How to: Create a Text Decoration

A TextDecoration object is a visual ornamentation you can add to text. There are four types of text decorations: underline, baseline, strikethrough, and overline. The following example shows the locations of the text decorations relative to the text.

To add a text decoration to text, create a TextDecoration object and modify its properties. Use the Location property to specify where the text decoration appears, such as underline. Use the Pen property to specify the appearance of the text decoration, such as a solid fill or gradient color. If you do not specify a value for the Pen property, the decorations defaults to the same color as the text. Once you have defined a TextDecoration object, add it to the TextDecorations collection of the desired text object.

The following example shows a text decoration that has been styled with a linear gradient brush and a dashed pen.

The Hyperlink object is an inline-level flow content element that allows you to host hyperlinks within the flow content. By default, Hyperlink uses a TextDecoration object to display an underline. TextDecoration objects can be performance intensive to instantiate, particularly if you have many Hyperlink objects. If you make extensive use of Hyperlink elements, you may want to consider showing an underline only when triggering an event, such as the MouseEnter event.

In the following example, the underline for the "My MSN" link is dynamic—it only appears when the MouseEnter event is triggered.

For more information, see Specify Whether a Hyperlink is Underlined.

Example

In the following code example, an underline text decoration uses the default font value.

// Use the default font values for the strikethrough text decoration.
private void SetDefaultStrikethrough()
{
    // Set the underline decoration directly to the text block.
    TextBlock1.TextDecorations = TextDecorations.Strikethrough;
}

' Use the default font values for the strikethrough text decoration.
Private Sub SetDefaultStrikethrough()
    ' Set the underline decoration directly to the text block.
    TextBlock1.TextDecorations = TextDecorations.Strikethrough
End Sub

<!-- Use the default font values for the strikethrough text decoration. -->
<TextBlock
  TextDecorations="Strikethrough"
  FontSize="36" >
  The quick red fox
</TextBlock>

In the following code example, an underline text decoration is created with a solid color brush for the pen.

// Use a Red pen for the underline text decoration.
private void SetRedUnderline()
{
    // Create an underline text decoration. Default is underline.
    TextDecoration myUnderline = new TextDecoration();

    // Create a solid color brush pen for the text decoration.
    myUnderline.Pen = new Pen(Brushes.Red, 1);
    myUnderline.PenThicknessUnit = TextDecorationUnit.FontRecommended;

    // Set the underline decoration to a TextDecorationCollection and add it to the text block.
    TextDecorationCollection myCollection = new TextDecorationCollection();
    myCollection.Add(myUnderline);
    TextBlock2.TextDecorations = myCollection;
}

' Use a Red pen for the underline text decoration.
Private Sub SetRedUnderline()
    ' Create an underline text decoration. Default is underline.
    Dim myUnderline As New TextDecoration()

    ' Create a solid color brush pen for the text decoration.
    myUnderline.Pen = New Pen(Brushes.Red, 1)
    myUnderline.PenThicknessUnit = TextDecorationUnit.FontRecommended

    ' Set the underline decoration to a TextDecorationCollection and add it to the text block.
    Dim myCollection As New TextDecorationCollection()
    myCollection.Add(myUnderline)
    TextBlock2.TextDecorations = myCollection
End Sub

<!-- Use a Red pen for the underline text decoration -->
<TextBlock
  FontSize="36" >
  jumps over
  <TextBlock.TextDecorations>
    <TextDecorationCollection>
      <TextDecoration 
        PenThicknessUnit="FontRecommended">
        <TextDecoration.Pen>
          <Pen Brush="Red" Thickness="1" />
        </TextDecoration.Pen>
      </TextDecoration>
    </TextDecorationCollection>
  </TextBlock.TextDecorations>
</TextBlock>

In the following code example, an underline text decoration is created with a linear gradient brush for the dashed pen.

// Use a linear gradient pen for the underline text decoration.
private void SetLinearGradientUnderline()
{
    // Create an underline text decoration. Default is underline.
    TextDecoration myUnderline = new TextDecoration();

    // Create a linear gradient pen for the text decoration.
    Pen myPen = new Pen();
    myPen.Brush = new LinearGradientBrush(Colors.Yellow, Colors.Red, new Point(0, 0.5), new Point(1, 0.5));
    myPen.Brush.Opacity = 0.5;
    myPen.Thickness = 1.5;
    myPen.DashStyle = DashStyles.Dash;
    myUnderline.Pen = myPen;
    myUnderline.PenThicknessUnit = TextDecorationUnit.FontRecommended;

    // Set the underline decoration to a TextDecorationCollection and add it to the text block.
    TextDecorationCollection myCollection = new TextDecorationCollection();
    myCollection.Add(myUnderline);
    TextBlock3.TextDecorations = myCollection;
}

' Use a linear gradient pen for the underline text decoration.
Private Sub SetLinearGradientUnderline()
    ' Create an underline text decoration. Default is underline.
    Dim myUnderline As New TextDecoration()

    ' Create a linear gradient pen for the text decoration.
    Dim myPen As New Pen()
    myPen.Brush = New LinearGradientBrush(Colors.Yellow, Colors.Red, New Point(0, 0.5), New Point(1, 0.5))
    myPen.Brush.Opacity = 0.5
    myPen.Thickness = 1.5
    myPen.DashStyle = DashStyles.Dash
    myUnderline.Pen = myPen
    myUnderline.PenThicknessUnit = TextDecorationUnit.FontRecommended

    ' Set the underline decoration to a TextDecorationCollection and add it to the text block.
    Dim myCollection As New TextDecorationCollection()
    myCollection.Add(myUnderline)
    TextBlock3.TextDecorations = myCollection
End Sub

<!-- Use a linear gradient pen for the underline text decoration. -->
<TextBlock FontSize="36">the lazy brown dog.
  <TextBlock.TextDecorations>
    <TextDecorationCollection>
      <TextDecoration  
        PenThicknessUnit="FontRecommended">
        <TextDecoration.Pen>
          <Pen Thickness="1.5">
            <Pen.Brush>
              <LinearGradientBrush Opacity="0.5"
                StartPoint="0,0.5"  EndPoint="1,0.5">
                <LinearGradientBrush.GradientStops>
                  <GradientStop Color="Yellow" Offset="0" />
                  <GradientStop Color="Red" Offset="1" />
                </LinearGradientBrush.GradientStops>
              </LinearGradientBrush>
            </Pen.Brush>
            <Pen.DashStyle>
              <DashStyle Dashes="2"/>
            </Pen.DashStyle>
          </Pen>
        </TextDecoration.Pen>
      </TextDecoration>
    </TextDecorationCollection>
  </TextBlock.TextDecorations>
</TextBlock>

See also

• TextDecoration
• Hyperlink
• Specify Whether a Hyperlink is Underlined