Microsoft KB Archive/213201

= XL2000: RGB Function May Map to Unexpected Color =

Article ID: 213201

Article Last Modified on 11/23/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Excel 2000 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q213201





SYMPTOMS
When you use the RGBfunction in a Visual Basic for Applications macro, the color value of the RGB color of the index may be mapped to a color other than the color you expected.

For example, RGB(65,0,0) is mapped to Dark Red, but RGB(64,0,0) is mapped to Black.



CAUSE
This behavior occurs because the color property accepts an RGB triple and maps it to the nearest color index. When the property retrieves the color value, it returns the RGB color of the index, which may be different from the value you typed. In the example, RGB(65,0,0) is mapped to Dark Red (RGB(128,0,0)), but RGB(64,0,0) is mapped to Black (RGB(0,0,0)).



WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, use the ShapeRange objects collection. The ShapeRange objects collection allows greater flexibility when you change colors in code. Instead of using this Selection.Interior.Color = RGB(x,y,z) you can use the following: Selection.ShapeRange.Fill.ForeColor.RGB = RGB(x,y,z)



MORE INFORMATION
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When you use an application method or property that accepts a color specification value, use a number that represents an RGB color value. An RGB color value specifies the relative intensity of the red, green, and blue colors that cause a specific color to be displayed.

The following steps assume that you created a Visual Basic module that contains the following code Sub ChangeRGB

ActiveSheet.Rectangles(1).Select With Selection.Interior .Pattern = xlSolid .Color = RGB([B1].Value, [B2].Value, [B3].Value) End With

End Sub and that you created a worksheet that contains the following values:   A1: Red     B1:       C1:       D1: A2: Green  B2:       C2:       D2: A3: Blue   B3:       C3:       D3: A4:        B4:       C4:       D4: A5:        B5:       C5:       D5: To use the sample macro, follow these steps:
 * 1) On the View menu, point to Toolbars, and then click Drawing.
 * 2) On the Drawing toolbar, click the Rectangle tool. Click cell C1 and drag the pointer from cell C1 to cell D5 to draw a rectangle.
 * 3) On Sheet1, type the value 65 in cell B1.
 * 4) On the Tools menu, point to Macro, and then click Macros. Click ChangeRGB, and then click Run.

Note that the color of the rectangle is dark red.
 * 1) Change the value in cell B1 to 64.
 * 2) On the Tools menu, point to Macro, and then click Macros. Click ChangeRGB, and then click Run.

Note that the color of the rectangle is black.

