Part Modeling > Edit Features > Copy and Paste > About Dependent and Independent Copies
  
About Dependent and Independent Copies
You can create a copy of a feature or a set of features that is dependent or independent from the original feature or feature set. A copied feature that is dependent on the original feature is only dependent on the dimensions and sketch, or both, or is fully dependent on all elements and attributes of the original feature.
Fully-Dependent Copies
When you create a dependent copy within the same model or across models, the references, settings such as constraints, and the dimensions of the copied feature, depend on the original feature or a set of features. The copied instances and the original feature or feature-set are associative with respect to the attributes, parameters, and feature-elements and changes in the instances or the original feature or feature-set are associatively reflected in the original feature or feature-set or the copied instances, respectively.
When the original feature or feature set is in a different model, the original source model must also be in session for the associative propagation of the changes in the original feature or the copied instances.
Fully-Dependent Copies with Varying Dependency
You can vary the dependency of certain feature attributes, elements, and parameters of fully-dependent copies. Use the Fully dependent with options to vary option on the Paste Special dialog box to create fully-dependent copies of the original feature. In addition, you can vary the dependency of the copied features on the feature attributes and elements such as sketches, dimensions, annotations, references, and parameters after pasting the copied features.
 
* You cannot redefine a fully-dependent feature.
Copies Dependent on Dimensions
Copied features that are dependent on the original feature can be only dependent on the dimensions or sketch, or both, unlike fully-dependent copies that are dependent on all attributes and elements of the feature, such as the references, parameters, and annotations. Dimension dependency remains whether the copied feature is fully dependent on all attributes, elements, and parameters or only on the dimensions or sketch.
Use the Partially dependent - Dimensions and AE Details only option on the Paste Special dialog box to create copied features that are dependent only on the dimensions or the sketch, or both, or the annotation elements of the original features.
Independent Copies
When you create an independent copy, the copied feature is not associative with the original feature. If the original feature is sketch-based, the copied feature also loses its association with the original sketch.