OLE

OLE (Object Linking and Embedding) is a technology developed by Microsoft that allows embedding and linking to documents and other objects. It is a compound document standard, which means it enables the creation of documents that contain multiple types of data, such as text, images, and other media.

History

OLE was first introduced in 1990 with Microsoft Windows 3.1. It was designed to facilitate the sharing of information between different applications. The technology evolved from the earlier Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) protocol, which allowed applications to share data in real-time.

Functionality

OLE allows an object created in one application to be embedded in a document created by another application. For example, a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet can be embedded in a Microsoft Word document. The embedded object retains its original formatting and can be edited using the original application.

OLE also supports linking, where the data remains in the original application but is displayed and updated in the destination document. This is useful for maintaining a single source of data that can be updated in multiple documents.

Components

OLE consists of several key components:

• **OLE Objects**: These are the items that can be embedded or linked, such as text, images, or other media.
• **OLE Containers**: These are the applications that can contain OLE objects, such as Microsoft Word or Microsoft PowerPoint.
• **OLE Servers**: These are the applications that create and manage OLE objects, such as Microsoft Excel.

Applications

OLE is widely used in various Microsoft Office applications to integrate different types of data. It is also used in other software applications that require the integration of multimedia elements.

Related Technologies

OLE has evolved into more advanced technologies such as ActiveX and COM (Component Object Model). These technologies provide more robust and flexible ways to integrate and manage different types of data and objects within applications.

See Also

• Dynamic Data Exchange
• ActiveX
• Component Object Model
• Microsoft Office

Related Pages

• Microsoft
• Microsoft Windows
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft PowerPoint