Data integration

Data files contain non-printing control characters which describe the properties of the data. Text properties could include whether the text is bold, italic, underlined etc. Graphics image properties could include size, position, colours and text flow around graphic. Placement information can be a propertiy of any object. Grouping information shows which objects are linked together.

The principles of importing data are similar to other applications. File conversion filters can be used to import and export text and graphics. Data interchange format files can be used to put a graph from a spreadsheet onto a DTP page. Clipboard can be used to capture and file statically.

There are three ways that ojects can be linked dynamically with their application programs.

1.             DDE (dynamic data exchange). The object in the DTP publication will change if the original is changed in the original application program.

2.             OLE1 (object linking and embedding). The object in the DTP publication appears to as an icon. The actual object will be printed if the publication is printed, and the original application will be opened if the icon is double clicked so that the object can be modified.

3.             OLE2 (object linking and embedding). This is similar to OLE1 except the object can be edited in place. When you choose to edit the object, the menus, mouse and keyboard settings become those of the original application and the object can be edited as it appears in the DTP publication.

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Terms

TEXT FILES  FILE CONVERSION FILTER                      CLIPBOARD            

GRAPHICS    DATA INTERCHANGE FORMAT   EXPORTING DATA

PUBLISH                   SUBSCRIBE                                                 STATIC & DYNAMIC

Theory Exercises	Practical Exercises
P267 Q1 to Q2	P271 activity
P273 Mix & Match	P273 activity