Create Building Blocks

Building Blocks can be created from the following locations in the Workspace Control Console:

  • Main menu > Action

  • Main bar > Building Blocks Building Block

  • The context menu of individual applications > Building Block > Create

  • The context menu of individual settings > Create Building Block

Building Blocks created from the Action menu contain all the settings of the Workspace Control site. However, individual Workspace Control nodes, settings and applications can be excluded manually before the Building Block is created.

Building Blocks created by right-clicking specific settings or applications from the right-side pane contain only the configuration for that setting or application.

In the Application List tab under Composition > Application, if multiple applications with the same Title exist in one menu, when creating Building Blocks for these applications, consecutive Building Block XML files after the first include the application ID in their file name.

For example:

  • start_accessories_notepad.xml

  • start_accessories_notepad_11.xml

  • start_accessories_notepad_74.xml

It is possible to create a Building Block of a Workspace Container with Access Control set to an organizational unit (OU) in one domain (A) and import the Building Block in a Workspace Control site in another domain (B) where the OU is available under the same path. Access control on the Workspace Container from domain B is then set to the same OU, but in domain B.

There are several methods of creating Building Blocks:

To create Building Blocks for all or specific nodes from the left-side navigation pane, follow these steps:

  1. From the main menu, click Action > Select items for Building Blocks, or from the main bar, click the arrow to the right of the Building Blocks Building Block button and then click Select items for Building Blocks.

    The left-side navigation pane transforms and all nodes where any settings have been configured are now selected by default to be exported as Building Blocks.

  2. Check or uncheck nodes until only the desired options to export are selected.

    Besides nodes such as Licensing, Datastore, or operational information (Errors, Audit Trail etc.), nodes where no settings are configured cannot be selected for exporting as Building Blocks. They are automatically deselected if they are checked.

  3. From the main menu, click Action > Create Building Blocks of selected items, or from the main bar, click the arrow to the right of the Building Blocks Building Block button and then click Create Building Blocks of selected items.

  4. A prompt appears asking whether to merge all settings and create a single Building Block, or create multiple Building Blocks (one file per node).

    Select the desired option and then click OK.

  5. Select the location where to create the Building Block(s).
    A confirmation box appears when the operation is complete.

To create Building Blocks for a specific managed application or Workspace Control setting, follow these steps:

  1. For applications under Composition > Applications > Start Menu or Application List, right-click the desired application and then Building Blocks > Create.

    For Workspace Control settings, such as Composition > User Settings, right-click on the desired setting and then Create Building Block.

  2. Select the location where to create the Building Block.
    A confirmation box appears when the operation is complete.