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Format

Windows Metafile Image

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Summary

Name
Windows Metafile Image
Identifiers
  • MIME: image/wmf
  • PUID: x-fmt/119
Format type
Image (Vector)
Description
Windows Metafile is an image file format originally designed for Microsoft Windows in 1990. Windows Metafiles may contain both vector graphics and bitmap components.
Format encoding
Text
File extensions
wmf
Submitted by
Digital Preservation Department / The National Archives
Developed by
Microsoft Corporation
Supported by
Microsoft Corporation

Internal signatures

Windows Metafile Image with Placeable File Header

Description
Many applications that create metafiles prepend a 22-byte 'Placeable File Header' to the metafile: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ms534075(v=vs.85).aspx Magic number 0x9AC6CDD7, 2-byte handle, always 0, skip 16 bytes, File type (1 or 2), header size in words, always 9.
Provenance
Microsoft Windows Metafile. Encyclopedia of Graphic File Formats www.fileformat.info/format/wmf/egff.htm

Byte sequences

Min Frag Length
Absolute from BOF
Offset
0
Max offset
None
Byte Sequence
D7CDC69A0000{16}01000900
Endianness
None

Windows Metafile Image without Placeable File Header

Description
File type (1 or 2), header size in words, always 9. Version either 01 or 03
Provenance
Microsoft Windows Metafile. Encyclopedia of Graphic File Formats www.fileformat.info/format/wmf/egff.htm

Byte sequences

Min Frag Length
Absolute from BOF
Offset
0
Max offset
0
Byte Sequence
0100090000(01|03)
Endianness
None

Changelog

  • V86

    Release date
    27 July 2016

    • Updated

      Windows Metafile Image: Added MIME type and description.

  • V84

    Release date
    21 January 2016

    • Updated

      Windows Metafile Image: Created second identification signature and highlighted that existing signature includes an optional 'Placeable File Header'.

  • V58

    Release date
    21 March 2012

    • Added signature

      Windows Metafile Image: Signature submitted by Georgia Tech Research Institute, USA.

    • Updated

      Windows Metafile Image: Format name changed for greater accuracy and consistency.