MicroStation Tips Archive

Is there a way to edit Windows Metafiles?

There are many ways to edit them, but I don't know if there are BEST ways to do it.

One way is using a photo editing application like PaintShop Pro or Adobe Photoshop.

One way is following the Microsoft instructions (http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/gdi/metafile_0hmb.asp):

Editing an Enhanced Metafile
To edit a picture stored in an enhanced metafile, an application must perform the tasks described in the following procedure.

To edit a picture stored in an enhanced metafile

  • Use hit-testing to capture the cursor coordinates and retrieve the position of the object (line, arc, rectangle, ellipse, polygon, or irregular shape) that the
    user wants to alter.
  • Convert these coordinates to logical (or world) units.
  • Call the EnumEnhMetaFile function and examine each metafile record.
  • Determine whether a given record corresponds to a GDI drawing function.
  • If it does, determine whether the coordinates stored in the record correspond to the line, arc, ellipse, or other graphics element that intersects the
    coordinates specified by the user.
  • Upon finding the record that corresponds to the output that the user wants to alter, erase the object on the screen that corresponds to the original record.
  • Delete the corresponding record from the metafile, saving a pointer to its location.
  • Permit the user to redraw or replace the object.
  • Convert the GDI functions used to draw the new object into one or more enhanced-metafile records.
  • Store these records in the enhanced metafile.

This is the best I got. Let me know if this helps.

-Frank Mullins

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