====== Strings with Attributes in Java ======

Java has an ''AttributedString'' class that can be used to add attributes (e.g., bold, italics, superscripts) to individual characters in a ''String''. 

==== Constructing an AttributedString ====

The easiest way to construct an ''AttributedString'' is to start with a traditional ''String'' and then add attributes. For example,
the following snippet will create an ''AttributedString'' in which the characters ''in'' will be plain and the character ''2'' will be in the superscript position:

<code>    
AttributedString text = new AttributedString("in2");
text.addAttribute(TextAttribute.SUPERSCRIPT,
                                  TextAttribute.SUPERSCRIPT_SUPER, 2, 3);
</code>

==== Rendering an AttributedString ====

Most GUI components do not support the rendering of ''AttributedSTring'' objects. Fortunately, it is easy to create one that does. For example:

<code>
import java.awt.*;
import java.text.*;
import javax.swing.*;


public class AttributedStringPanel extends JPanel
{
  private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
  private AttributedString text;
  
  public AttributedStringPanel(AttributedString text)
  {
    setText(text);
  }
  
  public void setText(AttributedString text)
  {
    this.text = new AttributedString(text.getIterator());
  }
  
  @Override
  public void paint(Graphics g)
  {
    Graphics2D g2 = (Graphics2D)g;
    g2.drawString(text.getIterator(), 0, getSize().height);
  }

  @Override
  public Dimension getPreferredSize()
  {
    return new Dimension(100, 50);
  }
}
</code>