Say I have a map with units that I like and could find useful for a map I am working on. What is the most intuitive/simple way to copy these units exactly as they are over to another map that I am working on. I'm not savvy at all with the data editor so if someone could dumb this down for me or give me a step by step I would greatly appreciate it

thank you!

You can copy/paste between maps. This works for the most part, but you may have to adjust some things.

Copy & Pasting is the most intuitive way of doing it.

But this involves switching between active documents a lot (for pretty much each object you wish to carry over), and therefore isn't the best way to do things.

I usually have:
1 Map, 32x32 tileset size, campaign dependency unlocked. I use this to create a new unit, abilities, weapons, effects and then test it.
1 Mod. Once I've perfected a unit or object in the previous map, I will simply recreate it here - copying and pasting: buttons, abilities, effects, behaviours, units etc takes too long in my opinion.
The actual map file, with terrain and triggers pertinent to the actual map I'm creating. This will use the Mod as a dependency.

Thanks mate, from now on I am using a dedicated mod dependency. But I am correct in assuming this mod has to be published for your published map to run it right?

Yes.