c# - Why is my table not being generated on my PDF file using iTextSharp? -

i'm trying add table pdf file i'm generating. can add stuff "directly" want put various paragraphs or phrases in table cells align nicely.

the following code should add 3 paragraphs "free-form" first, same 3 in table. however, first 3 display - table seen. here's code:

try {     using (var ms = new memorystream())     {             using (var doc = new document(pagesize.a4, 50, 50, 25, 25))         {             using (var writer = pdfwriter.getinstance(doc, ms))             {                 doc.open();                  var titlefont = fontfactory.getfont(fontfactory.courier_bold, 11, basecolor.black);                 var doctitle = new paragraph("ucsc direct - direct payment form", titlefont);                 doc.add(doctitle);                  var subtitlefont = fontfactory.getfont("times roman", 9, basecolor.black);                 var subtitle = new paragraph("(not used reimbursement of services)", subtitlefont);                 doc.add(subtitle);                  var importantnoticefont = fontfactory.getfont("courier", 9, basecolor.red);                 var importantnotice = new paragraph("important: form must filled out in adobe reader or acrobat professional 8.1 or above. save completed forms, acrobat professional required. technical , accessibility assistance, contact campus controller's office.", importantnoticefont);                 importantnotice.leading = 0;                 importantnotice.multipliedleading = 0.9f; // reduce width between lines in paragraph these 2 settings                 importantnotice.extraparagraphspace = 4; // ? test this....                 doc.add(importantnotice);                  // add table                 pdfptable table = new pdfptable(10); // arg number of columns                  // row 1                 pdfpcell cell = new pdfpcell(doctitle);                 cell.colspan = 3;                 cell.borderwidth = 0;                 //cell.bordercolor = basecolor.white; <= works me, if background other white, wouldn't                 cell.horizontalalignment = 0; //0=left, 1=centre, 2=right                 table.addcell(cell);                  // row 2                 pdfpcell cellcaveat = new pdfpcell(subtitle);                 cellcaveat.colspan = 2;                 cellcaveat.borderwidth = 0;                 table.addcell(cellcaveat);                  // row 3                 pdfpcell cellimportantnote = new pdfpcell(importantnotice);                 cellimportantnote.colspan = 5;                 cellimportantnote.borderwidth = 0;                 table.addcell(importantnotice);                  doc.add(table);                  doc.close();             }             var bytes = ms.toarray();             string pdftestoutputfilename = string.format("itextsharp_{0}.pdf", datetime.now.toshorttimestring());             pdftestoutputfilename = pdftestoutputfilename.replace(":", "_");             var testfile = path.combine(environment.getfolderpath(environment.specialfolder.desktop), pdftestoutputfilename);             file.writeallbytes(testfile, bytes);             messagebox.show(string.format("{0} written", pdftestoutputfilename));         }     } } catch (documentexception dex) {     throw (dex); } catch (ioexception ioex) {     throw (ioex); } catch (exception ex) {     string exmsg = ex.message;     messagebox.show(string.format("boo-boo!: {0}", ex.message)); } 

why borderless table invisible or nonexistant?

update

based on bruno's answer, , applying output need, works:

using (var ms = new memorystream()) {     using (var doc = new document(pagesize.a4, 50, 50, 25, 25))                     {         //create writer that's bound our pdf abstraction , our stream         using (var writer = pdfwriter.getinstance(doc, ms))         {              //open document writing             doc.open();              // mimic appearance of direct_payment.pdf             var courierbold11font = fontfactory.getfont(fontfactory.courier_bold, 11, basecolor.black);             var doctitle = new paragraph("ucsc - direct payment form", courierbold11font);             doc.add(doctitle);              var timesroman9font = fontfactory.getfont("times roman", 9, basecolor.black);             var subtitle = new paragraph("(not used reimbursement of services)", timesroman9font);             doc.add(subtitle);              var courier9redfont = fontfactory.getfont("courier", 9, basecolor.red);             var importantnotice = new paragraph("important: form must filled out in adobe reader or acrobat professional 8.1 or above. save completed forms, acrobat professional required. technical , accessibility assistance, contact campus controller's office.", courier9redfont);             importantnotice.leading = 0;             importantnotice.multipliedleading = 0.9f; // reduce width between lines in paragraph these 2 settings              // add table             pdfptable table = new pdfptable(1);             pdfpcell cellimportantnote = new pdfpcell(importantnotice);             cellimportantnote.borderwidth = pdfpcell.no_border;             table.widthpercentage = 50;             table.horizontalalignment = element.align_left;             table.addcell(cellimportantnote);             doc.add(table);              doc.close();         }         var bytes = ms.toarray();         string pdftestoutputfilename = string.format("itextsharp_{0}.pdf", datetime.now.toshorttimestring());         pdftestoutputfilename = pdftestoutputfilename.replace(":", "_");         var testfile = path.combine(environment.getfolderpath(environment.specialfolder.desktop), pdftestoutputfilename);         file.writeallbytes(testfile, bytes);         messagebox.show(string.format("{0} written", pdftestoutputfilename));     } } 

please take @ simpletable7 example , compare java code [?] code:

this part relevant:

pdfpcell cellimportantnote = new pdfpcell(importantnotice); cellimportantnote.setcolspan(5); cellimportantnote.setborder(pdfpcell.no_border); table.addcell(cellimportantnote); 

if convert [?] code java, you'd have:

pdfpcell cellimportantnote = new pdfpcell(importantnotice); cellimportantnote.setcolspan(5); cellimportantnote.setborder(pdfpcell.no_border); table.addcell(importantnotice); 

do see difference? create cellimportantnote instance, aren't using anywhere. instead of adding cellimportantnote table, add importantnotice paragraph.

this means creating table 10 columns has a single row of only 6 cells taken (because have 1 cell colspan 3, 1 cell colspan 2 , 1 cell colspan 1).

by default, itext doesn't render rows aren't complete, , since table doesn't have complete row, table isn't being rendered.

if @ resulting pdf, simple_table7.pdf, you'll notice added second table. table has 3 columns, looks identical table constructed. instead of improper use of colspan functionality, defined relative widths 3 columns:

table = new pdfptable(3); table.setwidths(new int[]{3, 2, 5}); cell.setcolspan(1); table.addcell(cell); cellcaveat.setcolspan(1); table.addcell(cellcaveat); cellimportantnote.setcolspan(1); table.addcell(cellimportantnote); document.add(table); 

note avoid use meaningless numbers. instance, instead of:

cell.sethorizontalalignment(0); // 0 means left 

i use:

cell.sethorizontalalignment(element.align_left); 

this way, people can read line means without having depend on comments.

furtermore, replaced:

 cell.setborderwidth(0); 

with:

 cell.setborder(pdfpcell.no_border); 

that too, matter of taste, think it's important if want keep code maintainable.