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<!-- HEADER 6-1: Making Copies -->
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<!-- COMMAND Edit/Cut -->
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<!-- COMMAND Edit/Copy -->
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<!-- COMMAND Edit/Paste -->
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<!-- COMMAND Edit/Duplicate -->
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Once you have created a collection of objects,
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it may be desirable to have other identical copies.
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There are two ways to do this: by duplication, and by cut-and-paste.
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The <B>Duplicate</B> command (in menu <B>Edit</B>) makes a copy of the selected nodes and arcs.
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After issuing this command, you can move the cursor to any location and click to place the copy.
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While moving the cursor, an outline of the duplicated objects is shown (as well as the amount of motion).
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If you have disabled "Move after Duplicate"
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(in the Nodes Preferences, in menu <B>File / Preferences...</B>, "General" section, "Nodes" tab)
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then the duplicated objects are placed immediately without dragging.
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Initially, they are moved by a predefined amount.
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However, Electric remembers motion that is made after a duplication and uses that offset in subsequent duplications.
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If any of the nodes have exports on them, they are not duplicated
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(unless "Duplicate/Array/Paste copies exports" is set in the Nodes Preferences).
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The <B>Duplicate</B> command forces newly created nodes and arcs to have unique names.
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This means that if any nodes or arcs are named
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(using the <B>Object Properties...</B> command, in menu <B>Edit / Properties</B>) and then duplicated,
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the new ones will have different names
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(specifically, the old names with numbers appended or modified).
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<H3>Cut-and-Paste</H3>
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Another way to make copies of nodes and arcs is with the cut-and-paste commands.
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The <B>Copy</B> and <B>Cut</B> commands (in menu <B>Edit</B>) copy the currently selected nodes and arcs to a special buffer.
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<B>Cut</B> also removes the objects after copying them.
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The <B>Paste</B> command then copies the objects from the special buffer to the display.
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After issuing this command, an outline of the pasted objects attaches to the cursor.
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When you click, the objects are placed at that location.
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You can right-click during the paste drag to affect the location, and to abort the paste.
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Note that if you copy a node or arc and then select another before pasting,
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then the copied object will replace the selected object
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(changing its type and other properties,
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similar to the <B>Change...</B> command, see <A HREF="chap06-06.html#chap06-06">Section 6-6</A>).
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If you want the <B>Paste</B> command to make a second copy,
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be sure that nothing is selected when you issue the command.
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Thus, duplicating an object cannot be done by issuing a <B>Copy</B> and then a <B>Paste</B>.
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You must do a <B>Copy</B>, then deselect the object, then do a <B>Paste</B>.