Activating the OLE Application at Run Time

An object that is present in the control can be activated at run time, usually by the user double-clicking the image. When an object is activated, the application controlling the object is initiated to edit or play the object.

The activation occurs in the following ways, depending on its capabilities and on controllable options.

• In place

  If the application is in-place capable and the control is large enough, it runs in the control itself. The menu bar of the form may be replaced by the initiated menu of the application. The toolbar of the application may also be inserted into the control. For example, Word for Windows 6 replaces the menu bar of the form with its own menu bar (but many options are disabled). It also inserts the Word for Windows toolbar at the top of the control. The user may then edit the document that is displayed within the control.

  When the user clicks on any other control on the form other than the displayed OLE object, the OLE application is deactivated. The menu bar of the form is restored, the inserted toolbar is hidden, and the image is replaced by the static object version. Any changes made to the object are stored in the OleObject of the control.

  As two applications are running simultaneously, the deactivation process is very complex and can result in the loss of mouse messages after the initial mouseDown event. When clicking to deactivate, the object being clicked may not respond (except to cause the deactivate event).

• Open activation

  If the application does not support in-place activation, the application is opened in normal mode as though the application had been initiated from the program folder or shortcut. The control image is drawn through with diagonal lines, to show that the server is active.

  The application’s menus may include different options applicable to OLE use. These options can include:

  • update OleControl (save changes into JADE now)

  • exit & Return to OleControl (shut down and save changes)

  When shutting down an application, you are usually asked whether you want to update the OLE control. This is not universal, however, and in some cases, changes that were made are discarded when closing using the Control-Menu unless the exit & Return to OleControl option is selected.

For more details, see "OleControl Class", in Chapter 2 of the JADE Encyclopaedia of Classes.