Sign in
Microsoft.com
 
Script Center
 
 
 
Script Center > Scripting Forums > The Official Scripting Guys Forum! > VBScript to Change Windows System colors
Ask a questionAsk a question
Search Forums:
 

QuestionVBScript to Change Windows System colors

  • Wednesday, November 04, 2009 2:10 PMkgrabske Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    Sign In to Vote
    0
    Sign In to Vote
    I have a script which changes drive mappings.  This allows me to test database design changes without messing up real data.  I would like to incorporate into the script something to change the windows title bar color to provide me with a visual cue as to the fact that I am not currently mapped to the network drives.  I can't seem to fugure out how to change system colors via a script.  Any ideas?
     

All Replies

  • Thursday, November 05, 2009 2:52 AMRichard MuellerMVPUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    Sign In to Vote
    0
    Sign In to Vote
    Each form used by each application can have it's own title, so we need to know the application. Assuming VBScript and the MsgBox function, you can specify a title, but not colors. However, you can specify an icon. For example, if the drive is mapped you could use the exclamation icon in a message box:

    Call MsgBox("This is the message, which can be several lines", vbOKOnly + vbExclamation, "Title of Application")

    But if the drive is not mapped you could use the information icon in the message box:

    Call MsgBox("This is the message, which can be several lines", vbOKOnly + vbInformation, "Title of Application")

    The icon could serve to flag which condition you have. Otherwise, we need information on what application title you are dealing with.

    Richard Mueller
    MVP ADSI
     
  • Thursday, November 05, 2009 12:45 PMkgrabske Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    Sign In to Vote
    0
    Sign In to Vote
    Richard,

    Thanks for the response.  I was hoping to change the color of the title bars on any application that's open (or will be open).  Alternatively, if there's anything else I can do easily in a script to create a visual cue that I have run the drive mapping script, and am therefore not connecting to the server drives normally, that would be great.  The msgbox may be adequate though.  I just need a reminder, because, sometimes I forget where I'm at (or what I'm doing)!

    Thanks,

    Keith
     
  • Friday, November 06, 2009 4:16 AMRichard MuellerMVPUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    Sign In to Vote
    0
    Sign In to Vote

    Each application would need to expose a public function that allowed you to change the color (or some attribute) of the title bar. I don't know of any applications that do that.

    Your script that does the drive mappings could do something else. Maybe create a shortcut or file on the desktop. The name of the file could indicate that the mappings were done. However, I don't know how the file would be deleted when the mappings are removed, unless this is done in the script as well.

    Richard Mueller

    MVP ADSI