Copy and paste objects in LabVIEW in two ways: copy and paste the object or clone the object.

  1. Select an object.
  2. Copy and paste the object or clone the object.
    OptionDescription
    Copy and paste Select Edit » Copy and Edit » Paste (Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V).
    Clone
    1. Depending on your operating system, press and hold the following key while you use the Positioning tool to click the object.
      • Windows: Ctrl
      • macOS: Option
      • Linux: Alt
    2. Drag the cursor to a new location.
    3. Release the mouse button and the key.

    (Linux) You also can clone objects by clicking the object with the middle mouse button and dragging the object to a new location.

    You can also drag selected objects from the front panel or block diagram of one VI to another VI.

Details on Copying and Pasting and Cloning

Understand how LabVIEW treats objects that you copy and paste or clone.

  • When you clone or copy objects that have labels, LabVIEW copies the name of the original object and appends a number.
    Note If you copy the object to another VI, you also copy the description. You might need to change the description for the new object.
  • When you clone or copy a block diagram terminal, a new terminal appears on the block diagram. LabVIEW does not copy the following items of the original terminal:
  • If you copy and paste a local variable or control reference, LabVIEW also copies the terminal. If you clone a local variable or control reference, LabVIEW creates a new reference to the original terminal.
  • When you copy front panel controls from the block diagram and paste them onto the block diagram of a new VI, the front panel placement differs from that of the original VI. LabVIEW places the front panel objects in the upper left corner to avoid overlapping or appearing in a non-visible region.
  • If you copy and paste an implicitly linked Property Node or Invoke Node, LabVIEW disconnects the node from the terminal. If you clone an implicitly linked node, LabVIEW creates a new implicitly linked node. If you clone the node by dragging it to a new VI, LabVIEW disconnects the node from the terminal. You can relink the node to the terminal.
Note If you copy a subVI, the Clipboard Clipboard icon with crossed tools indicating copy action. appears in the VI Hierarchy window. Note that a subVI you copy might remain in memory in the Clipboard when you do not expect a VI to be in memory.