Preserve layer structure of selection when copy/pasting

[sPretzel]

Hi,

I am trying to copy and paste an object which spans multiple layers from one file to another. More generally, I would also like to be able to copy/paste such object within the same file. Let me give an example.

-Object A in file F1 has its items on layers L1 and L2. We can assume all objects on L1 and L2 belong to A but that may not be necessarily the case. There may be other items on these layers that don't belong to A.

-I want to copy A to file F2 and preserve its structure with layers L1 and L2 in the new file F2.

-One issue is that there is already a layer named L1 in F2. I don't want to change its name.

-I would be happy to copy object A into a new layer called object_A in file F2, with object_A having sublayers L1 and L2.

-Eventually, I would like to work with object A in file F2 and duplicate it, preserving its layers. For instance, the duplicate could be assigned layer object_B with its ownl sublayers L1 and L2.

-If all goes well, file F2 might have these layers (no indent) and sublayers (indent):

L1

object_A

   L1

   L2

object_B

   L1

   L2

I am unable to do that. Is it possible without too much complexity?

I tried a variety of things like creating a layer in F2 to host the object and entering isolation mode, then pasting, but all the object's layers are lost.

I created layers with the same names L1 and L2 in F2, then pasted the copied object A and pasted but they did not go into L1 and L2 I created, rather, they went into the original L1 and L2.

I tried other methods but no luch so far.

I browsed through the forum and found an unanswered post that is remotely related.

https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/issue-with-preserve-layers-when-using-paste-o...

In my case, this is in CS4.

Thanks.

[Monika Gause]

If the option "Paste remembers layers" doesn't do what you want, then probably scripting could help?

[sPretzel]

Hi Monika. Paste Remembers Layers was selected all along, I forgot to mention it. If not, all the layers would have been lost right from the outset.

[Monika Gause]

So then, that's it.

You can rename your layer manually or write a script.

As always it will probably help people when you describe the bigger picture: the workflow this should be incorporated in.