Copy

Cut, Copy, Paste, and Delete

Use these selections move graphics or copies of graphics to another drawing, or another place on a drawing. When you use the Cut or Copy command in the Edit menu the selected graphic(s) is placed in a holding area called the Clipboard, where the item(s) remain until you choose Cut or Copy again. The Clipboard holds the contents of only one Cut or Copy, it has no memory of previous copies.

If you need several copies, particularly if they need to be arranged in an pattern or array, use the Duplicate Advanced menu selection.

If a black rectangle results when copying to other applications you may need to check the Opaque Copy menu selection. This controls the use of opacity with images written to the macOS pasteboard. If your graphic is black in color, and the destination application does not support transparency, it may draw the black graphic on a black rectangle rather than a white background.

The actual format used in a copy or paste action is defined by the Copy Paste Order Parameters found on the main preferences window. These setting apply globally to all EazyDraw drawings.

Cut removes selected graphics from the drawing. The removed items are held on the Clipboard and is used for subsequent Paste operations.

Copy adds the selected graphics to the Clipboard. The selected items are then available for Paste operations.

Paste places the items from the Clipboard to the current drawing. Items are added to the Clipboard with Cut or Copy operations. The object is placed near the original with a small offset to make it distinguishable. If the pasted graphic is moved immediately, the next pasted object will be placed with a relative offset equal to the result of the first move of previous paste object. If you need to paste with no offset use the Duplicate In Place menu selection.

Delete simply removes the selected graphic(s). Nothing is added to the Clipboard. The selected graphic(s) is removed by selecting the "Delete" action from the Edit menu. You may also delete using the Delete key on the keyboard.

Opaque Copy is no longer needed in most situations. This is a carry over from circa mid 2000.

One common Clipboard applies to all open drawings. Items Cut or Copied from one drawing may be pasted on another open drawing.

You may also copy objects to another drawing by selecting and dragging the graphic off the drawing. When the cursor passes off the drawing an image of the graphic is attached to the cursor, a plus sign appears when the cursor is over another EazyDraw window. A copy of the graphic is added to the receiving drawing when the mouse is released.