Back to Basics - Main Editing Commands # 3 “Copy”

by Martin Phelps

Note: - Many users will copy objects in AutoCAD using the Windows function “CTRL+C” and “CTRL+V, since this function works very well in most Windows applications. However using this method in AutoCAD can produce anonymous blocks, which in turn will increase the file size, increasing the time required to load files, and may have other detrimental effects.

To “Copy” objects within a drawing file, use the AutoCAD “Copy” command using one of the following methods, type in “CO” which is the key in short- cut for the “Copy” command, and press enter, or select “Copy” from the “Modify” panel in the ribbon menu, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Location of the “Copy” command within the “Modify Panel”. 

If using the tool bars, select “Copy” from the “Modify” tool bar as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2. Location of the “Copy” command in the “Modify Toolbar”. 

Or if the drop-down menus are active, select “Copy” from the “Modify Menu Bar”, as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3. Location of the “Copy” command in the “Modify Menu Bar”. 

Once the “Copy” command is active, select the objects to be copied using any preferred method, “Window”, “Crossing Window”, “Implied Window”, “Implied Crossing Window” etc.

Objects can be removed from the selection set by holding down the “Shift” key and selecting the objects.

When all objects have been selected, press “Enter” to confirm the selection.

View the “Command Line”, AutoCAD now requests a “Base Point”, as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4. Command Line Requesting a Base Point.

Any point in the drawing can be selected, however it’s best to select a point on one of the objects using an “Object Snap”, may be an “Endpoint”, “Midpoint” etc, this will be the “Base Point” of the selected objects.

AutoCAD can now relate the “Base Point” of the selection to a point in the drawing.

Note: - Using “Object Snaps” to specify the “Base Point” will allow greater flexibility and accuracy.

Select a suitable “Base Point” by “Left Click”.

Once a “Base Point” has been specified, the “Copy” icon or “Badge” will appear at the cross hairs as shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5. The “Copy Badge”.

Move the “Crosshairs” to the new location and again “Left Click” to define the second point, this point again could also be a suitable “Object Snap” to accurately position the selected objects.

Moving the “Crosshairs” again will allow an additional copy, this can be repeated as many times as required.

Once all the copies have been created, to cancel the command, use one of the following methods, press the “ESC” key, press “Enter” or right click and select “Enter” or “Cancel” from the displayed menu, as shown in Figure 6.

Figure 6. Right Click menu.

Note: - The selected objects are highlighted, the colour of the objects depends on the colour used to create the objects. The colour of the selected objects can be set to a required colour, by using the “System Variable”, “SELECTIONEFFECTCOLOUR”, as covered in a previous blog.

The next blog in this series stays with the “Copy” command, but looks at the sub command “Array”.