EMF File

What are EMF files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening an EMF file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your EMF files.

What is an EMF file?

EMF files have multiple uses, and HyperVision EMF ASCII Format is one of them. Read more about the other uses further down the page.

HyperVision EMF ASCII Format

A HyperVision EMF ASCII file is a plain-text data file used to record motion-capture sessions. It contains time-stamped sample frames, frame counts and frame-rate information, numerical coordinates for tracked markers or nodes, and session metadata such as file name and date.

These files are produced by HyperVision capture workflows to preserve raw tracking output for analysis, replay, and downstream processing such as kinematics or visualization. The ASCII layout makes the files easy to transfer between systems and inspect with standard tools.

Technical identification: HyperVision EMF ASCII files are human-readable ASCII text and typically begin with an EMF1.0 header that identifies them as the HyperVision EMF ASCII Format.

Can I open or edit a HyperVision EMF ASCII file with a text editor?

Yes. The format is plain ASCII, so any text editor can open and display its contents. The data is organized for motion-capture sessions, so interpreting or safely editing numerical fields requires knowledge of the file's structure.

What data does a HyperVision EMF ASCII file hold and what is it used for?

It holds time-ordered samples (frames), timing info (timestamps and sample rate), coordinate data for tracked markers or nodes, and session-level metadata like file name and date. Typical uses are analysis, replay, and import into processing tools.

How to open EMF files

Important: Different programs may use files with the EMF file extension for different purposes, so unless you are sure which format your EMF file is, you may need to try a few different programs.

While we have not verified the apps ourselves yet, our users have suggested ten different EMF openers which you will find listed below.

Last updated: April 25, 2024

All known file formats using extension .EMF

While HyperVision EMF ASCII Format is a popular type of EMF-file, we know of 3 different uses of the .EMF file extension. Different software may use files with the same extension for different types of data.

Jasspa's MicroEmacs Macro File

These EMF files contain the text files of Unix code language edited in Jasspa's MicroEmacs, an Emacs editor biased toward Unix users. This file is used on Microsoft Windows 95/98/NT and DOS operating systems.

Windows Enhanced Metafile

A Windows Enhanced Metafile (.EMF) is a Windows graphics file that records drawing commands so other Windows programs and printers can reproduce the same image. EMF stores vector shapes, text and embedded bitmaps to preserve how a drawing should look when displayed or printed.

EMF files are produced by Windows programs and by the Microsoft Windows graphics subsystem (GDI) when an application exports or prints a drawing. They are used to exchange device-independent graphics between Windows applications and to embed precise, printer-ready artwork in documents.

Identification: EMF files commonly start with the 32-bit value 0x01000000 at offset 0 and contain the ASCII marker "EMF" (0x20454D46) at offset 40. These byte signatures are often used by tools to detect and verify Windows Enhanced Metafile files.

Can I edit or convert an EMF file?

Yes. EMF stores drawing commands rather than just pixels, so graphics and conversion tools that support EMF can edit the vector content or convert the file to raster images (PNG, JPEG) or other vector formats.

Can I delete an EMF file?

You can delete an EMF if it is not needed by a document or a program. If the file is embedded in a document or used for printing, keep a backup before deleting to avoid losing the original artwork.

EMF opener for Windows

We have identified 3 EMF openers that are compatible with this specific type of EMF file.

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of EMF files. Remember, different programs may use EMF files for different purposes, so you may need to try out a few of them to be able to open your specific file.

Help us help others

File.org helps thousands of users every day, and we would love to hear from you if you have additional information about EMF file formats, example files, or compatible programs. Please use the links below or email us at submit@file.org to discuss further.