Copy Elements Between Diagrams

On a diagram, if you have created a structure of elements such as a StateMachine, you might want to copy that structure onto another diagram as a new set of elements without losing the organization of the structure. In doing this, you can change any of the element names within the structure and still preserve the relative nesting of the elements.

You can also cut multiple elements from one diagram and paste them into another, and simple paste an element or elements as links to the original elements. If you cut elements from a diagram, the elements are not cleared from the source diagram until they are pasted into the target diagram.

Access

Ribbon

With element(s) selected in source diagram:

Layout > Diagram > Edit > Copy Selected Elements

With input focus on target diagram:

Layout > Diagram > Edit > Paste as Reference or
Layout > Diagram > Edit > Paste as New

Keyboard Shortcuts

With element(s) selected in source diagram:

Ctrl+C

With input focus on target diagram:

Shift+Insert (Paste as Link)
Ctrl+Shift+V (Paste as New)

Complete the Paste Element(s) as New Dialog

Option	Action	See also
Original Element Name	Each element name defaults to selected, to be inserted in the target diagram. If you want to omit an element from the copied structure, clear the checkbox against it.
New Element Name	If you want to give a copied element a new name, delete the current name and type in the new name.
Include Connectors	This checkbox defaults to selected, to make copies of the original connectors where both source and target elements in the relationship have been copied. This maintains the relationships between and organization of the copied elements. If you do not want to copy the connectors, clear the checkbox.
Paste	Click on this button to add the copied elements and connectors to the target diagram as new elements.

Notes

Package elements cannot be copied as structured elements
The Date Created and Time Created parameters of a pasted-as-new element are set to the current date and time; the parameters for a linked element remain the same as the copied element
Elements - including special embedded elements such as SysML Properties - do not have to have a parent element when pasting as new, although normal embedded elements such as Ports must have a parent
Elements in State regions cannot be pasted as new outside the parent element
Parenting is still applied when copying and pasting as new using Ctrl+click-and-drag between (floating) diagrams
You can also use the Cut, Copy and Paste icons in the Default Tools toolbar

Learn more