---
name: "meta"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "radiance"
version: "4R1+20120125-1+b1"
release: "Debian 7 (Wheezy)"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/meta"
---

# meta(3)

simplified interface to metafile(5)

## NAME

libmeta.a - simplified interface to [metafile(5)](/metafile/5.md)

## SYNOPSIS

**extern FILE \*pout;**

**mline(x, y, type, thick, color)**

**mpoly(x, y, border, pat, color)**

**mdraw(x, y)**

**mtext(x, y, s, cpi, color)**\
 **char \*s;**

mvstr(xmin, ymin, xmax, ymax, s, d, thick, color)\
 **char \*s;**

mrectangle(xmin, ymin, xmax, ymax, pat, color)

mtriangle(xmin, ymin, xmax, ymax, d, pat, color)

msegment(xmin, ymin, xmax, ymax, sname, d, thick, color)\
 **char \*sname;**

**msetpat(pat, pattern)**\
 **char \*pattern;**

**mopenseg(sname)**\
 **char \*sname;**

**mcloseseg()**

**minclude(fname)**\
 **char \*fname;**

**mendpage()**

**mdone()**

## DESCRIPTION

The routines in *libmeta* provide a simple interface to the [metafile(5)](/metafile/5.md) 2D graphics stream. Output from these routines is sent to  *pout.* *Pout* defaults to the standard output, and should be piped to the appropriate device driver.

All coordinates range from 0 to 16383 and map to a square area on the output device. *D* values are one of 'r', 'u', 'l' and 'd' corresponding to right, up, left, and down respectively. *Color* values range from 0 to 3 and normally correspond to black, cyan, green and blue. *Pattern* values range from 0 to 3 and default to solid, thick lines, thin lines, and candystripe. Pattern value mapping may be changed via *setpat.* All strings are null-terminated, and do not contain newlines.

*Mline* starts a line at the given coordinates. The line *type* is a number from 0 to 3 corresponding to solid, dashed, dotted, and dot-dashed. The line thickness, *thick,* is a number from 0 to 3. Connected lines are drawn with successive calls to *mdraw.*

*Mpoly* starts a polygon at the given coordinates. The boolean *border* specifies whether or not a border is desired around the polygon. *Mdraw* is used to add vertices to the polygon. The polygon will be closed automatically after the last call.

*Mtext* prints a string of hardware characters starting at the given coordinates. The characters per inch are *cpi.* Text is always oriented to the right.

*Mvstr* places a vector character string within the given boundaries. The string is oriented according to *d.* The character line thickness is given by *thick.*

*Mrectangle* fills the given box with *pat.* *Mtriangle* fills the half-box with orientation *d* in the given boundaries. Right corresponds to a triangle in the lower right half of the box. Up corresponds to a triangle in the upper right, left is upper left, and down is lower left.

*Msegment* places an instance of the segment *sname* within the given boundaries. The segment is oriented according to *d,* where 'r' is null rotation. If either *thick* or *color* is nonzero, its value will replace corresponding values in the segment primitives.  (For area filling, thick changes the fill pattern.)

*Msetpat* maps *pat* to *pattern.* *Pattern* is a string of the form "Pn" where n is a number between 0 and 11.

*Mopenseg* opens the segment named *sname.* All graphics calls up to a matching call to *mcloseseg* are stored under *sname.* An instance of the segment is obtained with a call to *msegment.* Segments can be nested to any level, and redefining segments is allowed. Beware of calls to *mtext* within a segment, since text will not rotate or scale.

*Minclude* includes the graphics metafile *fname* in the output stream. *Mendpage* advances to the next screen or page. On a terminal, the bell rings and a line is read to prevent premature erasure. *Mdone* completes metafile output, and is the only required call.

## DIAGNOSTICS

None.

## SEE ALSO

t4014(1), mx80(1), [impress(1)](/impress/1.md), primout(3), [metafile(5)](/metafile/5.md)