embedding files in mac:word X

[Aamer Akhter]

Hello,

Is there a way to embed a file (non-office file) in a word document.
Specifically, I'd like to embed an omnigraffle drawing in the word
doc. I don't really care of word renders the drawing, I'd just like to
package the drawing within the word doc.

I've been able to do simiar things iwht visio diagrams and windows
word. But the mac word seems to only support office files for
embedding

thanks.

 

[Jim Gordon]

Hi

Visio objects can be embedded into Word. In Visio they have additional
properties that Word will strip off. Word keeps the properties that it
supports, so you can look at and manipulate the shapes as Microsoft Drawing
Objects.

Word can import a variety of file types (listed in Word's help). I'd bet
that Omnigraffle ahs its own proprietary format, but also that you can
export an Omnigraffle object in a file type (check Omnigraffle help) that is
also shard by Word.

-Jim Gordon
Mac MVP

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[Aamer Akhter]

Hi

Visio objects can be embedded into Word. In Visio they have additional
properties that Word will strip off. Word keeps the properties that it
supports, so you can look at and manipulate the shapes as Microsoft Drawing
Objects.

I'm afraid I didn't explain my self properly. I'd like to embed the
_file_ inside the word document. In the windows version, I was able to
encapsulate the visio file inside the word doc. So when I
double-clicked on the visio icon, viso would be started with the
drawing inside.

 

[Jim Gordon]

Hi

If Omnigraffle supports Microsoft OLE (Object Linking and Embedding) then
you might be able to embed the file as an object using Insert > Object >
From File.

If the file won't embed, you can accomplish pretty much the same thing by
hyperlinking to the file while being sure to supply it along with the Word
document in the same folder (not a subfolder) as the Word document.

-Jim Gordon
Mac MVP

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[Aamer Akhter]

Hi

If Omnigraffle supports Microsoft OLE (Object Linking and Embedding) then
you might be able to embed the file as an object using Insert > Object >
From File.

Does MS OLE exist on the Mac? If so, is it documented anywhere? I ask
because omni is saying that ms office is a closed system in this regard and
they can not add the capability to omni graffle that will allow embedding of
graffle files.

If the file won't embed, you can accomplish pretty much the same thing by
hyperlinking to the file while being sure to supply it along with the Word
document in the same folder (not a subfolder) as the Word document.

;-) that defeats the purpose of packaging the file with word doc.

 

[Jim Gordon]

Hi

OLE is supported in Mac Office. Having said that, I don't know of any
applications except Microsoft Office that takes advantage of it on the Mac.
When Microsoft first brought out OLE for Office they made a big deal of it
and made it sound like soon everyone would be making files that would work
as OLE objects. in April, 1996 "From the flood of OLE-enabled applications
released with Windows®95, it is quite clear that OLE Controls are being
implemented ubiquitously" http://www.microsoft.com/msj/archive/S2AE.aspx

I don't know of many OLE compliant applications other than Office, although
I have heard of one or two over the years. Whether OLE is really hard to
implement, undesirable to implement, or there are licensing restrictions,
lack of developer support or some combination of these things, it went over
like a lead balloon - especially on the Macintosh since Macs supported
Open-Doc around the time Microsoft was touting OLE
http://www.byte.com/art/9601/sec8/art2.htm

Here's a web site that describes the opposite of what you are seeking. It
lets you use OLE to put Office documents into other apps:
http://www.supermemo.com/archive/help99/ole.htm

If you do a search for information about OLE you'll find plenty of it to
keep you busy for days.

Actually I think Microsoft has scaled back on OLE since the mid-90's. At one
time you could always double-click an embedded OLE object and that would
start the application that created the document (that was called the
"application server.") That only works with certain documents these days.

I'm probably beating my head against the wall here, but I still think
hyperlinking provides a functional equivalent to OLE. Put a small picture or
clip-art into a document and have it linked to the OmniGraffle file. You can
made the OmniGraffle file hidden in the same folder so your recipients don't
open it unless it is accessed via the link.

-Jim Gordon
Mac MVP

All responses should be made to this newsgroup within the same thread.
Thanks.

About Microsoft MVPs:
http://www.mvps.org/

Search for help with the free Google search Excel add-in:
<http://www.rondebruin.nl/Google.htm>

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