About OLE
OLE (Object Linking and Embedding) is designed to link to files created by other applications and allow you to edit the object using its native program (such as Calc), without leaving the host program (such as Writer). The word "link" in this case really just means a one-time pointer to the file address. Read on to see what I mean by that.
To insert an OLE object:
- In the menu bar, choose Insert> Object> OLE object.
This opens a dialog in which you can either choose to create a new blank object (that's the default) or create the object from an existing file. The "new" list shows only OOo modules, but there is an item at the bottom of the list, "Further objects." This expands the list to show all the kinds of OLE objects that OOo can use.
If you're creating an OLE object from an existing file, please understand that this inserts a copy of the original. It is in no way linked to the existing file.
Caveat: PDF is one of the file formats available in the OLE list. However, if you do not have a PDF editor such as Acrobat or FoxIt Editor installed on your computer, you will receive an error message and will not be able to insert the PDF as an OLE object. The whole point of OLE is to be able to edit the file. Having a PDF viewer such as Adobe Reader is not sufficient for this type of object.
Along the same lines, if you successfully insert an OLE object but then send the file to someone who does not have an editor for that object's file type, they won't be able to see the object and will receive an error message when they open the file.
About DDE
DDE (Dynamic Data Exchange) creates an active---in other words, dynamic---link to the object. The content in Writer will update when the original file is updated.
To create a DDE link to a Calc spreadsheet:
- Open the spreadsheet.
Select the data range that you want displayed in Writer. (If you have named data ranges, you can select it that way; or you can simply drag a selection area.)
In the Writer document, choose Edit> Paste Special, and click DDE link in the list of available formats.
Caveat: The DDE link definition contains only the rows and columns you pasted in. The object can't automatically expand to include additional rows or columns, so if you add any in the original, you'll have to include those in a new selection to paste as DDE.