Playing a Metafile into Another Metafile in Windows (66950)

SUMMARY

Unlike Windows versions 2.x, versions 3.0 and 3.1 of Microsoft Windows permit an application to play a metafile into another metafile. Under Windows 3.0, the destination metafile must be a disk-based metafile. This restriction has been removed from Windows 3.1.

MORE INFORMATION

Under Windows 3.0, playing a metafile into a new memory metafile fails. The following is a code fragment that demonstrates the correct procedure for successfully playing a metafile into a new, disk-based metafile that is compatible with both Windows 3.0 and 3.1.

/ declare variables
   HANDLE hDestDC, hSrcHmf;

// get a handle to the source metafile
   hSrcHmf = GetMetaFile((LPSTR)"SOURCE.WMF");

// create a disk-based destination metafile
// NOTE: The parameter cannot be NULL.
//       That would create a memory metafile.
   hDestDC = CreateMetaFile((LPSTR)"DEST.WMF");

// play the source metafile into the newly created metafile
   PlayMetaFile(hDestDC, hSrcHmf) ;

// get rid of the source metafile
   DeleteMetaFile(hSrcHmf) ;

// close the destination metafile
   hSrcHmf = CloseMetaFile(hDestDC) ;

At this point, the handle to the destination metafile can be used, or it can be deleted and retrieved later when it is needed.