I dont fully understand the product documentation in relation to Move and Copy

[malcolmasker]

Hi,

I am trying to teach a group of new users the Move and Copy command.

I use the product documentation to ensure that I am explaining the correct way not just my way.

I am having problems with this section:

https://help.autodesk.com/view/fusion360/ENU/?guid=SLD-USE-MOVE-COPY

To create a unique copy of a component the explanation does not work, but with paste new it does, is the documentation wrong ie it should say "Paste New" or am I missing something really obvious???

Cheers Mal

[HughesTooling]

It doesn't look like making an independent copy is mentioned on the page you linked and the only way to create an independent copy is with Paste New.

Also if you are teaching new users about Move the advice should be it is almost always used incorrectly and you should use a joint to position components. Only place move might be useful is in a sketch but even then using a fully defined sketch and driving the position with dimensions is the correct way.

Free move should be avoided completely in a parametric design the other move options are parametric but should only be needed occasionally.

We see people all the time on the forum who have made a complete mess of their designs because they've used move so please teach your new users there's almost always a better way.

[malcolmasker]

Thank you for your reply, I am looking at the early stages of creating an assembly and trying to explain the difference between unique and identical components and when and where these should be used.

We will be covering joints at a later stage..........

The part of the document I am refering to is this and specifically Components:

________________________________________________________________________________

Create an identical, linked copy of a component

1. In the Browser, select an internal or external component to copy.

2. Right-click the component, then select Copy.

3. Right-click an internal component to use as the parent for the copy, then select Paste.

   A copy of the component displays in the Browser, nested within the internal component you right-clicked.

   The Move/Copy dialog displays.

4. Optional: Move or rotate the component:

   • Move the component: Drag the distance manipulator handles in the canvas or specify exact values for X Distance, Y Distance, and Z Distance.
   • Rotate the component: Drag the rotation manipulator handles in the canvas or specify exact values for X Angle, Y Angle, and Z Angle.

5. Optional: Check the box next to Capture Position to capture the new position of the component.

6. Click OK.

A duplicate component displays in the canvas at the location you specified.

The new component is linked to the original component as an identical duplicate. When you modify the original component or the new component, both components reflect the changes.

Create a unique copy of an internal component

1. In the Browser, select an internal component to copy.

2. Right-click the component, then select Copy.

3. Right-click an internal component to use as the parent for the copy, then select Paste.

   A copy of the component displays in the canvas and in the Browser, nested within the internal component you right-clicked.

   The Move/Copy dialog displays.

4. Optional: Move or rotate the component.

5. Optional: Check the box next to Capture Position to capture the new position of the component.

6. Click OK.

A duplicate component displays in the canvas at the location you specified.

The new component is not linked to the original component. When you modify the original component or the new component, the changes are unique to that component.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

When reading this I believe that it should say "Paste New" in the section that refers to Creating a Unique Copy.

[HughesTooling · Accepted solution]

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@malcolmasker wrote:

Create a unique copy of an internal component

1. In the Browser, select an internal component to copy.

2. Right-click the component, then select Copy.

3. Right-click an internal component to use as the parent for the copy, then select Paste.

   A copy of the component displays in the canvas and in the Browser, nested within the internal component you right-clicked.

   The Move/Copy dialog displays.

4. Optional: Move or rotate the component.

5. Optional: Check the box next to Capture Position to capture the new position of the component.

6. Click OK.

A duplicate component displays in the canvas at the location you specified.

The new component is not linked to the original component. When you modify the original component or the new component, the changes are unique to that component.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

When reading this I believe that it should say "Paste New" in the section that refers to Creating a Unique Copy.

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Yes that is wrong, it should be Paste New. @Phil.E Can you take a look.

Also think the description for creating a unique body is wrong. A copied body is not totally independent, if you roll the timeline back before the copy and modify the original the copy will also be modified so it's not unique like it says in the help.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Create a copy of a body

1. In the Browser, expand the Bodies folder, then select the body to copy.

2. Right-click the body, then select Copy.

3. Right-click the Bodies folder in any internal component, then select Paste.

   A copy of the body displays in the canvas and in the Browser.

   The Move/Copy dialog displays.

4. Optional: Move or rotate the body.

5. Click OK.

A duplicate body displays in the canvas at the location you specified.

The new body is not linked to the original body. When you modify the original body or the new body, the changes are unique to that body.

Note: You cannot copy bodies from an internal component to an external component

[malcolmasker]

Thank you, I thought I must have missed something as the documentation is normally so very good....

[Phil.E]

Thanks, I've sent this to the help content team.