What did I do?

[drlarrye]

This file is usable for me the way it is, but if I try to copy and paste the hole pattern into another Inkscape window it doesn't look anything like the original.  I also had issues with extra holes being created when I tried to combine/group several holes.  I ended up making the pattern in a very convoluted way so I figure I did something weird.  Also most of the holes are clones but I did unlink the ones I was trying to work with.

[brynn]

I've been able to copy/paste the whole image into another document, without any problems.  At least, not that I can see.

Oh wait, when you say "hole pattern", do you mean copy/paste just the holes?  I thought "hole" was a typo and you really meant "whole".  But maybe you really mean you only want to copy/paste the circles?

Hhmm, no, I didn't have any problem with that either.  It might be a case of - just try again tomorrow, and it will work ok.  I don't know why, but that does seem to happen sometimes.

I do see one potential problem.  I don't know if it would cause the problem you're having, but maybe.  But it could definitely cause other problems. 

A lot of the circles ("holes") are clones.  But a lot of those are Clone of: Clone of: Clone of: Clone of:.....  So instead of clicking the clone button (or key shortcut) repeatedly, you need to reselect the original circle each time, and make a clone directly from the original every time, instead of from another clone.  (Or if you need a large number of clones, you can use Edit menu > Clones > Tiled Clones, to create a lot all at once.)

Fortunately, you can fix all the nested clones at once.  Just do Ctrl A (select all) and click the button to break the clone's link to its parent (or the key shortcut).  That will turn them all into paths.

If I select only the circles which are paths, would that replicate what you tried to do?  I should be able to do that....  Hhm, no problem with that either.

I did discover that the 4 holes which are inside the rounded rectangle on the left side -- actually are 8 circles.

Are you able to make videos or animations?  If so, and if the next time you work on the file, you see the same problem, would you make a video, so we can see what's happening?

[drlarrye]

I did mean "hole" not "whole" but either shows my problem on my computer.  Attached is the original file again and "6 Player Wahoo pasted" to show what it looks like after I pasted it back into Inkscape.  I just used Edit/copy then Edit/paste

[brynn]

Hhm, yes, that is very strange indeed!

I don't think the nested clones could be part of this problem.  But generally for troubleshooting, we like to have the cleanest file possible.  So just to be thorough, would you try getting rid of the nested clones?

It would be easiest to change all the clones to paths.  But if you don't want to, at least either convert the nested clones to paths, or replace them with non-nested clones.

Oh ok, I just got an idea about the problem.  Try this.

Create a new layer in the new file, where you want to paste everything.  And make sure that's the active layer.  Then, go to the original file and copy the stuff that you want, and paste it into the new file.  Because the new layer is active, the contents will be pasted into that new layer.

If that works, then we know what the problem is!  I don't know any other way to confirm it, except to try what fixes it.

[drlarrye]

I guess I'm not going to worry about it....It only does it on one computer.  I took the file to work and it copied and pasted perfectly.