Plot2EMF is a SHAREWARE utility for Microsoft Windows 9x/Me/NT/2000/XP/2003 that will convert HP-GL plot files (e.g. .PLT files generated by AutoCAD) to a Windows Enhanced MetaFile format that can then be copied or imported into various Windows-based applications.
Microsoft Office 4.x included a HP-GL import filter, but for some reason, this was not included with the 32-bit Microsoft Office releases. However, there is still a need to import HP-GL files into various Windows applications, so Plot2EMF (Plot to Enhanced MetaFile) was developed to fill this need.
A MetaFile is defined as "A collection of structures that stores a picture in a device-independent format." (From the Microsoft Win32 Software Development Kit helpfile). The Windows MetaFile format (.WMF files) was introduced with Windows 3.x, and was enhanced (.EMF files) for use with Windows 9x/Me and Windows NT/2000/XP/2003. Because the metafile contains a list of drawing commands, and not the drawing itself, metafiles can be scaled much easier than pictures (bitmaps).
When you start Plot2EMF, you will automatically be prompted to select a HP-GL plot file to open. The selected file will then be converted to a Windows Enhanced MetaFile format, and saved in the same folder as the original HPGL file.
To select the desired pen colors and other options, select the command Options... from the Edit menu.
Copyright © 1999-2006 by James Greene. All rights reserved. Information subject to change without notice.