Object linking and embedding

Object linking and embedding (OLE) is a method of exchanging information between applications. Using OLE, you can take selected objects or entire files from one application, called the source application, and place them into another application, called the destination application. Objects that are placed into an application using OLE are called OLE objects. You can freely move objects and files between applications as long as all the applications involved support OLE.

Corel DESIGNER lets you create and edit OLE objects, as well as insert objects and files created in other applications.

Linking results in a larger file size but is useful when you want to use an object or file in multiple files. To change every instance of the object or the file, you only need to change the object in the source application. Linking is also useful when the destination application does not directly support files created in the source application. Embedding is useful when you want to include all objects in one file.

This section contains the following topics:

Linking and embedding objects

You can freely move objects and files between applications as long as all the applications involved support OLE. CorelDRAW lets you create and edit OLE objects, as well as insert objects and files created in other applications.

Not all suite components documented in this Help are available in our Trial, Academic, and OEM versions. Unavailable components may include Corel applications, product features, third-party utilities, and extra content files.

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Linked objects and embedded objects

When you insert content as an object, you create a dynamic link between the content that you insert and the content that was created in another Microsoft Office program. Unlike when you paste content (such as by pressing CTRL+V), when you insert it as a linked or embedded object, you can work with it in the original program.

For example, if you insert worksheet cells into the document as an Excel object, Microsoft Office Word runs Excel when you double-click the cells, and you can use Excel commands to work with the worksheet content.

Understand the differences between linked objects and embedded objects

The main differences between linked objects and embedded objects are where the data is stored and how you update the data after you place it in the Word file.

You place either a link to the object or a copy of the object in the document. You can insert objects this way from any program that supports the technology of linking and embedding objects (object linking and embedding, or OLE).

For example, a monthly status report may contain information that is separately maintained in an Excel worksheet. If you link the report to the worksheet, the data in the report can be updated whenever the source file is updated. If you embed the worksheet in the report, your report contains a static copy of the data.

1. Embedded object

2. Linked object

Linked objects

When an object is linked, information can be updated if the source file is modified. Linked data is stored in the source file. The Word file, or destination file, stores only the location of the source file, and it displays a representation of the linked data. Use linked objects if file size is a consideration.

Linking is also useful when you want to include information that is maintained independently, such as data collected by a different department, and when you need to keep that information up-to-date in a Word document.

Embedded objects

When you embed an Excel object, information in the Word file doesn’t change if you modify the source Excel file. Embedded objects become part of the Word file and, after they are inserted, they are no longer part of the source file.

Because the information is totally contained in one Word document, embedding is useful when you don’t want the information to reflect changes in the source file, or when you don’t want the document recipients to be concerned with updating the linked information.

What is object linking and embedding?

Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) is a technology that lets you share data between applications and is supported for Microsoft ® Windows ® .

Linking

A linked object is a pointer to data in a source file; when data in the source file changes, the changes are reflected in Notes ® . (You can specify whether the linked data in Notes ® is updated automatically or manually when data in the source file changes.)

Because a linked object’s data is stored in the source file, users who need to edit (or update) a linked object need to have the server application, have access to the source file on a file server, and maintain the directory mapping to the source file on the file server. Also, if a source file is moved or deleted, the linked object that points to it has to be re-created.

Embedding

An embedded object is a copy of data from a source file; when data from the source file changes, the changes are not reflected in the embedded object.

Because an embedded object’s data is stored in Notes ® , users who need to edit an embedded object don’t need access to the source file. For this reason, embedding makes it easier to share static data from other applications in Notes ® with other users.

Object linking and embedding