OpenBuildings™ Station Designer Help

Create a User Defined Wall

  1. Activate the (Place Wall) tool setting and click the (Edit Catalog Item) icon in the Catalog tools.

    The Catalog Editor opens.

  2. While the Wall type is selected in the tree, right-click > New Catalog Type or select New > New Catalog Type.

    The Catalog Type Definition dialog opens.

  3. In the Settings group, override the default string NewCatalogType in the Type Name by keying-in a name UserDefinedWallType for the new catalog type. Also, enter a suitable display name. Make sure the Destination settings File Name is the Wall.xml.
    Tip: This specific definition file attachment is the minimum requirement for OpenBuildings Station Designer to recognize user defined catalog items as authentic Wall form.
  4. In the Catalog Type Definition dialog, in the Definition settings group, select Tool Template: Place Wall.
  5. Make sure the Wall_Common (and Wall_Application and WallQuantities) is in the Selected Definitions column. Click OK to save and close the Catalog Type Definition dialog.
    Note: You can have your own schema definitions established such as Bearing walls, toilet partition walls, exterior retaining walls, curbs, etc. and associated with catalog types.

    The UserDefinedWallType type appears in the catalog items tree in catalog editor.

  6. Next, make sure > Show Catalog Items is checked.
  7. Select the newly created catalog type and right-click > New Catalog Item or select New > New Catalog Item.

    The New Catalog Item dialog opens.

  8. Leave the destination path as is, and in Name key in the name UserDefinedWallItem, for the new catalog item. Make sure the destination File Name is the Wall.xml settings file. Click OK.
    The New Catalog Item dialog closes, and the newly created catalog item appears under UserDefinedWallType type.


  9. Select > Save in Catalog Editor dialog.

    Close the Catalog Editor dialog.

  10. Open the Place Wall tool settings dialog and select the (Refresh Library) tool.

    The new catalog type UserDefinedWallType and catalog item UserDefinedWallItem are added to the Place Wall tool settings.



    1. User defined catalog type 2. User defined catalog item 3. Properties defined by the Wall_Common.XSD catalog definition file

Parent topic: Place Wall