CATIA V5 General Information > CATIA Edit Menu

This task explains you how to use the Paste Special... command. This implies the understanding of the type of features you can paste using this command as well as the various formats available for pasting these features.

Paste Special command has two options:

•As Specified in Product Structure: This is the format by default (traditional Paste). If you copy / paste an object in an assembly, only the selected Source Instance is copied. A new Instance of the Source object is created and it has the same Reference as the Source. Therefore, modifying the Source implies modifying the Copy and vice versa. Both the Source and the Copy (new instance) have the same Reference.

•Break Link: Contrary to the previous format, the Source Instance and its Reference are duplicated, because a new Instance and a new Reference are created. The Reference of the new Instance is the Copy of the Reference, which makes it independent from the Source. The Source and the Copy are separated, that is to say if you modify the Source, there will be no impacts on the new Instance (Copy).

Limitations:

•Cut: Break Link is the unique format when applied on Components, because Components have internal References (only Break Link is available in the Paste Special window). However, if you want to cut a CATProduct, you have the choice between both formats.

•V4 models are often inserted in the product structure using Components, therefore cutting the V4 models is like cutting a Component, using break link format, i.e. the reference is deleted as the instance. Reference and instances have to be re-created at the Paste (break link) operation.

•Drag and Drop: only the As Specified in Product Structure is available.

•Paste Special:

•You cannot paste on two Targets at the same time.

•You cannot make a multi-format Paste, but it is possible to select several Sources at the same time and paste it at the same format.

Duplicating Documents:

•If copying / pasting Break Link an object in a CATProduct, its Reference is also duplicated (its document is duplicated). The action is somewhat like Inserting a New Product.

•If you duplicate in CATIA V5 an ENOVIA document via the Paste Break Link, you only obtain a document File.

•If you copy / paste a .model As Spec (Paste Special -> As Spec) into a CATProduct in CATIA V5, the behavior is the same like doing a Add New Representation that is to say adding this model as a New Representation in the CATProduct. Copying As Spec consists in transferring the solid with the Geometry and History tree.