wmf graphics format on Linux, and windows.h

[Zbigniew Koziol]

Lennart Sorensen wrote:
> On Thu, Dec 11, 2008 at 06:14:03PM -0500, Zbigniew Koziol wrote:
>   
>> WMF stands for Windows Meta File. This is an interesting format. It 
>> contains actually calls to internal windows functions to draw vector 
>> graphics. It may contain also bitmap data.
>>
>> I bought an Atlas of Moscow a few months ago, when there. It was very 
>> helpful and detailed, and it contained a CD with all the data there, 
>> with maps. These maps are stored just in wmf format. I can find the maps 
>> on CD. I could not view them, however, by using Linux. An ugly error 
>> message is generated (when using, for instance, display command, but 
>> also when using other available around tools).
>>
>> So, I found out documentation for wmf format on the internet, analyzed 
>> carefully the content of wmf files I have and finally found that 
>> changing a value of one, one of the last bytes in these files, allows me 
>> to view them! The data were designed on windows and the aim was to use 
>> them on windows. It seems that programmers did some sort of mistake that 
>> is tolerated on windows but not Linux, which has more strict checking 
>> of  file format.  That all is done by libwmf, which unfortunately does 
>> not seem to be developing anymore. An error message on Linux asks me to 
>> report problem to http://www.wvware.com - but try to access that site 
>> yourself...
>>     
>
> They could also have done it on purpose to try and make the files only
> work with their program.
>
>   
Possibly.

> Seems the site is http://wvware.sourceforge.net/libwmf.html, although no
> development in years.  Of course I don't think WMF is really used
> anymore.
>   
A pity. This is a very interesting format. The reason might be related 
to security, since images contain calls to internal windows functions ...

>> I want to play more with these wmf files. They use function calls that 
>> are defined in windows.h . Does any one around has by chance windows.h ? 
>> I would appreciate receiving a copy.
>>     
>
> Could any of these be the right one:
> libdirectfb-dev: /usr/include/directfb-internal/core/windows.h
> libgpewidget-dev: /usr/include/gpe/windows.h
> libroot5.18: /usr/lib/root/5.18/cint/include/windows.h
> libwine-dev: /usr/include/wine/windows/windows.h
> mingw32-runtime: /usr/i586-mingw32msvc/include/windows.h
>
>   
Rather not helpful. Each of these files is different. The closest one is 
probably
from libwine-dev but it contains includes from a lot of other files and 
it is difficult to figure out what is related to wmf.

Thanks a lot anyway.

zb.
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