Search
Module:
Directory

   Desktop Functions:

   Smart Device Functions:


Show Recent Changes
Subscribe (RSS)
Misc. Pages
Comments
FAQ
Helpful Tools
Playground
Suggested Reading
Website TODO List
Download Visual Studio Add-In

GetTextMetrics (gdi32)
 
.
Summary

C# Signature:

[DllImport("gdi32.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Auto)]
static extern bool GetTextMetrics(IntPtr hdc, out TEXTMETRIC lptm);

//CharSet.auto automatically selects between these functions based on the OS version:

[DllImport("gdi32.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Unicode)]
private static extern bool GetTextMetricsW(IntPtr hdc, out TEXTMETRICW lptm);

[DllImport("gdi32.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Ansi)]
private static extern bool GetTextMetricsA(IntPtr hdc, out TEXTMETRICA lptm);

User-Defined Types:

TEXTMETRIC

Notes:

It's very important to use the same charset on the TEXTMETRIC structure and the extern function.

Tips & Tricks:

Please add some!

Sample Code:

public static TEXTMETRIC GetTextMetrics(Graphics graphics, Font font)
{
   IntPtr hDC = graphics.GetHdc();
   TEXTMETRIC textMetric;
   IntPtr hFont = font.ToHfont();
   try
   {
     IntPtr hFontPreviouse = SelectObject(hDC, hFont);
     bool result = GetTextMetrics(hDC, out textMetric);
     SelectObject(hDC, hFontPreviouse);
   }
   finally
   {  
     DeleteObject(hFont);
     graphics.ReleaseHdc(hDC);
   }
   return textMetric;
}

[DllImport("Gdi32.dll", CharSet=CharSet.Auto)]
static extern IntPtr SelectObject(IntPtr hdc, IntPtr hgdiobj);

[DllImport("Gdi32.dll", CharSet=CharSet.Auto)]
static extern bool GetTextMetrics(IntPtr hdc, out TEXTMETRIC lptm);

[DllImport("Gdi32.dll", CharSet=CharSet.Auto)]
static extern bool DeleteObject(IntPtr hdc);

[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential, CharSet = CharSet.Auto)]
internal struct TEXTMETRIC
{
   public int tmHeight;
   public int tmAscent;
   public int tmDescent;
   public int tmInternalLeading;
   public int tmExternalLeading;
   public int tmAveCharWidth;
   public int tmMaxCharWidth;
   public int tmWeight;
   public int tmOverhang;
   public int tmDigitizedAspectX;
   public int tmDigitizedAspectY;
   public char tmFirstChar;
   public char tmLastChar;
   public char tmDefaultChar;
   public char tmBreakChar;
   public byte tmItalic;
   public byte tmUnderlined;
   public byte tmStruckOut;
   public byte tmPitchAndFamily;
   public byte tmCharSet;
}

// C++/CLI

// C++/CLI

[StructLayout(LayoutKind::Sequential, CharSet=CharSet::Unicode)]
public ref struct TEXTMETRIC
{

[StructLayout(LayoutKind::Sequential, CharSet=CharSet::Unicode)]

public ref struct TEXTMETRIC

{

   int tmHeight;
   int tmAscent;
   int tmDescent;
   int tmInternalLeading;
   int tmExternalLeading;
   int tmAveCharWidth;
   int tmMaxCharWidth;
   int tmWeight;
   int tmOverhang;
   int tmDigitizedAspectX;
   int tmDigitizedAspectY;
   Char tmFirstChar;
   Char tmLastChar;
   Char tmDefaultChar;
   Char tmBreakChar;
   Byte tmItalic;
   Byte tmUnderlined;
   Byte tmStruckOut;
   Byte tmPitchAndFamily;
   Byte tmCharSet;
};

};

[DllImport("Gdi32.dll", CharSet=CharSet::Unicode)]
static bool GetTextMetrics(IntPtr hdc, [Out] TEXTMETRIC% lptm);

TEXTMETRIC^ GetTextMetricsReal(Graphics^ g, Font^ font)
{
   IntPtr hDC = g->GetHdc();
   TEXTMETRIC^ textMetric = gcnew TEXTMETRIC;
   IntPtr hFont = font->ToHfont();
   try
   {
      IntPtr hFontPrevious = Win32::SelectObject(hDC, hFont);
      bool result = Win32::GetTextMetrics(hDC, *textMetric);
      Win32::SelectObject(hDC, hFontPrevious);
   }
   finally
   {  
      Win32::DeleteObject(hFont);
      g->ReleaseHdc(hDC);
   }

[DllImport("Gdi32.dll", CharSet=CharSet::Unicode)]

static bool GetTextMetrics(IntPtr hdc, Out TEXTMETRIC% lptm);

   return textMetric;
}

TEXTMETRIC^ GetTextMetricsReal(Graphics^ g, Font^ font)

{

   IntPtr hDC = g->GetHdc();
   TEXTMETRIC^ textMetric = gcnew TEXTMETRIC;
   IntPtr hFont = font->ToHfont();
   try
   {
      IntPtr hFontPrevious = Win32::SelectObject(hDC, hFont);
      bool result = Win32::GetTextMetrics(hDC, *textMetric);
      Win32::SelectObject(hDC, hFontPrevious);
   }
   finally
   {  
      Win32::DeleteObject(hFont);
      g->ReleaseHdc(hDC);
   }

Alternative Managed API:

Do you know one? Please contribute it!

   return textMetric;

}

Documentation

Alternative Managed API:

Do you know one? Please contribute it!

Documentation

Please edit this page!

Do you have...

  • helpful tips or sample code to share for using this API in managed code?
  • corrections to the existing content?
  • variations of the signature you want to share?
  • additional languages you want to include?

Select "Edit This Page" on the right hand toolbar and edit it! Or add new pages containing supporting types needed for this API (structures, delegates, and more).

 
Access PInvoke.net directly from VS:
Terms of Use
Edit This Page
Find References
Show Printable Version
Revisions