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Copy Elements with XML Tree View

You can use the XML Tree View to make a copy of an element in a topic. Paligo adds the copy directly after the original version, and then you can move the copy in the structure if needed.

When you copy an element, Paligo duplicates:

  • The element

  • Any text or other content inside the element

  • Any "child" elements inside the element

  • Any text or other content from inside the "child" elements.

All of the copies are new versions that reproduce the content and structure of the original versions. They have unique IDs and are separate from the original versions. If you use the XML Tree View to make a copy, and then you edit the copy, the changes will only apply to the copy. They will not apply to the original version (the XML Tree View copy is not content reuse).

To copy an element using the XML Tree View:

  1. Open a topic in the editor and select the XML Tree View in the side panel.

    The XML Tree View shows the main elements in your topic as blue boxes, arranged in a hierarchy that matches the structure. Any box with a white cross has lower level content. If you select the white cross icon, the tree expands to show the lower levels.

    XML Tree View. It shows the hierarchical structure of the current topic. There are blue boxes for each of the block elements, organized in a hierarchy.
    XML tree view of a topic. It shows section at the top level. Second level elements are title, para, and table. Inside the table there is a tbody element. Inside the tbody element there are 5 tr elements, each representing a table row.

  2. Expand the hierarchy until you can see the element that you want to copy.

  3. Position the cursor over the element you want to copy.

    Paligo displays a copy icon and a delete icon.

    XML Tree View showing the structure of a topic. There is a section at the top level. Inside that, there is a title, para, and a table. The cursor is on the para element and there is a copy icon and a delete icon.

    Note

    For tables, you can only copy the table element or a table row (tr).

  4. Select the copy icon (overlapping files).

    Copy icon in XML Tree View. It is two overlapping documents with the corners folded over.

    Paligo creates a copy of the selected element. It places the copy directly after the element you selected.

    XML Tree View of a topic's structure. It shows a procedure element has been copied and the copy is placed immediately after the original version.

    Note

    If you copy an element that has elements inside it ("children"), Paligo will make copies of the "child" elements too. For example, if you copy a procedure with three steps, Paligo will create a duplicate procedure that also has three steps. The procedures and steps all have unique IDs so that if you change them, they do not affect the original version.

    To learn more about the parent-child relationships between elements in a topic, see Understanding Content Structures

  5. If you need to move the copy to a new position in the structure, select it in the XML Tree View and drag it to the new position.

    To learn more about moving elements, see Move Block Elements with XML Tree View.