PowerBuilder Requires Chilkat v11.7.0+

Alignment of Replaced PDF Text: Right-Aligned Amounts

See more PDF Text Replacement Examples

When the new text is wider or narrower than the text it replaces, the "align" option decides where it sits. The default, "auto", keeps a placeholder in place when it is right-aligned with other text on the page or centered, and otherwise keeps its left edge; a label's value is always left-aligned after its label. The invoice template's amounts are right-aligned, so the new amounts keep their right edge, which the "grid" text layout (characters placed by position) shows. PowerBuilder

integer li_rc
long li_Success
oleobject loo_Pdf
oleobject loo_Json
oleobject loo_JsonOut
oleobject loo_JsonText
oleobject loo_SbText

li_Success = 0

//  This example requires the Chilkat API to have been previously unlocked.
//  See Global Unlock Sample for sample code.

//  The PDF used in this example is available at invoice_template.pdf

loo_Pdf = create oleobject
li_rc = loo_Pdf.ConnectToNewObject("Chilkat.Pdf")
if li_rc < 0 then
    destroy loo_Pdf
    MessageBox("Error","Connecting to COM object failed")
    return
end if
li_Success = loo_Pdf.LoadFile("qa_data/pdf/invoice_template.pdf")
if li_Success = 0 then
    Write-Debug loo_Pdf.LastErrorText
    destroy loo_Pdf
    return
end if

loo_Json = create oleobject
li_rc = loo_Json.ConnectToNewObject("Chilkat.JsonObject")

loo_Json.UpdateString("placeholders.customer","Acme Corp")
loo_Json.UpdateString("placeholders.date","2026-10-18")
loo_Json.UpdateString("placeholders.po","PO-88213")
loo_Json.UpdateString("placeholders.qty1","12")
loo_Json.UpdateString("placeholders.desc1","Cordless drill, 18 V")
loo_Json.UpdateString("placeholders.price1","$460.00")
loo_Json.UpdateString("placeholders.amount1","$5,520.00")
loo_Json.UpdateString("placeholders.qty2","60")
loo_Json.UpdateString("placeholders.desc2","Galvanized hinge, 4 inch")
loo_Json.UpdateString("placeholders.price2","$12.50")
loo_Json.UpdateString("placeholders.amount2","$750.00")
loo_Json.UpdateString("placeholders.subtotal","$6,270.00")
loo_Json.UpdateString("placeholders.taxRate","7.35%")
loo_Json.UpdateString("placeholders.tax","$460.85")
loo_Json.UpdateString("placeholders.total","$6,730.85")

//  "auto" is the default: a placeholder that is right-aligned with other text keeps its right edge.
//  The other choices are "left", "right" and "center".
loo_Json.UpdateString("align","auto")

loo_JsonOut = create oleobject
li_rc = loo_JsonOut.ConnectToNewObject("Chilkat.JsonObject")

li_Success = loo_Pdf.TextReplace("apply",loo_Json,loo_JsonOut)
if li_Success = 0 then
    Write-Debug "Not applied: " + loo_JsonOut.Emit()
    if li_Success = 0 then
        Write-Debug loo_Pdf.LastErrorText
        destroy loo_Pdf
        destroy loo_Json
        destroy loo_JsonOut
        return
    end if

end if

//  A replacement that runs into neighbouring text or off the page is still made, with a warning.
Write-Debug "warnings: " + string(loo_JsonOut.SizeOfArray("warnings"))

li_Success = loo_Pdf.WriteFile("qa_output/invoice_aligned.pdf")
if li_Success = 0 then
    Write-Debug loo_Pdf.LastErrorText
    destroy loo_Pdf
    destroy loo_Json
    destroy loo_JsonOut
    return
end if

//  The "grid" layout places each character by its position on the page, so the right-aligned
//  amounts can be seen to line up (the wider amounts grew to the left).
loo_JsonText = create oleobject
li_rc = loo_JsonText.ConnectToNewObject("Chilkat.JsonObject")

loo_JsonText.UpdateString("layout","grid")
loo_SbText = create oleobject
li_rc = loo_SbText.ConnectToNewObject("Chilkat.StringBuilder")

li_Success = loo_Pdf.ExtractTextSb("text",loo_JsonText,loo_SbText,loo_JsonOut)
if li_Success = 0 then
    Write-Debug loo_Pdf.LastErrorText
    destroy loo_Pdf
    destroy loo_Json
    destroy loo_JsonOut
    destroy loo_JsonText
    destroy loo_SbText
    return
end if

Write-Debug loo_SbText.GetAsString()

//  Sample output:

//  warnings: 0
//  INVOICE
//  Chilkat Hardware Supply
//  1200 Harbor Road, Suite 4
//  Portside, WA 98000
//  
//  
//  Bill To:         Acme Corp
//  Invoice #:       INV-0000
//  Date:            2026-10-18
//  PO Number:       PO-88213
//  Ref:             A-1
//  
//  
//  
//   Qty         Description                          Unit Price    Amount
//   12          Cordless drill, 18 V                     $460.00     $5,520.00
//   60          Galvanized hinge, 4 inch                 $12.50      $750.00
//  
//                                                         Subtotal:    $6,270.00
//                                                  Tax (7.35%):          $460.85
//                                                        Total Due:    $6,730.85
//  
//  Ref:             A-2
//  
//  Payment is due within 30 days. Please include the invoice number with your payment.
//  Thank you for your business, Acme Corp!
//  View this invoice online


destroy loo_Pdf
destroy loo_Json
destroy loo_JsonOut
destroy loo_JsonText
destroy loo_SbText