| Microsoft's COM is a software
{{U}}(71) {{/U}} that allows applications to be built from binary
software components. COM is the underlying architecture that forms the
foundation for higher-level software services, like those provided by OLE. COM
defines a binary standard for function calling between components, a way for
components to dynamically discover the interfaces implemented by other
components, and a mechanism to identify components and their interfaces
uniquely. OLE is a compound {{U}}(72) {{/U}} standard developed by Microsoft. OLE makes it possible to create {{U}}(73) {{/U}} with one application and link or embed them in a second application. Embedded objects retain their original format and {{U}}(74) {{/U}} to the application that created them. Support for OLE is built into the Windows and MacOS Operating Systems. A {{U}}(75) {{/U}} compound document standard developed mainly by Apple and IBM is called OpenDoc. |