Contents
   Metafiler for Windows

Contents

What is a Metafile?

What is Metafiler?

How to use Metafiler

About Metafiler

Questions and Suggestions


What is a Metafile?

A Windows Metafile is a graphic image that is stored in the form of graphic drawing commands (objects) rather than dots (pixels).  In this manner the computer remembers a picture of a circle as just that, a certain size circle with a certain color.  This is in contrast to bitmaps, which store pictures as a series of dots.  Pictures stored as a set of objects or drawing commands are also reffered to as vector drawings.

Actually, Windows Metafiles may contain any combination of vector drawings, bitmaps, and text combined into one image, but they are most often used to store vector images.

When Windows Metafiles are stored on disk, they most commonly have the .WMF extension.


What is Metafiler?

Metafiler is a program that can transfer Windows Metafiles to and from the Windows Clipboard and disk storage (as WMF files).

This is very handy when working with programs such as Microsoft Word for Windows, which includes powerful Metafile creation/editing utilities (MS Word Art, and Microsoft Draw).  These utilities, however, lack the basic feature of being able to load and save metafiles to and from disk.


How to use Metafiler

Loading a metafile from disk

Saving a metafile to disk

Pasting-in a metafile from the Windows Clipboard

Copying a metafile to the Windows Clipboard

Cutting-out a metafile to the Windows Clipboard

Clearing the Metafiler window

Exiting Metafiler


About Metafiler

Metafiler for Windows

© Copyright 1993, Raymond W. Six

To get the latest Metafiler revision number and date, choose About... from the Help Menu

Freeware!

Use and distribute as you please, as long as you...

Do not charge a fee, beyond the cost of distribution media

Do not tamper with the contents of this program in any way.

Do not attempt to 'dis-assemble' or otherwise derive the source code of this program from its object code and/or other components.

Agree that this program is not warranted in any way by anyone.

Agree that Ray is programming God!

Metafiler was programmed with Microsoft Visual Basic for Windows - Professional Edition, Version 2.0.  The Additional VBX file is from the MicroHelp VB-Tools for Windows custom control collection (highly recommended).  This Windows help file was created with Windows Help Magician (a program which every VB programmer should immediately go out an purchase!)

< Trademarks and Service Marks are property of their respective owners >


Loading a metafile from disk

To load a metafile from disk you may either:

Press the [image] button on the toolbar, or

Choose the Open... command from the File Menu

A dialog box will then appear that will allow you to select which WMF file you wish to load.


Saving a metafile to disk

To save a metafile to disk you may either:

Press the [image] button on the toolbar, or

Choose the Save command from the File Menu

A dialog box will then appear that will allow you to select where the WMF file should be placed, and what name it should be given.


Pasting-in a metafile from the Windows Clipboard

To paste in a copy of a metafile currently in the Windows Clipboard you may either:

Press the [image] button on the toolbar, or

Choose the Paste command from the Edit Menu


Cutting-out a metafile to the Windows Clipboard

To cut the currently displayed metafile out of Metafiler and into the Windows Clipboard you may either:

Press the [image] button on the toolbar, or

Choose the Cut command from the Edit Menu


Copying a metafile to the Windows Clipboard

To copy the metafile currently displayed into the Windows Clipboard you may either:

Press the [image] button on the toolbar, or

Choose the Copy command from the Edit Menu


Clearing the Metafiler window

Toclear the Metafiler window, choose the Delete command from the Edit Menu


Exiting Metafiler

To close Metafiler, select Exit from the File Menu


File Menu


Edit Menu


Help Menu


Questions and Suggestions

Questions about Metafiler and suggestions for improvements may be sent to:

Raymond W. Six

CompuServe: 70530,433

Internet : 70530.433@compuserve.com