Teach Yourself Borland C++ in 14 Days - portal

276 Day 8
Figure 8.1.
The Color dialog box.
Most of the time you will probably choose a color from the list of color values provided. When
you click the drop-down button to display the list of possible values, you will see what
essentially amounts to two groups of values. The first group of colors begins with clBlack and
ends with clWhite. These are the C++Builder predefined colors; this list represents the most
commonly used colors. To choose one of the listed colors, simply click on the color in the
list. If you can’t find a color in the list that suits your needs, you can invoke the Color dialog
box, as discussed.
The second group of colors in the list begins with clScrollBar. This group of colors
represents the Windows system colors. If you use colors from this list, your application will
automatically adjust its colors when the user changes color schemes in Windows. If you want
your application to follow the color scheme the user has chosen for his or her system, you
should choose colors from this list rather than from the first list.
Use of color should be carefully considered. Proper use of color provides an aesthetically
pleasing environment for the user. Abuse of color makes for an obnoxious application that
is annoying to use. Color is like a magnet to new programmers. It is common to want to throw
lots of colors on a form because it’s fun and easy, but don’t get caught up in the fun at the
expense of your users.
HOUSE RULES: COLORS
■ Use color for accent and emphasis.
■ Don’t use loud colors that are hard on the eyes.
■ Use the system colors in your application where appropriate. If the user changes
color schemes, your application will follow suit.
■ Be consistent in your use of colors across your forms.