Windows Metafile

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|formattype=electronic
 
|formattype=electronic
 
|subcat=Graphics
 
|subcat=Graphics
|extensions={{ext|wmf}}, {{ext|emf}}, {{ext|wmz}}, {{ext|emz}}, {{ext|apm}}
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|extensions={{ext|wmf}}, {{ext|wmz}}, {{ext|apm}}
|pronom={{PRONOM|x-fmt/119}}, {{PRONOM|x-fmt/153}}, {{PRONOM|fmt/344}}, {{PRONOM|fmt/345}}
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|mimetypes={{mimetype|image/wmf}}
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|pronom={{PRONOM|x-fmt/119}}
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|kaitai struct=wmf
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|released=1990
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|wikidata={{wikidata|Q1072083}}
 
}}
 
}}
'''Windows Metafile''' ('''WMF''') is a graphics file format used mainly by old Microsoft Windows applications. It stores a list of commands which, when executed, generate an image.
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:''Not to be confused with [[Windows Media Metafile]].''
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:''For EMF, see [[Enhanced Metafile]].''
  
Windows has drivers to support WMF, allowing applications to either write to a WMF file, or draw on the screen, using the same API.
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'''Windows Metafile''' ('''WMF''') is a vector graphics format native to Microsoft Windows 3.x. It stores a list of commands which, when executed, generate an image.
  
The newer versions of the format are known as '''Enhanced Metafile''' ('''EMF''') and '''Enhanced Metafile Format Plus Extensions''' ('''EMF+''').
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The term ''Windows Metafile'' usually refers specifically to WMF format, though it can also be an umbrella term that includes the successor format, [[Enhanced Metafile]] (EMF).
  
The '''.wmz''' extension indicates a [[ZIP]]-compressed WMF file. The '''.emz''' extension is reportedly used for [[gzip]]-compressed EMF files.
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The '''.wmz''' extension reportedly indicates a [[ZIP]]-compressed WMF file, but the only .wmz files we've seen are actually [[gzip]]-compressed.
  
 
Most WMF files begin with a 22-byte "Aldus Placeable Metafile" header, which supplies suggested placement and scaling information. Some (mainly older) WMF files lack this header.
 
Most WMF files begin with a 22-byte "Aldus Placeable Metafile" header, which supplies suggested placement and scaling information. Some (mainly older) WMF files lack this header.
  
 
== Identification ==
 
== Identification ==
WMF data (usually?) begins with the byte sequence <code>01 00 09 00</code> or <code>02 00 09 00</code>. This sequence may appear at the beginning of a WMF file, but it is usually at offset 22, and the file begins with the Aldus Placeable Metafile signature of <code>D7 CD C6 9A</code>.
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WMF data (usually?) begins with the byte sequence {{magic|01 00 09 00}} or {{magic|02 00 09 00}}. This sequence may appear at the beginning of a WMF file, but it is usually at offset 22, and the file begins with the Aldus Placeable Metafile signature of {{magic|D7 CD C6 9A}}.
 
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EMF files have "<code>&nbsp;EMF</code>" (with the leading space) at file offset 40.
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== Specifications ==
 
== Specifications ==
* [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc215212.aspx Windows Metafile Format Specification]
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* [https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc250370.aspx &#x5b;MS-WMF&#x5d;: Windows Metafile Format] - Current version
* [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd145202%28v=VS.85%29.aspx Windows-Format Metafiles]
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* [https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/digformatspecs/WindowsMetafileFormat(wmf)Specification.pdf Windows Metafile Format (wmf) Specification] - Unknown version, 2007
* [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc230514.aspx Enhanced Metafile Format]
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* [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd145202%28v=VS.85%29.aspx Microsoft Docs: Windows-Format Metafiles]
* [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc230724.aspx Enhanced Metafile Format Plus Extensions]
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== Metaformat files ==
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* [https://www.synalysis.net/Grammars/emf.grammar Synalysis grammar file for EMF] (for Hexinator / Synalize It!; [[Synalysis grammar file|more details]])
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== Software ==
 
== Software ==
 
* [http://inkscape.org/ Inkscape]
 
* [http://inkscape.org/ Inkscape]
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* [[Scribus]]
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* [[Konvertor]]
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* [[XnView]]
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* [[ImageMagick]]
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* [https://sourceforge.net/projects/libuemf/ libUEMF]
 
* [http://wvware.sourceforge.net/libwmf.html libwmf]
 
* [http://wvware.sourceforge.net/libwmf.html libwmf]
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* [https://sk1project.net/modules.php?name=Products&product=uniconvertor UniConvertor]
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* [http://snisurset.net/code/abydos/ abydos]
  
 
== Sample files ==
 
== Sample files ==
 
* http://cd.textfiles.com/10000gp2/COLORWMF/
 
* http://cd.textfiles.com/10000gp2/COLORWMF/
 
* http://cd.textfiles.com/cdreview/cdreview66/MULTIM/MEDI8OR/CLIPART/PICTURES/
 
* http://cd.textfiles.com/cdreview/cdreview66/MULTIM/MEDI8OR/CLIPART/PICTURES/
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* https://telparia.com/fileFormatSamples/image/wmf/
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== See also ==
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* [[Enhanced Metafile]]
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* [[Segmented Hypergraphics]]
  
 
== Links ==
 
== Links ==
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[[Category:Microsoft]]
 
[[Category:Microsoft]]
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[[Category:Windows]]

Revision as of 13:44, 19 October 2021

File Format
Name Windows Metafile
Ontology
Extension(s) .wmf, .wmz, .apm
MIME Type(s) image/wmf
PRONOM x-fmt/119
Wikidata ID Q1072083
Kaitai Struct Spec wmf.ksy
Released 1990
Not to be confused with Windows Media Metafile.
For EMF, see Enhanced Metafile.

Windows Metafile (WMF) is a vector graphics format native to Microsoft Windows 3.x. It stores a list of commands which, when executed, generate an image.

The term Windows Metafile usually refers specifically to WMF format, though it can also be an umbrella term that includes the successor format, Enhanced Metafile (EMF).

The .wmz extension reportedly indicates a ZIP-compressed WMF file, but the only .wmz files we've seen are actually gzip-compressed.

Most WMF files begin with a 22-byte "Aldus Placeable Metafile" header, which supplies suggested placement and scaling information. Some (mainly older) WMF files lack this header.

Contents

Identification

WMF data (usually?) begins with the byte sequence 01 00 09 00 or 02 00 09 00. This sequence may appear at the beginning of a WMF file, but it is usually at offset 22, and the file begins with the Aldus Placeable Metafile signature of D7 CD C6 9A.

Specifications

Software

Sample files

See also

Links

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