The METALiB 1.0 library  is a set of Visual Basic routines 
that will allow you to create, draw, and save Microsoft SDK 
metafiles in Visual Basic.  

A metafile is unlike the more familiar bitmap because, 
instead of storing each pixel of an image, only the drawing 
commands themselves are stored.  As a result, for simple 
images  such as graphs, charts, line drawings, etc. the 
resultant memory and disk storage requirements are much 
smaller than for bitmaps.  But that is not the best part!  
Since a metafile is made up of only the drawing commands, 
the images are easily resizable and transportable.  This is 
best shown with the demo program accompanying this library 
called METADEMO.EXE.  It draws a simple line drawing of a 
jet.  Try resizing the window it is drawn in and the jet 
will instantly  re size to fit the new window size.  Note 
that as the size of the jet doubles, the lines and text all 
stay the same width.  In other words, it assumes the 
resolution of the target drawing surface.  This target 
surface can even be a printer by simply substituting 
Printer.hDC for the picture box hDC property.  Try this with 
a bitmap.  When a bitmap is resized it retains its original 
resolution.  If its size is doubled you end up with lines 
that are twice as wide and that exhibit the familiar "stair 
stepping" that we are used to seeing on low resolution 
devices.

Metafiles have their weaknesses, though.  Highly detailed 
images, such as portraits and artistic renderings are much 
more suitable to bitmaps.  Such images are difficult to 
break down into individual drawing commands more powerful 
than then the simplest PSet method.  At this point it makes 
more sense to store and process each pixel then it would 
processing a quarter of a million PSet commands as would be 
required for a 512 x 512 pixel by pixel image.

METALib is a collection of visual basic routines that are 
designed to replace many of the standard VB methods that are 
normally used for drawing bitmaps.  METALiB is still 
incomplete, but growing.  We but the basic functionality 
together and are distributing it in hopes that others can 
improve on our original design.  We would appreciate it if 
anyone making improvements would pass the changes back to us 
at Sygenex, Inc.  

METALib 1.0 was designed and developed by Jon Upham at 
Sygenex, Inc.

Jon can be reached at:
		Sygenex, Inc.
		15446 Bel-Red Road Suite 450
		Redmond, WA  98052
		206-881-5500
		Compuserve: 70742,1226

Sygenex Inc. is not claiming that the METALib file has been 
adquately tested and makes no warranties or claims of any 
kind.  METALib is free to use and distribute in anyway you 
wish.  Use at your own risk.

Copyright © 1992 Sygenex, Inc.