2004

Table Of Contents
700 | Chapter 24 Link and Embed Data (OLE)
Overview of Object Linking and Embedding
Object linking and embedding (OLE) is a Windows feature that combines
data from different applications into one document. For example, you can
create an Adobe PageMaker layout that contains an AutoCAD drawing, or
you can create an AutoCAD drawing that contains all or part of a Microsoft
Excel spreadsheet.
To use OLE, you need both server and container applications that support
OLE. A source application is called the server and creates the OLE objects that
you embed or link. A destination application is called the container and
accepts those OLE objects. AutoCAD supports OLE as both a server (source)
and a container (destination) application.
Although an AutoCAD object (such as a circle or a block) can be used as an
OLE object, the terms are not synonymous. For information about OLE
terminology, as well as general OLE concepts, see your Microsoft Windows
documentation.
Both linking and embedding insert information from one document into
another document. Also, with both linked and embedded OLE objects, you
can edit the object from within the container application. However, linking
and embedding store information differently.
The relationship between embedding and linking is similar to that between
inserting a block and creating an external reference in AutoCAD.
Embed Objects
An embedded OLE object is a copy of information from another document.
When you embed objects, there is no link to the original document and any
changes made to the original document are not reflected in other (container)
documents. Embed objects if you want to be able to use the application that
created them for editing, but you do not want the OLE object to be updated
when you edit information in the original document.