VB - Retrieve RGB Values for TitleBar Gradient Colors

[John McKernan]

Summary:
Retrieve the starting or ending gradient colors currently in use for window titlebars - active or inactive.

Please note: This code requires Win 98/ME/2k/XP. You would probably want to check for Windows version before executing this code. Also, it is possible for the user to have disabled the titlebar gradient effect - something else to test for.

'declare api functions
    Private Declare Function GetSysColor Lib "user32" _
        (ByVal nIndex As Long) As Long
 
'declare constants
    Private Const COLOR_ACTIVECAPTION = 2
    Private Const COLOR_INACTIVECAPTION = 3
    Private Const COLOR_GRADIENTACTIVECAPTION = 27
    Private Const COLOR_GRADIENTINACTIVECAPTION = 28
 
'declare types
    Private Type RGB
        r As Integer
        G As Integer
        B As Integer
    End Type
 
Private Function GetRGBColors(ColorValue As Long) As RGB
    On Error Resume Next
    
    'initialize
    Dim strColorHex As String
 
    'convert color value into string representing hex value
    strColorHex = String(6 - Len(Hex(ColorValue)), "0") & Hex(ColorValue)
 
    'return rgb values
    GetRGBColors.r = "&H" & Mid(strColorHex, 5, 2) & "00"
    GetRGBColors.G = "&H" & Mid(strColorHex, 3, 2) & "00"
    GetRGBColors.B = "&H" & Mid(strColorHex, 1, 2) & "00"
End Function

Usage Example:

Dim rgbColorStart as RGB
Dim rgbColorEnd as RGB
 
'for active gradient colors:
rgbColorStart = GetRGBColors(GetSysColor(COLOR_ACTIVECAPTION))
rgbColorEnd = GetRGBColors(GetSysColor(COLOR_GRADIENTACTIVECAPTION))
 
'for inactive gradient colors:
rgbColorStart = GetRGBColors(GetSysColor(COLOR_INACTIVECAPTION))
rgbColorEnd = GetRGBColors(GetSysColor(COLOR_GRADIENTINACTIVECAPTION))

Notes:
The declarations for API functions, constants, types and the GetRGBColors function can be moved to a module. If so, they should be declared as Public.

See Also:
Determine if TitleBar Gradient is Enabled
Determine Windows Version