Q128973: How To Create a Vertical Caption in Label Control

Article: Q128973
Product(s): Microsoft FoxPro
Version(s): 3.00
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbcode
Last Modified: 26-AUG-1999

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows, version 3.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

The label control is a graphical control that displays text. The label presents
a horizontal caption by default. This article provides a sample program that
creates a vertical label and displays it on the form.

MORE INFORMATION
================

The text displayed in a label is presented horizontally by default, and the
label control does not expose a vertical property that would allow you to
vertically align a label. However, typing a CHR(13) in the caption of a label
inserts a carriage return and the string is displayed vertically. For example,
the following property assignment displays the word 'Test' vertically.

     label.Caption="T"+chr(13)+"e"+chr(13)+"s"+chr(13)+"t"

The following sample program displays a modal form that prompts the user to enter
a caption. The text entered is then used in another form to display a vertical
label. The same technique could be used to create a visual class that would
implement a VERTICAL property. To run this example, copy and paste the code to a
program (.PRG) file.

Sample Code
-----------

  *:*************************************************************************
  *: Code to instantiate the forms
  *:*************************************************************************
  *: VERTICAL
     cText=""
     oTxtLabel=CREATEOBJECT('formlabel')
     oTxtLabel.Show
     oMyform=CREATE('myform')
     oMyform.Show
     READ EVENTS

  *:*************************************************************************
  *: Class: FORMLABEL  BaseClass: FORM
  *: Modal form to input the label caption
  *:*************************************************************************
     DEFINE Class FORMLABEL AS Form
       WindowType=1
       Width=125
       AutoCenter=.T.
       ADD OBJECT lblCaption AS Label WITH ;
         Caption="Enter your caption", AutoSize=.T., BackStyle=0
       ADD OBJECT CMDQUIT AS CommandButton WITH Caption="Quit", Top =80
       ADD OBJECT txtLabelCaption AS TextBox WITH ;
         ControlSource='cText',Top=34,Left=3
       PROCEDURE CMDQUIT.Click
         RELEASE Thisform
       ENDPROC
     ENDDEFINE

  *:*************************************************************************
  *: Class: MYFORM
  *: Form that displays the label. It contains the vertical label and a QUIT
  *: command button.
  *:*************************************************************************
     DEFINE Class MYFORM AS Form
       ADD OBJECT lblvertical AS VERTLABEL WITH Left=Thisform.Width/2
       Top=5
       Left=5
       Caption="See your Label"
       ADD OBJECT CMDQUIT AS CommandButton WITH Caption="Quit", Top =10, ;
          Height=20
       PROCEDURE CMDQUIT.Click
         RELEASE Thisform
         CLEAR EVENTS
       ENDPROC
     ENDDEFINE

  *:*************************************************************************
  *: Class: VERTLABEL  BaseClass: LABEL
  *: Creates the vertical caption. Takes the caption as a parameter, and
  *: processes the string to add a CHR(13) between each character.
  *: Also adjusts the height of the label. The code in the Rotate method can
  *: be modified to use in a visual class definition.
  *:*************************************************************************
     DEFINE Class VERTLABEL AS Label
       BackStyle=0
       Alignment=2
       Width=FONTMETRIC(7)  &&Adjusts the Width of the Label to 1 character
       BackColor=rgb(255,0,0)
       PROCEDURE Init
         This.Caption=This.Rotate(CTEXT) &&Text entered in the previous form

       PROCEDURE Rotate
          PARAMETERS tCaption
          nNewheight=0    && Holds the new height
          cNewcaption=""  && Holds the new caption
          DO CASE
            CASE TYPE('tCaption')= "C"
              FOR I=1 TO LEN(tCaption)
                nNewheight=nNewheight+FONTMETRIC(1)
                cNewCaption=cNewCaption+SUBSTR(tCaption,I,1)+CHR(13)
              ENDFOR
                 This.Height=nNewheight
                 RETURN cNewcaption
              OTHERWISE
                 =MESSAGEBOX('Caption of the label must be a character')
           ENDCASE
     ENDPROC
  ENDDEFINE

Additional query words: VFoxWin tabs

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbcode 
Technology        : kbVFPsearch kbAudDeveloper kbVFP300
Version           : 3.00

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1986-2002.