Word wrap without cutting words

• Download demo - 8.2 KB

Introduction

This is to present an alternative for Word wrap without cutting words. This simplifies the code using string.Split and LINQ (although I also provide a non-LINQ version for comparison). It also separates the word wrapping funtionality as extension methods in a static class. Finally, I include a WinForms application to demonstrate the code.

Background

The basic idea is to wrap a single line of text (string) to fit a given width, breaking into separate lines only at word boundaries, defined here as "space-delimited". However, the boundary case of a word that is, by itself, longer than the given width is ambiguous. I.e., (a) split the word to fit, or (b) allow single words that are over width. I decided to provide an optional parameter to choose the desired behavior.

The use of string.Split() reduces apparent complexity (especially in the simple case of allowing overwide words) and avoids character-by-character reprocessing when splitting.

Also, instead of coupling to the WinForms TextRenderer and Font classes, the implementation takes a delegate (Predicate<string>) that tests if a string "fits". The caller is free to determine fitting by any means desired.

string input = "This is the test string, with some veeerrrryyy looooong words!";
int wrapWidth = 160;  // determined somehow
// font below determined from some source
Predicate<string> stringFits = s => TextRenderer.MeasureText(s, font).Width < wrapWidth;
string Ret = input.WordWrap(stringFits, false);  // do NOT allow overwide words
// If you will always allow oversize words, then the bool is not required:
string Ret = input.WordWrap(stringFits);  // do allow overwide words

Points of Interest

There are WordWrapNonLinq() methods which implement the same functionality without using the Linq .Aggregate() method. (This demonstrates what the .Aggregate() is actually doing.)

History

Initial version.