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# Manipulating Subtrees

A split with two or more branches is known as a subtree. You can copy or cut a subtree from a given condition node and paste it to another condition node, or you can collapse or clear a subtree.
You usually copy and paste subtrees when you want to repeat the same splits on the same variables. Alternatively, you can:

- Copy and paste subtrees and then make minor edits in the new subtree.
- Collapse and clear subtrees.

When you copy or cut and paste subtrees, duplicate levels may be created. Duplicate levels are permitted in decision trees. The name of a duplicate level changes by having a number appended to the end.

Subtrees can be copied from one decision tree and pasted into another. The copied content is retained when the source tree file is closed in the editor and the destination tree file is opened. The source and destination trees must have compatible (exact) variable names and types for the paste operation to be successful.

Note: Using Tree View with Color on large decision trees (000's of nodes) with large tree input datasets (000,000's of records), and then undertaking significant numbers of sequential tree node creation actions, such as Insert Split, Best Split, copy/paste subtree and assign treatment, can lead to the browser consuming a large amount of memory, potentially beyond that available. A warning message will appear to advise you to save the tree.

## To copy or cut a subtree:

1. In Tree view, select a branch with a condition node that has the subtree you want to edit. All nodes below the selected node are edited.
2. Select Edit > Copy subtree or Edit > Cut subtree.
   Alternatively, select the command from the shortcut menu.
3. Select the leaf node where you want to paste the subtree.
4. Select Edit > Paste subtree or choose the command from the shortcut menu.
   Note: The Paste subtree command is enabled only if you have copied or cut a subtree from a condition node.

## To collapse a subtree:

1. Select a branch with the condition node you want to collapse.
2. Select Collapse subtree from the Edit menu or shortcut menu.
   Tip: You can restore the collapsed subtree by selecting Expand subtree from the Edit or shortcut menu or by clicking the arrow next to the collapsed tree.

## To clear a subtree:

1. Select a branch with the condition node you want to clear.
2. Select Clear subtree from the Edit menu or use the command from the shortcut menu.

Parent Topic Manipulating Decision Trees

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