ONLINE HELP
 WINDEVWEBDEV AND WINDEV MOBILE

Help / WLanguage / WLanguage functions / Controls, pages and windows / Drawing functions
  • Font
  • Background color
  • Coordinates
  • Management of '&'
  • Using the drawing functions
  • Limitations
WINDEV
WindowsLinuxUniversal Windows 10 AppJavaReports and QueriesUser code (UMC)
WEBDEV
WindowsLinuxPHPWEBDEV - Browser code
WINDEV Mobile
AndroidAndroid Widget iPhone/iPadIOS WidgetApple WatchMac CatalystUniversal Windows 10 App
Others
Stored procedures
Draws a text:
  • in an Image control,
  • in a variable of type Image.
  • WINDEV in a variable of type WDPic (on the background layer),
  • WINDEV in a variable of type picLayer.
Linux Caution: A specific configuration is required to use this function in Linux. For more details, see The drawings.
// Initialize the drawing in an Image control
dStartDrawing(IMG_Drawing)
 
// Draw a text in light yellow
dText(10, 20, "Easy development", LightYellow)
// Calculate the size of a text
nTextWidth is int
dStartDrawing(IMG_Image1)
dText(X, Y, MyText)
 
nTextWidth = TextWidth(EDT_Edit1, MyText)
dText(X + nTextWidth, Y, MyNextText)
WINDEVUniversal Windows 10 AppUser code (UMC)
// Draw a text in light yellow
dText(IMG_Drawing, 10, 20, "Easy development", LightYellow)
Syntax
dText([<Image>, ] <X-coordinate> , <Y-coordinate> , <Text> [, <Text color> [, <Management of &>]])
<Image>: Optional control name or optional Image, WDPic or picLayer variable
WindowsLinuxUniversal Windows 10 AppJavaUser code (UMC) Image to use. The image can correspond to:
  • the name of an Image control.
  • the name of a variable of type Image.
  • WINDEV the name of a variable of type WDPic. Only the background layer will be handled.
  • WINDEV the name of a variable of type picLayer.
If this parameter is not specified, it is necessary to define the drawing destination with dStartDrawing.
<X-coordinate>: Integer
X-coordinate of text to draw (in pixels).
<Y-coordinate>: Integer
Y-coordinate of text to draw (in pixels).
<Text>: Type corresponding to the text to draw
Text to draw. This text can be:
  • a string (without formatting marks such as TAB, CR, etc.),
  • a numeric.
<Text color>: Integer or constant (optional)
Text color to use. This color can correspond to:
If this parameter is not specified, the color of the text:
  • is Black if dPen has not been used beforehand,
  • corresponds to the color specified in the last call to dPen.
<Management of &>: Optional boolean
  • True (default value) if the "&" character must not be interpreted as an underline operator.
  • False if the "&" character must be interpreted as an underline operator: the character following the "&" character will be underlined.
Remarks

Font

By default:
  • The font used is "MS Sans Serif" (size 13).
  • The writing direction is horizontal (from left to right).
  • The coordinates of the upper-left corner of the image are (0,0).
  • The "&" character is not interpreted.
To change these parameters, use dFont.
Java The default font may differ according to the system on which the application is run.

Background color

By default, the background color of an Image control is transparent. To change the background color of an Image control, use the BackgroundColor property.

Coordinates

Coordinates are specified with respect to the upper-left corner of the image or Image control (coordinates: (0,0)).
The coordinates correspond to the upper-left corner of the rectangle into which the text will be drawn. The precise location of the text in this rectangle depends on the size, shape and attributes of the font.

Management of '&'

The parameter <Management of & > makes it possible to manage the use of the '&' character. Example:
  • the "&" character must not be interpreted as an underline operator. For example:
    dText(10, 10, "Tom&Jerry", LightRed, True)

    will display "Tom&Jerry".
  • the "&" character must be interpreted as an underline operator: the character following the "&" character will be underlined. For example:
    dText(10, 10, "&Edit", LightRed, False)

    will display "Edit".

Using the drawing functions

The drawing functions can be used according to 2 methods:
  • Method 1: Using dStartDrawing
    • dStartDrawing must be called before any other drawing function. dStartDrawing is used to define the element (Image control or variable) to which the drawing functions will be applied.
    • When drawing on an Image control:
      • The drawing functions operate on a copy ("bitmap") of the image. You can use the drawing functions of Windows (via API or CallDLL32) but these functions must use the DC (Device Context) returned by dStartDrawing.
      • dEndDrawing and dStartDrawing must not be called in the same process.
        The drawing will not be displayed if dEndDrawing and dStartDrawing are called in the same process: it will be automatically erased.
  • WindowsLinuxUniversal Windows 10 AppJavaUser code (UMC) Method 2: indicating the drawing target directly in the syntax (via a parameter)
    The <Image> parameter is used to specify directly the target of the drawing. dStartDrawing becomes useless. This function must be deleted.
WINDEVJavaUser code (UMC)

Limitations

In anti-aliasing mode (dChangeMode) or in opacity mode (dStartDrawing), dText is available for the TrueType fonts only.
Related Examples:
The drawing functions Unit examples (WINDEV): The drawing functions
[ + ] Using the main drawing functions of WINDEV to:
- Initialize an Image control for drawing
- Draw simple shapes
- Write a text into a drawing
- Change the color in a drawing
Business / UI classification: Neutral code
Component: wd290pnt.dll
Minimum version required
  • Version 9
This page is also available for…
Comments
Click [Add] to post a comment

Last update: 06/22/2023

Send a report | Local help