>>This would work perfectly, it really is a good trick. The exception to this would be repeated values of col_id, where each repeated value of that field would point to the same record in the c_color cursor, and thus show in the same color. Which is not much of trouble, IMO, but then I'm not the originator - he may have other requirements (or not have this problem at all). We'll see. I actually like this one, goes with my principle that the color should not be recalculated for each refresh.
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>Sorry, I should have used PK to more clearly indicate it's the primary key. :)

With that restriction, this becomes THE solution.

>Some of the other given solutions seem quite complicated and time consuming (e.g. using iif(seek(recno()...) indeed. I'm tempted to say 'overkill', but I won't. :)

Mentioning word "overkill" has become... ahem, overkill. But I didn't say that. I was not here at all.