - Getting Started with iFIX - iFIX and Windows Vista - Windows Vista and Security. This section of the e-books applies to Windows 7 and 2008 server as well as Vista.

Once these steps are followed the crash/error on startup will be resolved.

From the e-books:

To allow a Power User to operate an iFIX SCADA node, add the individual user or group to the "Create Global Objects" policy. If the user or group is to run iFIX as a service, then run the GrantUserFixServiceRights command for the user or group. A user must be a Power User or greater to run a SCADA node on Windows Vista.

To allow a user who is not an Administrator to operate an iFIX SCADA node:

In Windows Vista, log in as an Administrator.
Click the Start button, and in the Search box, type secpol.msc and press Enter. The Local Security Policy window appears.
In the tree, double-click Security Settings, and then Local Policies, to view the contents of the Local Policies folder.
Click the User Rights Assignment item to view the policies.
Double-click the Create Global Objects policy. The Create Global Object Properties dialog box appears.
Click Add User or Group. The Select Users or Groups dialog box appears.
Enter an individual user name, or group name, such as "Power Users."
Click OK to add the user.

For more information on this error please see GE Intelligent Platforms Knowledgebase.