[comp.os.os2.programmer] Microsoft's OLE spec.

kilmer@hq.af.mil (02/21/91)

I am trying to find ay info I can on the Object Linking and Embedding (OLE)
spec from Microsoft.  If anyone has any phone numbers/pricing info I would
appreciate it.  I'm assuming that it would come with some Dynamic Link Libs
or the sort to integrate into your apps.  Has anyone used the feature in 
Excel 3.0?  I would appreciate any replies.  I am also interested in getting
it to work under OS/2...anyone heard anything???

Thanks,

Richard Kilmer
KILMER@OPSNET-PENTAGON.AF.MIL
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|  Richard Kilmer                           Kilmer@Opsnet-Pentagon.af.mil |
|  VAX Systems Analyst                            (AKA Kilmer@26.24.0.26) |
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joeb@hpnmdla.HP.COM (Joe Barnhart) (02/28/91)

In my humble opinion, OLE is more of a "future" technology than a
deliverable one.  MS says that OLE is used in PowerPoint and Excel.
I've used PowerPoint, and it is definitely NOT a good advertisment
for OLE!

The PowerPoint charting module is linked via OLE to the graphics 
module.  When you select a chart, it is automatically loaded and
opened up as a chart "editor."

Unfortunatly, the charting module knows nothing about the colors
and fonts selected by the graphics module, so it chooses its own,
incompatible, palette.  When the chart is exported back to the 
graphics module, you have to go in and "recolor" the chart to make
it look like it belongs in the presentation.

#include <HP.advertisment>

Frankly, I'm very impressed by what I've seen and used of HP NewWave
for Windows.  It seems to encompass OLE and go beyond it in several
important ways.

For one: NewWave's Object Management Facility (OMF) keeps track of
_all_ objects in the system.  If an application depends on an object,
and that object changes while the application is shut down, NewWave
will notify that application of the change when it's next started.

NewWave will also include support for OS/2 and UNIX platforms, at
least according to what I've read in the Developer's Kit.  This 
_should_ make it a more general solution than OLE, which runs only
under Windows.  (But we all know about future plans, eh?)

I am not part of the NewWave team.  I work in the "instrument" side
of HP.

-- Joe B.

#include <standard.disclaimer>