Outlook 2013

Gordon wrote:
On Sat, 30 Nov 2013 09:07:07 -0600, Gordon
wrote:

I recently upgraded from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1 and am still trying
to get all the settings as I want them. One problem I'm still unable
to resolve is getting the panes in Outlook 2013 changed to a
color/shade that is easier for me to read. The current settings are
for moderately gray lines on a light gray background. My vision isn't
quite perfect and I often find myself confused as to what I have
selected.

Is there any way for me to change the Outlook 2013 screen background
and layout lines to colors with more contrast? Also, I would like to
lock the scroll bars such that they don't disappear as soon as I move
my mouse pointer away from that part of the screen. Gordon

I've decided to put this set of problems on the back burner and wait
for the 8.2 release. Maybe this will fix all the things I've been
fretting and stewing about. Gordon

http://guardianlv.com/2013/11/micros...n-windows-8-2/


An update to 8.2 is very very unlikely to impact anything Office UI related.

The only routes from afaics are the two suggestions previously provided
(Paul's post and my comment on Windows registry Colors settings)



--
...winston
msft mvp consumer apps

Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
On Sat, 30 Nov 2013 20:55:32 -0500, "...winston"
wrote:

In prior operating systems MSFT included a feature called 'Advanced
Appearance Settings' which allows the user to change the Window color.
Windows 8x does not include this feature but the registry settings for
those values remain intact in the following registry key

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Colors

The above registry key (rt hand pane) has a Name value called 'Window'
with a 3 character default value of:
255 255 255

Changing the values will change the Windows color of the panes in other
Windows programs that use that same value (e.g. Outlook, Word, Excel,
Task Manager, etc. **including the Reading Pane** Outlook 2013

e.g. changing the value to
255 255 210
will change the white to a yellow color.


Thanks very much. I just changed that value to 255 235 215, a sort of
light ivory color. It changed it in several places in Outlook, and in
a bunch of other programs too, including WordPerfect and Forte Agent.

I think I like the results, but again, I'll try it for a few days
before I decide whether to keep it.


You're welcome. If performing the same steps on Windows 7 (and different
pc's) the same windows color values may yield slightly different colors.
Additionally monitor and hardware graphics drivers that provide options
for different color profiles (default and/or user configurable) may also
impact the windows color appearance shades.

I prefer a very subtle near white yellow color.

On this system it impacts all Office products, Notepad, and WLM and
SeaMonkey, some programs 'Open' dialog box, the background in IE11, the
Bing Search data entry field, Windows Essentials suite of programs, and
SeaMonkey Mail/News (but SeaMonkey is dependent upon which theme is in
use) and probably a few other apps/applications too. Surprisingly, on
this system it does not impact the Navigation, Details and Preview panes
of Windows Explorer.

Also interesting the same numerical combination on Windows 7 Sp1 and
Win8.1 (both 64 bit Pro versions) provide different results...thus the
need for each user (since many other variables and hardware come into
play) to find their own 'number' comfort zone.


--
...winston
msft mvp consumer apps

On Sun, 01 Dec 2013 20:22:03 -0500, "...winston"
wrote:

Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
On Sat, 30 Nov 2013 20:55:32 -0500, "...winston"
wrote:

In prior operating systems MSFT included a feature called 'Advanced
Appearance Settings' which allows the user to change the Window color.
Windows 8x does not include this feature but the registry settings for
those values remain intact in the following registry key

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Colors

The above registry key (rt hand pane) has a Name value called 'Window'
with a 3 character default value of:
255 255 255

Changing the values will change the Windows color of the panes in other
Windows programs that use that same value (e.g. Outlook, Word, Excel,
Task Manager, etc. **including the Reading Pane** Outlook 2013

e.g. changing the value to
255 255 210
will change the white to a yellow color.


Thanks very much. I just changed that value to 255 235 215, a sort of
light ivory color. It changed it in several places in Outlook, and in
a bunch of other programs too, including WordPerfect and Forte Agent.

I think I like the results, but again, I'll try it for a few days
before I decide whether to keep it.


You're welcome. If performing the same steps on Windows 7 (and different
pc's) the same windows color values may yield slightly different colors.



So far I'm continuing to like it, so I think it's likely to stay
here.


Additionally monitor and hardware graphics drivers that provide options
for different color profiles (default and/or user configurable) may also
impact the windows color appearance shades.


Yes, but generally only slightly.


I prefer a very subtle near white yellow color.


Mine might not be quite as subtle as yours, but it's pretty subtle.

On Sun, 01 Dec 2013 20:22:03 -0500, ...winston wrote:

You're welcome. If performing the same steps on Windows 7 (and different
pc's) the same windows color values may yield slightly different colors.
Additionally monitor and hardware graphics drivers that provide options
for different color profiles (default and/or user configurable) may also
impact the windows color appearance shades.

I have two monitors, both 1920x1080 LCDs.

I made a spreadsheet recently in which I used a subtle highlight on some
cells as a visual guide. On the same computer and using the same port
and cable, the color was nearly invisible on the non-IPS monitor and
easily visible on the IPS monitor. It might be the brands and not the
technology, though.

The IPS is an LG monitor, the other is an HP monitor, both 23.5".

It was the lack of visibility that led me to try the LG...

--
Gene E. Bloch (Stumbling Bloch)

On 12/2/2013 2:09 PM, Gene E. Bloch wrote:
On Sun, 01 Dec 2013 20:22:03 -0500, ...winston wrote:

You're welcome. If performing the same steps on Windows 7 (and different
pc's) the same windows color values may yield slightly different colors.
Additionally monitor and hardware graphics drivers that provide options
for different color profiles (default and/or user configurable) may also
impact the windows color appearance shades.

I have two monitors, both 1920x1080 LCDs.

I made a spreadsheet recently in which I used a subtle highlight on some
cells as a visual guide. On the same computer and using the same port
and cable, the color was nearly invisible on the non-IPS monitor and
easily visible on the IPS monitor. It might be the brands and not the
technology, though.

The IPS is an LG monitor, the other is an HP monitor, both 23.5".

It was the lack of visibility that led me to try the LG...



Yes Gene, I too have 23 inch LG IPS monitors and I can see The pastel
colors in all sorts of apps which don't barely show up on TN monitors.
What with the better and brighter colors and the large viewing angles
plus the fact that the prices are now very affordable, I will never buy
a TN panel again.

Regards, Rene