Develop Reference

Why isn't this code able to centre the text on the graphics object?

I've been hit and miss with using the graphics object method MeasureCharacterRanges(). Below is example code where it doesn't work. When the rectangle is drawn, it's not around the 'X', but slightly to the left.
'X', clearly, does not mark the spot.
Why?
public partial class Form1 : Form
{
private string test = "X";
public Form1()
{
InitializeComponent();
this.ResizeRedraw = true;
this.Paint += new System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventHandler(this.Form1_Paint);
}
private void Form1_Paint(object sender, PaintEventArgs e)
{
using (Graphics g = this.CreateGraphics())
{
g.Clear(this.BackColor);
using (Font font = new Font(Font.Name, this.Size.Height / 8))
{
Rectangle layout = this.ClientRectangle;
layout.Width *= 2;
using (StringFormat stringFormat = new StringFormat())
{
CharacterRange[] charRange = { new CharacterRange(0, test.Length) };
stringFormat.SetMeasurableCharacterRanges(charRange);
Region[] sr = g.MeasureCharacterRanges(test, font, layout, stringFormat);
RectangleF rectangle = sr[0].GetBounds(g);
PointF location = new PointF((this.ClientRectangle.Width - rectangle.Width) / 2.0f, ((this.ClientRectangle.Height - rectangle.Height) / 2.0F));
rectangle.Location = location;
using (SolidBrush brush = new SolidBrush(Color.Black))
{
g.DrawString(test, font, brush, rectangle.Location);
}
g.DrawRectangle(Pens.Red, Rectangle.Round(rectangle));
}
}
}
}
}

You need to create your StringFormat with the GenericTypographic property, and then pass the stringFormat into the DrawString method with one of the other overloads so that it knows about the StringFormat you've specified.
If you don't do this, DrawString just uses the default StringFormat which doesn't have the correct Property values for Trimming, FormatFlags and Alignment etc.
// StringFormat created using GenericTypographic
using (StringFormat stringFormat = new StringFormat(StringFormat.GenericTypographic))
{
CharacterRange[] charRange = { new CharacterRange(0, test.Length) };
stringFormat.SetMeasurableCharacterRanges(charRange);
Region[] sr = g.MeasureCharacterRanges(test, font, layout, stringFormat);
RectangleF rectangle = sr[0].GetBounds(g);
PointF location = new PointF((this.ClientRectangle.Width - rectangle.Width) / 2.0f, ((this.ClientRectangle.Height - rectangle.Height) / 2.0F));
rectangle.Location = location;
using (SolidBrush brush = new SolidBrush(Color.Black))
{
// Now passing in stringFormat
g.DrawString(test, font, brush, rectangle.Location, stringFormat);
}
g.DrawRectangle(Pens.Red, Rectangle.Round(rectangle));
}

Auto Resize Font to fit rectangle

How can I create in .NET 4.5 / C# a font with a adaptive size to fit a specified rectangle ?
I have a resize based on the string length, the longer the string, the smaller the fontsize, but it does not work very well, if the string is too long the text gets very small. The problem with this method is that if I change the rectangle size all the font sizes are not good again.

It's been a while but I came across this issue.
MSDN offers a sample with a GetAdjustedFont method to help with this process:
(shamelessly stolen from https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb986765.aspx)
public Font GetAdjustedFont(Graphics g, string graphicString, Font originalFont, int containerWidth, int maxFontSize, int minFontSize, bool smallestOnFail)
{
Font testFont = null;
// We utilize MeasureString which we get via a control instance
for (int adjustedSize = maxFontSize; adjustedSize >= minFontSize; adjustedSize--)
{
testFont = new Font(originalFont.Name, adjustedSize, originalFont.Style);
// Test the string with the new size
SizeF adjustedSizeNew = g.MeasureString(graphicString, testFont);
if (containerWidth > Convert.ToInt32(adjustedSizeNew.Width))
{
// Good font, return it
return testFont;
}
}
// If you get here there was no fontsize that worked
// return minimumSize or original?
if (smallestOnFail)
{
return testFont;
}
else
{
return originalFont;
}
}

With Graphics.MeasureString you can measure the size of a string, so you can calculate what you need.
Sample from MSDN
private void MeasureStringMin(PaintEventArgs e)
{
// Set up string.
string measureString = "Measure String";
Font stringFont = new Font("Arial", 16);
// Measure string.
SizeF stringSize = new SizeF();
stringSize = e.Graphics.MeasureString(measureString, stringFont);
// Draw rectangle representing size of string.
e.Graphics.DrawRectangle(new Pen(Color.Red, 1), 0.0F, 0.0F, stringSize.Width, stringSize.Height);
// Draw string to screen.
e.Graphics.DrawString(measureString, stringFont, Brushes.Black, new PointF(0, 0));
}

You can measure the string width with whatever font size (e.g. 16), and then you can calculate your desired font size like this:
fontSize = (previouslyMeasuredFontSize * targetWidthOfString) / previouslyMeasuredStringWidth;

I also needed something similar. I created some code to answer the need of drawing text inside a defined rectangle with several auto font size options (see DrawMethod enum). It also supports auto warp with and without auto font size. My solution was inspired by the answers above.
Be sure to add WindowsBase and PresentationCore assemblies.
DrawTextToBitmap.cs
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Drawing.Drawing2D;
using System.Drawing.Text;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
namespace ReportPrepare
{
class TextDrawing
{
public enum DrawMethod
{
AutosizeAccordingToText, // create the smallest bitmap needed to draw the text without word warp
AutoFitInConstantRectangleWithoutWarp, // draw text with the biggest font possible while not exceeding rectangle dimensions, without word warp
AutoWarpInConstantRectangle, // draw text in rectangle while performing word warp. font size is a constant input. drawing may exceed bitmap rectangle.
AutoFitInConstantRectangleWithWarp // draw text with the biggest font possible while not exceeding rectangle dimensions, with word warp
}
private static void SetGraphicsHighQualityForTextRendering(Graphics g)
{
// The smoothing mode specifies whether lines, curves, and the edges of filled areas use smoothing (also called antialiasing). One exception is that path gradient brushes do not obey the smoothing mode. Areas filled using a PathGradientBrush are rendered the same way (aliased) regardless of the SmoothingMode property.
g.SmoothingMode = SmoothingMode.AntiAlias;
// The interpolation mode determines how intermediate values between two endpoints are calculated.
g.InterpolationMode = InterpolationMode.HighQualityBicubic;
// Use this property to specify either higher quality, slower rendering, or lower quality, faster rendering of the contents of this Graphics object.
g.PixelOffsetMode = PixelOffsetMode.HighQuality;
// This one is important
g.TextRenderingHint = TextRenderingHint.AntiAliasGridFit;
}
public static Size MeasureDrawTextBitmapSize(string text, Font font)
{
Bitmap bmp = new Bitmap(1, 1);
using (Graphics g = Graphics.FromImage(bmp))
{
SizeF size = g.MeasureString(text, font);
return new Size((int)(Math.Ceiling(size.Width)), (int)(Math.Ceiling(size.Height)));
}
}
public static int GetMaximumFontSizeFitInRectangle(string text, Font font, RectangleF rectanglef, bool isWarp, int MinumumFontSize=6, int MaximumFontSize=1000)
{
Font newFont;
Rectangle rect = Rectangle.Ceiling(rectanglef);
for (int newFontSize = MinumumFontSize; ; newFontSize++)
{
newFont = new Font(font.FontFamily, newFontSize, font.Style);
List<string> ls = WarpText(text, newFont, rect.Width);
StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
if (isWarp)
{
for (int i = 0; i < ls.Count; ++i)
{
sb.Append(ls[i] + Environment.NewLine);
}
}
else
{
sb.Append(text);
}
Size size = MeasureDrawTextBitmapSize(sb.ToString(), newFont);
if (size.Width > rectanglef.Width || size.Height > rectanglef.Height)
{
return (newFontSize - 1);
}
if (newFontSize >= MaximumFontSize)
{
return (newFontSize - 1);
}
}
}
public static List<string> WarpText(string text, Font font, int lineWidthInPixels)
{
string[] originalLines = text.Split(new string[] { " " }, StringSplitOptions.None);
List<string> wrappedLines = new List<string>();
StringBuilder actualLine = new StringBuilder();
double actualWidthInPixels = 0;
foreach (string str in originalLines)
{
Size size = MeasureDrawTextBitmapSize(str, font);
actualLine.Append(str + " ");
actualWidthInPixels += size.Width;
if (actualWidthInPixels > lineWidthInPixels)
{
actualLine = actualLine.Remove(actualLine.ToString().Length - str.Length - 1, str.Length);
wrappedLines.Add(actualLine.ToString());
actualLine.Clear();
actualLine.Append(str + " ");
actualWidthInPixels = size.Width;
}
}
if (actualLine.Length > 0)
{
wrappedLines.Add(actualLine.ToString());
}
return wrappedLines;
}
public static Bitmap DrawTextToBitmap(string text, Font font, Color color, DrawMethod mode, RectangleF rectanglef)
{
StringFormat drawFormat = new StringFormat();
Bitmap bmp;
switch (mode)
{
case DrawMethod.AutosizeAccordingToText:
{
Size size = MeasureDrawTextBitmapSize(text, font);
if (size.Width == 0 || size.Height == 0)
{
bmp = new Bitmap(1, 1);
}
else
{
bmp = new Bitmap(size.Width, size.Height);
}
using (Graphics g = Graphics.FromImage(bmp))
{
SetGraphicsHighQualityForTextRendering(g);
g.DrawString(text, font, new SolidBrush(color), 0, 0);
return bmp;
}
}
case DrawMethod.AutoWarpInConstantRectangle:
{
Rectangle rect = Rectangle.Ceiling(rectanglef);
bmp = new Bitmap(rect.Width,rect.Height);
if (rect.Width == 0 || rect.Height == 0)
{
bmp = new Bitmap(1, 1);
}
else
{
bmp = new Bitmap(rect.Width, rect.Height);
}
using (Graphics g = Graphics.FromImage(bmp))
{
SetGraphicsHighQualityForTextRendering(g);
g.DrawString(text, font, new SolidBrush(color), rectanglef, drawFormat);
return bmp;
}
}
case DrawMethod.AutoFitInConstantRectangleWithoutWarp:
{
Rectangle rect = Rectangle.Ceiling(rectanglef);
bmp = new Bitmap(rect.Width, rect.Height);
if (rect.Width == 0 || rect.Height == 0)
{
bmp = new Bitmap(1, 1);
}
else
{
bmp = new Bitmap(rect.Width, rect.Height);
}
using (Graphics g = Graphics.FromImage(bmp))
{
int fontSize = GetMaximumFontSizeFitInRectangle(text, font, rectanglef, false);
SetGraphicsHighQualityForTextRendering(g);
g.DrawString(text, new Font(font.FontFamily, fontSize,font.Style, GraphicsUnit.Point), new SolidBrush(color), rectanglef, drawFormat);
return bmp;
}
}
case DrawMethod.AutoFitInConstantRectangleWithWarp:
{
Rectangle rect = Rectangle.Ceiling(rectanglef);
if (rect.Width == 0 || rect.Height == 0)
{
bmp = new Bitmap(1, 1);
}
else
{
bmp = new Bitmap(rect.Width, rect.Height);
}
using (Graphics g = Graphics.FromImage(bmp))
{
int fontSize = GetMaximumFontSizeFitInRectangle(text, font, rectanglef, true);
SetGraphicsHighQualityForTextRendering(g);
g.DrawString(text, new Font(font.FontFamily, fontSize, font.Style, GraphicsUnit.Point), new SolidBrush(color), rectanglef, drawFormat);
return bmp;
}
}
}
return null;
}
}
}
Usage Example:
Form1.cs
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Data;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Globalization;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using System.Windows.Forms;
// add WindowsBase and PresentationCore assemblies
namespace ReportPrepare
{
public partial class Form1 : Form
{
PictureBox picbox = new PictureBox();
int i = 0;
Timer t = new Timer();
public Form1()
{
InitializeComponent();
this.Controls.Add(picbox);
picbox.Dock = DockStyle.Fill;
t.Interval = 5000;
t.Tick += t_Tick;
t.Enabled = true;
this.Shown += Form1_Shown;
this.SizeChanged += Form1_SizeChanged;
this.Size = new Size(812, 400);
this.StartPosition = FormStartPosition.CenterScreen;
}
void Form1_Shown(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
DrawText();
}
void t_Tick(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
i++;
if (i > 3)
{
i = 0;
}
DrawText();
}
private void DrawText()
{
// text and font
string text = "one two three four five six seven eight nine ten eleven twelve";
Font font = new System.Drawing.Font("Arial", 30, FontStyle.Regular, GraphicsUnit.Point);
switch (i)
{
case 0:
picbox.Image = TextDrawing.DrawTextToBitmap(text, font, Color.Red, TextDrawing.DrawMethod.AutosizeAccordingToText, new RectangleF(0, 0, picbox.Width, picbox.Height));
break;
case 1:
picbox.Image = TextDrawing.DrawTextToBitmap(text, font, Color.Red, TextDrawing.DrawMethod.AutoFitInConstantRectangleWithoutWarp, new RectangleF(0, 0, picbox.Width, picbox.Height));
break;
case 2:
picbox.Image = TextDrawing.DrawTextToBitmap(text, font, Color.Red, TextDrawing.DrawMethod.AutoWarpInConstantRectangle, new RectangleF(0, 0, picbox.Width, picbox.Height));
break;
case 3:
picbox.Image = TextDrawing.DrawTextToBitmap(text, font, Color.Red, TextDrawing.DrawMethod.AutoFitInConstantRectangleWithWarp, new RectangleF(0, 0, picbox.Width, picbox.Height));
break;
}
this.Text = ((TextDrawing.DrawMethod)(i)).ToString() + " Please resize window size by mouse to see drawing methods differences";
}
private void Form1_SizeChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
t.Enabled = false;
t.Enabled = true;
DrawText();
}
}
}
The example toggles between drawing modes automatically once every 5 seconds. The picturebox is docked inside main form. Resizing of the form shows the user the difference between the drawing modes.

Graphics DrawString to Exactly Place Text on a System.Label

I have overridden the OnPaint method of my Label control in VS2008:
void Label_OnPaint(object sender, PaintEventArgs e) {
base.OnPaint(e);
dim lbl = sender as Label;
if (lbl != null) {
string Text = lbl.Text;
e.Graphics.SmoothingMode = System.Drawing.Drawing2D.SmoothingMode.AntiAlias;
if (myShowShadow) { // draw the shadow first!
e.Graphics.DrawString(Text, lbl.Font, new SolidBrush(myShadowColor), myShadowOffset, StringFormat.GenericDefault);
}
e.Graphics.DrawString(Text, lbl.Font, new SolidBrush(lbl.ForeColor), 0, 0, StringFormat.GenericDefault);
}
}
This works, but I really want to find out how to center the text both vertically and horizontally. I've heard of the MeasureString() method, but my "Text" complicates matters because it could include page breaks.
Could someone guide me with how to do this?

Alternatively you can create your own StringFormat object and pass it in using an overload of DrawString that supports a RectangleF:
StringFormat formatter = new StringFormat();
formatter.LineAlignment = StringAlignment.Center;
formatter.Alignment = StringAlignment.Center;
RectangleF rectangle = new RectangleF(0, 0, lbl.Width, lbl.Height);
e.Graphics.DrawString(Text, lbl.Font, new SolidBrush(lbl.ForeColor), rectangle, formatter);

You can call TextRenderer.DrawText with the HorizontalCenter and VerticalCenter flags.

Here is the code i'm using at the moment,
SizeF size;
string text = "Text goes here";
size = e.Graphics.MeasureString(text, font);
x = (lineWidth / 2) - (size.Width / 2);
y = top;
e.Graphics.DrawString(text, font, Brushes.Black, x, y);

I just wanted to add (a year later) a tool I created because StringAlignment turned out to be not very dependable. It turns out to be very similar to Neo's version.
The code below does an excellent job of centering the text both vertically and horizontally. Also, I wrote it with various overloads so that different options could be supplied to make this control behave exactly like I want.
Here are my overloads:
private static void DrawCenter(Label label, Graphics graphics) {
DrawCenter(label.Text, label, label.Location, label.ForeColor, graphics);
}
private void DrawCenter(string text, Label label, Graphics graphics) {
DrawCenter(text, label, label.Location, label.ForeColor, graphics);
}
private static void DrawCenter(string text, Label label, Point location, Graphics graphics) {
DrawCenter(text, label, location, label.ForeColor, graphics);
}
private static void DrawCenter(string text, Label label, Point location, Color fontColor, Graphics graphics) {
Rectangle rect = new Rectangle(location, label.Size);
SizeF lSize = graphics.MeasureString(text, label.Font, rect.Width);
PointF lPoint = new PointF(rect.X + (rect.Width - lSize.Width) / 2, rect.Y + (rect.Height - lSize.Height) / 2);
graphics.DrawString(text, label.Font, new SolidBrush(fontColor), lPoint);
}
To use these for the Label's OnPaint event, simply modify my original code in the question to following:
private void Label_OnPaint(object sender, PaintEventArgs e) {
base.OnPaint(e);
Label lbl = sender as Label;
if (lbl != null) {
string txt = lbl.Text;
e.Graphics.SmoothingMode = System.Drawing.Drawing2D.SmoothingMode.AntiAlias;
if (myShowShadow) { // draw the shadow first!
Point offset = new Point(lbl.Location.X - 1, lbl.Location.Y - 1)
DrawCenter(txt, lbl, offset, myShadowColor, e.Graphics);
}
DrawCenter(lbl, e.Graphics);
}
}
For a Print_Document event, I have a version that will also print a box around the label if there is already a box around it in the designer:
private static void DrawCenter(string text, Label label, Point location, Color fontColor, Graphics graphics) {
Rectangle rect = new Rectangle(location, label.Size);
SizeF lSize = graphics.MeasureString(text, label.Font, rect.Width);
PointF lPoint = new PointF((rect.Width - lSize.Width) / 2, (rect.Height - lSize.Height) / 2);
graphics.DrawString(text, label.Font, new SolidBrush(fontColor), lPoint);
if (label.BorderStyle != BorderStyle.None) {
using (Pen p = new Pen(Color.Black)) {
graphics.DrawRectangle(p, rect);
}
}
}
If you find this at all useful, give me a +1.
~Joe

C# vertical label in a Windows Forms

Is it possible to display a label vertically in a Windows Forms?

Labels are easy, all you have to do is override the Paint event and draw the text vertically. Do note that GDI is optimised for Drawing text horizontally. If you rotate text (even if you rotate through multiples of 90 degrees) it will looks notably worse.
Perhaps the best thing to do is draw your text (or get a label to draw itself) onto a bitmap, then display the bitmap rotated.
Some C# code for drawing a Custom Control with vertical text. Note that ClearType text NEVER works if the text is not horizontal:
using System;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Drawing.Drawing2D;
using System.Windows.Forms;
public partial class VerticalLabel : UserControl
{
public VerticalLabel()
{
InitializeComponent();
}
private void VerticalLabel_SizeChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
GenerateTexture();
}
private void GenerateTexture()
{
StringFormat format = new StringFormat();
format.Alignment = StringAlignment.Center;
format.LineAlignment = StringAlignment.Center;
format.Trimming = StringTrimming.EllipsisCharacter;
Bitmap img = new Bitmap(this.Height, this.Width);
Graphics G = Graphics.FromImage(img);
G.Clear(this.BackColor);
SolidBrush brush_text = new SolidBrush(this.ForeColor);
G.TextRenderingHint = System.Drawing.Text.TextRenderingHint.SingleBitPerPixelGridFit;
G.DrawString(this.Name, this.Font, brush_text, new Rectangle(0, 0, img.Width, img.Height), format);
brush_text.Dispose();
img.RotateFlip(RotateFlipType.Rotate270FlipNone);
this.BackgroundImage = img;
}
}

Create a class myLabel which can rotate it's Text on any angle specified by you.
You can use it by code or simply dragging from ToolBox
using System.Drawing;
class myLabel:System.Windows.Forms.Label
{
public int RotateAngle { get; set; } // to rotate your text
public string NewText { get; set; } // to draw text
protected override void OnPaint(System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs e)
{
Brush b =new SolidBrush(this.ForeColor);
e.Graphics.TranslateTransform(this.Width / 2, this.Height / 2);
e.Graphics.RotateTransform(this.RotateAngle);
e.Graphics.DrawString(this.NewText, this.Font,b , 0f, 0f);
base.OnPaint(e);
}
}
Now this custom control is used into your form.
You have to set below properties
1. mylbl.Text = ""; //which can be changed by NewText property
2. mylbl.AutoSize = false; // adjust according to your text
3. mylbl.NewText = "Hello"; // whatever you want to display
4. mylbl.ForeColor = Color.Red; // color to display
5. mylbl.RotateAngle = -90; //angle to rotate

I expanded on Javed Akram's answer to resize the widget automatically (I needed this feature). It works for both positive and negative angles, the way that Javed states:
1. mylbl.Text = ""; // which can be changed by NewText property
2. mylbl.AutoSize = false; // adjust according to your text
3. mylbl.NewText = "Hello"; // whatever you want to display
4. mylbl.ForeColor = Color.Red; // color to display
5. mylbl.RotateAngle = -90; // angle to rotate
Here is the code:
public class RotatingLabel : System.Windows.Forms.Label
{
private int m_RotateAngle = 0;
private string m_NewText = string.Empty;
public int RotateAngle { get { return m_RotateAngle; } set { m_RotateAngle = value; Invalidate(); } }
public string NewText { get { return m_NewText; } set { m_NewText = value; Invalidate(); } }
protected override void OnPaint(System.Windows.Forms.PaintEventArgs e)
{
Func<double, double> DegToRad = (angle) => Math.PI * angle / 180.0;
Brush b = new SolidBrush(this.ForeColor);
SizeF size = e.Graphics.MeasureString(this.NewText, this.Font, this.Parent.Width);
int normalAngle = ((RotateAngle % 360) + 360) % 360;
double normaleRads = DegToRad(normalAngle);
int hSinTheta = (int)Math.Ceiling((size.Height * Math.Sin(normaleRads)));
int wCosTheta = (int)Math.Ceiling((size.Width * Math.Cos(normaleRads)));
int wSinTheta = (int)Math.Ceiling((size.Width * Math.Sin(normaleRads)));
int hCosTheta = (int)Math.Ceiling((size.Height * Math.Cos(normaleRads)));
int rotatedWidth = Math.Abs(hSinTheta) + Math.Abs(wCosTheta);
int rotatedHeight = Math.Abs(wSinTheta) + Math.Abs(hCosTheta);
this.Width = rotatedWidth;
this.Height = rotatedHeight;
int numQuadrants =
(normalAngle >= 0 && normalAngle < 90) ? 1 :
(normalAngle >= 90 && normalAngle < 180) ? 2 :
(normalAngle >= 180 && normalAngle < 270) ? 3 :
(normalAngle >= 270 && normalAngle < 360) ? 4 :
0;
int horizShift = 0;
int vertShift = 0;
if (numQuadrants == 1)
{
horizShift = Math.Abs(hSinTheta);
}
else if (numQuadrants == 2)
{
horizShift = rotatedWidth;
vertShift = Math.Abs(hCosTheta);
}
else if (numQuadrants == 3)
{
horizShift = Math.Abs(wCosTheta);
vertShift = rotatedHeight;
}
else if (numQuadrants == 4)
{
vertShift = Math.Abs(wSinTheta);
}
e.Graphics.TranslateTransform(horizShift, vertShift);
e.Graphics.RotateTransform(this.RotateAngle);
e.Graphics.DrawString(this.NewText, this.Font, b, 0f, 0f);
base.OnPaint(e);
}
}

I found a way to simply do it without adding code or classes to your project!
When you create your label, simply add:
this.label1.text = "V\nE\nR\nT\nI\nC\nA\nL\n";
This worked for me!

You can rotate text instead of the label control in the OnPaint event or Paint method:
private void uc1_Paint(object sender, PaintEventArgs e)
{
string Name;
var g = e.Graphics;
g.DrawString(Name, new Font("Tahoma", 8), Brushes.Black, 0, 0,
new StringFormat(StringFormatFlags.DirectionVertical));
}

2015 update on an old post. Since most of the other answers seem to heavily affect VS2013's designer in terms of usability, I'd suggest this solution:
http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/19774/Extended-Vertical-Label-Control-in-C-NET

It absolutely works. I found it on net and little changed
using System;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Drawing.Drawing2D;
using System.ComponentModel;
public class VerticalLabel : System.Windows.Forms.Label
{
private bool bFlip = true;
public VerticalLabel()
{
}
protected override void OnPaint(PaintEventArgs e)
{
Graphics g = e.Graphics;
StringFormat stringFormat = new StringFormat();
stringFormat.Alignment = StringAlignment.Center;
stringFormat.Trimming = StringTrimming.None;
stringFormat.FormatFlags = StringFormatFlags.DirectionVertical;
Brush textBrush = new SolidBrush(this.ForeColor);
Matrix storedState = g.Transform;
if (bFlip)
{
g.RotateTransform(180f);
g.TranslateTransform(-ClientRectangle.Width,-ClientRectangle.Height);
}
g.DrawString(
this.Text,
this.Font,
textBrush,
ClientRectangle,
stringFormat);
g.Transform = storedState;
}
[Description("When this parameter is true the VLabel flips at 180 degrees."),Category("Appearance")]
public bool Flip180
{
get
{
return bFlip;
}
set
{
bFlip = value;
this.Invalidate();
}
}
}

Used pieces from others
Jeremy
public partial class VerticalLabel_UserControl : UserControl
{
private IComponentChangeService _changeService;
private string strPropertyText = "Vertical Text";
public VerticalLabel_UserControl()
{
InitializeComponent();
}
[EditorBrowsable(EditorBrowsableState.Always)]
[Browsable(true)]
[DesignerSerializationVisibility(DesignerSerializationVisibility.Visible)]
[Bindable(true)]
public override string Text { get { return base.Text; } set { base.Text = value; this.Invalidate(); } }
private void VerticalLabel_UserControl_SizeChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
GenerateTexture();
}
protected override void OnTextChanged(EventArgs e)
{
base.OnTextChanged(e);
}
private void GenerateTexture()
{
StringFormat format = new StringFormat();
format.Alignment = StringAlignment.Center;
format.LineAlignment = StringAlignment.Center;
// format.Trimming = StringTrimming.EllipsisCharacter;
Bitmap img = new Bitmap(this.Height, this.Width);
Graphics G = Graphics.FromImage(img);
G.Clear(this.BackColor);
SolidBrush brush_text = new SolidBrush(this.ForeColor);
G.TextRenderingHint = System.Drawing.Text.TextRenderingHint.SingleBitPerPixelGridFit;
G.DrawString(this.strPropertyText, this.Font, brush_text, new Rectangle(0, 0, img.Width, img.Height), format);
img.RotateFlip(RotateFlipType.Rotate270FlipNone);
this.BackgroundImage = img;
brush_text.Dispose();
}
public override System.ComponentModel.ISite Site
{
get
{
return base.Site;
}
set
{
_changeService = (IComponentChangeService)GetService(typeof(IComponentChangeService));
if (_changeService != null)
_changeService.ComponentChanged -= new ComponentChangedEventHandler(OnComponentChanged);
base.Site = value;
if (!DesignMode)
return;
_changeService = (IComponentChangeService)GetService(typeof(IComponentChangeService));
if (_changeService != null)
_changeService.ComponentChanged += new ComponentChangedEventHandler(OnComponentChanged);
}
}
private void OnComponentChanged(object sender, ComponentChangedEventArgs ce)
{
VerticalLabel_UserControl label = ce.Component as VerticalLabel_UserControl;
if (label == null || !label.DesignMode)
return;
if (((IComponent)ce.Component).Site == null || ce.Member == null || ce.Member.Name != "Text")
return;
//Causes the default text to be updated
string strName = this.Name.ToLower();
string strText = this.Text.ToLower();
if (strText.Contains(strName))
{
this.Text = "Vertical Text";
}
else
{
strPropertyText = this.Text;
}
//Prints the text vertically
GenerateTexture();
}
}

I just turned off the AutoSize property and resized the label vertically. I made the label wide enough for only one character. Then I changed TextAlign to center to make the alignment look better. This worked great for me.

Extracting an Event (tabControl_DrawItem) to Class Library

I have the following code under a TabConttrols DrawItem event that I am trying to extract into a class file. I am having trouble since it is tied to an event. Any hints or pointers would be greatly appreciated.
private void tabCaseNotes_DrawItem(object sender, DrawItemEventArgs e)
{
TabPage currentTab = tabCaseNotes.TabPages[e.Index];
Rectangle itemRect = tabCaseNotes.GetTabRect(e.Index);
SolidBrush fillBrush = new SolidBrush(Color.Linen);
SolidBrush textBrush = new SolidBrush(Color.Black);
StringFormat sf = new StringFormat
{
Alignment = StringAlignment.Center,
LineAlignment = StringAlignment.Center
};
//If we are currently painting the Selected TabItem we'll
//change the brush colors and inflate the rectangle.
if (System.Convert.ToBoolean(e.State & DrawItemState.Selected))
{
fillBrush.Color = Color.LightSteelBlue;
textBrush.Color = Color.Black;
itemRect.Inflate(2, 2);
}
//Set up rotation for left and right aligned tabs
if (tabCaseNotes.Alignment == TabAlignment.Left || tabCaseNotes.Alignment == TabAlignment.Right)
{
float rotateAngle = 90;
if (tabCaseNotes.Alignment == TabAlignment.Left)
rotateAngle = 270;
PointF cp = new PointF(itemRect.Left + (itemRect.Width / 2), itemRect.Top + (itemRect.Height / 2));
e.Graphics.TranslateTransform(cp.X, cp.Y);
e.Graphics.RotateTransform(rotateAngle);
itemRect = new Rectangle(-(itemRect.Height / 2), -(itemRect.Width / 2), itemRect.Height, itemRect.Width);
}
//Next we'll paint the TabItem with our Fill Brush
e.Graphics.FillRectangle(fillBrush, itemRect);
//Now draw the text.
e.Graphics.DrawString(currentTab.Text, e.Font, textBrush, (RectangleF)itemRect, sf);
//Reset any Graphics rotation
e.Graphics.ResetTransform();
//Finally, we should Dispose of our brushes.
fillBrush.Dispose();
textBrush.Dispose();
}

Depends on what you're trying to achieve. You could always sub class TabControl or you could encapsulate the drawing code in a class that you pass a TabControl to.
public class TabRenderer
{
private TabControl _tabControl;
public TabRenderer(TabControl tabControl)
{
_tabControl = tabControl;
_tabControl.DrawMode = TabDrawMode.OwnerDrawFixed;
_tabControl.DrawItem += TabControlDrawItem;
}
private void TabControlDrawItem(object sender, DrawItemEventArgs e)
{
// Your drawing code...
}
}