Question

Pick a color that isn't in the palette

Asked by: PaulHews

I'm trying to format a chart in VBA.  I'm trying to assign a color to a chart series using RGB, (code below) but the colors are not coming out as expected.  Can anyone help?



.SeriesCollection(1).Interior.Color = RGB(79, 129, 189)

                                  
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Asked On
2009-07-21 at 14:43:22ID24589169
Topic

Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet Software

Participating Experts
2
Points
500
Comments
12

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Answers

 

by: matthewspatrickPosted on 2009-07-21 at 15:10:53ID: 24909868

Hello PaulHews,

Which version of Excel, Paul?  I am guessing 2003 or earlier; in 2007, the color palette is massively expanded.

Regards,

Patrick

 

by: PaulHewsPosted on 2009-07-21 at 15:21:07ID: 24909951

It's 2003

 

by: matthewspatrickPosted on 2009-07-21 at 15:56:25ID: 24910175

Paul,

Excel 2003 is very limited in terms of which colors it can use.  You may have to modify your color palette
to introduce that new color, and then use that color in your chart.

General background on Excel color palette:
http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/colors.htm

How to change the color palette:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/288412
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel/HP051989351033.aspx

An add-in to manage colors (not free):
http://www.office-addins.com/-excel-addins/excel-color-manager.html
http://www.ablebits.com/excel-colors-palettes-manager-addins/index.php

Regards,

Patrick

 

by: PaulHewsPosted on 2009-07-21 at 19:01:10ID: 24910967

Is it possible to modify the palette using VBA, as the workbook I'm producing is done entirely with automation.

 

by: matthewspatrickPosted on 2009-07-21 at 19:49:53ID: 24911211

Paul,

It must be, else those add-ins would be worthless.  Still researching :)

Regards,

Patrick

 

by: patrickabPosted on 2009-07-22 at 01:31:04ID: 24912484

Paul,

Run the macro in the attached file and it will recolour the chart - VBA macro below

Patrick

Sub recolour_chart()
    ActiveWorkbook.Colors(1) = RGB(79, 129, 189)
    ActiveSheet.ChartObjects("Chart 1").Activate
    ActiveChart.SeriesCollection(1).Interior.ColorIndex = 1
End Sub

                                              
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by: patrickabPosted on 2009-07-22 at 01:32:10ID: 24912490

ps There are 2 Patricks here - I'm the other one!

Patrick(A-B)

 

by: patrickabPosted on 2009-07-22 at 01:39:46ID: 24912535

Paul,

Comments on the macro:

'resets the general colour palette by replacing the first colour - Colors(1) - in the colour palette with your chosen colour
ActiveWorkbook.Colors(1) = RGB(79, 129, 189)

'selects/activates the chart
 ActiveSheet.ChartObjects("Chart 1").Activate

'recolours the chart series by using the first colour in the colour palette Colors(1) which is the ColorIndex = 1
ActiveChart.SeriesCollection(1).Interior.ColorIndex = 1

In fact you could select any of the 56 colours in the palette to replace with your selected colour and then use that in the re-colouring of the chart series.

This all works with Excel 2002 so it should also work with Excel 2003

Patrick(A-B)

 

by: PaulHewsPosted on 2009-07-22 at 05:45:34ID: 31606153

Excellent work, thank you.

 

by: PaulHewsPosted on 2009-07-22 at 05:45:55ID: 24914057

Thank you both for your help.  This is great!

 

by: patrickabPosted on 2009-07-22 at 05:48:04ID: 24914074

Paul - Thanks for the grade and points - Patrick

 

by: matthewspatrickPosted on 2009-07-22 at 06:36:03ID: 24914633

Glad to help :)

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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