Object Linking vs.
Embedding
When using OLE, you can link
or embed
files.
Linking files.
When you link a file:
The file remains in its original location.
Anything you change in the original file affects
all the files to which it is linked.
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If you double-click a SolidWorks image in a Microsoft Word document,
the SolidWorks software launches for you to edit the original file (if
you have SolidWorks installed on your PC).
For example, if you
edit a SolidWorks assembly document that is linked to several Word documents,
the changes you make are reflected in both the original SolidWorks file
and all of the Word documents.
Embedding files.
When you embed one file in another:
The original file becomes part of the file
in which you embedded it.
Any changes you make to the embedded SolidWorks
document affect only that document.
Any changes you make to the original SolidWorks
file do not affect the document embedded in the Word file.
If you double-click a SolidWorks image in
a Word document, the SolidWorks software launches for you to edit the
file (if you have SolidWorks installed on your PC).
Embedding is useful if you want discrete
control over the data.