Keywords: Plot2EMF, HP-GL, HP-GL/2, Plot, AutoCAD, Conversion

What is PlotEMF?

Plot2EMF is a 32-bit utility for Microsoft Windows that will convert HP-GL and HP-GL/2 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.

Why Plot2EMF?

Microsoft Office 4.x included a HP-GL import filter, but for some reason, this was not distributed 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.

What is an Enhanced MetaFile?

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 and Windows NT 4.x.

Because the metafile contains a list of drawing commands, and not the drawing itself, metafiles can be scaled much easier than pictures (bitmaps).