How to Insert a Text File as an Object in Microsoft 365 for Mac
Question details
Users need to insert a TXT file as an object into a document on Mac, but Microsoft 365 displays a server application or source file error.
- Product
- Microsoft 365 apps for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Attempting to embed a plain text (.txt) file directly into a document, spreadsheet, or presentation using the Insert > Object feature.
- Observed behavior
- The application throws an error because macOS lacks full support for the Windows Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) technology required to process the embedded text file.
Verify whether the text file must be fully embedded into the document for offline viewing, or if a clickable link to an external file will meet your needs.
Convert the Text File to a Word Document
Since Microsoft Office for Mac fully supports embedding Word objects, converting your TXT file to a DOCX file circumvents the OLE limitation.
While macOS struggles to natively embed plain text files via OLE, it is perfectly capable of handling native Microsoft Office formats. By simply resaving the text file as a standard Word document, the object insertion process will work seamlessly.
Launch Microsoft Word on your Mac. Go to File > Open, locate your plain text (.txt) file, and open it.
Navigate to File > Save As. In the format dropdown, select 'Word Document (.docx)' and save the file to your preferred location.
Open your main Microsoft 365 document. Go to the Insert tab on the ribbon, click Object, select 'From File', and choose the newly created .docx file.
Create a Relative Hyperlink
If you do not strictly need the file embedded, using a relative hyperlink allows users to click and open the text file without triggering OLE errors.
Experience Seamless Document Editing with WPS Office for Mac
If you are frustrated by macOS OLE compatibility limits and complex workarounds in Microsoft 365, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, free, and highly compatible workspace for your daily document, spreadsheet, and PDF needs.
- 1. Download the Mac installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the dedicated version tailored for macOS.
- 2. Install the application: Open the downloaded .dmg file and drag the WPS Office icon into your Applications folder.
- 3. Open and edit your files: Launch WPS Office and instantly open your existing Word, Excel, or PDF files to enjoy a smooth editing experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I get an OLE error when inserting objects on a Mac?
Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) is inherently a Windows-based technology. macOS does not natively support the OLE framework, severely restricting the types of objects (mostly limiting them to native Word and Excel files) that Microsoft 365 for Mac can embed.
Can I embed a PDF as an object in Word for Mac?
Because of the same macOS OLE limitations, embedding a PDF directly as a clickable object often fails or only inserts the first page as an image. A better approach is to convert the PDF to a Word document or use a relative hyperlink.
How do I ensure my hyperlinks don't break when sharing the document?
To keep relative links functional on another user's computer, you must store both the main document and the linked text file in the same folder. When sharing, compress the entire folder into a ZIP file and share the archive.
