Copy objects in models and in drawings

In Tekla Structures, each time you copy model objects, such as parts, assemblies, or reinforcement, or drawing objects, such as independent annotation objects and sketch objects, they are automatically copied to the clipboard. This allows you to easily paste the copied objects into the current model or any other model, or into the current drawing or any other drawing in the same or another model.

Copying model objects using the clipboard

Model objects are copied to the clipboard when the following commands are used on the Edit tab:

Copy
Copy > To another object
Copy > To another plane
Copy > All content to another object

On the Edit tab, use the Copy > Copy continuously switch and the Edit > Paste command in conjunction with the above copying commands to copy and paste model objects.

Copying drawing objects using the clipboard

Drawing objects are copied to the clipboard when you use the Copy command on the Drawing tab.

On the Drawing tab, use the Copy > Copy continuously switch and the Drawing > Paste command in conjunction with the Copy command to copy and paste drawing objects.

Controlling clipboard copying

When the Copy continuously checkbox is selected, the selected objects are copied to the clipboard, and the copy command remains active. You can insert the copied objects repeatedly into the model, or into the drawing, or use the Paste command to insert the copied objects from the clipboard.
When the Copy continuously checkbox is cleared, the selected objects are copied to the clipboard and the copy command is interrupted. Use the Paste command to insert the copied objects into the same model or into another model, or into the current drawing or any other drawing in the same or another model.

The last copied model objects always remain on the clipboard, and you can later use the Paste command to insert the objects from the clipboard.

Keyboard shortcuts

Use the keyboard shortcuts Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V for quick copying and pasting from the clipboard.

Notes and limitations

The model and drawing objects that you want to copy using the clipboard to another model have to be saved in the source model before starting the Copy command.
If the source model objects or drawing objects that have been copied to the clipboard are modified in the model or in the drawing, the changes will also be updated in the clipboard. Therefore, when you start the Paste command, you will not get the object you copied originally, but the latest version of the object.
Copying to and pasting from the clipboard only work with specific drawing object types. The supported objects are:
- 2D library details
- lines
- polylines
- rectangles
- polygons
- circles
- arcs
- insulations
- clouds
- symbols
- texts
- embedded text files
- embedded DWG and DXF files
- embedded images
- revision marks
- section marks
- detail marks
- weld marks
You cannot use clipboard copying for the following drawing objects:
- associative annotations: associative notes, part marks, bolt marks, rebar marks, and so on
- level marks
- drawing views
- templates
- drawing layouts
Copying of symbols and embedded images, DWGs/DXFs, and text files in drawings: Currently, Tekla Structures attempts to copy a file into a destination folder only if it is originally located in the model folder. If the file is located in any other folder, including shared environment or firm/project folders, it will not be copied. Objects located in shared folders are intended to be shared, not copied.
When copying sketch objects between drawing views and drawings, consider the XS_SCALE_COPIED_OR_MOVED_OBJECTS_IN_DRAWINGS advanced option. This advanced option automatically adjusts the dimensions of sketch objects to match the scale of the target view.

Copy model objects

Copy the selected model objects to another location in the same or another model by picking the origin and one or more destination points.

Before you start copying, use the Edit > Copy > Copy continuously checkbox to enable or disable the continuous copying of model objects.

Use the keyboard shortcuts Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V for quick copying and pasting.

Select the objects you want to copy.
On the Edit tab, click Copy.
Pick the origin for copying.

The selected objects are copied to the clipboard.
If Copy continuously is enabled:
1. Pick one or more destination points.
  
  Tekla Structures displays a rubber band line between the first picked point and the cursor position. This is a preview of the position where the objects will be copied. Move the cursor to see how the preview changes.
  
  Note that Tekla Structures always displays the preview in the position where the objects will be copied, not in the position where the cursor is when you pick the destination point.
  
  If you want to limit the number of objects shown in the preview, use the advanced option XS_PREVIEW_LIMIT. The default value is 1000. When the value is 0, the preview is off.
  
  The objects are copied immediately. The Copy command remains active.
2. If you want to undo the latest copy operation, click the Undo button in the top left corner of the Tekla Structures main window.
  
  The Copy command remains active.
3. To stop copying, press Esc.
4. The last copied objects remain on the clipboard. If you want to insert them later into the model, click Paste and pick one or more destination points.
If Copy continuously is disabled:
1. Navigate to your destination location in the same model or in another model.
2. Click Paste.
3. Pick one or more destination points.
  
  The objects are pasted from the clipboard.
4. The last copied objects remain on the clipboard. If you want to insert them later into the model, click Paste and pick one or more destination points.

Copy drawing objects

Copy the selected drawing objects to another location in the current drawing or in any other drawing in the same or another model by picking the origin and one or more destination points.

Before you start copying, use the Drawing > Copy > Copy continuously checkbox to enable or disable the continuous copying of drawing objects.

Use the keyboard shortcuts Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V for quick copying and pasting.

In an open drawing, select the drawing objects you want to copy.
On the Drawing tab, click Copy.
Pick the origin for copying.

The selected objects are copied to the clipboard.
If Copy continuously is enabled:
1. Pick one or more destination points.
  
  The objects are copied immediately. The Copy command remains active.
2. If you want to undo the latest copy operation, click the Undo button in the top left corner of the Tekla Structures main window.
  
  The Copy command remains active.
3. To stop copying, press Esc.
4. The last copied objects remain on the clipboard. If you want to insert them later in the drawing, click Paste and pick one or more destination points.
If Copy continuously is disabled:
1. Navigate to your destination location in the same drawing or in another drawing in the same or another model.
2. Click Paste.
3. Pick one or more destination points.
  
  The objects are pasted from the clipboard.
4. The last copied objects remain on the clipboard. If you want to insert them later in a drawing, click Paste and pick one or more destination points.

Copy objects in a model to another object

In the model, you can copy reinforcement, surface treatments, and single-part welds between similar objects and make them adaptive to the object they are copied to. This is useful, for example, when you detail previously modeled parts. The objects that you can copy between can have different dimensions, length, and rotation. If you copy objects from an assembly or cast unit, Tekla Structures copies the assembly structure as well, if possible. For example, sub-assemblies are copied as sub-assemblies if a parent object is found. Additionally, you can copy custom components from one model to another.

Tip:

Instead of copying objects from an assembly or cast unit to other identical assemblies or cast units, you can use the Batch editor tool. Batch editor detects matching objects in the target assemblies or cast units, and edits the matching objects by modifying their geometry and properties.

If you copy reinforcement or surface treatments and want them to adapt to the part they are copied to, note the limitations:

The reinforcement or surface treatment handles must be in part corners.
The parts between which you copy must have the same number of cross-section corners.
Circular parts must have the same cross-section dimensions.

Before you start copying, use the Edit > Copy > Copy continuously checkbox to enable or disable the continuous copying of model objects.

Select the objects you want to copy.
On the Edit tab, click Copy > To another object.
Select the object to copy from (source object).

The selected objects are copied to the clipboard.
If Copy continuously is enabled:
1. Select the objects to copy to (destination objects).
  
  The objects are copied immediately. The To another object command remains active.
2. To stop copying, press Esc.
3. The last copied objects remain on the clipboard. If you want to insert them later into the model, click Paste and pick one or more destination points.
If Copy continuously is disabled:
1. Navigate to your destination location in the same model or in another model.
2. Click Paste.
3. Select the objects to copy to (destination objects).
  
  The objects are pasted from the clipboard.
4. The last copied objects remain on the clipboard. If you want to insert them later into the model, click Paste and pick one or more destination objects.

Copy all object content in a model to another object

In the model, you can copy objects from an assembly or cast unit to other similar assemblies or cast units without individually selecting each object to copy. This is useful, for example, when you have detailed an assembly and want to copy all details to another similar assembly.

Tip:

Instead of copying objects from an assembly or cast unit to other identical assemblies or cast units, you can use the Batch editor tool. Batch editor detects matching objects in the target assemblies or cast units and edits the matching objects by modifying their geometry and properties.

Before you start copying, use the Edit > Copy > Copy continuously checkbox to enable or disable the continuous copying of model objects.

Ensure that the Select assemblies selection switch is active.
Select the assembly or cast unit to copy from (source object).
On the Edit tab, click Copy > All content to another object.

The selected objects are copied to the clipboard.
If Copy continuously is enabled:
1. Select the assemblies or cast units to copy to (destination objects).
  
  The objects are copied immediately. The All content to another object command remains active.
2. To stop copying, press Esc.
3. The last copied objects remain on the clipboard. If you want to insert them later into the model, click Paste and pick one or more destination points.
If Copy continuously is disabled:
1. Navigate to your destination location in the same model or in another model.
2. Click Paste.
3. Select the assemblies or cast units to copy to (destination objects).
  
  The objects are pasted from the clipboard.
4. The last copied objects remain on the clipboard. If you want to insert them later into the model, click Paste and pick one or more destination objects.

As a result, Tekla Structures copies the following objects:

Secondary parts
Reinforcement, bolts, and welds
Cuts, fittings, and edge chamfers
Sub-assemblies
Components

Note:

Tekla Structures does not copy pour breaks or secondary parts created by a component that has also created the assembly main part. If some of the objects to be copied already exist in the assembly or cast unit to copy to, Tekla Structures may create duplicate objects. Tekla Structures warns you about duplicate secondary parts, reinforcement, and sub-assemblies, but not about duplicate bolts, welds, cuts, or components.

Copy objects in a model to another plane

In the model, you can copy objects from the first plane you specify to the second, third, and so on, plane you specify. The position of the copied objects relative to the second, third, and so on, plane remains the same as the position of the original objects relative to the first plane.

Before you start copying, use the Edit > Copy > Copy continuously checkbox to enable or disable the continuous copying of model objects.

Select the objects you want to copy.
On the Edit tab, click Copy > To another plane.

The selected objects are copied to the clipboard.
If Copy continuously is enabled:
1. Pick the point of origin of the first plane.
2. Pick a point on the first plane in the positive x direction.
3. Pick a point on the first plane in the positive y direction.
  
  The objects are copied immediately. The To another plane command remains active.
4. Repeat the above steps for all destination planes.
5. To stop copying, press Esc.
6. The last copied objects remain on the clipboard. If you want to insert them later into the model, click Paste and pick one or more destination points.
If Copy continuously is disabled:
1. Navigate to your destination location in the same model or in another model.
2. Click Paste.
3. Pick the point of origin of the first plane.
4. Pick a point on the first plane in the positive x direction.
5. Pick a point on the first plane in the positive y direction.
  
  The objects are pasted from the clipboard.
6. Repeat the above steps for all destination planes.
7. The last copied objects remain on the clipboard. If you want to insert them later into the model, click Paste and pick one or more destination objects.