alistair@microsoft.UUCP (Alistair BANKS) (03/21/91)
Yesterday, InfoWorld incorrectly published a small article
stating that "Microsoft is circulating specifications for OLE 2.0"
I thought I'd post this text of an Alert which is also being
posted on Compuserve and Microsoft Online to try to clear up
the situation for developers.
Alistair Banks
Microsoft Systems
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SYSTEMS MARKETING ALERT: OBJECT LINKING AND EMBEDDING ("OLE")
The March 18, 1991, issue of Infoworld incorrectly states that
"Microsoft is circulating preliminary specifications for OLE 2.0."
The Object Linking and Embedding Specification, 1.0, is complete and
available for download from Compuserve and Microsoft Online. With the
specification is information about signing-up for the beta OLE
Libraries.
OLE 1.0 is a protocol defined in terms of existing Windows messages
and the existing Windows DDE protocol. Microsoft has an on-going work
effort to create OLE libraries implementing a high-level API making
OLE implementation much easier for developers.
These API libraries are in pre-beta form at this time, although the
protocol specification is final. Microsoft Excel 3.0 for Windows,
Lotus Notes 2.0 and other forthcoming applications implement the OLE
protocol directly and therefore do not require the OLE libraries.
Any developer may program to the OLE protocol specification, although
this is not recommended. The OLE API and libraries are close to beta
release and will be released with a future version of Windows, and
fully documented in a future version of the Windows SDK.
OLE 2.0, as reported, does not exist. Microsoft is gladly accepting
ideas and feedback on what should be in future versions of OLE, as we
gladly accept feedback and ideas on all our products.
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