<< Click to Display Table of Contents >> Navigation:  User Interface > Editor > Drawing Tools > OLE

The OLE button allows to integrate objects from some other applications.

Quick Access Panel:

Ribbon: Editor -> Draw -> OLE

Menu: Draw -> OLE

OLE is a technology of linking and embedding objects realized in Microsoft Windows, which allows to add information from one application to another with the opportunity of editing it in the initial application. So, one can add, for example, Microsoft Excel tables, diagrams, text files and so on into a drawing. Each OLE object is an independent program entity.

The added OLE Object can be a copy of the initial file or a link to it. The object can be presented as some graphical information (a document sheet, diagram etc.) or a sign. This allows to add object of any format but their viewing and editing is possible only in the corresponding application.

There is a difference between linking and embedding OLE objects.

As far as embedding is concerned a copy of the input data is created in the drawing. It doesn't have any link with the initial document. You can edit the object with the help of the application in which it was created, but the initial document will stay invariable. Thus, this option is preferable when the changes in the initial document are unwanted.

As for linking it creates a link to the document. So, any changes in the initial document will lead to the ones in the OLE object. It is important to remember that if the initial file is moved it will be impossible to view OLE object linked to it.

 

Adding an OLE Object

---

 

There are two ways to create OLE objects.

•by means of opening another application and entering data there;

(it inserts a new object of the chosen type)

•by means of importing a file created in another application

(it inserts the contents of the file as the object activated with the help of the program that created it)

 

You will be able to edit OLE objects at any moment after you  have created them.

OLE objects are not transparent and while printing they can hide the objects that are placed underneath. Not to have the objects printed it is recommended to create them in a special layer and to freeze it or switch it off.

 

Creating an OLE in Another Application

---

 

1.Press the OLE button.

2.Specify the area to paste OLE.

3.Choose the option "Create new".

4.Choose one of the listed types of objects. A tick opposite to the option Show as Icon allows you to choose if you want the OLE object to be inserted as an icon or as a document.

5.Press OK.

6.An application where you'll be able to enter all the needed data will be opened. Create a document and after you have finished close the secondary application.

7.Close the application and click No when the request to save will appear. If you wish to save the created file separately to the disk click Yes and select the folder where you will want to save it in the standard dialog box Open.

8.OLE Object will be embedded. That means it will not be connected with the external file.

 

Importing a File Created in Another Application.

---

 

1.Press the OLE button.

2.Specify the area to paste OLE.

3.Choose the option "Create from file".

4.Define the path to the needed file.

If you put a tick opposite the option "linking" it enables you to have the data in the drawing changed in case the initial file was modified.

A tick opposite to the option Show as an Icon allows you to choose if you want the embedded or linked object to be inserted as an icon or as a document.

5.Press OK.

 

Editing OLE Objects.

---

 

After being created an OLE object has one marker in the top left corner, which shows the point of pasting.

To open the embedded or linked objects double click with the left mouse button on the object or click with the right mouse button and choose OLE -> edit. In the opened secondary application make all the needed changes. Changes in the embedded object don't need confirmation, whereas linked objects do.

You can also edit a linked object by opening the related file in the corresponding application. All the changes will be displayed in the OLE object. This method however doesn't concern embedded objects.

An OLE object has a set of properties which can be viewed and edited in the Properties panel:

 

---

 

Properties Panel

Dynamic Input