Using Object Linking and Embedding

Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) lets you easily exchange graphics among programs. Since Canvas X Draw provides full OLE support, objects you exchange retain their full functionality and are editable with all the tools of the original application.

Windows programs provide various levels of OLE support. In OLE parlance, Canvas X Draw is a fully capable object and container application. Briefly, this means Canvas X Draw can transfer objects to and from other programs through OLE.

In the world of OLE, objects created in Canvas X Draw are identified as “Canvas X Draw Drawing” objects. If you use the Insert Object command in another application, you should be able to select “Canvas X Draw Drawing” as a type of object to insert.

Inserting Objects into Canvas X Draw Documents

You can use three methods to insert objects in a Canvas X Draw document: the Clipboard, drag-and-drop, and the Insert Object command. The objects you insert can be either linked or embedded.

• Clipboard: When you copy Canvas X Draw objects to the Clipboard, Canvas X Draw places OLE formats, as well as lower-fidelity formats, on the Clipboard. When you paste into another program, that program receives the highest-fidelity format it can accept. If the other program is an OLE container, pasting creates an embedded OLE object.

  When pasting into Canvas X Draw from other applications, a MetaObject container is created. The MetaObject is a Canvas X Draw “Container” for a system metafile (WMF/EMF). It will draw, print, and act like a normal Canvas X Draw object using the system to render it. This should preserve the fidelity of the metafile.

  The MetaObject container method eliminates problems in scaling, positioning, and overall look. OLE and pasting as metafile will automatically create a MetaObject. To convert the MetaObject to a Canvas X Draw object, choose Path | Convert to Paths.

• Drag-and-drop: In Windows, you can drag objects from Canvas X Draw documents to almost any destination on the Desktop (including local and network folders) to create a “scrap” file containing the objects. You can also drag Canvas X Draw objects into other documents, and drag objects, such as scrap files and other program’s objects, directly into Canvas X Draw documents. When you drag an object to another program, it creates an embedding.

  You can copy an object when you drag it by pressing a modifier key. Normally, dragging moves the object. If you want to copy the object, rather than move it, Ctrl-drag the object to another document. This copies the object and creates an embedding.

• Insert Object: Choose Edit | Insert Object to open a dialog box in which you can choose any registered OLE object type to insert into a document. Create a new object or choose a file as the source of the embedded object.

To Embed Objects:

When you embed an object in another document, use the original program’s tools and commands to edit the object.

Not all programs support OLE and can create embeddings.

1. Select the objects you want to embed in another document.
2. Choose Edit | Copy to put the selection on the Clipboard.
3. Switch to the document where you want to embed the selection and choose Edit | Paste. The object is embedded into the document.

To Link Objects:

If you want an object to be updated when it changes in the original document, create a link to the object. The Canvas X Draw document from which you copy objects to be linked must have been saved before you copy the objects.

Not all OLE programs support OLE linking.

1. Select the objects to link and choose Edit | Copy.
2. Switch to the document where you want to paste the linked object and choose Edit | Paste Special. In the dialog box, Canvas X Draw Drawing format is selected.
3. Click Paste Link to link the object.

To Manage Linked Objects:

Use the Links command to check the source file of a linked object and repair a broken link if a source file has been moved.

1. Select a linked object in a document.
2. Choose Edit | Links. The Links dialog box displays the link type and update method. To change the update method, choose the Automatic or Manual option.
3. Use the buttons to update or change the linked object:
   • To update the object from its source: Click Update Now.
   • To open the source document: Click Open Source.
   • To select a different source document: Click Change Source.
   • To remove the link so changes to the source do not affect the linked object: Click Break Link.

Differences Between Linking and Embedding

When you insert an object into a Canvas X Draw document, or insert an object from Canvas X Draw into another program’s document, you create an association between the object and its application. Linking and embedding create different types of associations.

• Linking: When you link an object, the object remains in the file where it was created. Only a link (reference) to the source object winds up in the document, which makes linking an efficient method of storing commonly-used objects and files. Linking makes a dynamic connection between an object and all documents in which it appears. When you edit the object, changes are automatically sent to linked instances of the object in all documents.

  Since the object is linked by only a reference to another file, if any of the linked files change locations, the link will be disrupted. To move linked files without disrupting the references, you must move all linked files as well as the entire directory structure so that the relative locations of the files don’t change.

  When you edit a linked object, the object’s application opens in a separate window. When you finish editing, close the application to return to the document containing the link.

• Embedding: When you embed an object in a document, the object itself (not just a reference) is copied into the document. Therefore, a document can be moved to another computer without losing the object.