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FoxProFoxPro Developer's Conference '94 |
Session 112
OLE: Inside and Out
Ted Roche
Computer Resource
Overview
FoxPro for Windows has built-in OLE capabilities, which can add entirely new features to your applications with minimal effort. During this session, Ted will review the capabilities of FoxPro and OLE. He will also explore the exciting innovations introduced in OLE 2.0, including In-Place Editing and OLE Automation, and will speculate about the impact OLE 2.0 could have in a future version of FoxPro.
Outline
FoxPro & OLE now
Commands
Output capabilities
Limitations
OLE 2.0
Foxpro & OLE
What is OLE?
It Came from the Clipboard!
"Visual DDE"
Cut-and-paste with activate added
Separation of functionality from document
Compound Document
FoxPro’s OLE Implementation
General fields
APPEND GENERAL
MODIFY GENERAL
@ ... SAY ... VERB
APPEND GENERAL Command
Syntax:
APPEND GENERAL <general
field1>
FROM <filename>
[LINK]
[CLASS <oleclass>]
Embedded Objects
Linked Objects
MODIFY GENERAL Command
MODIFY GENERAL <field>
[, <field>]
[NOMODIFY]
[NOWAIT]
[[WINDOW <windowname>]
[IN [WINDOW] <windowname2] |
IN SCREEN]]
FoxPro Output Options
Screen Bitmap Tool
Report/Label Bitmap Tool
@ ... SAY
Screen Picture Tool
OLE object in reports or labels
@ ... SAY object command
Syntax:
@ <row, column> SAY
<file> BITMAP | <general field>
[STYLE <expC1>]
[CENTER]
[ISOMETRIC | STRETCH]
[SIZE <expN1>, <expN2>]
[NOWAIT]
What Is OLE 2.0?
A software Component Object
Model standard
Foundation for a new generation of applications
Shrink-wrapped software combines as never before
An interapplication integration standard
Seamless visual editing
Drag and drop objects across applications
A cross-application programmability standard
OLE Automation
An open, cross-platform standard
Key Points
The OLE Component Object Model is the
foundation for object oriented Windows based systems.
Compound documents are only one use of OLE.
Many features of OLE are useful with or without compound
documents.
Most OLE features are optional.
You may implement some and use default implementation for
others.
New interfaces can be added later for additional
capabilities.
OLE 2.0 Benefits
More choices
Better quality
Better integration
Easier custom solutions
Reduced training and support
OLE 2.0 Feature Summary
Application Integration
Visual Editing
Drag And Drop
OLE Automation
What is an Object?
An Excel object is, in essence, something
that can be programmed. It is a piece of Excel. Excel objects
include
Workbooks
Worksheets
Charts
DialogSheets
On-Sheet Controls
Drawingobjects
etc. - 128 Excel objects in all.
OfficeLinks
Complete OLE 2.0 support
Visual Editing
Cross-program Drag-and-Drop feature
Features for common cross-program scenarios
Present it! Document it!
Mail Merge, Routing
Publish It, Analyze It, Mail It
Rich text Cut-and-Paste feature (Microsoft Access 2.0)
The Microsoft Office Development Platform
Program With Microsoft Applications
Future Windows-Based Investments
Component Object Model: Foundation For New Application Architecture
Cross-Platform Interoperability
Office Solutions Technology
Bibliography
For more information on OLE, check out
these resources:
OLE Programmers’ Reference, 2 volumes, Microsoft
Press, 1994
Inside OLE 2, Kraig Brockschmidt, Microsoft Press,
1994
Microsoft, Windows, OLE and FoxPro and other product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Use of the code included herein is completely at your own risk; no liability is assumed by either DFPUG, Computer Resource, nor Microsoft for any damages incurred.