Special Edition Using AutoCAD® 2000

Embedding Data from Other Sources Using OLE

The functionality of AutoCAD is definitely enhanced when you utilize the power of Windows object linking and embedding, or OLE, to link and import data from outside sources. Because the data is linked, if the outside source is updated, the data displayed in AutoCAD also is updated. Accessing and modifying the data is a simple process: Just double-click on the data object in AutoCAD to launch the software in which the data is stored. Importing this data is also an easy task; follow through the next example to see how it is done.

Example: Embedding an Excel Spreadsheet into AutoCAD This example uses Microsoft Excel for Windows NT or 95/98. The important thing to remember is that if you wish to use another ...