KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q82649: The Benefits of OLE in Windows 3.1

Article: Q82649
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.1,3.11
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 17-OCT-1999

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows versions 3.1, 3.11 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

This article describes the advantages that OLE provides in the Microsoft Windows
operating environment version 3.1.

With OLE, applications can specialize in performing one job well. For example, a
drawing application specializes in drawing only; it no longer needs text-editing
tools because you can bring in the text into the drawing using an OLE link to a
text editor that supports OLE.

Applications can automatically be extended for future data formats because the
content of an object being linked uses the OLE interface, and the client
application does not care what is being linked.

You can concentrate on the task you are performing instead of concentrating on
multiple applications required to complete the task. This concept can be
summarized as a task-centric, rather than tool- centric, view of computing (that
is, you can concentrate on the document you are producing, not the application
you are using to produce it.

Files can be more compact with OLE. The data of a linked object is stored in the
original server document, rather than in the client document. For example, if
you link your company's revenue spreadsheet to three different Word for Windows
documents, the spreadsheet is stored on the disk one time only. The Word
documents require only a link to the spreadsheet.

With OLE, you can print or transmit documents without using the application that
originally produced the document.

You can update linked objects in a file dynamically. (That is, when you update a
linked object [not an embedded object], the other instances or copies of the
linked object are also updated.) As in the earlier example, if the spreadsheet
is updated, the link is maintained to the other three Word for Windows
documents. When opened, each Word document displays the updated data.

Additional query words: 3.10 3.11

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbWin3xSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbWin310 kbWin311
Version           : WINDOWS:3.1,3.11

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.