Metafiles

A metafile is a graphics object that, like a segment, contains the GPI instructions that contribute to the final version of a picture. Unlike a segment, a metafile also contains a header, with state information, and all resources necessary to identically create the picture. Because pictures that are displayed when a graphics application is executed are lost when the application finishes, metafiles provide a method of retaining pictures beyond a single execution of an application.

The following topics are related to the information in this chapter:

• Presentation spaces and device contexts
  
• Line primitives
  
• Marker primitives
  
• Area primitives
  
• Character string primitives
  
• Color and mix attributes
  
• Paths
  
• Regions
  
• Fonts
  
• Bit maps
  
• Coordinate spaces and transformations
  
• Print job submission and manipulation