# TEXTCENTER

> [HTML Version](textcenter_pd.htm)

_Updated September 2024_

**//TEXTCENTER, left, top, right, bottom, text**

TEXTCENTER outputs a line of text, positioning it in the center of the specified rectangular coordinates. TEXTCENTER also supports embedded entity references.

**Parameters**

_Left, top, right, bottom_ 

Specify the respective sides of the bounding rectangle, in the current mapping units. Note that if the rectangle has no height (bottom >= top) then the text is vertically positioned based on the top parameter and the current [SETTEXTALIGN](settextalign_pd.md) setting. Otherwise, it is not affected by SETTEXTALIGN.

_text_

A string of text to output, up to a maximum of 512 characters (after expansion of any variables). TEXTCENTER does not require quoting of the text argument if it contains commas, although quoting is allowed and recommended.

A string of text to output, up to a maximum of 16K for the complete directive (after expansion of any variables). It is not necessary to quote this argument, even if it contains embedded commas. A trailing backslash will cause the next line to be concatenated to the text, unless the next line starts with a forward slash. For a literal trailing backslash, you may quote the text string. See explanatory note under [TEXTINDENT](textindent_pd.md) and History note below.

See [TEXTRECTANGLE](textrectangle_pd.md) for a more powerful variation of outputting text within a rectangular area.

**History**

2024 September, A-Shell 7.0.1762:  Add support for special handling of trailing backslash in //TEXTxxx directives. Previously it was only recognized as a special character in plain text outside of GDI directives.

2013 December, A-Shell 1370:  An unmatched leading quote is now treated as a literal character. Previously it was stripped.

2012 November, A-Shell 6.0.1263:  TEXTCENTER now supports embedded entity references; previously these were only processed by TEXTOUT and for raw text.