OLE for Design and Modeling (OLE for D&M) is a Microsoft OLE Industry Solution . There are today two set of functionality within OLE for D&M

3D Object Linking and Embedding. Like documents may be inserted into other documents, CAD parts or assembly may be inserted into other CAD parts. Using OLE for D&M you can imagine to use a CAD system to build an assembly of a car build with CAD system A and the engine build with CAD system B. This is specially interesting if some parts of the design come from another company or are standard parts.

The need for a specific protocol for 3D systems is

	3D assembly are not a composition of views of the different parts. Models must be first combined and then a view is done. The standard OLE linking and embedding is based on composition of views.
	In place activation cannot be switch on and off by clicking outside a rectangle because there is no extent separation between parts.

Although the problem is specific to 3D the approach of OLE for D&M is to reuse most of the interfaces. COM shows there its versatility.

Interfaces engaged in OLE for D&M Linking and embedding

Geometry and Topology It is the new protocol of OLE for D&M. This will be used mainly to access geometry and topology of existing models for reuse for a CAM or an FEM package. This protocol is still in discussion.

RadialSoft Corp will use OLE for D&M specifications to support customs applications.