Copy functions are not relevant when converting back and forth between legacy data or proprietary format such as the Windchill Express schema. The Copy functions are applicable when a DEX source population is merged into a target DEX population. A prerequisite is that the source and target schema are the very same one.

Copy functions consist of two rather simple steps. Copy functions take a source (representing_part) instance as input. The input parameters required for the create (create_representing_part) function are extracted from the source instance. Then the create (create_representing_part) function is invoked. The create function will either return an already existing instance or create a new one. So applying the copy functions to all instances in a source population, the resulting target population will become a union (or merge) of the source population and the original target population.