Picture options

BetterWMF can improve your pictures in many ways. Each and every change can be disabled or fine-tuned.
All settings that affect pictures can be configured in the following dialog. Please visit the next help page for help on the menu options.

Click on any field for more information.

BetterWMF options dialog

Where can you find this dialog?

If you installed BetterWMF using method 1: Loading an ARX into AutoCAD you can access this dialog with the command BWMFOPT in AutoCAD.

If you use BetterWMF through method 2: Running Bclipbrd.exe outside AutoCAD you can access this dialog by double clicking on the taskbar icon in the taskbar or by clicking your right mouse button on it and selecting Main Options.

The options

Remove AutoCAD background color

WMF pictures created by AutoCAD always show the background color as currently in use by AutoCAD. Check this box to remove the background color and make your picture transparent.

Sample

Crop WMF picture to extent of entities

WMF pictures created by AutoCAD always are the size of your current viewport. Check this box to reduce the size of the picture to the extents of your entities.

Sample

In TILEMODE 0 do paperspace AND viewports

Normally in tilemode 0 AutoCAD will only export entities from paperspace or from the currently active viewport. Select this option to export ALL information including paperspace AND all viewports. This applies to the commands BWMFOUT and BCOPYCLIP.

When you use one of the commands a Paperspace dialog will popup offering extra options.

This option is only available for full AutoCAD versions when using BetterWMF through the ARX.

Make all black (Lines and text)

Turn all colored lines and text black.
Please note that text with TrueType font is treated as 'Filled colors' when you change the font width or oblique angle.

Sample

Width unmodified (thin lines)

Do not change the width of lines. On high-resolution printers these may appear very thin!

Fixed linewidth (inch)

Give all lines an equal width as specified.

If you use this option be careful when stretching the WMF picture in other applications: The width will also be stretched. Change the suggested picture size settings to prevent having to stretch.

Note: TrueType text is unaffected.

Sample

Advanced

Check this option to apply the advanced settings to the line widths and colors. You can assign each line color an individual width and you can remap the colors.
The Edit button will be enabled when you choose this option.

If you use this option be careful when stretching the WMF picture in other applications: The width will also be stretched. Change the suggested picture size settings to prevent having to stretch.

Width

Enter the width for all lines.

Make all black (Filled colors)

Turn all colored lines and text black.
Please note that text with TrueType font is treated as 'Filled colors' when you change the font width or oblique angle.

Sample

Color unmodified

Do not change the color of filled colors. If you print them in another application on a black-and-white printer, they will probably be converted into grayscales automatically.

Please note that polylines with a width, dimension arrow heads and TrueType text with a width or oblique angle are stored as 'Filled colors' inside the WMF too!

Advanced

Check this option to apply the advanced settings to the filled colors. You can assign each colored area a new color or gray shade.
The Edit button will be enabled when you choose this option.

Please note that polylines with a width, dimension arrow heads and TrueType text with a width or oblique angle are stored as 'Filled colors' inside the WMF too!

Leave unmodifed

Choose this option to not change the suggested picture size of the pictures. This is identical to selecting 100% in the percentage field.

Percentage of AutoCAD's suggestion

Choose this option to automatically shrink or enlarge all pictures.

Scaled to fit fixed width (inch)

Choose this option to scale all pictures to a certain fixed width. The height will be scaled automatically to maintain the aspect ratio of the picture.

Scaled to fit fixed height (inch)

Choose this option to scale all pictures to a certain fixed height. The width will be scaled automatically to maintain the aspect ratio of the picture.

Scaled

Choose this option to relate the size of the picture to the scale of your drawing.
To specify an exact scale for the picture, determine the number of drawing units to be plotted per millimeter or inch on the paper. Then enter the number of plotter units in the left text box and the number of drawing units in the right text box.

This option is only available for full AutoCAD versions when using BetterWMF through the ARX.

Percentage

Enter the percentage by which all pictures are shrunk or enlarged. 100% will leave the size unmodified.

Rotation

Choose the rotation of the picture. Please note that the sizes are applied to the picture after rotation.

Edit button

Open the dialog for the Advanced options. This is the same dialog as accessed through the menu option Options|Advanced Options.

Ok button

Save all modifications and close this dialog. Note that with Bclipbrd.exe BetterWMF will remain active even when you close this dialog.

Cancel button

Cancel the dialog without saving modifications.

Apply button

Apply all modifications. BetterWMF keeps a copy of the original version of the last clipboard picture, before any changes were made to it. This command restores that copy to the clipboard with BetterWMF improvements.


Previous page: Options and preferences
Next page: Advanced options