Lesson 14 Software Integration

1. Lesson 14Software Integration Computer Concepts BASICS 4th Edition Wells

2. Objectives Describe software integration Integrate data between Microsoft Office 2007 applications Describe the Paste and Paste Link commands Describe linked objects Describe embedded objects 2

3. Vocabulary container application destination program embedded object linked object object object linking and embedding (OLE) source program 3

4. Software Integration You can integrate data from one Microsoft Office program to another. An object is the data or information that you would want to share between programs. Microsoft Office provides three methods for inserting objects from one program into another: Copying and pasting Embedding Linking 4

5. Copying and Pasting Copying and pasting data between programs or documents is similar to copying and pasting text or other objects within a single document. If you copied and pasted a chart from Excel into Word, the worksheet will become a table in Word and can be modified by double-clicking it. Changes made to these objects in Word are not reflected in Excel, and changes made in Excel are not reflected in Word. 5 5

6. Copying and Pasting (continued) • Excel data integrated in Word document 6

7. Copying and Pasting (continued) The primary advantage of the copy and paste method is that it is easy. Disadvantages include that this method increases file size, the object is not updated when the source document is updated, and occasionally the object cannot be edited. 7 7

8. Object Linking and Embedding Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) is a technology developed by Microsoft that lets a user create a document or object in one program and then link or embed the data into another program. You can embed or link all or part of an existing file. The program used to create the object is called the source program, and the program that will contain the linked or embedded object is called the destination program or container application. 8 8

9. Object Linking and Embedding (continued) Embedding an Object: If you inserted an image into a Word document from the Microsoft Clip Art collection, it would be an embedded object. An embedded objectis static. If changes are made to the object in the source program, those changes are not reflected in the object in the destination program. The object, however, can be modified in the destination program. 9 9

10. Object Linking and Embedding (continued) • Word document embedded in Excel worksheet 10

11. Object Linking and Embedding (continued) Embedding an Object (continued): The main advantage of embedding is that the user will have an independent copy of the data. Disadvantages include: Embedding requires more random access memory when updating the source object The embedded object is not updated if the source is updated, and embedding increases file size. Regardless of what part of the source document a user selected to embed, the entire source document is embedded in the target document. If the source document contains confidential or private data, this data could be exposed. 11 11

12. Object Linking and Embedding (continued) Linking an Object: A linked object retains a connection to the original file; the source document displays a representation of the linked data. Any changes made to the source file are reflected in the linked object. Linking is useful when information is maintained independently. You also can link an entire file to another program. 12 12

13. Object Linking and Embedding (continued) Linking an Object (continued): Two advantages of linking are that the files stay small and the data is maintained in one place for easy editing and updating. The disadvantage is that the link really is only a pointer to a specific file. If you delete, rename, or move the original file, you can’t edit it in the destination file. You also need access to the source program to make any changes. 13 13

14. Summary • Three methods are available to integrate Microsoft software applications and other software programs. • Copy and paste is copying data or an object from one program and pasting it into a program. • Object linking and embedding technology was developed by Microsoft. • An embedded object is static. • A linked object is modified in the container application when it is changed in the source document. 14