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Console Color Use
This page was last reviewed on Nov 14, 2023.
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Console color. Some programs are best implemented with complex graphical controls, but often using console output is sufficient. And in VB.NET we can improve console display with colors.
Shows a color console
By assigning enums to some properties, we can adjust the background and foreground (text) color. Colors remain set until we reset them with ResetColor.
Example. The Windows console supports colors. We can apply foreground (text) and background colors. We assign the ForegroundColor and BackgroundColor properties.
Step 1 We must use the ConsoleColor enum to set colors. Many possible colors, like Blue, are available on this enum.
Enum
Step 2 We set the ForegroundColor, which is the text color. We set it to white to have light-colored text.
Step 3 The ResetColor subroutine changes the color scheme (both foreground and background) to the default.
Shows a color console
Module Module1 Sub Main() ' Step 1: set background to blue. Console.BackgroundColor = ConsoleColor.Blue ' Step 2: set foreground to white. Console.ForegroundColor = ConsoleColor.White ' Step 3: write some text, and reset the colors. Console.WriteLine("White on blue.") Console.WriteLine("Another line.") Console.ResetColor() End Sub End Module
White on blue. Another line.
Different color example. Many colors are available in .NET. We can use bright red with Console.Red to signify a concerning error or warning.
Module Module1 Sub Main() ' Set Foreground and Background colors. ' ... You can just set one. Console.ForegroundColor = ConsoleColor.Red Console.BackgroundColor = ConsoleColor.DarkCyan Console.WriteLine("Warning") Console.WriteLine("Download failed") ' Reset the colors. Console.ResetColor() Console.WriteLine("Sorry") End Sub End Module
Warning Download failed Sorry
Summary. Though it will not be the same as a native Windows Forms program, a console program with colors is often more enjoyable to use than one without colors.
Dot Net Perls is a collection of tested code examples. Pages are continually updated to stay current, with code correctness a top priority.
Sam Allen is passionate about computer languages. In the past, his work has been recommended by Apple and Microsoft and he has studied computers at a selective university in the United States.
This page was last updated on Nov 14, 2023 (new).
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