# Using Compound Objects

## How to use the compound object library and project compound objects

1. On opening the Compound Object Explorer while a project is open, both the [Compound Object Library] and [Project Compound Objects] nodes are visible.
2. Drag and drop a compound object from the [Compound Object Library] node to the [Project Compound Objects] node to display the compound object in the Tool Chest, which enables placing the compound object onto a screen or content. You can also drag and drop the compound object onto a screen or content from the [Project Compound Objects] node or Tool Chest.
3. You can also drag and drop a compound object from the [Compound Object Library] directly to a screen or content. The compound object is added to the [Project Compound Objects] node and to the Tool Chest.

Note:

- To edit compound objects, refer to the following.
  Editing Compound Objects
- When project opens and compound objects are present in the [Project Compound Object] node but not in the [Compound Object Library] node, you can drag and drop a compound object from the [Project Compound Objects] node to the [Compound Object Library] node, so the compound object can be used as a compound object for another project.
- Up to 500 compound objects can be configured in the [Project Compound Objects] node.

## Movement rules between compound object library and project compound objects

Compound object names cannot be duplicated in the [Compound Object Library] node or [Project Compound Objects] node. When dragging and dropping a compound object and another a compound object with the same name already exists, choose whether to overwrite or add as a new compound object.

## How to set up compound objects after placing them on the screen

Select a compound object in the Tool Chest and drag and drop onto a screen or content. After placing the compound object on a screen, set its compound object properties in the [Properties] window.

Note:

- If the Compound Object to be overwritten contains properties that have been defined in the project (for example, property values have been changed from their default, bindings are set, and so on), the values of these properties are reset.
- If the property of the Compound Object to be overwritten has not been changed, its settings are maintained, even if the Compound Object's properties are used in the project.

## Copy/paste compound objects

You can copy and paste compound objects in the Compound Object Explorer with either the application toolbar icons or shortcut keys.

Copying compound objects also applies to compound objects between the [Compound Object Library] and [Project Compound Objects] nodes.

You can also copy and paste graphical objects, local variables, scripts, or converters between the [Compound Object Library] node and a project. Graphical objects and scripts that are not supported by compound objects cannot be copied from projects to compound objects.

Note: When copying and pasting graphical objects from a project, unsupported bindings are removed and an error message is displayed.

For information on unsupported graphical objects and scripts, refer to the following.

Unsupported Graphical Objects for Compound Object

Unsupported Scripts for Compound Object