File - Place Function

The Place function in illustrator used to import the item basically like a linked file and showed the image how it should be.  We used this mainly for fonts we did not have that had not been converted to outlines.  We could then flatten the transparency and select "convert fonts to outlines" and be all set.  Today it started importing placed items with live text.  Not sure what setting changed and I cannot find where the settings are for this function.