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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

Server Side	All those necessary for OLE Linking and embedding
	IOleLocate (Picking)
	IViewGLObject (Draw)
	IOle3DObject (Extent)
	IOleInPlaceActive3DObject (Inplace activation)
Client Side	All those necessary for OLE Linking and embedding
	IOleInPlace3DSite (general services)
	IOleInPlaceViews

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.

Some COM Interfaces