Copying and pasting objects involves working with the item that represents the object at the top of the modifier stack. This item is always a branch immediately below the named object item. The name of the item changes based on whether or not you have applied modifiers to the object:
Object: If you have not applied any modifiers to the object, then the Object container is at the top of the modifier stack.
Modified Object: After you apply a modifier to an object, the Modified Object container is at the top of the stack. The Object container moves to the bottom of the modifier stack inside the Modified Object container.
Using these two container types, you can copy geometry between objects.
To copy one object to other objects:
Expand a named object item.
Select the Object or Modified Object item one level below the named object.
Click Copy in the Track View toolbar.
Select one or more Objects or Modified Objects one level below the named object.
Click Paste.
Set the Paste options in the Paste dialog.
Here are some examples of how you might use object copy and paste:
Paste an Object into another Object to replace one simple object with another. For example, you animate the transforms of a box object and want to replace the box with a torus.
Paste an Object into a Modified Object to replace a complex, modified object with a simple stand-in object. For example, you model a complicated vehicle and you want to replace it with a box while you animate its transforms. Be sure to save the Modified Object to a file (using Save Selected).
Paste a Modified Object into another Modified Object to replace one complex modified object with another. For example, you have animated a flight of jets and you want to replace them with helicopters.
Paste a Modified Object into an Object to replace simple stand-in objects with complex modified objects. For example, you have animated a box and now want to replace it with a complex model of a jet.
You can also copy and paste modifiers below the Modified Object container. Copy and paste modifiers to do the following:
Copy modifiers within the modifier stack of a single object.
Copy modifiers between objects.
Unlike pasting other items, modifiers do not replace the selected item when you click Paste. Instead, the pasted modifier is inserted above the selected item.