Data Interfaces

Object Linking and Embedding (OLE)
What is OLE?
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n Object Linking and Embedding enables Windows applications
to make use of functions in an highly integrated manner.
n The Excel table below has been integrated into PowerPoint.
Expenses - Sales conference
Description Amount
Flight $1.200
Hotel $350
Entertainment $150
Meals $200
Overall total $1.900
Originally, OLE was supposed to stand for Object Linking or Embedding, since the term OLE embodies
two quite different processes.
Object Linking is very similar to DDE (Dynamic Data Exchange) which is a further development of a
intermediate file used by different programs to exchange data. For example, the OLE server program
selects data and copies it to the intermediate file, while the OLE client program can retrieve the data. The
retrieval can be performed in a number of different ways. The advantage of OLE over DDE is that the
OLE server program is also responsible for displaying the data, as shown above. Here, PowerPoint is the
OLE client program which has imported the table from the OLE server program Excel.
Object Embedding is more widespread than Object Linking. Here, an object is completely embedded in
an OLE client program. The data must then be managed by the OLE client program. The OLE server
program is called only if new objects are retrieved or exisiting objects are changed.
Object Automation represents a considerable enhancement of OLE 2.0. It allows OLE server programs
to access objects individually and OLE client programs to manipulate them using properties and
methods.