MetaConv  -  Exclusive Demo of WMF Converter

by Gordon Key

MetaConverter is a utility for converting Windows Meta Files (.WMF files) into Acorn Draw files. This is an exclusive demonstration version which allows you to view the converted WMF file, but not save it as a Draw file.

About Windows Meta Files
Windows Meta Files are the PC/Windows equivalent of the Acorn Draw file. They are widely used throughout the PC world as they can be manipulated better than
bitmap images and can be scaled and rotated without introducing jagged edges. Many PC magazines give these files away each month on their cover discs (sometimes in their thousands), and they are also available very cheaply through the public domain and several software companies.

Windows Meta Files always have names that end in .WMF such as MAN.WMF or HORSE.WMF. When viewed under RISC OS however, the dot in the name is replaced with a backslash and the name is truncated to ten characters, so that ELEPHANT.WMF appears as ELEPHANT\W in a RISC OS Filer window. The .WMF part of the name is not important to MetaConverter so you can rename the files if you wish.

Using MetaConverter
To run MetaConverter, click on its icon in the RISC User menu system or double-click on its icon in the Filer window.

To view a WMF file simply drag its icon to either the MetaConverter icon on
the icon bar or to an open MetaConverter window. There will be a short pause
while the file is converted after which the image will be displayed. You will find an example WMF file inside the ClipArt application on this disc.

Menu Options (Full version only)
If you select a menu option from the MetaConverter window menu, the option will be applied immediately to the currently displayed WMF file. If you select an option from the icon bar menu, the option will not take effect until the next WMF file is dragged to MetaConverter.

Flip Y
Due to some non-standardisation of WMF files, the converted image may be
inverted vertically. Selecting Flip Y will correct this.

Auto Size
This option only applies to WMF files that contain DIBs (Device Independent
Bitmaps), the PC equivalent of Sprites. These DIBs are often compressed in
one direction to save memory. Auto Size will compensate for this and reduce the size of what can be very large images. An unfortunate side effect of this is that very small DIBs may appear chunky. This can be eliminated by deselecting Auto Size if the problem occurs.

Outline
Deselecting this option can sometimes improve the display of shaded images. This only corrects for a bug in some WMF files and will have no effect on the vast majority of files.

Base Size
The Base Size determines the bounding box of the screen display and the
output Draw file. Once again due to some non-standardisation in the WMF format, the default image size that certain WMF files have can range from very tiny to
ridiculously large. Base Size compensates for this by automatically scaling the image so that the largest side of the image fits the specified X or Y value. The values are in pixels and should be set to the same for both X and Y directions if you wish to retain the image's aspect ratio.

Save
The Save option, available from the window menu only, allows you to save the WMF file as a Draw file. Simply drag the Draw file icon to the directory of your choice or into any application that can import Draw files.

Possible Problems
WMF files support a fill mode that Draw files don't. In this mode the
foreground colour covers any other colour except itself, in which case it is replaced by the background colour. This is a very unusual fill mode even for WMF
files and can be overcome by manually editing the output file in Draw. 

Purchasing MetaConverter
MetaConverter costs 15.99 inclusive and is available from:

	KeySoft
	Ferndorf Tarporley Road,
	Norcott Brook,
	Warrington,
	Cheshire WA4 4DY.
	Tel: 0973 674657

 Copyright G.J.Key, KeySoft 1995, 1996

