# Gui.clone\_tree() don't work if source node already cloned

**URL:** <https://forum.defold.com/t/gui-clone-tree-dont-work-if-source-node-already-cloned/13204>\
**Category:** Bugs\
**Created:** [November 1, 2017, 1:29pm UTC](https://forum.defold.com/t/gui-clone-tree-dont-work-if-source-node-already-cloned/13204 "2017-11-01T13:29:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![morgerion](https://forum-defold.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.defold.com/morgerion/32/6641_2.png) [@morgerion](https://forum.defold.com/u/morgerion)\
**Post date:** [November 1, 2017, 1:29pm UTC](https://forum.defold.com/t/gui-clone-tree-dont-work-if-source-node-already-cloned/13204/1 "2017-11-01T13:29:11Z")

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Some time ago we came across a funny fact: gui.clone\_tree() don’t work if source node already cloned.  
Perhaps this is done on purpose. I would like to clarify this situation for the future.

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**Author:** ![AGulev](https://forum-defold.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.defold.com/agulev/32/4541_2.png) [@AGulev](https://forum.defold.com/u/AGulev)\
**Post date:** [November 2, 2017, 10:13am UTC](https://forum.defold.com/t/gui-clone-tree-dont-work-if-source-node-already-cloned/13204/2 "2017-11-02T10:13:44Z")

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What happens when you try to copy already cloned nodes? Some error or something else?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![morgerion](https://forum-defold.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.defold.com/morgerion/32/6641_2.png) [@morgerion](https://forum.defold.com/u/morgerion)\
**Post date:** [November 2, 2017, 10:42am UTC](https://forum.defold.com/t/gui-clone-tree-dont-work-if-source-node-already-cloned/13204/3 "2017-11-02T10:42:07Z")

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We got a table with some other nodes as a result. Not the one that cloned. It was like thrash.

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**Author:** ![britzl](https://forum-defold.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.defold.com/britzl/32/23_2.png) [@britzl](https://forum.defold.com/u/britzl)\
**Post date:** [November 2, 2017, 11:19am UTC](https://forum.defold.com/t/gui-clone-tree-dont-work-if-source-node-already-cloned/13204/4 "2017-11-02T11:19:23Z")

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This sure sounds like a bug. I’m not in front of a computer right now. Perhaps someone else can verify? @sven

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**Author:** ![d954mas](https://forum-defold.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.defold.com/d954mas/32/5401_2.png) [@d954mas](https://forum.defold.com/u/d954mas)\
**Post date:** [November 2, 2017, 11:28am UTC](https://forum.defold.com/t/gui-clone-tree-dont-work-if-source-node-already-cloned/13204/5 "2017-11-02T11:28:30Z")

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I have a old prototype, where i use gui.clone\_tree().  
Looks like it working. I use it in init function. Not sure that all will work in update function.

```lua
function M.copy_nodes(node,lenght)
	local cards_nodes={}
	for i = 1,lenght do
		local card_node=gui.clone_tree(node)
		cards_nodes[i]=card_node
	end
	return cards_nodes
end

```

in gui

```lua
local function create_nodes()
	local card_node = gui.get_node("card_template/background")
	cards_nodes = card_helper.copy_nodes(card_node, deck.width * deck.height)
	card_helper.set_nodes_positions(cards_nodes,deck,screen,paddings)
	gui.delete_node(card_node)
end

```

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Ivan\_Lytkin](https://forum-defold.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.defold.com/ivan_lytkin/32/2654_2.png) [@Ivan\_Lytkin](https://forum.defold.com/u/Ivan_Lytkin)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2017, 2:39pm UTC](https://forum.defold.com/t/gui-clone-tree-dont-work-if-source-node-already-cloned/13204/6 "2017-11-26T14:39:23Z")

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Yes, there is problem with cloning of clone made with clone\_tree.  
You can see the cloned nodes but you can do nothing with them. Returned table has only 1 node.