XL: Sample Visual Basic Code to Create Color Index Table

Last reviewed: February 3, 1998
Article ID: Q149170

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c
  • Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 5.0, 5.0a
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
  • Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition

SUMMARY

The sample macro in the "More Information" section of this article prints a sample of each color in one column and then prints the index number for that color in the adjacent column.

This type of list is valuable for determining how a certain color will print on a given printer.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:

   http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/default.asp

The color index number represents the position of a particular color on the sample palette. To view the default palette, click Cells on the Format menu, and then click the Pattern tab. The number is incremented from left to right and then down. On the default palette, black has the index number of 1 and cyan a color index of 8. A total of 56 colors are available on the Microsoft Excel palette.

Sample Visual Basic Procedure

   Sub ColorIndexList()

       ' Begin error trapping.
       On Error GoTo Done

       Range("A1").Select

       ' Put the word Color in active cell.
       ActiveCell.Formula = "Color"

       ' Put the words Color Index Number one cell to right of active cell.
       ActiveCell.Offset(0, 1).Formula = "Color Index Number"

       ' Select one cell down from active cell.
       ActiveCell.Offset(1, 0).Activate

       ' Begin loop from 1 to 56.
       For Color = 1 To 56

          ' Apply color and pattern properties to active cell.
          With ActiveCell.Interior
             .ColorIndex = Color
             .Pattern = xlSolid
             .PatternColorIndex = xlAutomatic
          End With

          ' Put color index in cell to right of active cell.
          ActiveCell.Offset(0, 1).Formula = Color

          ' Select next cell down.
          ActiveCell.Offset(1, 0).Activate

          ' Increment For loop.
       Next Color

   Done:
   End Sub

REFERENCES

For more information about the ColorIndex property, click the Index tab in Microsoft Excel 7.0 Help, type the following text

   colorindex

and then double-click the selected text to go to the "ColorIndex Property" topic.

For additional information about getting help with Visual Basic for Applications, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q163435
   TITLE     : VBA: Programming Resources for Visual Basic for
               Applications


Additional query words: 5.00 5.00a 5.00c 7.00 8.00 XL98 XL97 XL7 XL5
Keywords : kbcode kbprg kbprint kbualink97 PgmHowto
Version : WINDOWS:5.x,7.0,97; MACINTOSH:5.0,5.0a,98
Platform : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type : kbhowto


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Last reviewed: February 3, 1998
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