Copy elements using drag and drop

When you're working in the Oxygen-based editor, you can quickly copy XML elements from one place in the document and paste them to other places using the Drag and Drop icon or a keyboard shortcut. This option is different from moving an element using drag and drop because the original element isn't removed. Other copies of the element are added instead. You also have the option to insert the copied element as a content reference if you don't want to change the content in the copies.

You can also copy elements between documents.

To copy an element using drag and drop:

  1. To turn on drag and drop, do one of the following:
    • Go to the Oxygen toolbar and click Drag and Drop
    • Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + M
    • Use the keyboard shortcut Cmd + Shift + M
    You see a black Drag and Drop icon before every element in your document.
  2. To grab copy of the element, press the Ctrl or Cmd key and click and hold the mouse key.
  3. Without releasing the Ctrl or Cmd and mouse keys, drag the element to another place in the document.
  4. To paste the element in its new location, release the Ctrl or Cmd and mouse keys.
  5. On the confirmation dialog, do one of the following:
    • To create a copy of the element that is read-only and can only be edited from the source element, click Yes.
    • To create a copy that you can edit independently of the source element, click No.
    You see another copy of the element is added at the dropped location.

    When you're done moving elements, to hide the black Drag and Drop icons, do one of the following:

    • Go to the Oxygen toolbar and click Drag and Drop
    • Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + M
    • Use the keyboard shortcut Cmd + Shift + M