2004

Table Of Contents
708 | Chapter 24 Link and Embed Data (OLE)
Limitations of OLE Objects in Drawings
Linked and embedded OLE objects have several limitations within AutoCAD
drawings. These limitations are inherent in the design of OLE.
OLE objects in AutoCAD drawings are not displayed or plotted in external
references or block references.
On Microsoft Windows system printers, OLE objects do not respond to
changes in plot rotation. To solve this problem, change the print orienta-
tion in the Windows Printing Preferences dialog box.
Spreadsheets that are imported into AutoCAD drawings with OLE are lim-
ited in size. If your spreadsheet is too large, you can reduce the column
width and row height, reduce the font size, or paste the spreadsheet in
separate parts to break the OLE object into smaller OLE objects.
You can use the Windows Clipboard Viewer to preview an OLE object before
importing it into AutoCAD or any other application.
Export OLE Objects from Drawings
You can link or embed a view of an AutoCAD drawing in another application
that supports OLE.
Link Views to Other Documents
An AutoCAD drawing can be a source document linked to one or more doc-
uments in other applications. The
COPYLINK command copies the view in
the current viewport or the paper space view to the Clipboard. You can then
paste the view into the container document.
If you paste an unnamed view into a document, AutoCAD assigns it a view
name such as OLE1. If you then exit the drawing, AutoCAD prompts you to
save your changes to the newly named view. To establish the link and to save
the view name, OLE1, you must save the drawing.
Embed AutoCAD Objects in Other Documents
You can select AutoCAD objects and embed them in other documents.
Embedding places a copy of the AutoCAD object in the other document.
However, editing the OLE object from within the container application does
not update the object in the original AutoCAD drawing. Use embedding if
you want to retain the original drawing for AutoCAD but change it for the
document in the other application.