Windows Metafile
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.
Windows has drivers to support WMF, allowing applications to either write to a WMF file, or draw on the screen, using the same API.
The newer versions of the format are known as Enhanced Metafile (EMF) and Enhanced Metafile Format Plus Extensions (EMF+).
The .wmz extension indicates a ZIP-compressed WMF file. The .emz extension is reportedly used for gzip-compressed EMF files.
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.
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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 1D C6 9A.
EMF files have " EMF" (with the leading space) at file offset 40.
Specifications
- Windows Metafile Format Specification
- Windows-Format Metafiles
- Enhanced Metafile Format
- Enhanced Metafile Format Plus Extensions
Software
Sample files
- http://cd.textfiles.com/10000gp2/COLORWMF/
- http://cd.textfiles.com/cdreview/cdreview66/MULTIM/MEDI8OR/CLIPART/PICTURES/
