More efficient way copy object properties in the property pane: Copy to clipboard

In Tekla Structures 2024 there is a new, more efficient way to copy properties between objects: Copy to clipboard . The new Copy to clipboard command can be used in addition to the current Copy to other object command.

Copy to clipboard copies all properties of the selected object to the Tekla Structures clipboard. You can then paste the properties to the selected objects. The Copy to clipboard command is available in the property pane both in modeling and in drawing mode. Note that Copy to clipboard works only in Tekla Structures, and it is not the same as the Windows clipboard.

This new method to copy object properties is useful especially if you need to edit drawings. You can select objects in the current or in any other drawing, and the Copy to clipboard command lets you to paste properties to objects that are located in the same drawing or even in other drawings. This is useful especially if you need to modify different types of objects in a sequential work flow in multiple drawings, such as part marks, reinforcement objects, or dimensions.

To copy object properties using Copy to clipboard:

Select the object in a model or in a drawing that you want to copy the properties from.
Click the Copy to clipboard button at the bottom of the property pane.

The properties of the selected object type are saved to the clipboard.
Select the objects to which you want to copy the properties.

The objects need to be of the same object type as the one from which the properties were copied from.
Click the Paste button at the bottom of the property pane.

The properties in the property pane change accordingly and the selected objects are modified.

The Paste button is visible only if there is something to paste from the clipboard to the object type in question.

Other things to consider

Tekla Structures saves the copied properties of every object type to the clipboard, independently of each other. You can later paste the properties to objects that are of the corresponding object type.
If you select multiple objects when you are about to paste the copied properties, use the Object type list to select the object type to which to paste the properties from the clipboard. The Paste button is visible only if there is something to paste from the clipboard to the object type in question.
You cannot paste properties to objects which are of different type than the object from where the properties were copied from.
The properties will stay on the clipboard until you copy new properties. The clipboard is cleared if you restart Tekla Structures.
The Copy to clipboard command copies all properties of the selected object to the clipboard. You cannot select only certain properties to be copied to the clipboard.
The Copy to clipboard and Paste commands allow you create objects while the copying or pasting is active. For example, you can start to create an object, click Copy to clipboard, the properties are saved to clipboard and you can continue creating the object.

Keyboard shortcuts for Copy to clipboard and Paste commands

Use keyboard shortcuts to speed up your work. With keyboard shortcuts you can, for example, copy and paste the properties from one object to another even without opening the property pane.

The Copy to clipboard command has a default shortcut Shift+C, and the Paste command has a default shortcut Shift+V. If needed, you can change the default shortcuts in File > Settings > Keyboard shortcuts.

Control the visibility of the Copy to clipboard and Copy to other object buttons in the property pane

If you do not need both of the copying methods, Copy to other object and Copy to clipboard, you can make the property pane less cluttered and hide the option that is not needed. You can control the visibility of the buttons separately in modeling mode and in drawing mode.

Use the Property pane settings to select which method is visible in the property pane.

Click the Property pane settings button to open a drop-down menu.

The options Copy properties to object and Copy properties to clipboard control the visibility of the corresponding buttons in the property pane.
Ensure that the option you wish to use is selected.

The option that is not selected is hidden in the property pane.

The settings are saved to the PropertyPaneSettings.xml or to the PropertyPaneDrawingSettings.xml file. The files are located in the ..\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Trimble\Tekla Structures\<version>\UI\PropertyPane\ folder.

The Copy properties to object and Copy properties to clipboard options in the file are:

ShowCopyProperties: True when Copy properties to object is selected
ShowCopyToClipboard: True when Copy properties to clipboard is selected