| Full Name | WMF (Windows Metafile Format) |
| Format ID | IG_FORMAT_WMF = 44 |
| File Extension(s) | *.wmf, |
| Data Type | Metafile Image |
| Data Encoding | Binary |
| Color Profile Support | No |
| Multi-Page Support | No |
| Alpha Channel Support | No |
| Filter Control Parameter | Type | Default Value | Available Values | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UPSIDE_DOWN | BOOL | TRUE, FALSE | If TRUE then images will be saved upside-down. | |
| TYPE | UINT | BMP_TYPE_BMC, BMP_TYPE_BMI, BMP_TYPE_BMI2 | Type of the BMP file to be saved as part of WMF. | |
| COMPRESSION | DWORD | BMP_COMP_RLE4, BMP_COMP_RLE8, BMP_COMP_RGB | Type of compression of BMP file. | |
| TRUE_METAFILE | BOOL | TRUE (for Windows); FALSE (otherwise) | TRUE, FALSE |
TRUE means executing of metafile commands (playing of metafile). Can be TRUE only for Windows. If the TRUE_METAFILE parameter is set to TRUE, the image will be opened as an RGB DIB for use with the GDI functions, which produce the image output. This causes the image to look like it is 24-bit per pixel, and 1024x1024 in dimensions. If the TRUE_METAFILE parameter is set to FALSE, then ImageGear will open the image according to its correct bit depth and dimensions. |
| RESOLUTION_X | DWORD | NULL | X resolution. 0 for actual resolution. | |
| RESOLUTION_Y | DWORD | NULL | Y resolution. 0 for actual resolution. | |
| DEPTH | DWORD | NULL | Bit Depth. 0 for actual depth. |
A Microsoft Windows Metafile holds vector and bitmap graphics data in memory or on disk. Although it was developed for use with Windows applications, it is now used by many non-Windows-based applications, allowing data to be transferred to and from Windows applications. Due to the great success of the Microsoft Windows interface, the Windows Metafile format is found in nearly all graphical applications. Metafiles use much less space and are more device-independent than bitmaps.
The Windows metafile begins with a short header and is followed by one or more records of data. The header describes the record data. A "placement" header can also be added before the file header; it contains information needed to move the metafile between applications. Each record corresponds to a binary-encoded Windows graphics device interface (GDI) call, and contains the size of the record, the unique function number for the GDI and an array of parameters. The GDI is used by Windows to perform all image output. When the metafile is "played", (this Microsoft term is a companion term to the Windows function named "PlayMetaFile"), each record makes a call to the appropriate function call for displaying each object in the image. The last record in the file contains a function number of zero to indicate that the end of the record data has been reached.
Brown, C. Wayne, and Barry J. Shepherd. Graphics File Formats: Reference and Guide. Greenwich, CT.: Manning Publications, 1992.
Kay, David C. and John R. Levine. Graphics File Formats. Windcrest Books, 1992.
Murray, James D. and William vanRyper. Encyclopedia of Graphics File Formats. Sebastopol, CA: O'Reilly & Associates, Inc., 1994.
Petzold, Charles. Programming Windows: The Microsoft Guide to writing applications for Windows 3. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Press, 1990.