Copy vs Copy? (ctrl+c and co)

[asptamer]

Does anyone know the technical difference between copying objects in AutoCAD using Ctrl+C and CO (COPY command)?

Turns out they behave differently in the sense that different "unseen" data gets duplicated in one (ctrl+c) and [I think] referenced in another (CO.) I noticed the difference when copying/pasting a text label; with ctrl+c it spit out "substituting fonts" message, while with CO it did not.

I made a small test file and compared its size when copying 4 objects (2 text labels with different fonts and 2 simple shapes) using both methods, and it turned out that with ctrl+c the final size was 28.0kb and with CO - 27.9kb. Interesting. Ctrl+Shift+C (copy with base point) also yielded the bigger size.

Can someone explain the method behind this madness?

[StykFacE]

using ctrl+c is a windows function. means you're copying to the windows clipboard, then repasting. good habit to have to not use ctrl+c unless needed.

[Jamalama]

ctrl+c is food for copying an object to another drawing, or text from another program into ACAD etc. copy is good for copying objects within a drawing.

[asptamer]

Thank you for replies. I suspected this would be the case...

But my main question remains unanswered: to what extent do the two commands produce varying results? Is some data getting unnecessarily duplicated thus making the file size larger?

If the above is true, is there a way to remove these redundant repetitions?
I like to keep my drawings optimized, and knowning how to fix past mistakes would be useful : )

[Jamalama]

unless you copy or ctrl+c over the top of an object, they will be the same size. they both just copy the object you select, with no extraneous file size.

[StykFacE]

Thank you for replies. I suspected this would be the case...

But my main question remains unanswered: to what extent do the two commands produce varying results? Is some data getting unnecessarily duplicated thus making the file size larger?

If the above is true, is there a way to remove these redundant repetitions?
I like to keep my drawings optimized, and knowning how to fix past mistakes would be useful : )

well, someone on this board could give you an answer to your question..... but it doesn't change the fact that no matter what - using the COPY command is always preferred because it is an AutoCAD command, so just stick with it.

[asptamer]

I will, Styk, but still would like an answer :/

unless you copy or ctrl+c over the top of an object, they will be the same size. they both just copy the object you select, with no extraneous file size.

Apparently they arent (the same size)! and not sure what you mean by "over the top of an object"

[StykFacE]

the difference in size is probably coming from using ctrl+c with the text. try it with JUST objects such as lines, arcs, etc. and compare filesize.

[Jamalama]

the difference in size is probably coming from using ctrl+c with the text. try it with JUST objects such as lines, arcs, etc. and compare filesize.

i agree....

[fahim108]

Interesting observation there, asptamer! ...but in my case the file size is fluctuating! Sometimes the Ctrl+C file is larger than the file created with AutoCAD's Copy command, sometimes its not (even smaller)! I tried both the ways, (with and without text) but got simmilar results! ...can't seem to guess how exactly AutoCAD saves a file!