Free online DXF to WMF converter

Some older Windows applications, Microsoft Office workflows, and desktop-publishing systems accept WMF graphics but not DXF drawings. Converting the file produces a 2D vector illustration for insertion or sharing while discarding CAD-specific data that those programs cannot use.

What the DXF format is

DXF (Drawing Exchange Format) is an Autodesk CAD interchange format used to transfer drawings between AutoCAD and other design programs. It can store 2D and 3D entities including lines, arcs, circles, polylines, dimensions, blocks, layers, hatch patterns, and text. DXF files may use ASCII or binary encoding.

AutoCAD, DraftSight, BricsCAD, LibreCAD, and many architectural, mechanical, manufacturing, GIS, CNC, and laser-cutting applications create or import DXF files. The format is intended to preserve drawing data that CAD software can edit, not merely the visible appearance of a drawing.

What the WMF format is

WMF (Windows Metafile) is an older Windows graphics format that stores drawing instructions for lines, curves, fills, colors, and text. It is supported by many Windows applications, Microsoft Office, presentation software, and page-layout programs.

WMF graphics can be scaled without the pixelation associated with raster images and are often smaller than high-resolution bitmap exports. WMF is suitable when the destination specifically requires a Windows Metafile, but it does not retain DXF layers, blocks, constraints, object properties, or other editable CAD semantics.

How to convert the file in CAD software

1. Open the DXF in AutoCAD, BricsCAD, or another CAD application that supports the WMFOUT command.
2. Prepare the drawing before export. Set the required view and UCS, hide unnecessary layers, check the drawing units and scale, and resolve missing SHX or TrueType fonts.
3. Run WMFOUT from the command line.
4. Enter an output filename ending in .wmf when prompted.
5. Select the objects to export and confirm the selection.
6. Open the WMF in the target application and check the composition, line weights, text, hatches, and dimensions. Change the view or selection and export again if necessary.

Some compatible CAD programs provide the same function through File → Export or Output → Export. Select Windows Metafile or WMF when available; menu names vary by application and version.

How to use the built-in converter

You can convert the file for free on 101convert.com without installing software. Upload the DXF, choose WMF as the output format, start the conversion, and download the result. Do not upload confidential engineering drawings unless the file is suitable for processing on a website.

Quality and compatibility limitations

WMF is a presentation format, not a CAD exchange format. The output normally contains selected visible geometry rather than the original layer structure or object data. Curves, hatch patterns, proxy objects, custom linetypes, associative dimensions, annotative text, and 3D content may be simplified, projected into 2D, or omitted.

Set the view and selection carefully before exporting. Distant construction geometry can create excessive whitespace, while an unintended UCS can change the orientation. Very large coordinates may also affect the framing or scale. WMF does not provide reliable CAD units, so verify the displayed size in the destination program.

Use available fonts and inspect the result because font substitution can change text position and appearance. WMF support is inconsistent in newer software; EMF or SVG may render more reliably, but they are not substitutes when a legacy application specifically requires WMF.