diff --git a/src/bika/lims/browser/analysisrequest/templates/ar_add2.pt b/src/bika/lims/browser/analysisrequest/templates/ar_add2.pt
index 3747a0bf58..a2bc1b58ec 100644
--- a/src/bika/lims/browser/analysisrequest/templates/ar_add2.pt
+++ b/src/bika/lims/browser/analysisrequest/templates/ar_add2.pt
@@ -372,8 +372,9 @@
 
         <ul class="nav nav-tabs float-right" id="sample-tabs" style="margin-bottom:-1px;">
           <tal:columns tal:repeat="arnum python:range(view.ar_count)">
-            <li class="nav-item">
+            <li class="nav-item" tal:attributes="class string:nav-item nav-item-${arnum}">
               <a tal:attributes="class python:'nav-link active' if arnum == 0 else 'nav-link';
+                                 data-primary-sample-index string:${arnum};
                                  data-target string:sample-column-${arnum}"
                  href="#">
                 <span i18n:translate="">Sample</span>
@@ -384,6 +385,7 @@
           <li class="nav-item">
             <a class="nav-link"
                data-target="show-all"
+               data-primary-sample-index="0"
                href="#">
               <span i18n:translate="">Show all</span>
             </a>
@@ -558,8 +560,8 @@
                         <div class="text-center" tal:condition="python:view.show_copy_button_for()">
                           <!-- Copy Button -->
                           <a class="copy d-block"
-                            title="Copy the value of the first sample to the others"
-                            data_toggle="tooltip">
+                             title="Copy the currently displayed column value to the other columns on the right"
+                             data_toggle="tooltip">
                             <i class="fas fa-angle-double-right"></i>
                           </a>
                         </div>
diff --git a/src/senaite/core/browser/static/js/bika.lims.analysisrequest.add.js b/src/senaite/core/browser/static/js/bika.lims.analysisrequest.add.js
index 45145c7008..371581e597 100644
--- a/src/senaite/core/browser/static/js/bika.lims.analysisrequest.add.js
+++ b/src/senaite/core/browser/static/js/bika.lims.analysisrequest.add.js
@@ -259,6 +259,10 @@
        * @returns {Boolean} true/false
        */
       this.is_date_widget = this.is_date_widget.bind(this);
+      /**
+       * Visually highlight the navigation tab
+       */
+      this.flash_nav_tab = this.flash_nav_tab.bind(this);
       //#####################
       /* EVENT HANDLERS */
       //#####################
@@ -384,6 +388,7 @@
       console.debug("AnalysisRequestAdd::load");
       // disable browser autocomplete
       $('input[type=text]').prop('autocomplete', 'off');
+      this.primary_sample_index = 0;
       // storage for global Bika settings
       this.global_settings = {};
       // storage for mapping of fields to flush on_change
@@ -1459,8 +1464,15 @@
       return this.is_div(el) && el.classList.contains("ArchetypesDateTimeWidget");
     }
 
+    flash_nav_tab(tab, duration = 500) {
+      tab.classList.add("bg-light", "text-secondary");
+      return setTimeout(() => {
+        return tab.classList.remove("bg-light", "text-secondary");
+      }, duration);
+    }
+
     on_sample_nav(event) {
-      var $el, el, target;
+      var $el, el, primary, target;
       el = event.currentTarget;
       $el = $(el);
       target = $el.data("target");
@@ -1474,11 +1486,15 @@
       $(".nav-link").removeClass("active");
       $el.addClass("active");
       if (target === "show-all") {
-        return $("td.sample-column").removeClass("d-none");
+        $("td.sample-column").removeClass("d-none");
       } else {
         $("td.sample-column").addClass("d-none");
-        return $(`td.${target}`).removeClass("d-none");
+        $(`td.${target}`).removeClass("d-none");
       }
+      // remember the displayed column
+      primary = parseInt($el.data("primary-sample-index"), 10);
+      this.primary_sample_index = isNaN(primary) ? 0 : primary;
+      return console.log(`PRIMARY sample index is ${this.primary_sample_index}`);
     }
 
     on_referencefield_value_changed(event) {
@@ -1754,7 +1770,7 @@
     }
 
     on_copy_click(event) {
-      var $el, $td1, $tr, ar_count, el, me, record_one, records, td1, tr, value;
+      var $el, $td1, $tr, ar_count, el, me, record_one, records, start_index, td1, tr, value;
       console.debug("°°° on_copy_click °°°");
       event.preventDefault();
       me = this;
@@ -1762,7 +1778,8 @@
       $el = $(el);
       tr = $el.closest('tr')[0];
       $tr = $(tr);
-      td1 = $(tr).find('td[arnum="0"]').first();
+      start_index = this.primary_sample_index;
+      td1 = $(tr).find(`td[arnum=${start_index}]`).first();
       $td1 = $(td1);
       ar_count = parseInt($('input[id="ar_count"]').val(), 10);
       if (!(ar_count > 1)) {
@@ -1783,7 +1800,7 @@
         }).apply(this), function(arnum) {
           var _el, _field_name, _td;
           // skip the first (source) column
-          if (!(arnum > 0)) {
+          if (!(arnum > start_index)) {
             return;
           }
           // find the reference widget of the next column
@@ -1802,7 +1819,6 @@
         });
         // trigger form:changed event
         $(me).trigger("form:changed");
-        return;
       }
       // Copy <input type="checkbox"> fields
       $td1.find("input[type=checkbox]").each(function(index, el) {
@@ -1819,7 +1835,7 @@
         }).apply(this), function(arnum) {
           var _el, _td, uid;
           // skip the first column
-          if (!(arnum > 0)) {
+          if (!(arnum > start_index)) {
             return;
           }
           _td = $tr.find(`td[arnum=${arnum}]`);
@@ -1850,7 +1866,7 @@
         }).apply(this), function(arnum) {
           var _el, _td;
           // skip the first column
-          if (!(arnum > 0)) {
+          if (!(arnum > start_index)) {
             return;
           }
           _td = $tr.find(`td[arnum=${arnum}]`);
@@ -1870,7 +1886,7 @@
         }).apply(this), function(arnum) {
           var _el, _td;
           // skip the first column
-          if (!(arnum > 0)) {
+          if (!(arnum > start_index)) {
             return;
           }
           _td = $tr.find(`td[arnum=${arnum}]`);
@@ -1890,7 +1906,7 @@
         }).apply(this), function(arnum) {
           var _el, _td;
           // skip the first column
-          if (!(arnum > 0)) {
+          if (!(arnum > start_index)) {
             return;
           }
           _td = $tr.find(`td[arnum=${arnum}]`);
@@ -1910,7 +1926,7 @@
         }).apply(this), function(arnum) {
           var _el, _td;
           // skip the first column
-          if (!(arnum > 0)) {
+          if (!(arnum > start_index)) {
             return;
           }
           _td = $tr.find(`td[arnum=${arnum}]`);
@@ -1931,7 +1947,7 @@
         }).apply(this), function(arnum) {
           var _el, _td;
           // skip the first column
-          if (!(arnum > 0)) {
+          if (!(arnum > start_index)) {
             return;
           }
           _td = $tr.find(`td[arnum=${arnum}]`);
@@ -1951,7 +1967,7 @@
         }).apply(this), function(arnum) {
           var _el, _td;
           // skip the first column
-          if (!(arnum > 0)) {
+          if (!(arnum > start_index)) {
             return;
           }
           _td = $tr.find(`td[arnum=${arnum}]`);
@@ -1971,7 +1987,7 @@
         }).apply(this), function(arnum) {
           var _el, _td;
           // skip the first column
-          if (!(arnum > 0)) {
+          if (!(arnum > start_index)) {
             return;
           }
           _td = $tr.find(`td[arnum=${arnum}]`);
@@ -1991,7 +2007,7 @@
         }).apply(this), function(arnum) {
           var _el, _td;
           // skip the first column
-          if (!(arnum > 0)) {
+          if (!(arnum > start_index)) {
             return;
           }
           _td = $tr.find(`td[arnum=${arnum}]`);
@@ -1999,6 +2015,21 @@
           return $(_el).val(value);
         });
       });
+      // highlight changed columns
+      $.each((function() {
+        var results = [];
+        for (var i = 1; 1 <= ar_count ? i <= ar_count : i >= ar_count; 1 <= ar_count ? i++ : i--){ results.push(i); }
+        return results;
+      }).apply(this), function(arnum) {
+        var tab;
+        // skip the first (source) column
+        if (!(arnum > start_index)) {
+          return;
+        }
+        console.log(`Copy ${value} to column ${arnum}`);
+        tab = document.querySelector(`.nav-item-${arnum} a`);
+        return me.flash_nav_tab(tab);
+      });
       // trigger form:changed event
       return $(me).trigger("form:changed");
     }
diff --git a/src/senaite/core/browser/static/js/coffee/bika.lims.analysisrequest.add.coffee b/src/senaite/core/browser/static/js/coffee/bika.lims.analysisrequest.add.coffee
index 8e1532d299..c4523bc1ad 100644
--- a/src/senaite/core/browser/static/js/coffee/bika.lims.analysisrequest.add.coffee
+++ b/src/senaite/core/browser/static/js/coffee/bika.lims.analysisrequest.add.coffee
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ class window.AnalysisRequestAdd
     # disable browser autocomplete
     $('input[type=text]').prop 'autocomplete', 'off'
 
+    @primary_sample_index = 0
+
     # storage for global Bika settings
     @global_settings = {}
 
@@ -1227,6 +1229,16 @@ class window.AnalysisRequestAdd
     return this.is_div(el) and el.classList.contains("ArchetypesDateTimeWidget")
 
 
+  ###*
+   * Visually highlight the navigation tab
+  ###
+  flash_nav_tab: (tab, duration=500) =>
+    tab.classList.add("bg-light", "text-secondary")
+    setTimeout () =>
+      tab.classList.remove("bg-light", "text-secondary")
+    , duration
+
+
   ######################
   ### EVENT HANDLERS ###
   ######################
@@ -1258,6 +1270,11 @@ class window.AnalysisRequestAdd
       $("td.sample-column").addClass("d-none");
       $("td.#{target}").removeClass("d-none");
 
+    # remember the displayed column
+    primary = parseInt($el.data("primary-sample-index"), 10)
+    @primary_sample_index = if isNaN(primary) then 0 else primary
+    console.log("PRIMARY sample index is #{@primary_sample_index}")
+
 
   ###*
    * Generic event handler for when a reference field value changed
@@ -1609,7 +1626,9 @@ class window.AnalysisRequestAdd
     tr = $el.closest('tr')[0]
     $tr = $(tr)
 
-    td1 = $(tr).find('td[arnum="0"]').first()
+    start_index = @primary_sample_index
+
+    td1 = $(tr).find("td[arnum=#{start_index}]").first()
     $td1 = $(td1)
 
     ar_count = parseInt($('input[id="ar_count"]').val(), 10)
@@ -1628,7 +1647,7 @@ class window.AnalysisRequestAdd
 
       $.each [1..ar_count], (arnum) ->
         # skip the first (source) column
-        return unless arnum > 0
+        return unless arnum > start_index
 
         # find the reference widget of the next column
         _td = $tr.find("td[arnum=#{arnum}]")
@@ -1649,7 +1668,6 @@ class window.AnalysisRequestAdd
 
       # trigger form:changed event
       $(me).trigger "form:changed"
-      return
 
     # Copy <input type="checkbox"> fields
     $td1.find("input[type=checkbox]").each (index, el) ->
@@ -1660,7 +1678,7 @@ class window.AnalysisRequestAdd
       # iterate over columns, starting from column 2
       $.each [1..ar_count], (arnum) ->
         # skip the first column
-        return unless arnum > 0
+        return unless arnum > start_index
         _td = $tr.find("td[arnum=#{arnum}]")
         _el = $(_td).find("input[type=checkbox]")[index]
         $(_el).prop "checked", checked
@@ -1682,7 +1700,7 @@ class window.AnalysisRequestAdd
       value = $el.val()
       $.each [1..ar_count], (arnum) ->
         # skip the first column
-        return unless arnum > 0
+        return unless arnum > start_index
         _td = $tr.find("td[arnum=#{arnum}]")
         _el = $(_td).find("select")[index]
         $(_el).val value
@@ -1694,7 +1712,7 @@ class window.AnalysisRequestAdd
       value = $el.val()
       $.each [1..ar_count], (arnum) ->
         # skip the first column
-        return unless arnum > 0
+        return unless arnum > start_index
         _td = $tr.find("td[arnum=#{arnum}]")
         _el = $(_td).find("input[type=text]")[index]
         $(_el).val value
@@ -1706,7 +1724,7 @@ class window.AnalysisRequestAdd
       value = $el.val()
       $.each [1..ar_count], (arnum) ->
         # skip the first column
-        return unless arnum > 0
+        return unless arnum > start_index
         _td = $tr.find("td[arnum=#{arnum}]")
         _el = $(_td).find("input[type=number]")[index]
         $(_el).val value
@@ -1718,7 +1736,7 @@ class window.AnalysisRequestAdd
       value = $el.val()
       $.each [1..ar_count], (arnum) ->
         # skip the first column
-        return unless arnum > 0
+        return unless arnum > start_index
         _td = $tr.find("td[arnum=#{arnum}]")
         _el = $(_td).find("textarea")[index]
         me.native_set_value(_el, value)
@@ -1730,7 +1748,7 @@ class window.AnalysisRequestAdd
       checked = $(el).is ":checked"
       $.each [1..ar_count], (arnum) ->
         # skip the first column
-        return unless arnum > 0
+        return unless arnum > start_index
         _td = $tr.find("td[arnum=#{arnum}]")
         _el = $(_td).find("input[type=radio]")[index]
         $(_el).prop "checked", checked
@@ -1742,7 +1760,7 @@ class window.AnalysisRequestAdd
       value = $el.val()
       $.each [1..ar_count], (arnum) ->
         # skip the first column
-        return unless arnum > 0
+        return unless arnum > start_index
         _td = $tr.find("td[arnum=#{arnum}]")
         _el = $(_td).find("input[type='date']")[index]
         $(_el).val value
@@ -1754,7 +1772,7 @@ class window.AnalysisRequestAdd
       value = $el.val()
       $.each [1..ar_count], (arnum) ->
         # skip the first column
-        return unless arnum > 0
+        return unless arnum > start_index
         _td = $tr.find("td[arnum=#{arnum}]")
         _el = $(_td).find("input[type='time']")[index]
         $(_el).val value
@@ -1766,11 +1784,21 @@ class window.AnalysisRequestAdd
       value = $el.val()
       $.each [1..ar_count], (arnum) ->
         # skip the first column
-        return unless arnum > 0
+        return unless arnum > start_index
         _td = $tr.find("td[arnum=#{arnum}]")
         _el = $(_td).find("input[type='hidden']")[index]
         $(_el).val value
 
+
+    # highlight changed columns
+    $.each [1..ar_count], (arnum) ->
+      # skip the first (source) column
+      return unless arnum > start_index
+
+      console.log "Copy #{value} to column #{arnum}"
+      tab = document.querySelector(".nav-item-#{arnum} a")
+      me.flash_nav_tab(tab)
+
     # trigger form:changed event
     $(me).trigger "form:changed"