To accelerate the procedure for embedding new objects, client applications should implement an Insert Object command. In applications that include an Insert menu, the command should appear on the Insert menu and should be called Object. In applications that do not include an Insert menu, the command should appear on the Edit menu and should be called Insert Object. The command leads to the dialog box shown in Figure 12.
The Object Type list box in the Insert Object dialog box contains the descriptive object class names drawn from the registration database. The client application must sort and display the list in alphabetical order. To embed an object, the user selects its name from the list and chooses OK. This results in the following:
A rectangle (default size is determined by the client application) immediately appears at the insertion point as an interim place holder until the new object image is available. The rectangle is masked (see Figure 18) to indicate that its server is currently open.
The server application is launched for the selected object type. The server application displays a blank or default window in which the user can create or edit the object.
Figure 12: Insert Object dialog box
If the client application fails to locate the requested server when the user selects the entry from the Insert Object dialog box or double-clicks on an object, the client application should display the error message shown in Figure 13.
Figure 13. Warning message for server application not found
While editing, the user may select the Update<Container-Document> command from the server's File menu at any time to place the current rendition of the embedded object in the client application document at the current cursor location. (This will replace the place holder if it is the first update.) After editing is complete, the user selects the Exit & Return to <Container-Document> command from the File menu of the server. This command closes the server and returns focus to the container document. If the user does not choose the Update command for a modified embedded object before exiting, the server application displays the prompt shown in Figure 14.
Figure 14. Warning message for an embedded object