## The `picture' property

Not implemented under Linux

An integer vector containing graphic data

Valid for: Picture, System, Chart

The `picture` property contains the commands which display the graphic in a Picture object. The commands are encoded in an integer vector, and comprise a PICT or JPEG image (under MacOS) or a Windows Enhanced Metafile (under Windows). You can obtain a picture vector in a number of ways. For example, you can fetch a picture from the Clipboard by reading the `picture` property from the System object. Under MacOS, you can also create your own PICT variable using the functions in the QUICKDRAW workspace. Under Windows, you can read a metafile (`.emf`) from disk, using ŚNREAD to convert it to an integer vector (conversion type 2).

Generally, pictures look best if they are displayed at this original size (or an integral multiple of the original size). You can, however, change the size of the picture to stretch or compress it, but to do this you must change the `size` after setting the `picture` property.

For the System object, the `picture` property represents a graphic image on the Clipboard. Reading the `picture` property returns an integer vector representing the picture currently in the Clipboard, or an empty vector if there is no picture in the Clipboard. Writing an integer vector to the System `picture` property places a picture on the Clipboard. The data written must be a valid graphic, i.e. a PICT or JPEG image under MacOS, or a metafile under Windows.

This Windows example creates a picture object, and displays a metafile image from disk. It then reads the `picture` property and places it on the Clipboard:

          MYWIN„'Ś' ŚNEW 'Window'
          MYWIN.PIC.New 'Picture'
          FILE„'C:\Program Files\Microsoft Works\workscor\j0160036.wmf'
          MYWIN.PIC.file„FILE
          METAFILE„MYWIN.PIC.picture
          ˝METAFILE
    14771
          '#' ŚWI 'picture' METAFILE

For a Chart object, the `picture` property is read-only. It contains the drawing commands (vector graphics) which will reproduce the chart on the current platform.

See also the `bitmap` property, which allows you to retrieve or set an image as an array of pixel color values.

Topic: APLX Help : System Classes : Properties : picture

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