You can embed or link part of a file or a whole file. You can also embed an object in a Lotus Notes document and use the object's application to enter data in Lotus Notes. For example, if you have 1-2-3, you could create a blank 1-2-3 spreadsheet object and enter 1-2-3 spreadsheet data in a Lotus Notes document.

Click any of these topics:

• Linking
• Embedding
• What is OLE 2?
• What is OCX?
• Using Lotus Notes applications as object libraries

A linked object is a pointer to data in a source file; when data in the source file changes, the changes are reflected in Lotus Notes. (You can specify whether the linked data in Lotus Notes is updated automatically or manually when data in the source file changes.)

Because a linked object's data is stored in the source file, users who need to edit (or update) a linked object need to have the server application, have access to the source file on a file server, and maintain the directory mapping to the source file on the file server. Also, if a source file is moved or deleted, the linked object that points to it has to be re-created.

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Embedding

An embedded object is a copy of data from a source file; when data from the source file changes, the changes are not reflected in the embedded object.

Because an embedded object's data is stored in Lotus Notes, users who need to edit an embedded object don't need access to the source file. For this reason, embedding makes it easier to share static data from other applications in Lotus Notes with other users.

Note Embedded objects require more storage space in a Lotus Notes application than do linked objects.

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What is OLE 2.0?

OLE 2.0 enables you to use the following features in Lotus Notes:

• Drag and drop - You can create an OLE 2.0 object in Lotus Notes by dragging data from an OLE 2 application and dropping it into Lotus Notes.
• Edit "in-place" - You can edit an OLE 2.0 object using the server application's commands without leaving the Lotus Notes window.
• Link server - You can create links to Lotus Notes documents, views, and applications in Lotus Notes documents and in other OLE 2.0 applications. You can also drag and drop these links to the Windows desktop or to other OLE 2.0 applications.
• Storage server - You can embed an OLE 2.0 object in a Lotus Notes document and create links to the embedded data in Lotus Notes documents and in other OLE 2.0 client applications. This way, you can use Lotus Notes to store data from other applications.

What is OCX?

OCX (also referred to as ActiveX controls) is an OLE 2.0 technology (available on Windows 95/98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, and Windows XP) that lets you embed small, self-contained software modules in Lotus Notes documents. Each module, called an OLE custom control, contains its own data and the software necessary to create and edit it.

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Using Lotus Notes applications as object libraries

Using templates that were installed with Lotus Notes, you can create a Microsoft Office Library or Lotus SmartSuite® Library application where you, or others in your organization, can create OLE objects with Microsoft Office or Lotus SmartSuite applications.

For more information on templates, see Lotus Notes templates.

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See Also

Sharing information with other applications
Embedding data in a Lotus Notes document
Adding a custom control to a Lotus Notes document

Glossary