Moving and copying objects

You can treat any item in a diagram simply as an object in a drawing program, and drag it as you would in such a program. You can also drag a page, section, or custom object onto another page, section, or custom object to create a new family link in the logical hierarchy. You can select a number of objects and drag them all at once. However, a better method is to group the objects and then drag the group. (See Grouping objects.)

You can also copy objects in a diagram, and duplicate them along with their links.

To move an object without changing its position in the logical hierarchy:

In the design view, drag the object to a new location. If Collision Avoidance is selected, and you drag the object near or partially over another object, the other object will move (to avoid a collision) when the drag is completed.

Note: If you drag an object over another object and a line appears to the top, bottom, left, or right of the other object, you have dragged too far into the center of the other object. Decrease the overlap until the line disappears.

Any link lines connected to an object move when you drag the object. However, the object's descendents do not move with it as they would if you were moving the object to a new hierarchical position.

To move a page, section, or custom object into a new position in the logical hierarchy:

1. In the design view, drag the object onto the page, section, or custom object you want it linked to. Depending on the position of the object you are dragging, a line appears above or below the target object or to its left or right.
2. Drop the object above, below, to the left, or to the right of the target object, depending on the family relationship you want the two objects to have. (See Rearranging the parts of a hierarchy.)

To move a copy of an object to a new location:

In the design view, Ctrl-drag (Windows) or Option-drag (Mac OS) the object to another location. A copy of the object is created at that location. If the original object is annotated or linked, the annotations or link lines are not copied.

To duplicate objects:

1. In the design view, select the objects you want to duplicate.
2. Choose Edit > Duplicate.The objects and their connectors and links are copied. If you only select one object, it is duplicated along with its links.