How to: Draw Vertical Text on a Windows Form

The following code example shows how to draw vertical text on a form by using the DrawString method of Graphics.

Example

Public Sub DrawVerticalString()
    Dim formGraphics As System.Drawing.Graphics = Me.CreateGraphics()
    Dim drawString As String = "Sample Text"
    Dim drawFont As New System.Drawing.Font("Arial", 16)
    Dim drawBrush As New _
        System.Drawing.SolidBrush(System.Drawing.Color.Black)
    Dim x As Single = 150.0
    Dim y As Single = 50.0
    Dim drawFormat As New System.Drawing.StringFormat
    drawFormat.FormatFlags = StringFormatFlags.DirectionVertical
    formGraphics.DrawString(drawString, drawFont, drawBrush, _
    x, y, drawFormat)
    drawFont.Dispose()
    drawBrush.Dispose()
    formGraphics.Dispose()
End Sub

public void DrawVerticalString()
{
    System.Drawing.Graphics formGraphics = this.CreateGraphics();
    string drawString = "Sample Text";
    System.Drawing.Font drawFont = new System.Drawing.Font("Arial", 16);
    System.Drawing.SolidBrush drawBrush = new System.Drawing.SolidBrush(System.Drawing.Color.Black);
    float x = 150.0F;
    float y = 50.0F;
    System.Drawing.StringFormat drawFormat = new System.Drawing.StringFormat();
    drawFormat.FormatFlags = StringFormatFlags.DirectionVertical;
    formGraphics.DrawString(drawString, drawFont, drawBrush, x, y, drawFormat);
    drawFont.Dispose();
    drawBrush.Dispose();
    formGraphics.Dispose();
}

public:
    void DrawVerticalString()
    {
        System::Drawing::Graphics^ formGraphics = this->CreateGraphics();
        String^ drawString = "Sample Text";
        System::Drawing::Font^ drawFont =
            gcnew System::Drawing::Font("Arial", 16);
        System::Drawing::SolidBrush^ drawBrush = gcnew
            System::Drawing::SolidBrush(System::Drawing::Color::Black);
        float x = 150.0F;
        float y = 50.0F;
        System::Drawing::StringFormat^ drawFormat =
            gcnew System::Drawing::StringFormat();
        drawFormat->FormatFlags = StringFormatFlags::DirectionVertical;
        formGraphics->DrawString(drawString, drawFont, drawBrush, x,
            y, drawFormat);
        delete drawFont;
        delete drawBrush;
        delete formGraphics;
    }

Compiling the Code

You cannot call this method in the Load event handler. The drawn content will not be redrawn if the form is resized or obscured by another form. To make your content automatically repaint, you should override the OnPaint method.

Robust Programming

The following conditions may cause an exception:

• The Arial font is not installed.

See Also

Reference

DrawString
FormatFlags
StringFormatFlags
OnPaint

Other Resources

Getting Started with Graphics Programming
Using Fonts and Text