Types and Links

An OLE linked object includes a cached copy of its source's type at the time of the last update. When the type of a linked source object changes, all links derived from that source object contain the old type and operations until either an update occurs or the linked source is activated. Because out-of-date links can potentially display obsolete operations to the user, a mismatch can occur. When the user chooses a command for an OLE linked object, the linked object compares the cached type with the current type of the linked source. If they are the same, the OLE linked object forwards the operation on to the source. If they are different, the linked object informs its container. In response, the container can either:

In either case, the OLE linked object adopts the source's new type, and subsequently the container displays the new type's operations in the OLE linked object's menu.