Provided by: libsdl-perl_2.546-2build1_amd64 
NAME
SDL::TTF - True Type Font functions (libfreetype)
CATEGORY
TTF
CONSTANTS
The constants are exported by default. You can avoid this by doing:
use SDL::TTF ();
and access them directly:
SDL::TTF::TTF_HINTING_NORMAL;
Available constants for "hinting":
• TTF_HINTING_NORMAL
• TTF_HINTING_LIGHT
• TTF_HINTING_MONO
• TTF_HINTING_NONE
Available constants for "style":
• TTF_STYLE_NORMAL
• TTF_STYLE_BOLD
• TTF_STYLE_ITALIC
• TTF_STYLE_UNDERLINE
• TTF_STYLE_STRIKETHROUGH
METHODS
General methods
linked_version
my $version = SDL::TTF::linked_version();
This gives you the SDL::Version object which SDL_ttf lib is used on the system. No prior
initialization needs to be done before these function is called.
Example:
use SDL::TTF;
use SDL::Version;
my $version = SDL::TTF::linked_version();
printf("got version: %d.%d.%d\n", $version->major, $version->minor, $version->patch);
compile_time_version
my $version = SDL::TTF::compile_time_version();
This gives you the SDL::Version object which SDL_ttf was present at compile time.
init
my $success = SDL::TTF::init();
Initialize the truetype font API. This must be called before using other functions in
this library, except SDL::TTF::was_init and SDL::TTF::linked_version. SDL does not have
to be initialized before this call.
Returns: 0 on success, "-1" on any error.
was_init
my $was_init = SDL::TTF::was_init();
Query the initialization status of the truetype font API. You may, of course, use this
before SDL::TTF::init to avoid initializing twice in a row. Or use this to determine if
you need to call SDL::TTF::quit.
quit
SDL::TTF::quit();
Shutdown and cleanup the truetype font API. After calling this the SDL::TTF functions
should not be used, excepting SDL::TTF::was_init. You may, of course, use SDL::TTF::init
to use the functionality again
Management functions
open_font
my $font = SDL::TTF::open_font($font_file, $point_size);
Load file for use as a font, at the given size. This is actually
"SDL::TTF::open_font_index(..., ..., $index = 0)". This can load TTF, OTF and FON files.
Returns: a SDL::TTF::Font object. "undef" is returned on errors.
Example:
use SDL::TTF;
use SDL::TTF::Font;
my $font = SDL::TTF::open_font('arial.ttf', 24);
open_font_index
my $font = SDL::TTF::open_font($font_file, $point_size, $face_index);
This is the same as SDL::TTF::open_font, except you can specify the face index of a font
file containing multiple faces. This can load TTF and FON files.
open_font_RW
my $font = SDL::TTF::open_font_RW($rwops_object, $free, $point_size);
This is the same as SDL::TTF::open_font, except you can pass an SDL::RWOps-object. If you
pass true as $free, the SDL::RWOps-object will be freed by SDL_ttf library. Don't do this,
perl will free this object for you.
Example:
my $font = SDL::TTF::open_font_RW(SDL::RWOps->new_file($font_file, 'r'), 0, 24);
open_font_index_RW
my $font = SDL::TTF::open_font_index_RW($rwops_object, $free, $point_size, $face_index);
This is the same as SDL::TTF::open_font_index, except you can pass an SDL::RWOps-object.
If you pass true as $free, the SDL::RWOps-object will be freed by SDL_ttf library. Don't
do this, perl will free this object for you.
Attributes
Global attributes
byte_swapped_unicode
SDL::TTF::byte_swapped_unicode( $bool );
This function tells SDL_ttf whether UNICODE (2 bytes per character) text is generally
byteswapped. A "UNICODE_BOM_NATIVE" or "UNICODE_BOM_SWAPPED" character in a string will
temporarily override this setting for the remainder of that string, however this setting
will be restored for the next one. The default mode is non-swapped, native endianness of
the CPU.
Font style
get_font_style
SDL::TTF::get_font_style($font);
Returns: The style as a bitmask composed of the following masks:
• TTF_STYLE_NORMAL
• TTF_STYLE_BOLD
• TTF_STYLE_ITALIC
• TTF_STYLE_UNDERLINE
• TTF_STYLE_STRIKETHROUGH (since SDL_ttf 2.0.10)
Example:
my $style = SDL::TTF::get_font_style($font);
print("normal\n") if $style == TTF_STYLE_NORMAL;
print("bold\n") if $style & TTF_STYLE_BOLD;
print("italic\n") if $style & TTF_STYLE_ITALIC;
print("underline\n") if $style & TTF_STYLE_UNDERLINE;
print("strikethrough\n") if $style & TTF_STYLE_STRIKETHROUGH;
set_font_style
SDL::TTF::set_font_style($font, $style);
Set the rendering style of the loaded font.
Note: "TTF_STYLE_UNDERLINE" may cause surfaces created by "SDL::TTF::render_glyph_*"
functions to be extended vertically, downward only, to encompass the underline if the
original glyph metrics didn't allow for the underline to be drawn below. This does not
change the math used to place a glyph using glyph metrics. On the other hand
"TTF_STYLE_STRIKETHROUGH" doesn't extend the glyph, since this would invalidate the
metrics used to position the glyph when blitting, because they would likely be extended
vertically upward. There is perhaps a workaround, but it would require programs to be
smarter about glyph blitting math than they are currently designed for. Still, sometimes
the underline or strikethrough may be outside of the generated surface, and thus not
visible when blitted to the screen. In this case, you should probably turn off these
styles and draw your own strikethroughs and underlines.
get_font_outline
my $outline = SDL::TTF::get_font_outline($font);
Get the current outline width of the font, in pixels.
Note: at least SDL_ttf 2.0.10 needed
set_font_outline
SDL::TTF::set_font_outline($font, $outline);
Set the outline pixel width of the loaded font. Use 0(zero) to turn off outlining.
Note: at least SDL_ttf 2.0.10 needed
Font settings
get_font_hinting
my $hinting = SDL::TTF::get_font_hinting($font);
Get the current hinting setting of the loaded font.
Note: at least SDL_ttf 2.0.10 needed
Returns the hinting type matching one of the following defined values:
• TTF_HINTING_NORMAL
• TTF_HINTING_LIGHT
• TTF_HINTING_MONO
• TTF_HINTING_NONE
set_font_hinting
SDL::TTF::set_font_hinting($font, $hinting);
Set the hinting of the loaded font. You should experiment with this setting if you know
which font you are using beforehand, especially when using smaller sized fonts. If the
user is selecting a font, you may wish to let them select the hinting mode for that font
as well.
Note: at least SDL_ttf 2.0.10 needed
Example:
SDL::TTF::set_font_hinting($font, TTF_HINTING_LIGHT);
get_font_kerning
my $kerning_enabled = SDL::TTF::get_font_kerning($font);
Get the current kerning setting of the loaded font.
Returns: 0(zero) if kerning is disabled. A non-zero value is returned when enabled. The
default for a newly loaded font is enabled(1).
Note: at least SDL_ttf 2.0.10 needed
Note: This function returns wrong values: See
<http://bugzilla.libsdl.org/show_bug.cgi?id=973>
set_font_kerning
SDL::TTF::set_font_kerning($font, $kerning_enabled);
Set whether to use kerning when rendering the loaded font. This has no effect on
individual glyphs, but rather when rendering whole strings of characters, at least a word
at a time. Perhaps the only time to disable this is when kerning is not working for a
specific font, resulting in overlapping glyphs or abnormal spacing within words.
Pass 0 to disable kerning, 1 to enable.
Note: at least SDL_ttf 2.0.10 needed
Font metrics
font_height
my $font_height = SDL::TTF::font_height($font);
Get the maximum pixel height of all glyphs of the loaded font. You may use this height for
rendering text as close together vertically as possible, though adding at least one pixel
height to it will space it so they can't touch. Remember that SDL_ttf doesn't handle
multiline printing, so you are responsible for line spacing, see the
SDL::TTF::font_line_skip as well.
font_ascent
my $font_ascent = SDL::TTF::font_ascent($font);
Get the maximum pixel ascent of all glyphs of the loaded font. This can also be
interpreted as the distance from the top of the font to the baseline. It could be used
when drawing an individual glyph relative to a top point, by combining it with the glyph's
"maxy" metric to resolve the top of the rectangle used when blitting the glyph on the
screen.
Example:
my ($minx, $maxx, $miny, $maxy, $advance) = @{ SDL::TTF::glyph_metrics($font, "\0M") };
$rect->y( $top + SDL::TTF::font_ascent($font) - $maxy );
font_descent
my $font_descent = SDL::TTF::font_descent($font);
Get the maximum pixel descent of all glyphs of the loaded font. This can also be
interpreted as the distance from the baseline to the bottom of the font. It could be used
when drawing an individual glyph relative to a bottom point, by combining it with the
glyph's "maxy" metric to resolve the top of the rectangle used when blitting the glyph on
the screen.
Example:
my ($minx, $maxx, $miny, $maxy, $advance) = @{ SDL::TTF::glyph_metrics($font, "\0M") };
$rect->y( $bottom - SDL::TTF::font_descent($font) - $maxy );
font_line_skip
my $font_line_skip = SDL::TTF::font_line_skip($font);
Get the recommended pixel height of a rendered line of text of the loaded font. This is
usually larger than the SDL::TTF::font_height of the font.
Face attributes
font_faces
my $font_faces = SDL::TTF::font_faces($font);
Get the number of faces ("sub-fonts") available in the loaded font. This is a count of the
number of specific fonts (based on size and style and other typographical features
perhaps) contained in the font itself.
font_face_is_fixed_width
my $font_face_is_fixed_width = SDL::TTF::font_face_is_fixed_width($font);
Test if the current font face of the loaded font is a fixed width font. Fixed width fonts
are monospace, meaning every character that exists in the font is the same width, thus you
can assume that a rendered string's width is going to be the result of "glyph_width *
string_length".
Returns: ">0" if font is a fixed width font. 0 if not a fixed width font.
font_face_family_name
my $font_face_family_name = SDL::TTF::font_face_family_name($font);
Get the current font face family name from the loaded font. This information is not for
every font available.
Example:
my $font = SDL::TTF::open_font('arialuni.ttf', 8);
printf("%s\n", SDL::TTF::font_face_family_name($font)); # will print "Arial Unicode MS"
font_face_style_name
my $font_face_style_name = SDL::TTF::font_face_style_name($font);
Get the current font face style name from the loaded font. This information is not for
every font available.
Example:
my $font = SDL::TTF::open_font('arialuni.ttf', 8);
printf("%s\n", SDL::TTF::font_face_style_name($font)); # will print "Regular"
Glyphs
glyph_is_provided
my $glyph_is_provided = SDL::TTF::glyph_is_provided($font, $unicode_char);
Get the status of the availability of the glyph from the loaded font.
Returns: the index of the glyph in font, or 0 for an undefined character code.
Note: You have to pass this unicode character either as UTF16/UCS-2 big endian without
BOM, or with BOM as UTF16/UCS-2 big/little endian.
Note: at least SDL_ttf 2.0.10 needed
Example:
print("We have this char!\n") if SDL::TTF::glyph_is_provided($font, "\0M");
glyph_metrics
my @glyph_metrics = @{ SDL::TTF::glyph_metrics($font, $unicode_char) };
Get desired glyph metrics of the UNICODE char from the loaded font.
See also: The FreeType2 Documentation Tutorial
<http://freetype.sourceforge.net/freetype2/docs/tutorial/step2.html>
Note: You have to pass this unicode character either as UTF16/UCS-2 big endian without
BOM, or with BOM as UTF16/UCS-2 big/little endian.
Example:
my ($minx, $maxx, $miny, $maxy, $advance) = @{ SDL::TTF::glyph_metrics($font, "\0M") };
Text metrics
size_text
my ($width, $height) = @{ SDL::TTF::size_text($font, $text) };
Calculate the resulting surface size of the LATIN1 encoded text rendered using $font. No
actual rendering is done, however correct kerning is done to get the actual width. The
height returned is the same as you can get using SDL::TTF::font_height.
size_utf8
my ($width, $height) = @{ SDL::TTF::size_utf8($font, $text) };
Calculate the resulting surface size of the UTF8 encoded text rendered using $font. No
actual rendering is done, however correct kerning is done to get the actual width. The
height returned in h is the same as you can get using SDL::TTF::font_height.
Note that the first example uses the same text as in the LATIN1 example, that is because
plain ASCII is UTF8 compatible.
Examples:
($width, $height) = @{ SDL::TTF::size_utf8($font, 'Hello World!') }; # plain text, if your script is in utf8 or ansi-format
# or
($width, $height) = @{ SDL::TTF::size_utf8($font, "\xE4\xBB\x8A\xE6\x97\xA5\xE3\x81\xAF") }; # utf8 hex-data
# or
use Unicode::String;
my $unicode = utf8($data_from_somewhere);
($width, $height) = @{ SDL::TTF::size_utf8($font, $unicode->utf8) }; # utf8 via Unicode::String
size_unicode
my ($width, $height) = @{ SDL::TTF::size_unicode($font, $text) };
Calculate the resulting surface size of the UNICODE encoded text rendered using $font. No
actual rendering is done, however correct kerning is done to get the actual width. The
height returned in h is the same as you can get using SDL::TTF::font_height.
$text has to be:
UTF16BE without BOM
"hello" will look like "\0h\0e\0l\0l\0o"
UTF16BE with BOM
"hello" will look like "\xFE\xFF\0h\0e\0l\0l\0o"
UTF16LE with BOM
"hello" will look like "\xFF\xFEh\0e\0l\0l\0o\0"
You may use Unicode::String for this.
Font Rendering
Solid
render_glyph_solid
my $surface = SDL::TTF::render_glyph_solid($font, $char, $color);
Render the unicode encoded char onto a new surface, using the Solid mode. After that you
can blit this surface to your display-surface.
Note: The unicode char has to be passed exactly like for SDL::TTF::size_unicode.
Note: See space-character bug <http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=374062>.
You have to upgrade libfreetype2 to at least version 2.3.5
render_text_solid
my $surface = SDL::TTF::render_text_solid($font, $text, $color);
Render the LATIN1 encoded text onto a new surface, using the Solid mode. After that you
can blit this surface to your display-surface.
Note: See space-character bug <http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=374062>.
You have to upgrade libfreetype2 to at least version 2.3.5
Example:
use SDL;
use SDL::Rect;
use SDL::Video;
use SDL::Color;
use SDL::TTF;
use SDL::TTF::Font;
SDL::init(SDL_INIT_VIDEO);
SDL::TTF::init();
my $display = SDL::Video::set_video_mode(640, 480, 32, SDL_SWSURFACE);
my $font = SDL::TTF::open_font('somefont.ttf', '24');
die 'Coudnt make font '. SDL::get_error if !$font;
my $surface = SDL::TTF::render_text_solid($font, 'Hello!', SDL::Color->new(0xFF,0xFF,0xFF));
SDL::Video::blit_surface($surface, SDL::Rect->new(0, 0, 640, 480), $display, SDL::Rect->new(10, 10, 640, 480));
SDL::Video::update_rect($display, 0, 0, 0, 0);
SDL::delay(5000);
render_utf8_solid
my $surface = SDL::TTF::render_utf8_solid($font, $text, $color);
Render the UTF8 encoded text onto a new surface, using the Solid mode. After that you can
blit this surface to your display-surface.
Note: See space-character bug <http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=374062>.
You have to upgrade libfreetype2 to at least version 2.3.5
render_unicode_solid
my $surface = SDL::TTF::render_unicode_solid($font, $text, $color);
Render the unicode encoded text onto a new surface, using the Solid mode. After that you
can blit this surface to your display-surface.
Note: The unicode test has to be passed exactly like for SDL::TTF::size_unicode.
Note: See space-character bug <http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=374062>.
You have to upgrade libfreetype2 to at least version 2.3.5
Shaded
render_glyph_shaded
my $surface = SDL::TTF::render_glyph_shaded($font, $char, $color, $background_color);
Render the unicode encoded char onto a new surface. The surface is filled with
$background_color. After that you can blit this surface to your display-surface.
Note: The unicode char has to be passed exactly like for SDL::TTF::size_unicode.
render_text_shaded
my $surface = SDL::TTF::render_text_shaded($font, $text, $color, $background_color);
Render the LATIN1 encoded text onto a new surface. The surface is filled with
$background_color. After that you can blit this surface to your display-surface.
Example:
use SDL;
use SDL::Video;
use SDL::Color;
use SDL::TTF;
use SDL::TTF::Font;
SDL::init(SDL_INIT_VIDEO);
SDL::TTF::init();
my $display = SDL::Video::set_video_mode(640, 480, 32, SDL_SWSURFACE);
my $font = SDL::TTF::open_font('arial.ttf', '24');
my $white = SDL::Color->new(0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF);
my $black = SDL::Color->new(0x00, 0x00, 0x00);
my $surface = SDL::TTF::render_text_solid($font, 'Hello!', $white, $black);
SDL::Video::blit_surface($surface, SDL::Rect->new(0, 0, 640, 480), $display, SDL::Rect->new(10, 10, 640, 480));
SDL::Video::update_rect($display, 0, 0, 0, 0);
SDL::delay(5000);
render_utf8_shaded
my $surface = SDL::TTF::render_utf8_shaded($font, $text, $color, $background_color);
Render the UTF8 encoded text onto a new surface. The surface is filled with
$background_color. After that you can blit this surface to your display-surface.
render_unicode_shaded
my $surface = SDL::TTF::render_unicode_shaded($font, $text, $color, $background_color);
Render the unicode encoded text onto a new surface. The surface is filled with
$background_color. After that you can blit this surface to your display-surface.
Note: The unicode text has to be passed exactly like for SDL::TTF::size_unicode.
Blended
render_glyph_blended
my $surface = SDL::TTF::render_glyph_blended($font, $char, $color);
Render the unicode encoded char onto a new surface. After that you can blit this surface
to your display-surface.
Note: The unicode char has to be passed exactly like for SDL::TTF::size_unicode.
render_text_blended
my $surface = SDL::TTF::render_text_blended($font, $text, $color);
Render the LATIN1 encoded text onto a new surface. After that you can blit this surface to
your display-surface.
Example:
use SDL;
use SDL::Video;
use SDL::Color;
use SDL::TTF;
use SDL::TTF::Font;
SDL::init(SDL_INIT_VIDEO);
SDL::TTF::init();
my $display = SDL::Video::set_video_mode(640, 480, 32, SDL_SWSURFACE);
my $font = SDL::TTF::open_font('arial.ttf', '24');
my $surface = SDL::TTF::render_text_blended($font, 'Hello!', SDL::Color->new(0xFF,0xFF,0xFF));
SDL::Video::blit_surface($surface, SDL::Rect->new(0, 0, 640, 480), $display, SDL::Rect->new(10, 10, 640, 480));
SDL::Video::update_rect($display, 0, 0, 0, 0);
SDL::delay(5000);
render_utf8_blended
my $surface = SDL::TTF::render_utf8_blended($font, $text, $color);
Render the UTF8 encoded text onto a new surface. After that you can blit this surface to
your display-surface.
render_unicode_blended
my $surface = SDL::TTF::render_unicode_blended($font, $text, $color);
Render the unicode encoded text onto a new surface. After that you can blit this surface
to your display-surface.
Note: The unicode char has to be passed exactly like for SDL::TTF::size_unicode.
AUTHORS
See "AUTHORS" in SDL.
SEE ALSO
SDL::TTF::Font, Unicode::String, SDL::Video, SDL::Surface