Book excerpt: The Computer Graphics Metafile deals with the Computer Graphics Metafile (CGM) standard and covers topics ranging from the structure and contents of a metafile to CGM functionality, metafile elements, and real-world applications of CGM. Binary Encoding, Character Encoding, application profiles, and implementations are also discussed. This book is comprised of 18 chapters divided into five sections and begins with an overview of the CGM standard and how it can meet some of the requirements for storage of graphical data within a graphics system or application environment. The reader is then introduced to the practice of using the CGM and the nature of the CGM, its aims, and what is defined in the standard. The following chapters focus on the players, the rules, and the game; the abstract functionality of the CGM; descriptor elements for metafiles and pictures; coordinates, primitives, and attributes; and encodings and implementation considerations. Clear Text Encoding, Binary Encoding, Character Encoding, and application profiles are also explored. The final chapter looks at the use of GKS, GKS-3D, and PHIGS to generate and interpret CGMs. This monograph will be a valuable resource for computer graphics students and professionals as well as software engineers and computer programmers.