Object Linking and Embedding

Object Linking and Embedding (OLE, Eng. Object Linking and Embedding ) is a system developed by Microsoft object system and protocol to enable the collaboration between different (OLE -enabled ) applications and thus the creation of heterogeneous composite documents.

For example, a table that was created with a spreadsheet program that can be integrated into a text document. The special feature is that this embedded table can be edited directly from the text program out by double-clicking with the original program. This runs it - recognizable by the changed menu structure - as hull program within the document application.

OLE objects can either linked ( Object Linking ) or embedded ( embedding ) are. In a linking only a reference to the embedded object is created and stored in the document, while an embedding a copy of the object is stored in the document. This linking or embedding can be created, inter alia, via Drag & Drop or Copy & Paste. The advantage of embedding is that the compound document from the source files of the embedded objects is independent. However, compound documents generated by embedding also require more storage space than produced by the Object Linking.

OLE functionality under Microsoft Windows as an operating system component to all applications and is within the Microsoft Office family of products - used extensively - but also by other manufacturers of Windows applications. Also, the main competitor of the MS Office suite, OpenOffice.org, supports this functionality. It is thus possible to integrate Microsoft objects in OpenOffice.org documents and vice versa. The applications of both office packages embed inline objects into the file so that they are displayed correctly regardless of the presence of the source files of the involved objects. About each used on one computer, OLE support entity ( program, document, etc. ) are information (eg, the Class ID) in the Windows registry database.

The OLE technology was developed by An Wang. It is a development of the protocol Dynamic Data Exchange and supplemented this by embedding ( embedding ) of objects.

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