Code:

{Question:

How can I change the color of a disabled (Edit1.Enabled := false;) control?

I do not want the normal grey color.

Answer:

Two options:

1) place the control on a panel and disable the panel instead of the control.

This way the color stays to whatever you set it.

2) make a descendent and take over the painting when it is disabled.

Here is an example:}

unit PBExEdit;

interface

uses

  Windows, Messages, SysUtils, Classes, Graphics, Controls,

  Forms, Dialogs, StdCtrls;

type

  TPBExEdit = class(TEdit)

  private

    { Private declarations }

    FDisabledColor: TColor;

    FDisabledTextColor: TColor;

    procedure WMPaint(var msg: TWMPaint); message WM_PAINT;

    procedure WMEraseBkGnd(var msg: TWMEraseBkGnd); message WM_ERASEBKGND;

    procedure SetDisabledColor(const Value: TColor); virtual;

    procedure SetDisabledTextColor(const Value: TColor); virtual;

  protected

    { Protected declarations }

  public

    { Public declarations }

    constructor Create(aOwner: TComponent); override;

  published

    { Published declarations }

    property DisabledTextColor: TColor read FDisabledTextColor

      write SetDisabledTextColor default clGrayText;

    property DisabledColor: TColor read FDisabledColor

      write SetDisabledColor default clWindow;

  end;

procedure Register;

implementation

procedure Register;

begin

  RegisterComponents('PBGoodies', [TPBExEdit]);

end;

constructor TPBExEdit.Create(aOwner: TComponent);

begin

  inherited;

  FDisabledColor := clWindow;

  FDisabledTextColor := clGrayText;

end;

procedure TPBExEdit.SetDisabledColor(const Value: TColor);

begin

  if FDisabledColor <> Value then

  begin

    FDisabledColor := Value;

    if not Enabled then

      Invalidate;

  end;

end;

procedure TPBExEdit.SetDisabledTextColor(const Value: TColor);

begin

  if FDisabledTextColor <> Value then

  begin

    FDisabledTextColor := Value;

    if not Enabled then

      Invalidate;

  end;

end;

procedure TPBExEdit.WMEraseBkGnd(var msg: TWMEraseBkGnd);

var

  Canvas: TCanvas;

begin

  if Enabled then

    inherited

  else

  begin

    Canvas:= TCanvas.Create;

    try

      Canvas.Handle := msg.DC;

      SaveDC(msg.DC);

      try

        canvas.Brush.Color := FDisabledColor;

        canvas.Brush.Style := bsSolid;

        canvas.Fillrect(clientrect);

        msg.Result := 1;

      finally

        RestoreDC(msg.DC, - 1);

      end;

    finally

      canvas.free

    end;

  end;

end;

procedure TPBExEdit.WMPaint(var msg: TWMPaint);

var

  Canvas: TCanvas;

  ps: TPaintStruct;

  CallEndPaint: Boolean;

begin

  if Enabled then

    inherited

  else

  begin

    CallEndPaint := False;

    Canvas:= TCanvas.Create;

    try

      if msg.DC <> 0 then

      begin

        Canvas.Handle := msg.DC;

        ps.fErase := true;

      end

      else

      begin

        BeginPaint(Handle, ps);

        CallEndPaint:= True;

        Canvas.handle := ps.hdc;

      end;

      if ps.fErase then

        Perform(WM_ERASEBKGND, Canvas.Handle, 0);

      SaveDC(canvas.handle);

      try

        Canvas.Brush.Style := bsClear;

        Canvas.Font := Font;

        Canvas.Font.Color := FDisabledTextColor;

        Canvas.TextOut(1, 1, Text);

      finally

        RestoreDC(Canvas.Handle, - 1);

      end;

    finally

      if CallEndPaint then

        EndPaint(handle, ps);

      Canvas.Free

    end;

  end;

end;

end.