How to duplicate existing content as a starting point for new content — and the SCORM exception that breaks the pattern.
Duplication is the right move when new content is similar enough to existing content that you want to start from the existing version rather than from scratch. Common cases: a Track that mostly applies to a new region with a few swapped pieces, an Article that needs a translated variant, a Workshop template you reuse with different dates.
The output of duplication is a fully independent copy — edits to the duplicate don't propagate back to the original. The Content piece's title gets "- Copy" appended automatically; rename it before publishing.
SCORM exception: SCORM content can't be duplicated within Continu due to how SCORM packages handle completion tracking. To create a variant of a SCORM course, re-export from the original authoring tool and upload as new content.
How to Duplicate Content
1. Open the Content area. From the left-hand navigation, click Create > Content.
2. Find the content and select it. Browse or search to locate the content you want to duplicate. Click the toggle next to the content name to select it.
3. Click Duplicate.
4. Confirm. Click OK on the confirmation dialog to create the duplicate, or Cancel if you've changed your mind.
5. Edit the duplicate. The new content appears with the original title plus "- Copy" appended. Rename it, edit anything that should differ from the original, and publish.
What Makes Duplication Worth It
Significant overlap with the original. If 70%+ of the new content is the same, duplication saves real time. If less than half overlaps, building from scratch is often cleaner — duplication carries forward settings and content that you'll just spend time removing.
The original is in good shape. Duplicating broken or outdated content gives you broken or outdated content to fix. Update the original first, then duplicate.
You'll genuinely treat them as separate. Edits to the duplicate don't propagate to the original. If you'd actually rather both copies stay in sync, you don't want a duplicate — you want one shared piece of content used in multiple places.
Configuration Pitfalls
Forgetting to Rename the Duplicate. The auto-appended "- Copy" suffix is informative during editing but reads as careless once published. Always rename before publishing.
Duplicating Instead of Sharing. If you want the same content in two Tracks, add the same Content piece to both — don't duplicate. Duplicates drift apart over time; shared Content stays consistent.
Duplicating Outdated Content. The duplicate inherits whatever's broken in the original. Refresh the original first, then duplicate.
Trying to Duplicate SCORM. Continu blocks SCORM duplication intentionally. For SCORM variants, re-export from the authoring tool and upload as new content.
Duplicating Then Editing Without Updating Segmentation. A duplicated piece carries the original's segmentation. If the new variant is for a different audience, update segmentation explicitly — don't assume the duplicate's settings are correct.
Where This Fits
You're here because you want a head start on new content from existing content. For Content lifecycle and management generally, see the related articles on Archiving and the Content settings reference.
See Also
- Content Strategy: Designing Learning Assets That Scale — the strategic anchor.
- Add an Article to Continu — building from scratch instead.
- Archiving Content from the Admin Content Menu — for retiring old content.
- Segmentation For Content — adjust segmentation on duplicates.
Duplicate when 70%+ overlaps. Rename the auto-appended "- Copy" before publishing. Update segmentation if the new variant is for a different audience. SCORM can't be duplicated — re-upload instead.