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 describes how using Paste to create a copy in the Library affects document links.
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:
In the Library, select the document you want to copy.
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.
On the Edit menu, choose Copy.
You can also right-click the document and choose Copy.
Select the destination folder in the Folders pane.
On the Edit menu, choose Paste.
You can also right-click the folder and choose Paste.
To copy a document using drag-and-drop:
In the Library, select the document you want to copy.
Hold CTRL and drag the document to the destination folder.