/sys$common/syshlp/helplib.hlb CMS, COPY, ELEMENT, Description  *Conan The Librarian (sorry for the slow response - running on an old VAX)

    The COPY ELEMENT command uses an existing library element to
    copy and create a new element in the same library or in another
    library. The original element is left unchanged. The generation
    history, file characteristics, and element attributes are copied
    in full.

    If the existing element has the reference copy attribute enabled
    (that is, if it was created or modified with /REFERENCE_COPY),
    the reference copy attribute is also enabled for the new element
    (assuming the reference copy attribute is established for the
    library).

    If the existing element is reserved when you issue COPY ELEMENT,
    CMS informs you of the condition, then proceeds with the
    transaction. The new element is not reserved, regardless of
    whether the original element is reserved at the time of the copy
    transaction.

    If a generation of the element is marked pending review, CMS
    informs you of the condition, then asks whether you want to
    proceed. If you type YES, CMS records the transaction as an
    unusual occurrence and proceeds with the command. The new element
    is not marked as pending review, regardless of whether the
    original element is marked at the time of the copy. If you type NO
    or press RETURN, no further action is taken.

    CMS must be able to create one new element for each old element.
    When you use wildcards, a group name, or a comma list in the
    input element specification, CMS builds a list of elements to
    be copied. CMS uses this list as the point of reference during the
    copy transactions. If the output element specification does not
    allow CMS to create a new element for each element in the input
    list, the results may not be what you intend. For example, the
    following combination of wildcard expressions produces only one
    new element:

      input element specification -  *.FOR
      output element specification - NDATA.*

    The first element that matches the input specification (*.FOR)
    produces one new element named NDATA.FOR. Each successive element
    that matches the input specification generates an error message
    because CMS can create only one unique element name from the given
    combination of wildcard expressions.