What's with the type mismatch?

[GraeagleBill]

Not used to using hex values this way, but nonetheless don't understand what the issue might be?

If Not IsNull(Form.ActiveControl) Then
    Form.ActiveControl.BackColor = CLng("&FFFFFF")
Else
    Form.ActiveControl.BackColor = CLng("&F8BABB")
End If

[davegri]

This should work

.BackColor = &HF8BABB

[GraeagleBill]

That's what I started with, but got compiler error "Expected Expression"

If Not IsNull(Form.ActiveControl) Then
    Form.ActiveControl.BackColor = &FFFFFF
Else
    Form.ActiveControl.BackColor = &F8BABB
End If

[Welshgasman]

Why not just use Conditional Formatting?

This works, but I could not get the white to render using the hex

Private Sub txtFactor_GotFocus()
Me.txtFactor.BackColor = Val("&F8BABB")
End Sub


Private Sub txtFactor_LostFocus()
Me.txtFactor.BackColor = vbWhite
End Sub

[davegri]

That's what I started with, but got compiler error "Expected Expression"

If Not IsNull(Form.ActiveControl) Then
    Form.ActiveControl.BackColor = &FFFFFF
Else
    Form.ActiveControl.BackColor = &F8BABB
End If

Look carefully at my suggestion. You left out the H

[GraeagleBill]

You left out the H

Completely missed that. Like I said at the OP, not used to doing much with hex. (and that's coming from an old bit twiddle'r)

[June7]

If you want white, could use vbWhite.

&HF8BABB returns a light shade of bluish-grey. Is that what you expect?

Review
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/...-ms-access-vba
Access Colour (color) Codes - jhTuppeny Consulting
RGB function (Visual Basic for Applications) | Microsoft Learn

My attempt to interpret this info:

ID	ColorName	ColorCodeDec	ColorCodeRGB	ColorCodeHex	HexGBR
1	Black	0	000,000,000	000000	&H0
2	Red	255	255,000,000	FF0000	&HFF
3	Green	65280	000,255,000	00FF00	&HFF0000
4	Yellow	65535	255,255,000	FFFF00	&HFF00FF
5	Blue	16711680	000,000,255	0000FF	&HFF00
6	Magenta	16711935	255,000,255	FF00FF	&HFFFF
7	Cyan	16776960	000,255,255	00FFFF	&HFFFF00
8	White	16777215	255,255,255	FFFFFF	&HFFFFFF

The &H value will not retain leading zeros so &H0000FF becomes &HFF - Red.
I cannot get &H code to work for yellow, green, blue, magenta.

Suggest you stick with RGB() function.

[GraeagleBill]

Now, if I could just find the right expression for the conditional formatting!

[GraeagleBill]

If Not IsNull(Form.ActiveControl) Then
    Form.ActiveControl.BackColor = vbWhite
Else
    Form.ActiveControl.BackColor = RGB(248, 186, 187)
End If

Good thinking, this code works nicely. Still think the simple conditional formatting solution Welshgasman suggested is best if I can find the correct expression.

[Micron]

I'd bet a dollar that you've been told that there is nothing that equals null, or would have read that by now. If I'm wrong, you'll have to come and get your money.
If sticking with the formatting tool I suspect you'd have to use "Expression Is" not "Field value is".

[pbaldy]

Use Expression Is and this type of thing:

IsNull([txtReqDate])

[pbaldy]

I'd bet a dollar that you've been told that there is nothing that equals null, or would have read that by now. If I'm wrong, you'll have to come and get your money.

LOL! Concur, and I'm easier to collect from since we live in the same city.

[GraeagleBill]

there is nothing that equals null

Yes, my post was more-or-less one of the many silly things I tried. Your money is safe
Have a happy Thanksgiving.

[GraeagleBill]

Both post #9 and Conditional Formatting solved the OP. The only downside the is with CF'g is that, in design mode, the TB's show the back color shading of those fields that are subject to special processing. I.e., in need of shading when null. (I realize I can add some additional CF'g when Not IsNull)

[Micron]

Have a happy Thanksgiving.

That was 6 weeks ago, but same to you anyway.