There are two components in every operation of copying – source component (from where the data is read) and destination component (to where the data is written).
The current GDB always acts as source GDB (GDB to which source component belongs). An element to be copied is selected in a pane of a navigation window. Both the current GDB and any other one can be the destination GDB (GDB to which destination component belongs). Thus, copying is possible within the current GDB as well as between the current and any other GDB.
When the operation of copying is performed, destination component containing a copy of the source (possibly incomplete one) is created.
The operation of moving is copying with subsequent removing the source component.
Merging differs from copying in the fact that the destination component already exists, elements and constituent parts of the source component are copied into it, that is, the destination component is supplemented with elements and constituent parts of the source component. It is necessary that destination and source components had compatible structure, that is, the same structure (or almost the same). For example, when merging maps, their parameters (base point, range, partition) can differ, the quantity and names of layers should not necessarily coincide, but the structures of layers with the same names (names and spatial categories of feature types in layers) should coincide.
When copying composite components, not only the source component itself and its constituent part participate in the operation, but other GDB components linked with the copied component as well. For example, when copying a map the elements taking part in the operation are: the map itself (including descriptions of layers and map features themselves) and also themes built on the basis of this map; tables linked with the map; displaying styles used in the map.
For some types of components performing operations of copying is not provided in an explicit form. Particularly, copying of layouts and users as GDB components is performed only when executing operation of GDB merging.
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