You can create copies of documents in the Library using copy and paste and drag-and-drop. Copying a document creates a unique document, with a new Document ID. After creating the copy, you can edit or rename it without affecting the source document.
If the original document links to other documents, the Developer breaks or maintains the links in the copy depending on the direction of the link. Pasting a copy maintains the links that go down the hierarchy (from parent to child) and breaks the links that go up the hierarchy (from child to parent).
Note: Before copying a document, it is a good idea to check the document links in the Related Documents toolpane.
The following table describes how using Paste to create a copy in the Library affects document links.
Document Link |
Results |
|---|---|
Original document links to a parent. |
The link is broken. The new copy does not link to the source document's parent. Example: Topic1 links to SectionA Result: Topic1_copy not linked to SectionA |
Original document links to child documents. |
The new copy links to the source document's children. Example 1: Section A links to Topic1 and Topic2 Result 1: SectionA_copy maintains links to Topic1 and Topic2 Example 2: Topic1 links to Web page1 Result 2: Topic1_copy links to Web page1 |
Original document is both a child document linked to a parent and a parent document linked to child documents. |
The new copy does not link to the source document's parent, but links to the source document's children. Example: SectionA links to parent ModuleA, and in turn, links to child documents Topic1 and Topic2 Result: SectionA_copy not linked to ModuleA, but maintains links to Topic1 and Topic2 |
Note: See Copy and Paste Special for information about creating a true replica where the parent and its children are copied and links are created to the new copies.
Note: Copying a document from the Library and using Paste in the Outline Editor, does not create a new document. Paste in the Outline Editor creates a link to the original document. You cannot copy a document from the Outline Editor and paste it into the Library.
Multi-user Considerations
Any new document that you create or link is automatically checked out to you. If you want to make a new document available to multiple authors and place the document under the Developer's version control system, you must check it in.
To copy a document using Copy and Paste:
You can select multiple documents using the standard Windows selection keys (CTRL+click and SHIFT+click). You can select all items in a folder by choosing Select All from the Edit menu.
Copy.You can also right-click the document and choose Copy.
Paste.You can also right-click the folder and choose Paste.
To copy a document using drag-and-drop: