Creating Building Blocks

The Building Blocks feature allows you to select which Module, Project, Run Book or Resource in your RES ONE Automation site should be included in a Building Block. You can only create Building Blocks of nodes and items to which your administrative role has access. For example, if your administrative role does not have access to the Resources node, you cannot create Building Blocks that include Resources.

You can create Building Blocks that include:

  • only Modules, Projects, Run Books, Resources or Teams
  • specific Modules, Projects, Run Books, Resources and/or Teams
  • a specific Module, Project, Run Book, Resource or Team
  • empty folders to recreate a complete folder structure (applicable to RES ONE Automation version 7.4.2.2 and later).

When a Building Block is created of Modules, Projects, Run Books and/or Teams, they are stored in a regular XML file (*.xml). Variables and related categories that are used in Modules, Projects and Run Books are also exported to the XML file. You can choose to save the Building Block with Resources. The Resources are then exported to an encrypted XBB file (*.xbb). When importing such a Building Block, the Resources are automatically included.

Configuration

  • To create a Building Block of a set of selected items, click Building Block in the command bar and choose Select items for Building Blocks. In the left window a tree is shown with check boxes. You can make a selection of items. Then click Building Block in the command bar and choose Create Building Blocks of selected items. To exit the selection modus click Building Block in the command bar and clear the option Select items for Building Blocks.
  • To create a Building Block of all Modules, Resources, Projects or Run Books, select the node and click Building Block in the command bar, and choose Create Building Blocks.
  • To create a Building Block of a single Module, Resource, Project or Run Book, select the item and click Building Block in the command bar, and choose Create Building Blocks "<item>".
  • To specify the storage location of a Building Block, you can save Building Blocks with Resources and Building Blocks without Resources.
    • When saving the Building Block with Resources, any Resources to which the items in the Building Block refer will be saved as an XBB file. Upon import of such a Building Block in the target environment, the Resources are automatically included.
    • When saving the Building Block without Resources, any Resources to which the items in the Building Block refer will not be saved as an XBB file. Upon import of such a Building Block in the target environment, it is then possible to add new Resources for the relevant items. This is useful when distributing Building Blocks to other Ivanti Automation environments: because it minimizes large Building Blocks, it becomes easier to distribute them. In addition, it makes it possible to comply to security policies of organizations in which the use of external Resources is not allowed.

General rules

  • You can only create Building Blocks of nodes and items to which your administrative role has access. For example, if your administrative role does not have access to the Resources node, you cannot create Building Blocks that include Resources.
  • You can create Building Blocks that include empty folders. This makes it possible to recreate a complete folder structure when transporting items from one Ivanti Automation environment to another. Note: this applies to Ivanti Automation Manager version 7.4.2.2 and later.
  • Modules and Resources can contain Trusts on Teams and Agents. These are not included in a Building Block.
  • Teams can contain fixed Agents, nested Teams and Job scheduling options. These are not included in a Building Block.
  • The (encrypted) values for the passwords in the Variables of the type Password and Credentials are not included in a Building Block.