Duplicating a module

When you duplicate a module, you have options to create copies of the content from the original module, or reuse and share the original content in the new module.

About this task

After investing effort in creating a module, you can duplicate it and use the copy as a starting point for a new module. In the new copy, you can reuse the headings and other artifacts that are in the original module, or you can copy (duplicate) them to create new headings and other artifacts in the new module. When you reuse content, any changes to the name, primary text, or diagram content that are made to those artifacts in other modules or in the base artifacts are reflected in the new module. When you duplicate a module, you can also choose to reproduce the links in the new and reused artifacts.

To summarize:

• In all cases when you duplicate a module, a new module is created.
• When you duplicate headings or other artifacts, new artifacts are created that are based on the contents of the original module.
• When you reuse headings and other artifacts, their content is shared by the instances of those artifacts in the original module, as well as in the base artifacts outside of the modules.

The following graphic shows three options for copying all content, copying only headings, and copying only non-heading artifacts. Additional options are described in the procedure that follows the graphic.

1. On the Modules page, place your cursor in the left column of any module in the list, click the Edit menu , and select Duplicate Artifact.
2. In the Duplicate Artifact to Folder window, type a name, and select a folder for the new module.
3. In the Duplicating or reusing artifacts in modules section, select one of the following options to copy or reuse content in the new module:
   • Duplicate all artifacts: Creates new headings and other artifacts. These are copies of the headings and artifacts that are in the original module.
   • Duplicate no artifacts: Reuses all existing headings and other artifacts. The only new artifact is the module itself.
   • Duplicate all heading artifacts. Creates new headings that are copies of the existing ones, and reuses other existing artifacts.
   • Re-use all heading artifacts: Reuses existing headings. Creates copies of all other artifacts.
   • Duplicate all artifacts specified by a view, re-use all other artifacts: Creates new headings and other artifacts that are copies of existing ones if they match the criteria of filters in a saved view. All other headings and artifacts are reused.
4. Optional: In the Copy items from the original artifact section, select the Copy links and Copy tags check box to copy items from the original artifact.
5. Optional: In the Link the artifacts section, select the check box to create a link from the original artifact to the copied artifact and select the link type from the list.
6. To save the new module and any new artifacts, click OK.
   A link is created between the original module artifact and the copied module artifact. All the artifacts in the new module have links to the artifact in the original module.