In addition to OLE objects in controls and objects for automation, PowerBuilder provides an interface to the underpinnings of OLE data storage.
OLE data is stored in objects called streams, which live in objects called storages. Streams and storages are analogous to the files and directories of a file system. By opening, reading, writing, saving, and deleting streams and storages, you can create, combine, and delete your OLE objects. PowerBuilder provides access to storages and streams with the OLEStorage and OLEStream object types.
When you define OLE controls and OLEObject variables, you have full access to the functionality of server applications and automation, which already provide you with much of OLE’s power. You might never need to use PowerBuilder’s storage and stream objects unless you want to construct complex combinations of stored data.
Storage files from other applications
This section discusses OLE storage files that a PowerBuilder
application has built. Other PowerBuilder applications will be able
to open the objects in a storage file built by PowerBuilder. Although
Excel, Word, and other server applications store their native data
in OLE storages, these files have their own special formats, and
it is not advisable to open them directly as storage files. Instead,
you should always insert them in a control (InsertFile)
or connect to them for automation (ConnectToObject).
