GraFit version 4 - Erithacus Software

GraFit User’s Guide
170
Embedded Objects
Embedded objects hold both a display representation and the underlying data. A
copy of the current state of the source object is created and is passed to the target
application. This means that subsequent changes within the source application do
not affect the newly pasted object. In turn, although the embedded object can be
edited, any changes are not reflected in the original source document. Because a
complete copy of the source data is placed in the target application, files containing
embedded objects can be large.
Source Application
Data Graph
Target Application
Embedded
Embedding places a copy of the internal data into the target application, as well as
an image representing the source.
Linked Objects
Linked objects also copy a representation of the original data, but do not copy the
data itself to the target. Instead, the target application maintains a link to the
original source file. Changes to this source data file result in the information copied
to the target application also changing. In addition, if the linked object is edited
from within the target, this will change the original document. Because linking must
always involve files, it is only possible to create a link after the information in the
source application has been saved to disk.
Source Application
Data Graph
Target Application
Linking does not copy the original data, but allows the target application to
maintain links to the original source file. Changes to the source result in the target
application being updated.
Using Embedding and Linking
Windows applications that are able to employ OLE use the convention that Edit |
Copy from the source program will place the necessary information on the
Clipboard, and Edit | Paste from the target application will embed an object.
Data