C# Signature:

[DllImport("gdi32.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Auto)]
static extern bool TextOut(IntPtr hdc, int nXStart, int nYStart,
   string lpString, int cbString); (Please see note for CharSet in tips)

VB.NET Signature:

    <DllImport("gdi32")> _
    Shared Function TextOut(ByVal hdc As IntPtr, ByVal x As Integer, _
      ByVal y As Integer, ByVal textstring As String, _
      ByVal charCount As Integer) As Boolean
    End Function

Tips & Tricks:

TextOut, unlike the Text property, have to be called every time Windows asks for a control to repaint. By using the Graphics.CopyFromScreen method one can copy the output of a Textout command and use that for repainting.

Unlike graphics.drawstring, Textout can work with fonts other than True Type, Open Type, and PostScript fonts. If you have a font that's supported by Windows but not .net you can most likely use this command to draw it.

[CharSet = CharSet.Auto] According to my experience this parameter should be used when using a LOGFONT structure and the CreateFontIndirect fuction, otherwise the selected font will not be displayed. All flags will be done (lfItalic, lfUnderline ...) but not the lfFaceName string.

Sample Code:

   // Paste this at the beginning of your file if not present:
   using System.Drawing;
   using System.Runtime.InteropServices;

   //Create a class that subclass Control and paste these methods into it.
   //Then place the new control on a form.

   DllImport("gdi32.dll")]
   static extern bool TextOut(IntPtr hdc, int nXStart, int nYStart,
       string lpString, int cbString);
   [DllImport("gdi32.dll")]
   static extern bool GetTextExtentPoint(IntPtr hdc, string lpString,
       int cbString, ref Size lpSize);

   protected override void OnKeyPress(KeyPressEventArgs e)
   {
       Text += e.KeyChar.ToString();

    //Note, painting should not be done in the OnKeyPress method, instead:
    Refresh();

    //You may want to meassure the string's size for layout purposes.
    using(Graphic g = base.createGraphics())
    {

    //Do the GetHdc(), GetTextExtentPoint, etc, here. Remember that you have
    //to delete related objects such as fonts and call ReleaseHdc on graphics
    //afterwards. If you for some reason don't want to do this you can use a
    //SafeHandle (needs to be subclassed) which does this for you.

    //Remember to use HandleRef when appropriate. For instance if you create
    //a color that you set through SelectObject the .net garbage collector will
    //happily delete the color unless you refere to it after the drawing call or
    //use a HandleRef.

    //In this example we used the base class font and therefore need not worry
    //about the GC deleting the Font in mid drawing.    

    //Also keep in mind that all graphics objects _you_ create must be disposed,
    //which is done through the using clause in this example. It can also be done
    //by calling g.Dispose() in a finally clause (to guarantee that it's executed)
    }
   }

   protected override void OnPaint(PaintEventArgs e)
   {
    IntPtr HDC = e.Graphics.GetHdc();

    //We have to use SelectObject to set the font, color and other properties.
    IntPtr last_font = W32.SelectObject(g_hdc, Font.ToHfont());

    Size MeasureSize = new Size(0, 0);
    int y_pos = 0;
    int x_pos = 2;

    //Tasks such as these should not be done in the drawing loop as they
    //slow down the drawing.
    String[] lines = Text.split(new char[] { '\n' });        

    try
    {  
        //We draw out each line of text.
        for(int c=0; c < lines.Length; c++)
        {
             String line = lines[c];
            TextOut(HDC, x_pos, y_pos, line, line.Length);

            //Unless you change the font, the line height never
            //changes so measuring the text at each draw call is
            //inefficient. Also it measure empty lines at 0 height
            //so pressing multiple enters will not move the text down.
             GetTextExtentPoint(HDC, line, line.Length, ref MeasureSize);

             y += MeasureSize.Height;
        }
    }
    finally
    {
        //Put here to make sure we don't get a memory leak.

        e.Graphics.ReleaseHdc(HDC);
        W32.DeleteObject(W32.SelectObject(g_hdc, last_font));
        //Don't call dispose() on the Graphics object unless you createded it.
    }
   }

Alternative Managed API:

Graphics.DrawString
Graphics.MeasureString
Graphics.MeasureCharacterRanges

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