FrameMaker 7.2 fix for use of files with OLE2

[Mike_LN]

Just updated Windows XP to SP3 and lost the ability to update OLE2 figures with FrameMaker 7.2.  Is there a fix that needs to be installed so that the OLE2s will work correctly?  Also cannot input OLEs into FrameMaker 9.0, is there a fix for this?

[Art Campbell]

Yeah, this has been an issue since SP3 shipped. One of the fixes plugged a security hole in OLE, and broke the mechanism FM and most other applications used.

There is no fix for 7.2. Most people have converted the objects to graphics and imported those by reference. A few people have reported that crash files are generated when FM generates the "Can't Save" error message and that you can open one of those, save it as a new name and carry on with life. I haven't tried it and reports seem to indicate that it's a YMMV situation.

On your second question, I haven't had any problem embedding objects in FM 9 -- OLE support was a known issue/requirement when it was developed, and it works so far as I know. There have been two patches, so you may want to make sure those are in place. And, what how are you setting up the object? File > Import > Object, drop&drag, copy, something else....?

Art

[MichaelKazlow]

Frame support for OLE was always hit or miss. The best advice we gave here was just say no to OLE2. It has always been a source of pain.

[Dov Isaacs]

This is more than just an issue of Frame support for OLE. Even Microsoft's own applications exhibit the same problems. This is really a Microsoft issue with ongoing support of a technology that I suspect they now wish they never created.

          - Dov