How to: Draw Wrapped Text in a Rectangle

You can draw wrapped text in a rectangle by using the DrawString overloaded method of the Graphics class that takes a Rectangle or RectangleF parameter. You will also use a Brush and a Font.

You can also draw wrapped text in a rectangle by using the DrawText overloaded method of the TextRenderer that takes a Rectangle and a TextFormatFlags parameter. You will also use a Color and a Font.

The following illustration shows the output of text drawn in the rectangle when you use the DrawString method.

To draw wrapped text in a rectangle with GDI+

• Use the DrawString overloaded method, passing the text you want, Rectangle or RectangleF, Font and Brush.

  Dim text1 As String = "Draw text in a rectangle by passing a RectF to the DrawString method."
  Dim font1 As New Font("Arial", 12, FontStyle.Bold, GraphicsUnit.Point)
  Try
      Dim rectF1 As New RectangleF(30, 10, 100, 122)
      e.Graphics.DrawString(text1, font1, Brushes.Blue, rectF1)
      e.Graphics.DrawRectangle(Pens.Black, Rectangle.Round(rectF1))
  Finally
      font1.Dispose()
  End Try
  

  string text1 = "Draw text in a rectangle by passing a RectF to the DrawString method.";
  using (Font font1 = new Font("Arial", 12, FontStyle.Bold, GraphicsUnit.Point))
  {
      RectangleF rectF1 = new RectangleF(30, 10, 100, 122);
      e.Graphics.DrawString(text1, font1, Brushes.Blue, rectF1);
      e.Graphics.DrawRectangle(Pens.Black, Rectangle.Round(rectF1));
  }
  

To draw wrapped text in a rectangle with GDI

• Use the TextFormatFlags enumeration value to specify the text should be wrapped with the DrawText overloaded method, passing the text you want, Rectangle, Font and Color.

  Dim text2 As String = _
      "Draw text in a rectangle by passing a RectF to the DrawString method."
  Dim font2 As New Font("Arial", 12, FontStyle.Bold, GraphicsUnit.Point)
  Try
      Dim rect2 As New Rectangle(30, 10, 100, 122)
  
      ' Specify the text is wrapped.
      Dim flags As TextFormatFlags = TextFormatFlags.WordBreak
      TextRenderer.DrawText(e.Graphics, text2, font2, rect2, Color.Blue, flags)
      e.Graphics.DrawRectangle(Pens.Black, Rectangle.Round(rect2))
  Finally
      font2.Dispose()
  End Try
  

  string text2 = "Draw text in a rectangle by passing a RectF to the DrawString method.";
  using (Font font2 = new Font("Arial", 12, FontStyle.Bold, GraphicsUnit.Point))
  {
      Rectangle rect2 = new Rectangle(30, 10, 100, 122);
  
      // Specify the text is wrapped.
      TextFormatFlags flags = TextFormatFlags.WordBreak;
      TextRenderer.DrawText(e.Graphics, text2, font2, rect2, Color.Blue, flags);
      e.Graphics.DrawRectangle(Pens.Black, Rectangle.Round(rect2));
  
  }
  

Compiling the Code

The previous examples require:

• PaintEventArgs e, which is a parameter of PaintEventHandler.

See Also

Tasks

How to: Draw Text with GDI

How to: Construct Font Families and Fonts

How to: Draw Text at a Specified Location

Other Resources

Using Fonts and Text