How do I copy a Gradient swatch to multiple documents in CC2018

[Mitchell39]

I have created several gradient swatches on one illustrator file, and want to be able to use it on new ones when i want.

When using inDesign I can create a library and share items between documents.

With Illustrator I cannot copy Gradients only solids into a library.

Is there a work around for this?

[Monika Gause]

You can create a swatches library out of all the swatches that can be created in the swatches panel. Just go to the panel menu and save the library

The CC library is a different thing.

[Ton Frederiks · Accepted solution]

If you saved your gradients in the Swatches panel, you can apply them to objects.

Drag the objects to a CC library.

You can use them in other documents when you Alt-drag them from the CC library or choose Place Copy.

[CypherPoet]

While this is generally useful, it would be nice to have the option to prevent this behavoir (things like swatches and brushes automatically being added to the current document) while using Place Copy. 

[Monika Gause]

If a brush is applied to the copied object, then what should Illustrator do when pasting it?

[CypherPoet]

That's a good question. Perhaps just provide this behavior customization for swatches, then?

[Monika Gause]

A brush is not a swatch.

I don't quite understand why you would want to lose swatches when pasting an object.

There are issues with duplicate swatches when pasting that really should be solved (how do you treat swatches that are already in the file and have the same name), but just ditching them would be too simple and not desirable most of the time.

[Ton Frederiks]

If the color is not a global color it will not be added to the swatches. I am afraid that I don't understand the problem.