HP Intelligent Management Center Standard Software Platform - Manual (Page 414)

OLE overview
Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) enables you to insert objects (OLE
objects) into a report from other applications (OLE server applications) and
then use those applications from within Crystal Reports to edit the objects if
necessary.
If you were not using OLE, you would have to exit Crystal Reports, open the
original application, change the object, return to Crystal Reports, delete the
object originally inserted, and then insert the newly revised object.
Note:
If you intend to use your Crystal report in BusinessObjects Enterprise or
through the Report Application Server (RAS), copy the source file to a network
folder that is accessible to the network account(s) under which the processing
servers (Job Server, Page Server, RAS) are running. Ensure that report
designers' accounts also have permission to the network folder. When you
insert the linked OLE object in Crystal Reports, use a UNC path.
OLE terminology
Before you work with OLE objects in Crystal Reports, it might be helpful to
review some terminology:
• OLE
OLE is an acronym for Object Linking and Embedding. It refers to the
ability to create compound documents; that is, documents that contain
elements from other applications that can be edited using the original
application.
• OLE Object
An OLE object is, broadly speaking, a presentation of data that was
created in another application and that maintains a relationship with the
application that was used to create it. A bitmap created in Paint, an Excel
spreadsheet, or a graph from MS Graph may all be OLE objects if they
are inserted in the receiving document as OLE objects. If they are not
inserted as OLE objects, they retain no relationship with the original
application.
• OLE Container Application
414 Crystal Reports 2008 SP3 User's Guide
OLE 16
OLE overview