Extended Copy adds an action that copies one or more selected objects into new objects. For each object type you decide which data the copy takes over and which values it gets instead, so a copy is ready to use without manual clean-up.

Typical uses:

• Record several devices of the same model: copy one, the copies keep model, specification, supplier and cost center but get a new number, no serial number and the status "new".
• Create recurring tickets or tasks from a template ticket.
• Duplicate contracts, services or software entries as a starting point for a new one.

One installed action serves many copy definitions: each object type has its own copy scope, and you can create further copy actions with their own settings.

Limitation: a copy takes over the object's own data and its references to other objects (for example location or cost center). Lists of other objects that point to the original (for example its tasks or journal entries) are not copied.

Requirements and Installation

License Key (Certificate) M42CDEVAction Extended Copy or M42CDEV6Action Extended Copy, or one of the 30-day evaluation licenses (Eval30). Without a valid license the action reports "Extended Copy is not licensed or the trial has expired".

• M42CDEVAction Extended Copy
• M42CDEV6Action Extended Copy
• M42CDEVAction Extended Copy Eval30
• M42CDEV6Action Extended Copy Eval30

It's possible that this license is already installed. If not, copy the license file into the Certificates folder (.../Matrix42 Workplace Management/Certificates).

Quick start

After installation, four steps lead to the first copy. The delivered action works for asset types out of the box; steps 2 and 3 adapt it to your needs.

1. Install and license the package (see above).
2. Choose where the action appears: open Administration → User Interface → Actions → Extended Copy, tab General, section Apply for Objects. The delivered action is shown for asset types; add further types under Configuration Items.
3. Define what is copied: tab Extended Copy Settings → Pick a value → choose a type, adjust ticks and default values in the tree below, repeat for each type, then Save (see Extended Copy Settings).
4. Copy: open a list of the type (for example computers), select one or more objects, click Extended Copy in the action bar. The copies are created at once; with Open Created Copy the new object opens for editing.

Configuration

For the availability of the new functionality no further configuration is necessary.

After you installed the package successfully and activated via the license key the service store can be started and this action can be used.
You can check the existence of the action in the Administration app under User Interface → Actions.

It’s name is "Extended Copy" and runs the custom controller "mpl.extendedcopy.shallowcopy". Settings are only made in the "Administration" section.

To restrict the use of the action, you should also select the configuration items for the action.The button Extended Copy appears in the action bar of every object type the action is assigned to. You set this on the General tab of the action, section Apply for Objects.

Copy Settings

More specific settings can be made under the tab "Extended Copy Settings" (Version 11.0.2+):

The Extended Copy Settings tab of the action defines what a copy looks like. Changes take effect after Save.

Control	What it does
Open Created Copy	opens the new object right after copying, so it can be edited at once
Name Prefix	text put in front of the copy's name, subject or title, for example "Copy Notebook 4711". Empty = no prefix.
Pick a value	adds an object type to the copy scope; the list shows "Display name (internal name)"
Choose a file to load	loads a template file and replaces the current copy scope (takes effect after Save)
Download Template File	downloads the copy scope of this action as a file, for example to reuse it in another action or system

What Gets Copied

Extended Copy copies the object itself and its links to single other objects. Links to several objects are not copied.

Current release state: Without selection support. The pick-up values and the object GUID must be known.

 

Kind of data	Example	Copied
Fields of the object	name, model, specification, description, dates, prices	yes, per copy scope
Link to one other object (n:1)	location, cost center, supplier, responsible person, SLA	yes, the copy points to the same object
Attachments	files attached to the object	yes, with Add Attachments
Lists of objects that point to the original (1:n)	tasks, appointments, notes, journal entries, child objects	no
Links to several objects in both directions (n:m)	assigned users of a device, contracts covering several assets, members of a group	no – set them on the copy afterwards

Default values

A default value is used for the copy whether the field is ticked or not, and replaces the original's value. 

String Pickup/Integer Integer/Number GUID Date Time (ISO 8601 format)

Formats:

Field type	Format	Example
Text	as entered	New device
Number, pickup value	the number	161
Yes/no	true or false	false
Reference to another object, GUID	the object's ID	a7636a51-7f7f-4a1a-99fb-4079ce5cad91
Date	ISO 8601	2026-11-03T00:00:00Z

There is no picker for pickup values and referenced objects yet: their number or ID must be entered. A number or ID that cannot be read is ignored; for yes/no fields anything other than `true` counts as "no". A default value has no effect in a class that is not copied (an unticked optional class without ticked fields) and on the creation date.

Configuring of another Action

Creation of a new action can be done in the same Object Search tab under Administration → User Interface → Actions by clicking on the “+ Add Action” button. Next, the object dialog will appear.
Set up the action for your purpose. Set up an action name, an action title, an object context (single object, multiple objects), choose between different type filters (selected CI on
which action will apply) etc. should be provided. You should be familiar with the configuration of actions.

To use the functionality of "Extended Copy" choose "Custom Controller" and put "mpl.extendedcopy.shallowcopy" into the input field "Controller".