---
title: "system.config.copy"
description: "Copies a resource to a new name and/or collection. When using this function, either the newName or newCollection parameter must be defined."
---

# system.config.copy

> Copies a resource to a new name and/or collection. When using this function, either the newName or newCollection parameter must be defined.

This function is used in **Python Scripting**.

## Description 

## Client Permission Restrictions

This scripting function has no [Client Permission](ignition-modules\vision\vision-project-properties\vision-project-properties.md#vision-permissions-properties) restrictions.

## Syntax

`system.config.copy(*moduleId, typeId, [name], [collection], [newName], [newCollection], signature, [actor])`

:::tip
An asterisk indicates that **all** parameters following it are expecting keywords when the function is being called in your script. This means that, when using an asterisk-marked parameter, **both** the parameter and argument **must** be specified. For example, `moduleId="ignition"`.
:::

### Parameters

| Type | Parameter | Description |
|---|---|---|
| String | *moduleId | The module ID portion of the resource type identifier. |
| String | *typeId | The type ID portion of the resource type identifier. |
| String | *name | The name of the resource. Required for [named](platform\gateway\web-interface\platform\gateway-deployment-modes\gateway-deployment-modes.md#named-resources) resources, but must be omitted for [singleton](platform\gateway\web-interface\platform\gateway-deployment-modes\gateway-deployment-modes.md#singleton-resources) resources. [Optional] |
| String | *collection | The [collection](platform\gateway\web-interface\platform\gateway-deployment-modes\gateway-deployment-modes.md#collections) containing the resource. If omitted, uses the active definition. [Optional] |
| String | *newName | The new name for the copied resource. Required if not changing collection for named resource types. [Optional] |
| String | *newCollection | The new collection for the copied resource. Required if not changing name for singleton resource types. [Optional] |
| String | *signature | The hex-encoded signature of the resource. |
| String | *actor | A string identifying the actor performing the operation. If not specified, an identifier will be automatically generated. [Optional] |

### Returns
**PyResource** - A PyResource containing the specified parameter attributes of an existing Gateway resource, which can also be read as plain Python properties.

### Scope
Gateway

## Code Examples

```python title="Code Snippet"
# This example takes a database connection from the core collection and 
# copies it into a collection called "dev".

# Get the required signature argument from your resource using system.config.getResource()
moduleId = "ignition"
typeId = "database-connection"
name = "MySQL"

# Use the getResource() function
myResource = system.config.getResource(moduleId=moduleId, typeId=typeId, name=name)

# Declare the new collection location variable and the resource signature
newCollection = "dev"
signature = myResource.signature

# Use the copy() function
system.config.copy(moduleId=moduleId, typeId=typeId, name=name, newCollection=newCollection, signature=signature)
```