Converting Between OLE_COLOR and COLORREF Types (131101)

SUMMARY

This article shows by example how to use the COleControl::TranslateColor() method can be used to convert an OLE_COLOR value into a COLORREF value by using the cast operator.

MORE INFORMATION

The main difference between an OLE_COLOR and a COLORREF is that if an OLE_COLOR has its high-order bit set, the low-order byte is treated as a system color index. The function OleTranslateColor(), which is called by COleControl::TranslateColor(), translates the system color index into a COLORREF when this condition is detected. The following code illustrates conversion between an OLE_COLOR and a COLORREF:

     void CMyOleControl::ConversionTest()
   {

      OLE_COLOR ocBack = GetBackColor();

      // Convert OLE_COLOR to COLORREF
      COLORREF clrBack = TranslateColor(ocBack);

      // Convert COLORREF to OLE_COLOR
      OLE_COLOR ocConverted = (OLE_COLOR)clrBack;
   }

REFERENCES

For a complete list of the translations performed by OleTranslateColor(), or for more information about the OLE_COLOR type, please see the "Microsoft OLE Control Developer's Kit User's Guide and Reference," Appendix D: OLE Controls Architecture, under the heading "Standard Color Type."