SetTextAlign

The SetTextAlign function sets the text-alignment flags for the specified device context.

UINT SetTextAlign(

HDC hdc, // handle of device context
UINT fMode // text-alignment flag
);  

Parameters

hdc

Identifies the device context.

fMode

Specifies the text alignment by using a mask of the values in the following list. Only one flag can be chosen from those that affect horizontal and vertical alignment. In addition, only one of the two flags that alter the current position can be chosen.

Value Meaning
TA_BASELINE The reference point will be on the base line of the text.
TA_BOTTOM The reference point will be on the bottom edge of the bounding rectangle.
TA_TOP The reference point will be on the top edge of the bounding rectangle.
TA_CENTER The reference point will be aligned horizontally with the center of the bounding rectangle.
TA_LEFT The reference point will be on the left edge of the bounding rectangle.
TA_RIGHT The reference point will be on the right edge of the bounding rectangle.
TA_NOUPDATECP The current position is not updated after each text output call. The reference point is passed to the text output function.
TA_RTLREADING Windows 95 only: The text is laid out in right to left reading order, as opposed to the default left to right order. This applies only when the font selected into the device context is either Hebrew or Arabic.
TA_UPDATECP The current position is updated after each text output call. The current position is used as the reference point.

When the current font has a vertical default base line, as with Kanji, the following values must be used instead of TA_BASELINE and TA_CENTER:

Value Meaning
VTA_BASELINE The reference point will be on the base line of the text.
VTA_CENTER The reference point will be aligned vertically with the center of the bounding rectangle.

The default values are TA_LEFT, TA_TOP, and TA_NOUPDATECP.

Return Values

If the function succeeds, the return value is the previous text-alignment setting.

If the function fails, the return value is GDI_ERROR. To get extended error information, call GetLastError.

Remarks

The TextOut and ExtTextOut functions use the text-alignment flags to position a string of text on a display or other device. The flags specify the relationship between a reference point and a rectangle that bounds the text. The reference point is either the current position or a point passed to a text output function.

The rectangle that bounds the text is formed by the character cells in the text string.

See Also

ExtTextOut, GetTextAlign, TextOut