🔤 Text Formatting

Fonts, sizes, colours, multi-line blocks, and fine-grained text control.

Text Formatting
using ObviousPDF;
using ObviousPDF.Accessibility;
using ObviousPDF.Fonts;

var doc = new PdfDocument();
doc.Info.Title = "Text Formatting";
doc.Language = "en-US";
doc.DisplayDocTitle = true;
var root = doc.EnableTaggedPdf();
var page = doc.AddPage();

var h1 = root.AddChild(StructureType.H1);
page.AddTaggedText(h1, "Text Formatting", 72, 740,
    new PdfTextOptions { Font = StandardFont.HelveticaBold, FontSize = 24 });

var p1 = root.AddChild(StructureType.P);
page.AddTaggedText(p1, "Helvetica (Sans)", 72, 700,
    new PdfTextOptions { Font = StandardFont.Helvetica, FontSize = 14 });
var p2 = root.AddChild(StructureType.P);
page.AddTaggedText(p2, "Times Roman (Serif)", 72, 680,
    new PdfTextOptions { Font = StandardFont.TimesRoman, FontSize = 14 });

var pRed = root.AddChild(StructureType.P);
page.AddTaggedText(pRed, "Red warning text", 72, 640,
    new PdfTextOptions
    {
        Color = PdfColor.FromRgb(0.85, 0.1, 0.1),
        Font = StandardFont.HelveticaBold, FontSize = 14
    });

var pBlock = root.AddChild(StructureType.P);
page.AddTaggedTextBlock(pBlock, new[]
{
    "This is a multi-line text block.",
    "Each line advances automatically.",
    "Leading controls vertical spacing."
}, 72, 580, new PdfTextOptions { FontSize = 12, Leading = 18 });

var pMix = root.AddChild(StructureType.P);
page.BeginTaggedContent(pMix);
page.BeginTextBlock()
    .SetFont(StandardFont.Helvetica, 14)
    .MoveTextTo(72, 500)
    .ShowText("Normal, ")
    .SetFont(StandardFont.HelveticaBold, 14)
    .ShowText("bold, ")
    .SetFont(StandardFont.HelveticaOblique, 14)
    .ShowText("italic")
    .EndTextBlock();
page.EndTaggedContent();

var pLeft = root.AddChild(StructureType.P);
page.AddTaggedText(pLeft, "Left-aligned (default)", 72, 440,
    new PdfTextOptions { FontSize = 13, Alignment = PdfTextAlignment.Left, Width = 468 });

var pCenter = root.AddChild(StructureType.P);
pCenter.TextAlign = PdfLayoutTextAlign.Center;
page.AddTaggedText(pCenter, "Center-aligned text", 72, 415,
    new PdfTextOptions { FontSize = 13, Alignment = PdfTextAlignment.Center, Width = 468 });

var pRight = root.AddChild(StructureType.P);
pRight.TextAlign = PdfLayoutTextAlign.End;
page.AddTaggedText(pRight, "Right-aligned text", 72, 390,
    new PdfTextOptions { FontSize = 13, Alignment = PdfTextAlignment.Right, Width = 468 });

doc.Save("text_formatting.pdf");
Imports ObviousPDF
Imports ObviousPDF.Accessibility
Imports ObviousPDF.Fonts

Dim doc As New PdfDocument()
doc.Info.Title = "Text Formatting"
doc.Language = "en-US"
doc.DisplayDocTitle = True
Dim root = doc.EnableTaggedPdf()
Dim page = doc.AddPage()

Dim h1 = root.AddChild(StructureType.H1)
page.AddTaggedText(h1, "Text Formatting", 72, 740,
    New PdfTextOptions With { .Font = StandardFont.HelveticaBold, .FontSize = 24 })

Dim p1 = root.AddChild(StructureType.P)
page.AddTaggedText(p1, "Helvetica (Sans)", 72, 700,
    New PdfTextOptions With { .Font = StandardFont.Helvetica, .FontSize = 14 })
Dim p2 = root.AddChild(StructureType.P)
page.AddTaggedText(p2, "Times Roman (Serif)", 72, 680,
    New PdfTextOptions With { .Font = StandardFont.TimesRoman, .FontSize = 14 })

Dim pRed = root.AddChild(StructureType.P)
page.AddTaggedText(pRed, "Red warning text", 72, 640,
    New PdfTextOptions With {
        .Color = PdfColor.FromRgb(0.85, 0.1, 0.1),
        .Font = StandardFont.HelveticaBold, .FontSize = 14
    })

Dim pBlock = root.AddChild(StructureType.P)
page.AddTaggedTextBlock(pBlock, New String() {
    "This is a multi-line text block.",
    "Each line advances automatically.",
    "Leading controls vertical spacing."
}, 72, 580, New PdfTextOptions With { .FontSize = 12, .Leading = 18 })

Dim pMix = root.AddChild(StructureType.P)
page.BeginTaggedContent(pMix)
page.BeginTextBlock() _
    .SetFont(StandardFont.Helvetica, 14) _
    .MoveTextTo(72, 500) _
    .ShowText("Normal, ") _
    .SetFont(StandardFont.HelveticaBold, 14) _
    .ShowText("bold, ") _
    .SetFont(StandardFont.HelveticaOblique, 14) _
    .ShowText("italic") _
    .EndTextBlock()
page.EndTaggedContent()

Dim pLeft = root.AddChild(StructureType.P)
page.AddTaggedText(pLeft, "Left-aligned (default)", 72, 440,
    New PdfTextOptions With { .FontSize = 13, .Alignment = PdfTextAlignment.Left, .Width = 468 })
Dim pCenter = root.AddChild(StructureType.P)
pCenter.TextAlign = PdfLayoutTextAlign.Center
page.AddTaggedText(pCenter, "Center-aligned text", 72, 415,
    New PdfTextOptions With { .FontSize = 13, .Alignment = PdfTextAlignment.Center, .Width = 468 })
Dim pRight = root.AddChild(StructureType.P)
pRight.TextAlign = PdfLayoutTextAlign.End
page.AddTaggedText(pRight, "Right-aligned text", 72, 390,
    New PdfTextOptions With { .FontSize = 13, .Alignment = PdfTextAlignment.Right, .Width = 468 })

doc.Save("text_formatting.pdf")
open ObviousPDF
open ObviousPDF.Accessibility
open ObviousPDF.Fonts

let doc = PdfDocument()
doc.Info.Title <- "Text Formatting"
doc.Language <- "en-US"
doc.DisplayDocTitle <- true
let root = doc.EnableTaggedPdf()
let page = doc.AddPage()

let h1 = root.AddChild(StructureType.H1)
let h1O = PdfTextOptions(Font = StandardFont.HelveticaBold, FontSize = 24.0)
page.AddTaggedText(h1, "Text Formatting", 72.0, 740.0, h1O)

let p1 = root.AddChild(StructureType.P)
page.AddTaggedText(p1, "Helvetica (Sans)", 72.0, 700.0,
    PdfTextOptions(Font = StandardFont.Helvetica, FontSize = 14.0))
let p2 = root.AddChild(StructureType.P)
page.AddTaggedText(p2, "Times Roman (Serif)", 72.0, 680.0,
    PdfTextOptions(Font = StandardFont.TimesRoman, FontSize = 14.0))

let pRed = root.AddChild(StructureType.P)
let redO = PdfTextOptions()
redO.Color <- PdfColor.FromRgb(0.85, 0.1, 0.1)
redO.Font <- StandardFont.HelveticaBold
redO.FontSize <- 14.0
page.AddTaggedText(pRed, "Red warning text", 72.0, 640.0, redO)

let pBlock = root.AddChild(StructureType.P)
let blkO = PdfTextOptions(FontSize = 12.0, Leading = 18.0)
page.AddTaggedTextBlock(pBlock, [|
    "This is a multi-line text block."
    "Each line advances automatically."
    "Leading controls vertical spacing."
|], 72.0, 580.0, blkO)

let pMix = root.AddChild(StructureType.P)
page.BeginTaggedContent(pMix)
page.BeginTextBlock()
    .SetFont(StandardFont.Helvetica, 14.0)
    .MoveTextTo(72.0, 500.0)
    .ShowText("Normal, ")
    .SetFont(StandardFont.HelveticaBold, 14.0)
    .ShowText("bold, ")
    .SetFont(StandardFont.HelveticaOblique, 14.0)
    .ShowText("italic")
    .EndTextBlock() |> ignore
page.EndTaggedContent()

let pLeft = root.AddChild(StructureType.P)
let lO = PdfTextOptions(FontSize = 13.0, Alignment = PdfTextAlignment.Left, Width = 468.0)
page.AddTaggedText(pLeft, "Left-aligned (default)", 72.0, 440.0, lO)
let pCenter = root.AddChild(StructureType.P)
pCenter.TextAlign <- PdfLayoutTextAlign.Center
let cO = PdfTextOptions(FontSize = 13.0, Alignment = PdfTextAlignment.Center, Width = 468.0)
page.AddTaggedText(pCenter, "Center-aligned text", 72.0, 415.0, cO)
let pRight = root.AddChild(StructureType.P)
pRight.TextAlign <- PdfLayoutTextAlign.End
let rO = PdfTextOptions(FontSize = 13.0, Alignment = PdfTextAlignment.Right, Width = 468.0)
page.AddTaggedText(pRight, "Right-aligned text", 72.0, 390.0, rO)

doc.Save("text_formatting.pdf")
Add-Type -Path "ObviousPDF.dll"

$doc = [ObviousPDF.PdfDocument]::new()
$doc.Info.Title = "Text Formatting"
$doc.Language = "en-US"
$doc.DisplayDocTitle = $true
$root = $doc.EnableTaggedPdf()
$page = $doc.AddPage()

# Bold heading
$h1 = $root.AddChild([ObviousPDF.Accessibility.StructureType]::H1)
$opts = [ObviousPDF.PdfTextOptions]::new()
$opts.Font = [ObviousPDF.Fonts.StandardFont]::HelveticaBold
$opts.FontSize = 24
$page.AddTaggedText($h1, "Text Formatting", 72, 740, $opts)

# Coloured text
$pRed = $root.AddChild([ObviousPDF.Accessibility.StructureType]::P)
$opts = [ObviousPDF.PdfTextOptions]::new()
$opts.Color = [ObviousPDF.PdfColor]::FromRgb(0.85, 0.1, 0.1)
$opts.Font = [ObviousPDF.Fonts.StandardFont]::HelveticaBold
$opts.FontSize = 14
$page.AddTaggedText($pRed, "Red warning text", 72, 640, $opts)

# Center alignment
$pCenter = $root.AddChild([ObviousPDF.Accessibility.StructureType]::P)
$pCenter.TextAlign = [ObviousPDF.Accessibility.PdfLayoutTextAlign]::Center
$opts = [ObviousPDF.PdfTextOptions]::new()
$opts.FontSize = 13
$opts.Alignment = [ObviousPDF.PdfTextAlignment]::Center
$opts.Width = 468
$page.AddTaggedText($pCenter, "Center-aligned text", 72, 415, $opts)

$doc.Save("text_formatting.pdf")
📄 Download Example PDF
Screenshot of the Text Formatting PDF showing a large bold heading, three lines in Helvetica, Times Roman, and Courier fonts, red and blue coloured text, a multi-line paragraph with 18pt leading, a mixed-style line with normal, bold, and italic text, and left, center, and right-aligned text

You should see a bold 24 pt heading, font-family samples in Helvetica and Times Roman, red warning text, a three-line paragraph with generous spacing, a mixed-style line reading "Normal, bold, italic", and three lines demonstrating left, center, and right alignment within a 468-point text box.
File: 02_text_formatting.pdf

♿ Accessibility Tip

Use AddTaggedText() for all visible text so screen readers can read it in the correct order. Use BeginTaggedContent()/EndTaggedContent() for fine-grained text blocks.

📐 Text Alignment

Set Alignment and Width on PdfTextOptions to control horizontal text positioning within a box. Alignment is only active when Width is set.

AlignmentDescription
PdfTextAlignment.LeftDefault — text starts at the given x position
PdfTextAlignment.CenterText is centered within the width box
PdfTextAlignment.RightText is right-aligned within the width box
PdfTextAlignment.JustifyText is spread across the full width via word spacing (ISO 32000-2 §9.3.3 Tw operator)

💡 Accessibility — Layout Attributes

For tagged PDFs, also set TextAlign on the PdfStructureElement so assistive technology knows the alignment intent. Use PdfLayoutTextAlign.Start, .Center, .End, or .Justify.

Available Fonts

FontStyleEmbedded Substitute
HelveticaSans-serifSora Regular (SIL OFL)
HelveticaBoldSans-serif boldSora Bold
TimesRomanSerifCMU Serif Roman
CourierMonospaceCMU Typewriter

🎨 Rich Text — Mixed Inline Styles

Combine bold, italic, colour, underline, strikethrough, superscript, and subscript in a single line using AddRichText / AddTaggedRichText.

Rich Text — Mixed Inline Styles
using ObviousPDF;
using ObviousPDF.Accessibility;
using ObviousPDF.Fonts;

var doc = new PdfDocument();
doc.Info.Title = "Rich Text Example";
doc.Language = "en-US";
doc.DisplayDocTitle = true;
var root = doc.EnableTaggedPdf();
var page = doc.AddPage();

var h1 = root.AddChild(StructureType.H1);
page.AddTaggedText(h1, "Rich Text Formatting", 72, 740,
    new PdfTextOptions { EmbeddedFont = BundledFonts.SansBold, FontSize = 22 });

// Base options shared across all runs
var baseOpts = new PdfTextOptions { EmbeddedFont = BundledFonts.SansRegular, FontSize = 14 };

// Line 1 — bold, italic, colour
var pLine1 = root.AddChild(StructureType.P);
page.AddTaggedRichText(pLine1, new[]
{
    new PdfRichTextRun { Text = "Normal  " },
    new PdfRichTextRun { Text = "Bold  ",
        Options = new PdfTextOptions { EmbeddedFont = BundledFonts.SansBold, FontSize = 14 } },
    new PdfRichTextRun { Text = "Italic  ",
        Options = new PdfTextOptions { EmbeddedFont = BundledFonts.SansItalic, FontSize = 14 } },
    new PdfRichTextRun { Text = "Red  ",
        Options = new PdfTextOptions { Color = PdfColor.Red, FontSize = 14 } },
    new PdfRichTextRun { Text = "Blue",
        Options = new PdfTextOptions { Color = PdfColor.Blue, FontSize = 14 } },
}, 72, 700, baseOpts);

// Line 2 — underline and strikethrough
var pLine2 = root.AddChild(StructureType.P);
page.AddTaggedRichText(pLine2, new[]
{
    new PdfRichTextRun { Text = "Underline  ",
        Options = new PdfTextOptions { FontSize = 14,
            Decoration = PdfTextDecoration.Underline } },
    new PdfRichTextRun { Text = "Strikethrough",
        Options = new PdfTextOptions { FontSize = 14,
            Decoration = PdfTextDecoration.Strikethrough } },
}, 72, 670, baseOpts);

// Line 3 — superscript and subscript
var pLine3 = root.AddChild(StructureType.P);
page.AddTaggedRichText(pLine3, new[]
{
    new PdfRichTextRun { Text = "H" },
    new PdfRichTextRun { Text = "2",
        Options = new PdfTextOptions { FontSize = 9, Subscript = true } },
    new PdfRichTextRun { Text = "O  is water.   E = mc" },
    new PdfRichTextRun { Text = "2",
        Options = new PdfTextOptions { FontSize = 9, Superscript = true } },
}, 72, 640, baseOpts);

doc.Save("rich_text.pdf");
Imports ObviousPDF
Imports ObviousPDF.Accessibility
Imports ObviousPDF.Fonts

Dim doc As New PdfDocument()
doc.Info.Title = "Rich Text Example"
doc.Language = "en-US"
doc.DisplayDocTitle = True
Dim root = doc.EnableTaggedPdf()
Dim page = doc.AddPage()

Dim h1 = root.AddChild(StructureType.H1)
page.AddTaggedText(h1, "Rich Text Formatting", 72, 740,
    New PdfTextOptions With { .EmbeddedFont = BundledFonts.SansBold, .FontSize = 22 })

Dim baseOpts = New PdfTextOptions With { .EmbeddedFont = BundledFonts.SansRegular, .FontSize = 14 }

Dim pLine1 = root.AddChild(StructureType.P)
page.AddTaggedRichText(pLine1, New PdfRichTextRun() {
    New PdfRichTextRun With { .Text = "Normal  " },
    New PdfRichTextRun With { .Text = "Bold  ",
        .Options = New PdfTextOptions With { .EmbeddedFont = BundledFonts.SansBold, .FontSize = 14 } },
    New PdfRichTextRun With { .Text = "Italic  ",
        .Options = New PdfTextOptions With { .EmbeddedFont = BundledFonts.SansItalic, .FontSize = 14 } },
    New PdfRichTextRun With { .Text = "Red",
        .Options = New PdfTextOptions With { .Color = PdfColor.Red, .FontSize = 14 } }
}, 72, 700, baseOpts)

Dim pLine2 = root.AddChild(StructureType.P)
page.AddTaggedRichText(pLine2, New PdfRichTextRun() {
    New PdfRichTextRun With { .Text = "Underline  ",
        .Options = New PdfTextOptions With { .FontSize = 14, .Decoration = PdfTextDecoration.Underline } },
    New PdfRichTextRun With { .Text = "Strikethrough",
        .Options = New PdfTextOptions With { .FontSize = 14, .Decoration = PdfTextDecoration.Strikethrough } }
}, 72, 670, baseOpts)

Dim pLine3 = root.AddChild(StructureType.P)
page.AddTaggedRichText(pLine3, New PdfRichTextRun() {
    New PdfRichTextRun With { .Text = "H" },
    New PdfRichTextRun With { .Text = "2",
        .Options = New PdfTextOptions With { .FontSize = 9, .Subscript = True } },
    New PdfRichTextRun With { .Text = "O  is water.   E = mc" },
    New PdfRichTextRun With { .Text = "2",
        .Options = New PdfTextOptions With { .FontSize = 9, .Superscript = True } }
}, 72, 640, baseOpts)

doc.Save("rich_text.pdf")
open ObviousPDF
open ObviousPDF.Accessibility
open ObviousPDF.Fonts

let doc = PdfDocument()
doc.Info.Title <- "Rich Text Example"
doc.Language <- "en-US"
doc.DisplayDocTitle <- true
let root = doc.EnableTaggedPdf()
let page = doc.AddPage()

let h1 = root.AddChild(StructureType.H1)
page.AddTaggedText(h1, "Rich Text Formatting", 72.0, 740.0,
    PdfTextOptions(EmbeddedFont = BundledFonts.SansBold, FontSize = 22.0))

let baseOpts = PdfTextOptions(EmbeddedFont = BundledFonts.SansRegular, FontSize = 14.0)

let pLine1 = root.AddChild(StructureType.P)
page.AddTaggedRichText(pLine1, [|
    PdfRichTextRun(Text = "Normal  ")
    PdfRichTextRun(Text = "Bold  ",
        Options = PdfTextOptions(EmbeddedFont = BundledFonts.SansBold, FontSize = 14.0))
    PdfRichTextRun(Text = "Italic  ",
        Options = PdfTextOptions(EmbeddedFont = BundledFonts.SansItalic, FontSize = 14.0))
    PdfRichTextRun(Text = "Red",
        Options = PdfTextOptions(Color = PdfColor.Red, FontSize = 14.0))
|], 72.0, 700.0, baseOpts)

let pLine2 = root.AddChild(StructureType.P)
page.AddTaggedRichText(pLine2, [|
    PdfRichTextRun(Text = "Underline  ",
        Options = PdfTextOptions(FontSize = 14.0, Decoration = PdfTextDecoration.Underline))
    PdfRichTextRun(Text = "Strikethrough",
        Options = PdfTextOptions(FontSize = 14.0, Decoration = PdfTextDecoration.Strikethrough))
|], 72.0, 670.0, baseOpts)

let pLine3 = root.AddChild(StructureType.P)
page.AddTaggedRichText(pLine3, [|
    PdfRichTextRun(Text = "H")
    PdfRichTextRun(Text = "2",
        Options = PdfTextOptions(FontSize = 9.0, Subscript = true))
    PdfRichTextRun(Text = "O  is water.   E = mc")
    PdfRichTextRun(Text = "2",
        Options = PdfTextOptions(FontSize = 9.0, Superscript = true))
|], 72.0, 640.0, baseOpts)

doc.Save("rich_text.pdf")
Add-Type -Path "ObviousPDF.dll"

$doc = [ObviousPDF.PdfDocument]::new()
$doc.Info.Title = "Rich Text Example"
$doc.Language = "en-US"
$doc.DisplayDocTitle = $true
$root = $doc.EnableTaggedPdf()
$page = $doc.AddPage()

$h1 = $root.AddChild([ObviousPDF.Accessibility.StructureType]::H1)
$page.AddTaggedText($h1, "Rich Text Formatting", 72, 740,
    [ObviousPDF.PdfTextOptions]@{ EmbeddedFont = [ObviousPDF.Fonts.BundledFonts]::SansBold; FontSize = 22 })

$baseOpts = [ObviousPDF.PdfTextOptions]@{
    EmbeddedFont = [ObviousPDF.Fonts.BundledFonts]::SansRegular; FontSize = 14 }

$pLine1 = $root.AddChild([ObviousPDF.Accessibility.StructureType]::P)
$runs1 = @(
    [ObviousPDF.PdfRichTextRun]@{ Text = "Normal  " },
    [ObviousPDF.PdfRichTextRun]@{ Text = "Bold  ";
        Options = [ObviousPDF.PdfTextOptions]@{ EmbeddedFont = [ObviousPDF.Fonts.BundledFonts]::SansBold; FontSize = 14 } },
    [ObviousPDF.PdfRichTextRun]@{ Text = "Italic  ";
        Options = [ObviousPDF.PdfTextOptions]@{ EmbeddedFont = [ObviousPDF.Fonts.BundledFonts]::SansItalic; FontSize = 14 } },
    [ObviousPDF.PdfRichTextRun]@{ Text = "Red";
        Options = [ObviousPDF.PdfTextOptions]@{ Color = [ObviousPDF.PdfColor]::Red; FontSize = 14 } }
)
$page.AddTaggedRichText($pLine1, $runs1, 72, 700, $baseOpts)

$pLine2 = $root.AddChild([ObviousPDF.Accessibility.StructureType]::P)
$runs2 = @(
    [ObviousPDF.PdfRichTextRun]@{ Text = "Underline  ";
        Options = [ObviousPDF.PdfTextOptions]@{ FontSize = 14;
            Decoration = [ObviousPDF.PdfTextDecoration]::Underline } },
    [ObviousPDF.PdfRichTextRun]@{ Text = "Strikethrough";
        Options = [ObviousPDF.PdfTextOptions]@{ FontSize = 14;
            Decoration = [ObviousPDF.PdfTextDecoration]::Strikethrough } }
)
$page.AddTaggedRichText($pLine2, $runs2, 72, 670, $baseOpts)

$doc.Save("rich_text.pdf")

PdfRichTextRun Properties

Property Type Description
TextstringThe text content of this run
OptionsPdfTextOptions?Style overrides for this run. Any property not set falls back to the base options passed to AddRichText.
Options.EmbeddedFontBundledFontsFont variant — SansRegular, SansBold, SansItalic, etc.
Options.ColorPdfColorText colour — e.g. PdfColor.Red, PdfColor.Blue, PdfColor.FromRgb(...)
Options.DecorationPdfTextDecorationUnderline or Strikethrough
Options.SuperscriptboolRaises and reduces text for superscript (e.g. E = mc²)
Options.SubscriptboolLowers and reduces text for subscript (e.g. H₂O)
Options.FontSizedoubleOverride point size for this run only

♿ Accessibility — Rich Text

Use AddTaggedRichText(structureElement, runs, x, y, baseOptions) to associate the entire run sequence with a single structure element (typically a P). All runs are rendered as one tagged content stream, preserving reading order for screen readers. For untagged documents, use AddRichText(runs, x, y, baseOptions).