Creating Similar Objects

The Create Similar Object command is an easy way of creating an object that matches an object that is already in a drawing. The associated tool, tool mode, and object attributes and parameters are automatically set to create an object that matches the source object.

1. With the cursor over the source object, either right-click (Windows) or Ctrl-click (Mac) and select Create Similar Object from the context menu. The source object can be visible or grayed, and does not need to be in the current layer.

Alternatively, press the Ctrl + Alt (Windows) or Cmd + Option (Mac) shortcut key combination while clicking over the source object.

Any tool settings, as well as any global settings used by the tool, change to match the source object, as shown here.

Source Object or Attribute	Result
Graphical attributes	Updates the global Attributes palette settings to match those of the source object, including by-class or class settings
Class	Sets the active class to that of the source object
Layer	Sets the active layer to that of the source object, if the Vectorworks preference Change active layer for Similar Object Creation is enabled; see Session Preferences
Text, or object with text set by global font settings	Matches the global font settings of the source text or object text
Object, such as a rectangle, with a rotated creation mode	Matches rotated/non-rotated creation mode of source object
Symbols	Makes the source symbol the active symbol, and activates the appropriate symbol insertion tool
Plug-in object	Sets the tool parameters to those of the source plug-in object
Wall	Matches the wall style of the source wall

Because the Attributes palette may have changed to match the source object, the Attributes palette utility menu can quickly set or change attributes globally if needed (see Setting Global and Default Attributes).

Creating Similar Objects

Source Object or Attribute

Result