[RESOLVED] (VS 2005) Silver Windows Scheme causes Black Background in Form?

[Mark Douglas]

I'm wondering if anyone else has seen this. My program looks great when a user has the default blue windows theme (Or scheme). But once the user changes to the Silver one all my custom programs come out with black areas where should be white?

Is this a limitation?

I can post some images if someone wants.

Thanks for any help!!

[gigemboy]

Are you sure you are using the correct color for those controls? Are you using a system color? If so, what do you have the property set at?

[kleinma]

I use the silver theme and everything works fine. It is likely what gigemboy said. You are using a system color instead of a specific color. The system color you picked is likely black when using the silver theme.

[Mark Douglas]

The color is set to "Active Caption text" for my background on the form. As well as the colors for my group boxes.

Here is an image showing the Blue theme then the Silver theme if I switch back and forth on color schemes.

[Mark Douglas]

Ok that makes sense about the System thing. This one is a system one. Do you guys recommend the Web ones, or Custom?

Thanks!!

[kleinma]

well that will do it.. like i said above, I use the silver theme on my desktop, and here is what my color palette looks like.

[kleinma]

Don't use a system color unless you dont care if it changes based on user settings. If you want it to always be a specific color, use a web or custom (doesn't matter which, they are both just hex color values)

[Mark Douglas]

Great!! Thanks for the help!! That fixed the problem.

[kleinma]

no problem. gigemboy deserves the credit too

if you dont have any other questions specifically about this, then mark the thread resolved using the thread tools menu above.

[gigemboy]

System colors could be a good thing, as long as you choose the right one. Pay attention to the description, and dont pick it solely based on color. For instance, the "controllight" system color should generally be a light color regardless of whatever theme you set it on... ActiveCaptionText shouldnt be used for control colors, as the name sort of implies... of course, since every person can change whatever item they want to in windows, there is no real guarantee of what your form will look like when you use system colors. However, most approved windows themes go about the same basis for the color selections, and generally you won't run into problems with hard to read color combinations and what not as long as you choose the right system colors for whatever you are trying to change or modify... generally if you want it to be compatible across themes, then don't change the default system color for any of the standard controls on your form...