The command: "COLOR" is on Windows 12, 11, 10, .. , MS Server 2025, 2022, 2019, .. available
The examples for the command "COLOR"
The
`COLOR` command in Windows Command Prompt is used to change the color of the text and background in the console. Here are some examples with comments:
Example 1: Reset color to default:
COLOR
Description: This command resets the colors to their default values, usually Black Text on a White Background.
Example 2: Change text color:
COLOR 0A
Description: Here the text color is set to light green (
`A`) and the background is set to black (
`0`).
Example 3: Change background color:
COLOR 4E
Description: This command changes the background color to dark red (
`4`) and the text color to yellow (
`E`).
Example 4: Combining colors:
COLOR 1F
Description: Here the text color is set to blue (
`1`) and the background color is set to light white (
`F`).
Example 5: Using color code in a batch script:
@ECHO OFF
REM Change the colors
COLOR 3B
ECHO This text is now in light yellow on dark blue.
Description: This batch script changes the colors from light yellow to dark blue and then prints a corresponding message.
Example 6: Changing colors using the ECHO statement:
ECHO [1;31mThis text is in light red. [0m
Description: This example uses ANSI color code (used here as an escape sequence with
`ECHO`) to change the text color to light red.
Note: Color changes with
`COLOR` are limited to the current command prompt session and are not saved permanently.
If you want to use
`COLOR` in a batch script or command line interaction, I recommend using the color numbers and letters to improve readability. Use
`COLOR /?` for a list of available color codes.
"COLOR" Excerpt from Microsoft Windows Help
Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.19045.3693]
(c) Copyright 1985-2023 Microsoft Corp.
C:\\WINDOWS>
Sets the default console foreground and background colors.
COLOR [attr]
attr Specifies color attribute of console output
Color attributes are specified by TWO hex digits -- the first
corresponds to the background; the second the foreground. Each digit
can be any of the following values:
0 = Black 8 = Gray
1 = Blue 9 = Light Blue
2 = Green A = Light Green
3 = Aqua B = Light Aqua
4 = Red C = Light Red
5 = Purple D = Light Purple
6 = Yellow E = Light Yellow
7 = White F = Bright White
If no argument is given, this command restores the color to what it was
when CMD.EXE started. This value either comes from the current console
window, the /T command line switch or from the DefaultColor registry
value.
The COLOR command sets ERRORLEVEL to 1 if an attempt is made to execute
the COLOR command with a foreground and background color that are the
same.
Example: "COLOR fc" produces light red on bright white
Important information, tips for the "COLOR" command
There are a few points to note when using the
`COLOR` command in the Windows Command Prompt:
1.
Limited Color Palette: Windows Command Prompt only supports a limited color palette. Color changes are limited to the available colors and background combinations.
2.
Color Code Format: The color code consists of two parts - the first part for the background and the second part for the text. Each part can be a number from 0 to 15 or a letter from 0 to F. Note that the interpretation of letters and numbers can vary.
3.
Inappropriate Color Combinations: Some color combinations may result in hard-to-read or unreadable text. Choose colors carefully to ensure readability.
4.
Not Permanent: The changes made using
`COLOR` are not permanent. If you close and reopen the CMD window, the default colors will be restored.
5.
No RGB colors: `COLOR` does not support RGB colors. The color palette is based on predefined colors and is limited.
6.
Affects consistency: Changes made by
`COLOR` affect the entire prompt session and can affect UI consistency, especially when colors are used in scripts.
7.
ANSI Color Code: You can also use ANSI color code sequences to represent colors in the prompt. This method can be more flexible, but does not support all terminals.
8.
Support in PowerShell: Note that in PowerShell the
`COLOR` command is not normally available. Instead, PowerShell uses other methods like
`Write-Host` with color parameters.
Write-Host "This text is in yellow on blue" -ForegroundColor Yellow -BackgroundColor Blue
9.
Batch scripts: When using
`COLOR` in batch scripts, keep in mind that this applies to the entire session and may be affected by other scripts.
10.
Compatibility: Note that the use of colors in the Command Prompt may not be the same on all systems or terminal emulators. It may not be available on older or non-Windows systems.
11.
Consider readability: Make sure that the color combinations you choose improve readability and do not affect the user experience.
Using colors in the Command Prompt is a useful way to improve visibility and structure. However, be sure to use them carefully to maintain consistency and readability.