System Color Sample

This sample demonstrates how system colors can be assigned instead of fixed colors.

As of Internet Explorer 4, system colors may be specified in Web pages in addition to the named colors. Unlike the other named colors however, user-defined system colors have no numeric RGB equivalent because the exact color is not known until the Web page is viewed on the user's system. Users can choose their own system color scheme from the Windows Control Panel.

Note The system color names have been deprecated in the CSS3 recommendation.

Try changing your system colors in the Control Panel and notice the effect this has on the following table.

Color	Name
	ActiveBorder
	ActiveCaption
	AppWorkspace
	Background
	ButtonFace
	ButtonHighlight
	ButtonShadow
	ButtonText
	CaptionText
	GrayText
	Highlight
	HighlightText
	InactiveBorder
	InactiveCaption
	InactiveCaptionText
	InfoBackground
	InfoText
	Menu
	MenuText
	Scrollbar
	ThreeDDarkShadow
	ThreeDFace
	ThreeDHighlight
	ThreeDLightShadow
	ThreeDShadow
	Window
	WindowFrame
	WindowText

Not all of the system colors are appropriate for a background or text color; however, some of them are intended to be used in combination. The following table demonstrates appropriate text and background colors:

CaptionText on ActiveCaption

InactiveCaptionText on InactiveCaption

ButtonText on ButtonFace

WindowText on Window

HighLightText on HighLight

MenuText on Menu

InfoText on InfoBackground

If any of the text in the above table is difficult to read, try changing the specific system color in the Control Panel.

[Right-click, and choose View Source from the shortcut menu.]