About linked and embedded objects

You can use a linked or embedded object to add to another file all or part of a file created in MapPoint. The three elements in this process are the source file, the destination file, and the linked or embedded map (or object). As a result of this process, the destination file is known as a compound document.

The source file contains the original information that is linked or embedded in the destination file. The linked or embedded object itself exists in the destination file. In MapPoint, the map file is the source file.

The destination file is the file into which a linked or embedded object is inserted.

If the destination file you want to use was created in a program that does not support linked or embedded objects, you can still copy and paste information from the source file into the destination file to share the information between programs. In MapPoint, any document to which you insert a map file (either as a linked or embedded object) is the destination file.

Although the destination file can be affected by changes to the source file, the source file is not affected by changes to the destination file. The main differences between linked objects and embedded objects are where the data is stored and how it is updated after you place it in the destination file.

Linked objects

The linked object is simply the location of the source file. The destination file displays only a representation of that linked data, and the information in the destination file is updated only if you modify the source file. Use linked objects if file size is a consideration or if you plan to continue manipulating the data in the source file. To give someone else a file that contains a linked object, you must give them both the source file and the destination file for updating.

Embedded objects

Embedded objects are part of the destination file and, once inserted, are no longer part of the source file. With an embedded object, information in the destination file does not change if you modify the source file. This does not mean that the embedded object is not modifiable. Double-clicking the embedded object opens it in MapPoint and allows you to make your changes directly to the embedded object while still in the destination file. Use embedded objects if you want to maintain all of your data in a single file.

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