WMF/EMF Viewer for Visual Studio Code
Preview WMF (Windows Metafile), EMF (Enhanced Metafile) and EMF+ images directly in VS Code — no external tools needed.
Features
- ✅ Built-in preview — Open
.wmf / .emf files directly in the editor
- 🎨 High-quality Canvas 2D rendering — Accurate drawing of vector graphics, text and GDI objects
- 🔍 Automatic format detection — Distinguishes WMF, Placeable WMF, EMF and EMF+
- 🖱️ Context menu integration — Right-click any
.wmf / .emf file and preview instantly
- 📦 Zero dependencies — Fully self-contained, works offline
- 🚀 Fast — In-process parsing and rendering, no server or native binaries
| Format |
Description |
| WMF |
Classic 16-bit Windows Metafile |
| Placeable WMF |
WMF with positioning header |
| EMF |
Enhanced Metafile (32-bit records) |
| EMF+ |
Enhanced Metafile Plus (advanced graphics) |
Installation
From the Marketplace
- Open VS Code
- Go to the Extensions view (
Ctrl+Shift+X / Cmd+Shift+X)
- Search for "WMF/EMF Viewer"
- Click Install
From a VSIX file
# Build the VSIX yourself
npm install
npm run package
Then open VS Code → Extensions view → ... menu → Install from VSIX... → select the generated .vsix file.
Usage
Editor mode (recommended)
Simply click a .wmf or .emf file in the Explorer. It opens in the WMF/EMF Viewer editor automatically.
Preview mode
Right-click a .wmf or .emf file and choose "Preview WMF/EMF Image" to open it in a preview tab.
Requirements
- Visual Studio Code
^1.75.0
Extension Settings
This extension contributes no settings — it just works.
Release Notes
0.0.1
- Initial release: WMF / Placeable WMF / EMF / EMF+ preview support
- Explorer context menu integration
- Custom editor for
.wmf and .emf files
Known Issues
- Rendering of some rarely-used EMF records may be incomplete.
- Please report issues on the GitHub repository.
License
MIT
Acknowledgments
- Parsing and rendering based on the official Microsoft specifications:
- [MS-WMF] Windows Metafile Format
- [MS-EMF] Enhanced Metafile Format
- [MS-EMFPLUS] Enhanced Metafile Plus Format
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