Embedded Objects

Objects can be EMBEDDED OBJECTS or LINKED OBJECTS. The main difference between the two concerns the way in which the object information is stored and updated.

The information in an EMBEDDED object becomes part of the destination Excel file. An embedded object has no links or connection to the original file (also called the source file). Because an embedded object has no connection to the source file, any changes you make to the source file will NOT be reflected in the object appearing on the Excel worksheet.

All types of objects can be inserted in Excel worksheets as embedded objects.

The information in a LINKED object does NOT become part of the destination Excel file. Instead, the object that appears on the Excel worksheet is a LINK to the source file. Any changes you make to the source file WILL be reflected in the object appearing on the Excel worksheet.

Not all types of objects can be inserted in Excel worksheets as linked objects.

To make changes to EMBEDDED OBJECTS, open the object by double-clicking on it. Double-clicking an embedded object opens that object in the source APPLICATION; it does not open the source FILE.

Use embedded objects when other users who do not have access to the source file will be viewing the worksheet and/or opening the source application to edit the object.

NOTE 1: The source application, or another application in which the application can be edited, must be installed on the system for a user to open the object.

NOTE 2: Embedded objects increase the size of your Excel file. If the file size becomes too large for the system memory to handle, embedded objects will be displayed as blank boxes. Double-clicking the blank box will open the object in the source application.