Copying single articles and clauses is supported in sectional content sets, including Uniclass Preliminaries. Copying single articles in Uniclass Work section-based specifications is on the product backlog. Please see the discussion Copy a single clause for Uniclass Work section-based specifications. Product Management, August 2022.


You can copy whole specifications (or masters), whole sections or systems and single articles or clauses. This article focuses on copying single articles and clauses in sectional content sets. 


Use this guide when you want to copy a single article or clause and paste it into a different section or section heading, different specification (or master), different project or another organization.


Related articles: Copying specification content



Steps for copying single articles or clauses

  1. Go to the article or clause you want to copy in the specification editor.
  2. Click on the three dots to the left of the item.
  3. Click ‘Copy this item’. You will see a confirmation popup that the item has been copied.

    Note: ‘Duplicate this item’ will make a copy directly below. ‘Copy this item’ allows you to paste it into a different section/ specification or project.

  4. Navigate to the article or clause above where you want to paste the item.
  5. Click on the three dots to the left of the item.
  6. Click ‘Paste item’. You will see a confirmation popup that the item has been pasted.

    Note: If you want to paste within a specific section heading (part or group) you should select the three-dot menu for an item in the heading.

    Paste position: Your item will be pasted directly below for content sets with dynamic article and clause numbers. You can move your pasted item up or down.

    The pasted item will be positioned in code order within the section heading for content sets with defined clause numbers. Changing the clause code will change the order of the clause within the section heading.

  7. After pasting your item you should check if the Suffix needs adjusting.

    ‘Copy this item’ and ‘Paste item’ does not change the suffix when you are pasting to a different section. This includes when pasting into another version of the same section (i.e. it has the same section code and title) as the origin section.


What properties are copied and pasted

The following properties are copied and pasted:

  • The article/ clause title, prefix, suffix and summary schedule check setting.
    • You may need to adjust the suffix when there are multiple types of the same item in the section.
  • All rows, row values, parked state, text formatting, tables and hyperlinks.
  • Last edited – the ‘Last edited’ timestamp for rows will remain the same as they were in the original article or clause The ‘Last edited’ for the whole article or clause will show the time of the copy.
  • Guidance and row suggestions.
  • Products panel listings.
  • Org notes.
  • Content set updates.


What is not copied when you copy a single article or clause

  • Spec notes – spec notes are for recording decisions taken. So Spec notes do not get copied with articles or clauses.
  • Completion status – when copied, a completed article or clause is pasted as incomplete. You should check the item and then mark it as complete.
  • Model associations – associations to objects in your model are not copied when an article or clause is copied.


Permissions for copying and pasting

To copy an article or clause you must have ‘Reader’ (or above) permission for the origin specification.

To paste an article or clause you must have ‘Contributor’ (or above) permission to the target specification.


Duplicate item vs Copy this item

‘Duplicate this item’ will make a copy of the article or clause directly below and add a suffix. ‘Copy this item’ allows you to paste it into a different section, section heading, specification, project or organization.


Screenshot showing the 'Duplicate this item' and 'Copy this item' row menu options.

Screenshot showing the 'Duplicate this item' and 'Copy this item' row menu options.


Deleting pasted items

  • User-created articles and clauses can always be deleted after they have been pasted.
  • For sections provided with the content set, articles and clauses can be deleted when there is more than one type in the section.
  • The exception to this rule is when an article or clause has been copied into a different section to the section it was originally authored. For example, copying a clause from UK - CAWS section 'F10 Brick/ block walling' to 'F11 Glass block walling'. When an article or clause is copied into a different section than it was authored you can always delete the item.


Screenshot showing the 'Delete this item' row menu option.Screenshot showing the 'Delete this item'  row menu option.


Copied items and the clipboard

When you copy an item it will remain on your clipboard for up to 1 hour. A copied item expires from the clipboard when you copy another item or after 1 hour.

This approach has been taken so a specifier can copy a single item and paste it into multiple sections.