I'm using the 2006.09.26 beta, and noticed an extra gap before some external metapost figures. Here is a small test: ============================ test.mp ================= beginfig(1) draw fullcircle scaled (0.75in) xscaled 1.5; endfig; end ====================================================== With this test file, there is a whitespace of about 1cm between the first hairline and the ellipse: =================== test.tex (has 1cm gap) =========== \starttext \hrule \placefigure[force,none]{}{\externalfigure[test.1]} \hrule \stoptext ====================================================== If I convert test.1 to test-1.pdf and include that, all is fine: =================== test.tex (works) ================= \starttext \hrule \placefigure[force,none]{}{\externalfigure[test-1.pdf]} \hrule \stoptext ====================================================== If test.mp draws a square or rectangle instead of an ellipse, then there's no difference (both versions of test.tex work). -Sanjoy `A society of sheep must in time beget a government of wolves.' -- Bertrand de Jouvenal