diff --git a/examples/accented.cr b/examples/accented.cr
index d2a7b19..07ad48f 100644
--- a/examples/accented.cr
+++ b/examples/accented.cr
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 require "../src/hpdf"
 
-k = "Können wir mit Umlauten umgehen? Ja von Kopf bis Fuß.".encode("ISO8859-2")
-
 pdf = Hpdf::Doc.build do
   page do
-    text Hpdf::Base14::Helvetica, 20, encoding: "ISO8859-2" do
-      text_out :center, height - 50, k
+    use_encoding Hpdf::Encodings::ISO8859_2 do
+      text Hpdf::Base14::Helvetica, 20 do
+        text_out :center, height - 50, "Können wir mit Umlauten umgehen? Ja von Kopf bis Fuß."
+      end
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/montage.png b/montage.png
index bd06ecd..f9d7acc 100644
Binary files a/montage.png and b/montage.png differ
diff --git a/pdfs/examples-accented.pdf b/pdfs/examples-accented.pdf
index 69c78f5..968505c 100644
Binary files a/pdfs/examples-accented.pdf and b/pdfs/examples-accented.pdf differ
diff --git a/pdfs/spec-doc-attributes.pdf b/pdfs/spec-doc-attributes.pdf
index 61636b7..3e65404 100644
Binary files a/pdfs/spec-doc-attributes.pdf and b/pdfs/spec-doc-attributes.pdf differ
diff --git a/pdfs/spec-doc-password.pdf b/pdfs/spec-doc-password.pdf
index fe4c476..68b74e7 100644
Binary files a/pdfs/spec-doc-password.pdf and b/pdfs/spec-doc-password.pdf differ
diff --git a/pdfs/spec-invoice.pdf b/pdfs/spec-invoice.pdf
index 400a1c1..cef09f6 100644
Binary files a/pdfs/spec-invoice.pdf and b/pdfs/spec-invoice.pdf differ
diff --git a/pdfs/spec-table.pdf b/pdfs/spec-table.pdf
index 516c8d6..08de730 100644
Binary files a/pdfs/spec-table.pdf and b/pdfs/spec-table.pdf differ
diff --git a/spec/hpdf/invoice_spec.cr b/spec/hpdf/invoice_spec.cr
index 515e328..b5f8ce5 100644
--- a/spec/hpdf/invoice_spec.cr
+++ b/spec/hpdf/invoice_spec.cr
@@ -6,24 +6,26 @@ describe Hpdf::Letter do
         # debug_draw_boxes
 
         # Header
-        draw_address company: "Evil Corp",
-          salutation: "Mr.",
-          name: "Robot",
-          street: "Street 1",
-          place: "New York",
-          country: "USA"
+        use_encoding Hpdf::Encodings::ISO8859_2 do
+          draw_address company: "Evil Cörp",
+            salutation: "Mr.",
+            name: "Robot",
+            street: "Street 1",
+            place: "New York",
+            country: "USA"
 
-        draw_remark_area first: "Good Corp | Awesomestr. 20 | 12345 Place"
+          draw_remark_area first: "Good Corp | Awesomestr. 20 | 12345 Place"
 
-        draw_infobox Hpdf::Base14::Helvetica, 12 do
-          row "Your contact:", "Max Mustermann"
-          row "Department:", "Customer Service"
-          row
-          row "Phone:", "09161 620-9800"
-          row "Fax:", "09161 8989-2000"
-          row "E-Mail:", "info@goodcorp.com"
-          row
-          row "Date:", "2022-02-01"
+          draw_infobox Hpdf::Base14::Helvetica, 12 do
+            row "Your contact:", "Max Müstermann"
+            row "Department:", "Customer Service"
+            row
+            row "Phone:", "09161 620-9800"
+            row "Fax:", "09161 8989-2000"
+            row "E-Mail:", "info@goodcorp.com"
+            row
+            row "Date:", "2022-02-01"
+          end
         end
 
         # Content
@@ -39,80 +41,82 @@ describe Hpdf::Letter do
                                   "\n\nKind regards your service team"
         end
 
-        table(content_rect.padding(top: 150), fixed_row_height: 22) do
-          row do
-            text_cell "Position",
-              align: Hpdf::TextAlignment::Center,
-              font: Hpdf::Base14::HelveticaBold,
-              bg_gray: 0.9
-            text_cell "Description",
-              align: Hpdf::TextAlignment::Center,
-              font: Hpdf::Base14::HelveticaBold,
-              span: 4,
-              bg_gray: 0.9
-            text_cell "Quantity",
-              align: Hpdf::TextAlignment::Center,
-              font: Hpdf::Base14::HelveticaBold,
-              bg_gray: 0.9
-            text_cell "Price",
-              align: Hpdf::TextAlignment::Center,
-              font: Hpdf::Base14::HelveticaBold,
-              bg_gray: 0.9
-            text_cell "Total",
-              align: Hpdf::TextAlignment::Center,
-              font: Hpdf::Base14::HelveticaBold,
-              bg_gray: 0.9
-          end
-          row do
-            text_cell "1"
-            text_cell "iPhone 12",
-              span: 4
-            text_cell "2",
-              align: Hpdf::TextAlignment::Right
-            text_cell "899.00",
-              align: Hpdf::TextAlignment::Right
-            text_cell "1798.00",
-              align: Hpdf::TextAlignment::Right
-          end
-          row do
-            text_cell "2"
-            text_cell "MacBookPro 14\"",
-              span: 4
-            text_cell "1",
-              align: Hpdf::TextAlignment::Right
-            text_cell "2499.00",
-              align: Hpdf::TextAlignment::Right
-            text_cell "2499.00",
-              align: Hpdf::TextAlignment::Right
-          end
-          row do
-            text_cell "3"
-            text_cell "iPad",
-              span: 4
-            text_cell "1",
-              align: Hpdf::TextAlignment::Right
-            text_cell "499.00",
-              align: Hpdf::TextAlignment::Right
-            text_cell "499.00",
-              align: Hpdf::TextAlignment::Right
-          end
-          row { }
-          row do
-            text_cell "Total EUR",
-              span: 7,
-              align: Hpdf::TextAlignment::Right
-            text_cell "4796.00",
-              font: Hpdf::Base14::HelveticaBold,
-              align: Hpdf::TextAlignment::Right,
-              bg_gray: 0.9
-          end
-          row do
-            text_cell "incl. VAT 19%",
-              span: 7,
-              align: Hpdf::TextAlignment::Right
-            text_cell "765.75",
-              align: Hpdf::TextAlignment::Right,
-              bg_gray: 0.9
+        use_encoding Hpdf::Encodings::ISO8859_2 do
+          table(content_rect.padding(top: 150), fixed_row_height: 22) do
+            row do
+              text_cell "Position",
+                align: Hpdf::TextAlignment::Center,
+                font: Hpdf::Base14::HelveticaBold,
+                bg_gray: 0.9
+              text_cell "Description",
+                align: Hpdf::TextAlignment::Center,
+                font: Hpdf::Base14::HelveticaBold,
+                span: 4,
+                bg_gray: 0.9
+              text_cell "Quantity",
+                align: Hpdf::TextAlignment::Center,
+                font: Hpdf::Base14::HelveticaBold,
+                bg_gray: 0.9
+              text_cell "Price",
+                align: Hpdf::TextAlignment::Center,
+                font: Hpdf::Base14::HelveticaBold,
+                bg_gray: 0.9
+              text_cell "Total",
+                align: Hpdf::TextAlignment::Center,
+                font: Hpdf::Base14::HelveticaBold,
+                bg_gray: 0.9
+            end
+            row do
+              text_cell "1"
+              text_cell "iPhone 12",
+                span: 4
+              text_cell "2",
+                align: Hpdf::TextAlignment::Right
+              text_cell "899.00",
+                align: Hpdf::TextAlignment::Right
+              text_cell "1798.00",
+                align: Hpdf::TextAlignment::Right
+            end
+            row allow_grow: true do
+              text_cell "2"
+              text_cell "MacBookPro 14\"\nBehold an entirely new class of GPU.\nAnd the biggest breakthrough in silicön",
+                span: 4
+              text_cell "1",
+                align: Hpdf::TextAlignment::Right
+              text_cell "2499.00",
+                align: Hpdf::TextAlignment::Right
+              text_cell "2499.00",
+                align: Hpdf::TextAlignment::Right
+            end
+            row do
+              text_cell "3"
+              text_cell "iPad",
+                span: 4
+              text_cell "1",
+                align: Hpdf::TextAlignment::Right
+              text_cell "499.00",
+                align: Hpdf::TextAlignment::Right
+              text_cell "499.00",
+                align: Hpdf::TextAlignment::Right
+            end
+            row { }
+            row do
+              text_cell "Total EUR",
+                span: 7,
+                align: Hpdf::TextAlignment::Right
+              text_cell "4796.00",
+                font: Hpdf::Base14::HelveticaBold,
+                align: Hpdf::TextAlignment::Right,
+                bg_gray: 0.9
+            end
+            row do
+              text_cell "incl. VAT 19%",
+                span: 7,
+                align: Hpdf::TextAlignment::Right
+              text_cell "765.75",
+                align: Hpdf::TextAlignment::Right,
+                bg_gray: 0.9
+            end
           end
         end
 
diff --git a/src/hpdf/doc.cr b/src/hpdf/doc.cr
index 31a2954..773c827 100644
--- a/src/hpdf/doc.cr
+++ b/src/hpdf/doc.cr
@@ -130,8 +130,12 @@ module Hpdf
     end
 
     # gets the handle of a corresponding font object by specified name and encoding.
-    def font(name : String, encoding : String? = nil)
-      Font.new(LibHaru.get_font(@doc, name, encoding), self)
+    def font(name : String, encoding enc : String? = nil)
+      if enc
+        Font.new(LibHaru.get_font(@doc, name, enc), self)
+      else
+        Font.new(LibHaru.get_font(@doc, name, nil), self)
+      end
     end
 
     # loads a type1 font from an external file and register it to a document object.
diff --git a/src/hpdf/page.cr b/src/hpdf/page.cr
index d752904..2a9e699 100644
--- a/src/hpdf/page.cr
+++ b/src/hpdf/page.cr
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ module Hpdf
 
     @font : Font? = nil
     @font_size : Float32 = 0
+    @encoding : String? = nil
 
     # get the current font if any
     getter font
@@ -73,7 +74,7 @@ module Hpdf
     # * *text* the text to be displayed.
     # * *encoder* an encoder handle which is used to encode the text.
     #   If it is null, PDFDocEncoding is used.
-    def create_text_annotation(rect : Rectangle, text : (String | Bytes), encoder : Encoder? = nil) : TextAnnotation
+    def create_text_annotation(rect : Rectangle, text : String, encoder : Encoder? = nil) : TextAnnotation
       TextAnnotation.new(LibHaru.page_create_text_annotation(self, rect, text, encoder), @doc, self)
     end
 
@@ -94,8 +95,8 @@ module Hpdf
     end
 
     # gets the width of the text in current fontsize, character spacing and word spacing.
-    def text_width(text : (String | Bytes)) : Float32
-      LibHaru.page_text_width(self, text).to_f32
+    def text_width(text : String) : Float32
+      LibHaru.page_text_width(self, encoded_text(text)).to_f32
     end
 
     # calculates the byte length which can be included within the specified width.
@@ -106,8 +107,8 @@ module Hpdf
     #   until `"J"` can be included within the width, if *word_wrap* parameter is `false`
     #   it returns `12`,  and if word_wrap parameter is `false` *word_wrap* parameter is
     #   `false` it returns `10` (the end of the previous word).
-    def measure_text(text : (String | Bytes), *, width : Number, word_wrap : Bool = true) : MeasuredText
-      size = LibHaru.page_measure_text(self, text,
+    def measure_text(text : String, *, width : Number, word_wrap : Bool = true) : MeasuredText
+      size = LibHaru.page_measure_text(self, encoded_text(text),
         real(width), bool(word_wrap), out real_width)
       MeasuredText.new(size, real_width)
     end
@@ -827,9 +828,9 @@ module Hpdf
     # page is in `GMode::PageDescription` or `GMode::TextObject`.
     #
     # * *text* the text to print.
-    def show_text(text : (String | Bytes))
+    def show_text(text : String)
       requires_mode GMode::PageDescription, GMode::TextObject
-      LibHaru.page_show_text(self, text)
+      LibHaru.page_show_text(self, encoded_text(text))
     end
 
     # moves the current text position to the start of the next line,
@@ -837,9 +838,9 @@ module Hpdf
     # An application can invoke `show_text_next_line` when the
     # graphics mode of the page is in `GMode::PageDescription` or
     # `GMode::TextObject`.
-    def show_text_next_line(text : (String | Bytes))
+    def show_text_next_line(text : String)
       requires_mode GMode::PageDescription, GMode::TextObject
-      LibHaru.page_show_text_next_line(self, text)
+      LibHaru.page_show_text_next_line(self, encoded_text(text))
     end
 
     # moves the current text position to the start of the next line,
@@ -847,9 +848,9 @@ module Hpdf
     # text at the current position on the page.
     # An application can invoke `show_text_next_line_ex` when the
     # graphics mode of the page is in `GMode::TextObject`.
-    def show_text_next_line_ex(text : (String | Bytes), word_space : Number, char_space : Number)
+    def show_text_next_line_ex(text : String, word_space : Number, char_space : Number)
       requires_mode GMode::TextObject
-      LibHaru.page_show_text_next_line_ex(self, real(word_space), real(char_space), text)
+      LibHaru.page_show_text_next_line_ex(self, real(word_space), real(char_space), encoded_text(text))
     end
 
     # sets the filling color.
@@ -964,7 +965,7 @@ module Hpdf
     #
     # * *x*, *y* the point position where the text is displayed.
     # * *text* the text to show.
-    def text_out(x : Number | Symbol, y : Number | Symbol, text : (String | Bytes))
+    def text_out(x : Number | Symbol, y : Number | Symbol, text : String)
       requires_mode GMode::TextObject
       if x == :center
         x = (width - text_width(text)) / 2
@@ -977,7 +978,7 @@ module Hpdf
           y = height / 2 - @font_size / 2
         end
       end
-      LibHaru.page_text_out(self, real(x.as(Number)), real(y.as(Number)), text)
+      LibHaru.page_text_out(self, real(x.as(Number)), real(y.as(Number)), encoded_text(text))
     end
 
     # print the text inside the specified region. Some chars may not
@@ -991,16 +992,16 @@ module Hpdf
     # * *text* the text to show.
     # * *align* the alignment of the text.
     def text_rect(left : Number, top : Number, right : Number, bottom : Number,
-                  text : (String | Bytes), *, align : TextAlignment = TextAlignment::Left) : Number
+                  text : String, *, align : TextAlignment = TextAlignment::Left) : Number
       requires_mode GMode::TextObject
       LibHaru.page_text_rect(self, real(left), real(top),
         real(right), real(bottom),
-        text, align.to_i, out len)
+        encoded_text(text), align.to_i, out len)
       len
     end
 
     # see `text_rect`.
-    def text_rect(rect : Rectangle, text : (String | Bytes), *,
+    def text_rect(rect : Rectangle, text : String, *,
                   align : TextAlignment = TextAlignment::Left) : Number
       text_rect rect.left, rect.top, rect.right, rect.bottom, text, align: align
     end
@@ -1011,8 +1012,8 @@ module Hpdf
       set_dash([] of Int32, phase: 0)
     end
 
-    def use_font(name, size, *, encoding : String? = nil)
-      @font = @doc.font(name, encoding: encoding)
+    def use_font(name, size, *, encoding enc : String? = @encoding)
+      @font = @doc.font(name, encoding: enc)
       @font_size = size.to_f32
       if f = @font
         set_font_and_size(f, @font_size)
@@ -1024,9 +1025,9 @@ module Hpdf
     # measures the passed *text* width using the current font and font size.
     # An application can invoke `measure_text_width` when the `graphics_mode`
     # of the page is in `GMode::TextObject`.
-    def measure_text_width(text : (String | Bytes)) : MeasuredText
+    def measure_text_width(text : String) : MeasuredText
       if f = @font
-        f.measure_text text, font_size: @font_size,
+        f.measure_text encoded_text(text), font_size: @font_size,
           width: width,
           word_space: word_space,
           char_space: char_space
@@ -1053,6 +1054,32 @@ module Hpdf
       end
     end
 
+    # set encoding to be used for strings
+    def use_encoding(encoding : String, &)
+      tmp = @encoding
+      @encoding = encoding
+      v = with self yield self
+      @encoding = tmp
+      v
+    end
+
+    private def encoded_text(text : String) : (String | Bytes)
+      return text if ascii_only?(text)
+
+      if enc = @encoding
+        text.encode(enc) + 0x00
+      else
+        text
+      end
+    end
+
+    private def ascii_only?(str : String) : Bool
+      str.each_char do |char|
+        return false if char.ord > 127
+      end
+      true
+    end
+
     # ## DSL ###
 
     # build enables DSL style access to building a page
@@ -1060,7 +1087,7 @@ module Hpdf
       with self yield self
     end
 
-    def text(name = nil, size = nil, *, encoding enc : String? = nil, &)
+    def text(name = nil, size = nil, *, encoding enc : String = @encoding, &)
       if name && size
         use_font(name, size, encoding: enc)
       end
diff --git a/src/hpdf/table.cr b/src/hpdf/table.cr
index c7c0af6..b08a25e 100644
--- a/src/hpdf/table.cr
+++ b/src/hpdf/table.cr
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ module Hpdf
     # creates a new table using the given rect
     #
     # * *spacing* spacing between the cells, by default there is no spacing
-    # * *fixed_row_height* allows to specify the row height instead of calculation
     def initialize(@rect : Rectangle, *,
                    spacing : Number = 0,
                    @fixed_row_height : Number = 0)
@@ -30,8 +29,8 @@ module Hpdf
 
     # creates a rows and yields the block with the newly created row
     # and adds it to the end (bottom) of the table
-    def row(&)
-      row = Row.new
+    def row(*, height = 0, allow_grow = false, &)
+      row = Row.new(height: height, allow_grow: allow_grow)
       with row yield row
       add_row(row)
     end
@@ -65,11 +64,19 @@ module Hpdf
     end
 
     # returns the height of each row
-    def row_height
-      if @fixed_row_height > 0
-        @fixed_row_height
+    def row_height(row)
+      if row.height > 0
+        row.height
       else
-        (@rect.height + @spacing) / row_count
+        if @fixed_row_height > 0
+          if row.allow_grow?
+            @fixed_row_height * row.grow_height
+          else
+            @fixed_row_height
+          end
+        else
+          (@rect.height + @spacing) / row_count
+        end
       end
     end
 
@@ -81,12 +88,15 @@ module Hpdf
 
       # draw rows top down, this means an inverted order as tables,
       # are top down, while the pdf is bottom-top oriented
-      rows.each_with_index do |row, i|
+      top = 0
+      rows.each do |row|
         column_offset = @rect.x - half_spacing
+        top += row_height(row) - half_spacing
+
         row_rect = Rectangle.new(@rect.x,
-          @rect.top - (row_height * (i + 1) - half_spacing),
+          @rect.top - top,
           @rect.width + @spacing,
-          row_height)
+          row_height(row))
 
         row.rect = row_rect
         column_count = row.cells.reduce(0) { |sum, col| sum + col.span }
@@ -96,7 +106,7 @@ module Hpdf
           column_rect = Rectangle.new(column_offset + half_spacing,
             row_rect.y + half_spacing,
             column_width - @spacing,
-            row_height - @spacing)
+            row_height(row) - @spacing)
           cell.rect = column_rect
           column_offset += column_width
         end
@@ -109,20 +119,24 @@ module Hpdf
   class Row
     property cells
     property rect : Rectangle?
+    property height
+    property? allow_grow : Bool
 
     # Create a new row
-    def initialize
+    def initialize(*, height = 0, allow_grow = false)
       @cells = [] of BaseCell
+      @height = height
+      @allow_grow = allow_grow
     end
 
     # creates a cell by capturing the block for the cell and
     # adding the cell to the end of the row
     def cell(*, span : Number = 1, &block : (Page, Rectangle) ->)
-      add_cell Cell.new(span: span, &block)
+      add_cell Cell.new(span: span, allow_grow: @allow_grow, &block)
     end
 
     # creates a new text cell using the passed parameters
-    def text_cell(text : (String | Bytes),
+    def text_cell(text : String,
                   *,
                   span : Number = 1,
                   font : String = Hpdf::Base14::Helvetica,
@@ -131,6 +145,7 @@ module Hpdf
                   bg_gray : Float32 = 0)
       add_cell TextCell.new(text,
         span: span,
+        allow_grow: @allow_grow,
         font: font,
         font_size: font_size,
         align: align,
@@ -141,6 +156,14 @@ module Hpdf
     def add_cell(cell : BaseCell)
       @cells << cell
     end
+
+    def grow_height : Float64
+      if !allow_grow?
+        1.to_f
+      else
+        @cells.max_of(&.grow_height)
+      end
+    end
   end
 
   # The cell is the smallest part of the `Table`. It is rendered before
@@ -148,16 +171,20 @@ module Hpdf
   abstract class BaseCell
     property rect : Rectangle?
     property span
+    property? allow_grow : Bool
 
     # Creates a cell with the provided block and stores the cell span.
     #
     # * *span* a cell can expand more then one cell (in the right direction)
     #          the default value `1` means no extend
-    def initialize(*, span : Number = 1)
+    def initialize(*, span : Number = 1, @allow_grow = false)
       @span = span.to_f32
     end
 
     abstract def render(page : Page)
+
+    # returns the factor by which the cell wants to grow in height
+    abstract def grow_height : Float64
   end
 
   # The cell uses a simple captured block to render the cell content.
@@ -169,28 +196,33 @@ module Hpdf
     #
     # * *span* a cell can expand more then one cell (in the right direction)
     #          the default value `1` means no extend
-    def initialize(*, span : Number = 1, &@block : (Page, Rectangle) ->)
-      super(span: span)
+    def initialize(*, span : Number = 1, @allow_grow = false, &@block : (Page, Rectangle) ->)
+      super(span: span, allow_grow: @allow_grow)
     end
 
     # renders the captured block
     def render(page : Page)
       @block.call(page, rect.as(Rectangle))
     end
+
+    def grow_height : Float64
+      1.to_f
+    end
   end
 
   # The text cell renders the given text
   class TextCell < BaseCell
     property rect : Rectangle?
 
-    def initialize(@text : (String | Bytes),
+    def initialize(@text : String,
                    *,
                    span : Number = 1,
+                   @allow_grow = false,
                    @font : String = Hpdf::Base14::Helvetica,
                    @font_size : Number = 11,
                    @align = Hpdf::TextAlignment::Center,
                    @bg_gray : Float32 = 0)
-      super(span: span)
+      super(span: span, allow_grow: @allow_grow)
     end
 
     # renders the captured block
@@ -206,10 +238,18 @@ module Hpdf
       page.text @font, @font_size do
         # add left and right padding
         r = r.padding left: 2, right: 2
-        # center text
-        r.y -= (r.height.to_f32 / 2 - @font_size.to_f32 / 2) - 1
+        if allow_grow?
+          r.y -= @font_size.to_f32 / 2 - 1
+        else
+          # center text
+          r.y -= (r.height.to_f32 / 2 - @font_size.to_f32 / 2) - 1
+        end
         text_rect r, @text, align: @align
       end
     end
+
+    def grow_height : Float64
+      @text.count("\n").to_f + 1
+    end
   end
 end