WMF vector images into MS Word

[tluxon]

In the past, I took extensive advantage of the vector nature of Windows Metafiles (WMF) to put portions of AutoCAD drawings into Microsoft Word. I used a plotter driver that really simplified the creation of black and white vector images regardless of AutoCAD's background color or the color of any entity. The only problem is that had not been able to use that driver in Acad2000 or Acad2002.

Since getting a new computer and losing my installation of R14 and only having Acad2002, I have not found a good and easy way to get a Windows Metafile into Word.

Anybody got any suggestions?

Thanks,

Tim

 

[IFRs]

try wmfout
I use BetterWMF from

http://www.furix.com

 

[IFRs]

Actually, another method is to change your background to white and do Edit/Copy in AutoCad and then Edit/Paste Special/Bitmap in Word

 

[tluxon]

First of all, I'm looking to get a WMF into Word, not raster graphics. I hate the copy/paste method because 1) it's a pain to change the colors, 2) you don't get scalable vectors, and 3) there is no lineweight control.

I know about BetterWMF and Amethyst, but at approx. $100, I don't think these would pay for themselves in my application. I would really like to find something that allows me to plot a window to a file as opposed to selecting entities.

Thanks,

Tim

 

[billtati]

To ensure a white background, use the system variable WMFBKGND (set to OFF). Make all entities white/black (via layers or other settings). The use WMFOUT (or File/Export) to create the file.

 

[tluxon]

Another problem with using Acad's WMFOUT is that you get the whole current display for your borders, not the extents of the entities selected.

I used to use the plotwmf.sys driver in McNeel's Plotpack, but it doesn't work in newer versions than R14 and they haven't replaced it with anything. The great thing about it was that you basically just plotted a window (or view, or any of the plot options) and were able to assign linewidths to pens/colors and the result went directly to the clipboard.

It looks like the best thing we're going to find is BetterWMF, but I'd sure like to know if anyone knows of a plot driver that will do the same thing.

Thanks,

Tim