> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.apryse.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.apryse.com/core/pdf-editing/graphics-state.md).

# Graphics state on Server/Desktop

Learn how to extract data, perform color conversion, and process changes in the graphics state with a full code sample. Explore PDF Data Extraction techniques for images, text, and paths. The Apryse S

To traverse the list of changes in the graphics state.

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="C#" %}
{% code lineNumbers="true" %}

```csharp
GSChangesIterator gs_itr = reader.GetChangesIterator();
for ( ; gs_itr.HasNext(); gs_itr.Next())
{
  switch(gs_itr.Current())
  {
    case GState.GStateAttribute.e_transform :
      // Get transform matrix for this element. Unlike path.GetCTM() 
      // that return full transformation matrix gs.GetTransform() return 
      // only the transformation matrix that was installed for this element.
      //
      // gs.GetTransform();
      break;
    case GState.GStateAttribute.e_line_width :
      // gs.GetLineWidth();
      break;
    case GState.GStateAttribute.e_line_cap :
      // gs.GetLineCap();
      break;
    case GState.GStateAttribute.e_line_join :
      // gs.GetLineJoin();
      break;
    case GState.GStateAttribute.e_miter_limit :
      // gs.GetMiterLimit();
      break;
    case GState.GStateAttribute.e_dash_pattern :
    {
      // double[] dashes;
      // gs.GetDashes(dashes);
      // gs.GetPhase()
      break;
    }
    // Etc.
  }
}
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="C++" %}
{% code lineNumbers="true" %}

```cpp
GSChangesIterator gs_itr = reader.GetChangesIterator();
for (; gs_itr.HasNext(); gs_itr.Next()) 
{
  switch(gs_itr.Current())
  {
    case GState::e_transform :
      // Get transform matrix for this element. Unlike path.GetCTM() 
      // that return full transformation matrix gs.GetTransform() return 
      // only the transformation matrix that was installed for this element.
      //
      // gs.GetTransform();
      break;
    case GState::e_line_width :
      // gs.GetLineWidth();
      break;
    case GState::e_line_cap :
      // gs.GetLineCap();
      break;
    case GState::e_line_join :
      // gs.GetLineJoin();
      break;
    case GState::e_miter_limit :
      // gs.GetMiterLimit();
      break;
    case GState::e_dash_pattern :
      {
        // std::vector<double> dashes;
        // gs.GetDashes(dashes);
        // gs.GetPhase()
      }
      break;
  }
}
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Go" %}
{% code lineNumbers="true" %}

```go
gsItr := reader.GetChangesIterator()
for gsItr.HasNext(){
  if int(gsItr.Current()) == int(GStateE_transform){
      // Get transform matrix for this element. Unlike path.GetCTM() 
      // that return full transformation matrix gs.GetTransform() return 
      // only the transformation matrix that was installed for this element.
      //
      // gs.GetTransform()
      
  }else if int(gsItr.Current()) == int(GStateE_line_width){
      // gs.GetLineWidth()
      
  }else if int(gsItr.Current()) == int(GStateE_line_cap){
      // gs.GetLineCap()
      
  }else if int(gsItr.Current()) == int(GStateE_line_join){
      // gs.GetLineJoin()
      
  }else if int(gsItr.Current()) == int(GStateE_flatness){
      
  }else if int(gsItr.Current()) == int(GStateE_miter_limit){
      // gs.GetMiterLimit()
      
  }else if int(gsItr.Current()) == int(GStateE_dash_pattern){
      // dashes = gs.GetDashes()
      // gs.GetPhase()
      
  }
  gsItr.Next()
}
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Java" %}
{% code lineNumbers="true" %}

```java
GSChangesIterator gs_itr = reader.getChangesIterator();
while (gs_itr.hasNext()) {
  switch (gs_itr.next().intValue()) {
    case GState.e_transform:
      // Get transform matrix for this element. Unlike path.GetCTM()
      // that return full transformation matrix gs.GetTransform() return
      // only the transformation matrix that was installed for this element.
      //
      //gs.getTransform();
      break;
    case GState.e_line_width:
      //gs.getLineWidth();
      break;
    case GState.e_line_cap:
      //gs.getLineCap();
      break;
    case GState.e_line_join:
      //gs.getLineJoin();
      break;
    case GState.e_miter_limit:
      //gs.getMiterLimit();
      break;
    case GState.e_dash_pattern: {
      //double[] dashes;
      //dashes=gs.getDashes();
      //gs.getPhase();
    }
    break;
  }
}
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="JavaScript" %}
{% code lineNumbers="true" %}

```js
async function main() {
  const reader = await PDFNet.ElementReader.create();
  const gs_itr = await reader.getChangesIterator();
  for ( ; gs_itr.hasNext(); gs_itr.next())
  {
    switch(gs_itr.current())
    {
      case GState.Attribute.e_transform :
        // Get transform matrix for this element. Unlike path.GetCTM() 
        // that return full transformation matrix gs.GetTransform() return 
        // only the transformation matrix that was installed for this element.
        //
        // await gs.getTransform();
        break;
      case GState.Attribute.e_line_width :
        // await gs.getLineWidth();
        break;
      case GState.Attribute.e_line_cap :
        // await gs.getLineCap();
        break;
      case GState.Attribute.e_line_join :
        // await gs.getLineJoin();
        break;
      case GState.Attribute.e_miter_limit :
        // await gs.getMiterLimit();
        break;
      case GState.Attribute.e_dash_pattern :
      {
        // await gs.GetDashPattern();
        // await gs.GetPhase();
        break;
      }
      // Etc.
    }
  }
}
PDFNet.runWithCleanup(main);
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Kotlin" %}
{% code lineNumbers="true" %}

```kotlin
val gs_itr = reader.changesIterator
while (gs_itr.hasNext()) {
  when (gs_itr.next()!!.toInt()) {
    GState.e_transform -> {
      // Get transform matrix for this element. Unlike path.GetCTM()
      // that return full transformation matrix gs.GetTransform() return
      // only the transformation matrix that was installed for this element.
      //
      //gs.getTransform();
    }
    GState.e_line_width -> {
      //gs.getLineWidth();
    }
    GState.e_line_cap -> {
      //gs.getLineCap();
    }
    GState.e_line_join -> {
      //gs.getLineJoin();
    }
    GState.e_miter_limit -> {
      //gs.getMiterLimit();
    }
    GState.e_dash_pattern -> {
        //double[] dashes;
        //dashes=gs.getDashes();
        //gs.getPhase();
    }
  }
}
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Obj-C" %}
{% code lineNumbers="true" %}

```objc
PTGSChangesIterator *gs_itr = [reader GetChangesIterator];
for (; [gs_itr HasNext]; [gs_itr Next]) 
{
  switch([gs_itr Current])
  {
    case e_pttransform :
      // Get transform matrix for this element. Unlike path.GetCTM() 
      // that return full transformation matrix gs.GetTransform() return 
      // only the transformation matrix that was installed for this element.
      //
      // gs.GetTransform();
      break;
    case e_ptline_width :
      // gs.GetLineWidth();
      break;
    case e_ptline_cap :
      // gs.GetLineCap();
      break;
    case e_ptline_join :
      // gs.GetLineJoin();
      break;
    case e_ptmiter_limit :
      // gs.GetMiterLimit();
      break;
    case e_ptdash_pattern :
      {
        // std::vector<double> dashes;
        // gs.GetDashes(dashes);
        // gs.GetPhase()
      }
      break;
    default:
      break;
  }
}
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Swift" %}
{% code lineNumbers="true" %}

```swift
let gs_itr: PTGSChangesIterator = reader.getChangesIterator()
while gs_itr.hasNext() {
  switch PTGStateAttribute(rawValue: UInt32(gs_itr.current())) {
    case e_pttransform:
      // Get transform matrix for this element. Unlike path.GetCTM()
      // that return full transformation matrix gs.GetTransform() return
      // only the transformation matrix that was installed for this element.
      //
      // gs.getTransform()
      break
    case e_ptline_width:
      // gs.getLineWidth()
      break
    case e_ptline_cap:
      // gs.getLineCap()
      break
    case e_ptline_join:
      // gs.getLineJoin()
      break
    case e_ptmiter_limit:
      // gs.GetmiterLimit()
      break
    case e_ptdash_pattern:
      // let dashes: NSMutableArray = gs.getDashes()
      // gs.getPhase()
      break
    default:
        break
  }
    gs_itr.next()
}
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="PHP" %}
{% code lineNumbers="true" %}

```php
$gs_itr = $reader->GetChangesIterator();
for (; $gs_itr->HasNext(); $gs_itr->Next()) 
{
  switch($gs_itr->Current())
  {
    case GState::e_transform :
      // Get transform matrix for this element. Unlike path.GetCTM() 
      // that return full transformation matrix gs.GetTransform() return 
      // only the transformation matrix that was installed for this element.
      //
      // $gs->GetTransform();
      break;
    case GState::e_line_width :
      // $gs->GetLineWidth();
      break;
    case GState::e_line_cap :
      // $gs->GetLineCap();
      break;
    case GState::e_line_join :
      // $gs->GetLineJoin();
      break;
    case GState::e_miter_limit :
      // $gs->GetMiterLimit();
      break;
    case GState::e_dash_pattern :
      {
        // $dashes = $gs->GetDashes($dashes);
        // $gs->GetPhase()
      }
      break;
  }
}
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Python" %}
{% code lineNumbers="true" %}

```python
gs_itr = reader.GetChangesIterator()
while gs_itr.HasNext():
  if gs_itr.Current() == GState.e_transform:
      # Get transform matrix for this element. Unlike path.GetCTM() 
      # that return full transformation matrix gs.GetTransform() return 
      # only the transformation matrix that was installed for this element.
      #
      # gs.GetTransform()
      pass
  elif gs_itr.Current() == GState.e_line_width:
      # gs.GetLineWidth()
      pass
  elif gs_itr.Current() == GState.e_line_cap:
      # gs.GetLineCap()
      pass
  elif gs_itr.Current() == GState.e_line_join:
      # gs.GetLineJoin()
      pass
  elif gs_itr.Current() == GState.e_miter_limit:
      # gs.GetMiterLimit()
      pass
  elif gs_itr.Current() == GState.e_dash_pattern:
      # dashes = gs.GetDashes()
      # gs.GetPhase()
      pass
  gs_itr.Next()
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Ruby" %}
{% code lineNumbers="true" %}

```ruby
gs_itr = reader.GetChangesIterator
while gs_itr.HasNext do
  case gs_itr.Current
  when GState::E_transform
    # Get transform matrix for this element. Unlike path.GetCTM 
    # that return full transformation matrix gs.GetTransform return 
    # only the transformation matrix that was installed for this element.
    #
    # gs.GetTransform
  when GState::E_line_width
    # gs.GetLineWidth
  when GState::E_line_cap
    # gs.GetLineCap
  when GState::E_line_join
    # gs.GetLineJoin
  when GState::E_miter_limit
    # gs.GetMiterLimit
  when GState::E_dash_pattern
    # dashes = gs.GetDashes
    # gs.GetPhase
  end
  gs_itr.Next
end
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="VB" %}
{% code lineNumbers="true" %}

```vb
Dim gs_itr As GSChangesIterator = reader.GetChangesIterator()
While gs_itr.HasNext()
  If gs_itr.Current() = GState.GStateAttribute.e_transform Then
      ' Get transform matrix for this element. Unlike path.GetCTM() 
      ' that return full transformation matrix gs.GetTransform() return 
      ' only the transformation matrix that was installed for this element.
      '
      ' gs.GetTransform()
  ElseIf gs_itr.Current() = GState.GStateAttribute.e_line_width Then
      ' gs.GetLineWidth()
  ElseIf gs_itr.Current() = GState.GStateAttribute.e_line_cap Then
      ' gs.GetLineCap()
  ElseIf gs_itr.Current() = GState.GStateAttribute.e_line_join Then
      ' gs.GetLineJoin()
  ElseIf gs_itr.Current() = GState.GStateAttribute.e_miter_limit Then
      ' gs.GetMiterLimit()
  ElseIf gs_itr.Current() = GState.GStateAttribute.e_dash_pattern Then
      ' Dim dashes As Double()
      ' gs.GetDashes(dashes)
      ' gs.GetPhase()
  End If
  gs_itr.Next()
End While
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

[PDF Data Extraction (Images, Text, Paths) - Full Sample](/core/get-started/samples/elementreaderadvtest.md) Full code sample which illustrates how to extract data, do color conversion, image normalization, and how to process changes in the graphics state. To use this code, you'll need to [download and get started with Server SDK](/core/get-started/get-started.md). Code sample is available in C++, C#, Java, Python, Go, PHP, Ruby & VB.

## About graphics state

After reading an Element using `ElementReader.Next()`, it is possible to access all graphical attributes of the Element through its graphics state. Some applications are more interested in *changes* in the graphics state than attribute values. For example, a transition from one Element to another may not involve changes in the graphics state. Or, perhaps, there may be changes only to a couple of attributes. In these cases, it isn't efficient to make memberwise comparisons between the old and current graphics states.

To make this easier and more efficient, Apryse SDK offers an API to enumerate the list of changes between subsequent Elements.

It's also possible to query ElementReader for changes to a specific attribute:

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="C#" %}
{% code lineNumbers="true" %}

```csharp
if (reader.IsChanged(GState.GStateAttribute.e_line_width))
{
   // line width was changed.
}
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="C++" %}
{% code lineNumbers="true" %}

```cpp
if reader.IsChanged(GStateE_line_width)
{
   // line width was changed.
}
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Go" %}
{% code lineNumbers="true" %}

```go
if (reader.IsChanged(GState::e_line_width))
{
   // line width was changed.
}
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Java" %}
{% code lineNumbers="true" %}

```java
if (reader.isChanged(GState.e_line_width))
{
   // line width was changed.
}
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="JavaScript" %}
{% code lineNumbers="true" %}

```js
if (reader.isChanged(GState.Attribute.e_line_width))
{
   // line width was changed.
}
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Kotlin" %}
{% code lineNumbers="true" %}

```kotlin
if (reader.isChanged(GState.e_line_width))
{
   // line width was changed.
}
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Obj-C" %}
{% code lineNumbers="true" %}

```objc
if ([reader IsChanged:e_ptline_width])
{
   // line width was changed.
}
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Swift" %}
{% code lineNumbers="true" %}

```swift
if (reader.isChanged(e_ptline_width))
{
   // line width was changed.
}
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="PHP" %}
{% code lineNumbers="true" %}

```php
if (reader->IsChanged(GState::e_line_width))
{
   // line width was changed.
}
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Python" %}
{% code lineNumbers="true" %}

```python
if reader.IsChanged(GState::e_line_width):
   # line width was changed.
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Ruby" %}
{% code lineNumbers="true" %}

```ruby
if (reader.IsChanged(GState::E_line_width))
   # line width was changed.
end
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="VB" %}
{% code lineNumbers="true" %}

```vb
If reader.IsChanged(GState.GStateAttribute.e_line_width) Then
   ' line width was changed.
End If
```

{% endcode %}
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

Note that the list of modified attributes is accumulated when calling `ElementReader.Next()`. To clear the list of modified attributes use `ElementReader.ClearChangeList()` method. A call to `ClearChangeList()` serves as a marker in the display list from which further changes in the graphics state are tracked.


---

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