Convert WMF to TXT

Understanding WMF and TXT file formats

WMF (Windows Metafile) is a graphics file format developed by Microsoft for storing vector and bitmap-based images. It is commonly used for clip art, illustrations, and graphics in Windows applications. TXT (Plain Text File) is a simple file format that contains unformatted text and is readable by any text editor.

Why convert WMF to TXT?

Converting a WMF file to TXT is typically done to extract any embedded text or metadata from the image, or to create a textual description of the image content for documentation or accessibility purposes.

How to convert WMF to TXT

Since WMF files are primarily image files, direct conversion to TXT is not straightforward. The process usually involves extracting any text present in the image using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. Here’s how you can do it:

• Step 1: Open the WMF file in an image viewer or editor that supports WMF, such as IrfanView or XnView.
• Step 2: Export or save the WMF as a common raster format (like PNG or JPG) if your OCR software does not support WMF directly.
• Step 3: Use OCR software to extract text from the image. Recommended tools include ABBYY FineReader, Adobe Acrobat (for PDFs), or free online OCR services.
• Step 4: Save the extracted text as a TXT file using any text editor.

Best software for WMF to TXT conversion

ABBYY FineReader is highly recommended for this task due to its robust OCR capabilities and support for various image formats. To convert:

• Open ABBYY FineReader.
• Go to File → Open and select your WMF file (or the converted raster image).
• Let the software perform OCR on the image.
• Export the recognized text via File → Save As → Text.

Alternatively, onlineocr.net is a free web-based tool that can process images and output text files.

Summary

While WMF to TXT conversion is not direct, using OCR software allows you to extract any text content from WMF images and save it as a TXT file. ABBYY FineReader is the best choice for accurate and efficient conversion.