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Copy an item

Copying duplicates a slide — its files and its metadata — into another folder, and leaves the original where it is. Use it to reuse a slide in a second project, or to make a working copy before you annotate.

What a copy contains

A copied item gets:

  • the same name as the original,
  • its own copy of every file in the original item,
  • a copy of the original's metadata,
  • a copyOfItem field that records the original item's ID.

The original stays in place. Later changes to either item do not affect the other, except that they still share the same stored file content internally where DSA can deduplicate it.

Before you start

  • You are signed in. If not, start with Connect to a DSA server.
  • You can read the item you want to copy.
  • You can write to the destination folder.

1. Open the source folder

Navigate to the folder that contains the item. Use the breadcrumb to confirm the location.

2. Check the item

Each row in the item list has a checkbox at its left. Check the box next to the item you want to copy.

The Checked actions menu at the left of the action bar becomes enabled and shows how many items and folders are checked.

Checking an item in the source folder

Folders can be copied too

The same flow copies checked folders. Copying a folder also copies everything inside it.

3. Pick the item for copying

  1. Open the Checked actions menu — the button with the check mark and a small triangle.
  2. Choose Pick checked resources for Move or Copy.

The Checked actions menu with one item selected

The checked items are now picked. Picking does not change anything yet; it only records what you intend to move or copy.

Do not reload the page

The picked selection is held in the browser tab. Reloading or closing the tab clears it, and you will have to pick the items again.

4. Go to the destination folder

Navigate to the folder that should receive the copy. Use Collections, My folders, or the breadcrumb. You can move up and down the tree; the picked items stay with the tab.

The Checked actions menu now has a different set of entries, because a selection is active:

  • Move picked resources here
  • Copy picked resources here
  • Clear picked resources

5. Copy the item here

  1. Open the Checked actions menu.
  2. Choose Copy picked resources here.

DSA copies the files and metadata. Large slides take longer; the page shows a progress indicator while the copy runs.

The destination folder menu with a picked item

When it finishes, the destination list refreshes and the new item appears with the same name as the original. The selection is cleared automatically.

The copied item in the destination folder

6. Verify the copy

  • The item is listed in the destination folder.
  • Opening it shows the same name, files, and metadata as the original.
  • The original is still in the source folder.
  • If you need evidence at the API level, GET /api/v1/item/<id> on the copy returns a copyOfItem field containing the original item's ID.

Rename the copy

Both items currently have the same name. To tell them apart:

  1. Open the copy.
  2. Select Actions in the item header.
  3. Choose Edit item.
  4. Change Name and, if you like, Description.
  5. Select Save.

Renaming the copy does not rename the original.

Troubleshooting

Symptom Likely cause Fix
Copy picked resources here is missing You do not have write access to the destination, or the page is a collection or personal-space page rather than a folder Open a folder and try again. Items can only be copied into folders, and you need write access there.
The picked selection disappeared The page was reloaded, or you cleared it Check the item again and repeat the pick step.
The item appears twice in the destination You copied it more than once Delete the extra copy with Actions → Delete item.
The copy has no files The copy was still running, or the source files are missing Wait for the progress indicator to finish and reload. Check the original item's Files & links section.
Copy fails with a permission error Read-only access to the source, or no write access to the destination Request the missing access from the collection owner.
Two items have the same name and you cannot tell them apart A copy keeps the original name Open each item and compare the Unique ID, then rename the copy.

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Verified status

Live-tested on 2026-11-01 against https://pub-data.bdsa.io/ (Girder API 5.0.20.dev2+ge191b30e7) with a signed-in test account and headless Chromium. Uploaded an image into one folder, checked it, picked it, copied it into a second folder, and confirmed the copy appeared with the same name. The screenshots above come from that run. Menu labels and copyItem behavior also match the Girder 3.x-maintenance source at 71e5fba.