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This tip is as old as copy design itself but I am reminded from time to time that these shortcuts are neither obvious or widely used so I thought I would reach back into the archives and shine a light on the find / replace and multi-select operations in copy design.
When it comes to naming the new files in Copy Design (please head over to the idea exchange for comments on integrating automated file naming) this can be a arduous process in a large copy design operation and in many cases follows a pro forma approach, like changing the project or plant number at the start of the file name. This is where the replace command comes in handy – hover your mouse over the file name column without selecting the current cell (and holding your tongue correctly) right click to get the context menu.
You can now change the copy status of the file, expand / collapse the tree, but more interestingly find, find next or replace – select replace and you can now search for and replace an existing value. Simple, in one operation you can rename all of your new files and this will work for your folder locations too.
Now what about actually selecting files to copy? There is a quicker way to do this as well.
Holding down the CTRL key while you select a parent files copy state icon will also change copy state of its children, grab the top level assembly and all the sub-components can be set to copy in one click – likewise you can move down the tree removing selected branches by CTRL selecting the copy icon to remove them from the copy operation.
These two simple little tips can save big time in the context of copy design and that's kinda the whole point.
-Allan
