Paste Link Option Not Available When File to Link Is Not Saved

 Last reviewed: November 21, 1994
Article ID: Q85327
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.1, 3.11

SUMMARY

When you link two objects in Windows, the Paste Link option under the Edit menu is unavailable (dimmed) when the file that contains the information to be linked has not been saved.

MORE INFORMATION

In this case, the application used to create the file containing the information to be linked represents the "server application." The application you are pasting the file into represents the "client application."

For an object to be linked, the client application must know the name of the server application and the file that contains linked information. When this information is not available, the Paste Link option will be unavailable.

Sample Solution Using Write and Paintbrush

In the following example, Write is acting as the client application and Paintbrush is the server application.

  1. Start Write.

  2. Start Paintbrush.

  3. Create a drawing in Paintbrush, and save the drawing.

  4. Select the drawing using the Pick or Scissors tools.

  5. From the Edit menu, choose Copy.

  6. Switch to Write.

  7. From the Edit menu, choose Paste Link which is available (that is, it is no longer dimmed).

A presentation of the Paintbrush-linked drawing appears in the Write document.

For more information, see page 300 of the "Microsoft Windows User's Guide" and/or query on the following words in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 

   windows and 3.1 and link and OLE

KBCategory: kbusage kbole kbenv
KBSubcategory: win31
Additional reference words: 3.10 3.1 3.11 OLE Grey greyed greyed grayed out
server can't link cannot

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Last reviewed: November 21, 1994
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