Using Ctrl Dragging to Duplicate Objects

by Adrienne McGee on May 6th, 2010

There may be times in programs like PowerPoint, Word and Excel where you have added a graphic or drawn a shape where you want to be able to duplicate the object. Instead of the usual copy and paste method, a little known method to duplicate objects in Microsoft Office programs is to use Ctrl Dragging.

Using this technique is simple. Simply select whatever shape or picture you wish to duplicate and then hold down the Ctrl key. While holding down the Ctrl key, grab the object with your mouse and then drag in any direction you wish as if you are moving the object. However, instead of moving the object, the object should be duplicated. Be sure to let go of the mouse button before letting go of Ctrl.

For those of you that use Adobe programs, a similar shortcut works the same way. Except that instead of holding Ctrl, you use the Alt key.

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