Create Reference and Create Copy options for processes and objects

[foehl]

Blue Prism has the option included for creating multiple references to a single process or object as part of its multi-team-environment feature. To create a new reference you hold down the Control key while dragging a process or object to a new group. This creates a reference to the same process, meaning changes made when accessing the process via one instance are effective on the other instance.

This is confusing since Control + drag is a commonly used way of creating a separate copy of something (for example files or folders in WIndows). When you create a duplicate in Windows via Ctrl + drag, the new instance is separate from the original and any changes made to one instance are only made to that one.

If you want to create a copy of a process in BP you have to open the process and then use 'Save As' which is not necessarily obvious or the simplest method.

I would recommend that two new menu items be added to the right-click menu for processes and objects:

1. Create new reference; This would do what Ctrl + drag does now, creating a new reference to the same process. I would add some identifying feature to the process icon to be able to identify these multi-reference process from a standard, unique process.
2. Create copy; This would create a separate and distinct copy of the process without the need to open the process.

The function of Ctrl + drag could then be switched to be in line with the more common use of creating a copy although I appreciate that this change may cause confusion for those already familiar with the function.

[robert.nicklin]

Hello @foehl

Thanks for taking the time to raise your idea. Having reviewed the details I'm going to mark this one as Not Planned.

The create reference feature, though present in Blue Prism today, will likely not be extended further in future release.

Regards,

Rob