Inserting OLE Objects (GUI Only)
In the PTC RV&S client GUI, you can insert OLE objects into rich content fields. OLE objects include Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Visio, and Microsoft PowerPoint objects. Inserting OLE objects provides a visual representation of the object data in an item, such as a pie chart from an Excel file. Plus, you still have the benefit of being able to dynamically edit that object as needed.
When you insert an OLE object into a rich content field, PTC RV&S generates a PNG thumbnail image of the data in the object. This thumbnail image is backed by the original object file. When you save the item, the thumbnail image and original object file are automatically saved as attachments. For example, a Word object is represented by an attachment .png image linked to the .doc(x) format file attachment. If PTC RV&S is unable to generate a thumbnail image from the data in the object, the system icon for that file type displays if it is available.
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Assume that you are creating an item in PTC RV&S and attaching an object that contains multiple shapes, such as a Word document. The generated thumbnail image for the object shows the shape that was added first to the document, regardless of its location. This first shape added to the document appears rather than the shape that appears top-most in the document. This display affects the thumbnail image only. The saved document contains the correct sequence of shapes as they appear in the document.
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Inserting an OLE Object in the GUI
In the GUI, you can insert an OLE object in a rich content field.
To insert an OLE object:
1. Place the cursor in the desired location.
2. From the Insert list on the rich content toolbar, select 
Insert Object.
Insert Object.3. Select the Word, Excel, Visio, or PowerPoint file that you want to insert.
PTC RV&S generates a PNG thumbnail image of the data in the object, backed by the original object file. If PTC RV&S is unable to generate a thumbnail image from the data in the object, the system icon for that file type displays if available.
4. Save the item. The thumbnail image and original object file are saved as attachments.
Editing an OLE Object in the GUI
In the GUI, you can edit an OLE object in a rich content field:
1. Do one of the following:
◦ Double-click the object.
◦ Click 
.
.The OLE viewer opens, with the editor embedded in the viewer and the object available for editing.
2. Edit the object as needed.
| | When directly editing an OLE object, only the OLE viewer is usable until the viewer window is closed. You cannot perform PTC RV&S operations from the PTC RV&S client or PTC RV&S Administration Client. |
3. Close the OLE viewer.
4. When prompted, save your changes back to the item in PTC RV&S. This captures a new image attachment in PNG format that is linked to the object in PTC RV&S.
5. Save the item.
Key Considerations
• To work with an embedded Word, Excel, Visio, or PowerPoint object, the supporting Microsoft application must be installed on the PTC RV&S client machine. For information on using the editor, consult the Microsoft Help within the selected application.
• Word Objects
◦ Only the first object in the editor is used by PTC RV&S (and displayed in the PNG image). Precedence is given to inline objects over anchored objects.
◦ To insert multiple objects in the same editor, group the objects together.
◦ Text entered into the editor is not used by PTC RV&S.
◦ Format a drawing inline. If the drawing must be anchored, then group it.
◦ The following embedded object types are supported for PNG formatted image capture:
▪ Microsoft Word pictures
▪ Microsoft GraphChart
▪ Excel charts
▪ Excel worksheets
▪ Visio drawings
▪ Images
▪ SmartArt
• Excel Objects
◦ Only the spreadsheet displayed in the editor is used by PTC RV&S.
◦ Only the chart displayed in the editor is used by PTC RV&S.
◦ The following embedded object types are supported for PNG formatted image capture:
▪ Microsoft Word pictures
▪ Microsoft GraphChart
▪ Excel charts
▪ Excel worksheets
▪ Visio drawings
▪ Images
◦ The PNG is an image of the Excel spreadsheet, not an individual element.
• Visio Objects
◦ The PNG is an image of the Visio diagram, not an individual element.
• PowerPoint Objects
◦ The PNG is an image of the first PowerPoint slide, not an individual element.