'Move or Copy...' layout sheet issue

[l.shade]

I am working in Civil 3D 2023 and am copying layout sheets using the 'Move or Copy...' command when you right click on the layout tab. However, when it asks which layout sheet I'd like the copied sheet to be placed BEFORE, it copies to BEHIND that selected sheet. Then when I tell the copied sheet to be placed before the sheet I actually want it to be after, thinking it's an issue with the code knowing which sheet to put the copied sheet before, it actually gets copied before that sheet as the command is intended to work. I've tried this on multiple drawings, brand new drawings, and old drawings, and the issue persists.

Another engineer in our office uses C3D 2024 and it happens in that version as well.

Thanks

[neilyj666]

@l.shade Just tried in 2023 and all works as expected for me  - can you upload a video of this behaviour?

[doni49]

I just tried it in C3D2024.  It worked fine for me as well.

I'd also suggest posting a video of the issue.  If you don't have software to record video from your PC, have someone hold your phone for you with it recording the screen.

If the resulting file is too large to post here (I don't know what the limits are), post it to youtube.  I do this when I'm having an issue and need assistance -- I mark the video as unlisted so that someone needs a link to get to the video.  Then post the link here.

After watching the video, someone might be able to spot something.

[neilyj666]

@doni49 @l.shade Microsoft Clipchamp is a decent screen recorder which I use.

[ChicagoLooper]

@l.shade 

If you want to COPY an existing Layout Tab, such as Layout 2, then you have 2 options for insertion.

Options are like this....

[l.shade]

Yes, that is how I am doing it. Unfortunately, the issue is I will select the sheet I want the copied sheet to be placed before and it will copy it after that sheet instead. I then have to drag the new sheet to the position I want it to be rather than the command just putting it where it needs to be. That's where the issue is taking up most of my time. Sorry for the confusion from the original post description.

[l.shade]

Hello, All,

I have found that if the sheet I want to copy is before the sheet I want the new copied sheet to be placed in front of then it will send it behind that sheet instead. But if the sheet I am copying is behind the sheet I want the new copied sheet to be behind then it will place the copied version behind that sheet as intended. 

Say I have 100, 200, and 300 and I want to copy 200 to be copied and placed before 300 then when I click the options as @ChicagoLooper shows 200(1) will be send behind 300 instead of before it. So it acts like I click "move to end" rather than how I entered it to go. However, if I want 300 to be copied and placed before 200 then 300(1) will indeed be placed before 200. 

Not sure why the initial placement of the sheet matters for the operation to work, but that's what I've found so far.

Cheers.

[ChicagoLooper]

@l.shade 

???

You can START on the Layout Tab you want to copy=>Right-click on that tab ......then this....

Specify 'where' you want the copied Layout Tab to land. For example, before layout tab named 01 or before layout tab named A ANSI (Portrait). Use your mouse to highlight the position where the copy is to be inserted. 

If you wish, you can make the copied tab land at the far right, by highlighting Move to END. Be sure to check the box at the bottom named Create a copy. Otherwise, you won't get a 'copied' layout tab.

[MMcCall402]

I think it might be the orientation of the list and in which direction is "before" the selected layout.

"Before", in the context of the Move or Copy list of layouts, will place the new copy on top of (above) the layout selected in the list.

The layout tabs appear on the screen in a left to right order.  In that list, the left most one is on top, then thru to the right most one being on the bottom.

[TJMaust]

I'm with @ChicagoLooper on this one...???

This is definitely not how it is suppose to work. The gremlins are hard at work in your drawing.

I've used this thousands of times over the years and mine has never done that. Now..where to start looking to fix the root cause of this issue. Try it on another computer. And try to do it with a completely blank drawing, by starting a new drawing with no template.

[ChicagoLooper]

Don't forget.........you can use the EASY way.

You can also click-and-drag a Layout Tab and position it where you want. This means if you have a total of 8 Layout Tabs and want to copy Layout Tab 2 to make new Tab 9, you can drag Tab 9, (after its created of course) and drop it between Tab 4 and 5. You're not relegated to that silly Move or Copy dialog box. That box is clunky.

[TJMaust]

---

@ChicagoLooper wrote:

Don't forget.........you can use the EASY way.

You can also click-and-drag a Layout Tab and position it where you want. This means if you have a total of 8 Layout Tabs and want to copy Layout Tab 2 to make new Tab 9, you can drag Tab 9, after its created of course) and drop it between Tab 4 and 5. You're not relegated to that silly Move or Copy dialog box. That box is clunky.

---

Just to add onto this...you can left click and hold on a tab and drag to where you want to place it, BUT before letting go of left-click, hold down control, you will see a small '+' symbol on the little sheet icon by your cursor. While still holding control, let go of left-click, this will create a copy of that sheet.

You can also Shift-select multiple sheets and do this.

[l.shade]

Unfortunately, even on a new drawing on my computer with Layout1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 if I want to copy Layout2 and put it before Layout 3 it'll send Layout2 (2) behind Layout3, not before. I just had my coworker test it on his computer running C3D 2025 and it works as intended, placing the copy before Layout3.

However, if I want the copied sheet to be placed before a sheet that's already placed before it, it'll execute just fine. But that kind of defeats the purpose since most of the time if I need to create an additional sheet in the set it will need to be placed after the original. 

I'm aware I can drag the copied sheet wherever I want to after the fact lol. Rearranging the sheets isn't the issue, but I appreciate the advice in case anyone else may not be aware that's an option. My problem is that what the program is implying will happen (copying a layout will be placed before a certain sheet) isn't happening consistently.

Another coworker was running C3D 2024 and was having the same issue I'm having. My guess is that it was fixed in the 2025 release, but what's curious is that for the longest time I never had this issue in the 2023 version. 

Doing the click+drag+ctrl and drop sequence does the same thing. If I drag the mouse slightly to the right of Layout2 the copied sheet pops up after Layout3. If I drag it slightly to the left of Layout2 the copied sheet pops up before Layout2. However, I actually wasn't aware that this was a way to copy sheets and it much fast than having to go through the right click+move+click create a copy+etc. etc. So thank you for this info! 

Thank you all for the prompt replies!