Object linking

When an object is linked, the source data continues to reside physically wherever it was initially created. Only a reference, or link, to the object is kept with the compound document (along with appropriate presentation data). Linked objects cannot "travel" with documents to another machine; they must remain within the local file system or be copied explicitly.

Linking is efficient and keeps the size of the compound document small.

You may choose to link when the source object is owned or maintained by someone else, so that a single instance of the object’s data can serve many documents.

Changes made to the source object are automatically reflected in any compound documents that have a link to the object.

To link an object:

  1. Select Object from the Insert menu.

  2. Select the Create from File radio button.

  3. Make sure the Link box is checked.

  4. Select the Browse button to locate the source object (for example, if you are embedding an Ability spreadsheet, you should be looking for a document with an AWS extension).

  5. Select OK to insert and link the object.

See also:

Object embedding

Linking and embedding documents