Possible bug: Cloning doesn't work within groups in XX5

**PixelDust** · 04 July 2009, 12:34 AM

I just noticed today that using Control-K to clone an object that is within a group doesn't seem to work in XX5.1.

It does work in XX4.

I suspect it has to do with the new Object Gallery functionality. If I clone an object that isn't in a group, I noticed that the new object is placed automatically at the top of the layer. However, if an object is in a group, it can't be placed outside of the group, and thus nothing happens.

Here's what I did:

1. Create some objects and group them.
2. Select one of the objects in the group (either by Control-clicking or in the Object Gallery).
3. Press Ctrl-K to clone.
4. The object isn't cloned.

I don't know if this could be changed so that the cloned object would be placed at the top of the group.

**Soquili** · 04 July 2009, 01:04 AM

Cloning an object from within a group has never been possible with any version I've ever used; Xara X, X¹, Xtreme, Xtreme Pro, Xtreme Pro 3.2.4, Xtreme Pro 4.0, and Xtreme Pro 5.1.

**PixelDust** · 04 July 2009, 03:05 AM

Wow, I guess you're right! Just tried it in XX4 and sure enough, cloning didn't work. My bad...

The Object Gallery definitely makes it easier to see that a new shape wasn't created, though.

**MEB** · 07 July 2009, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by PixelDust

The Object Gallery definitely makes it easier to see that a new shape wasn't created, though.

Yes that´s true. There´s other actions you can´t perform either like blends for example, however others you would n´t expect to work, will do like the 3D tool.
It´s a pitty really, otherwise groups could be used as if they were nested layers. And that would give the user a lot of control over complex works.
As it is now the object gallery is really just a way to list the objects you have in your drawing.
I hope they address the remaining actions (clone, blends, moving more than one object between layers etc) in next version of xtreme to make it fully functional and powerfull.

**Soquili** · 07 July 2009, 07:28 PM

Hi Miguel,

I've always thought of a group as being a closed object once the internal objects are as I needed them. Other wise why group them before the work is done? It would be very strange to want to create a blend between two objects within a group or any other modification, at least to my way of thinking.

Please explain what any advantage could be obtained by having such a function that cannot be done without creating a group in the first place.

My most complex drawing consisted of more than 17,000 objects and using the Layer Gallery in Xara X was more than sufficient to do the work needed.