>>>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.
>>
>>Sorry, I should have used PK to more clearly indicate it's the primary key. :)

I hate this: PK is expanded to Primary Key, even if it's between quotation marks, like here: 'PK'. Think I'll gonna ask Michel to give us the option to prevent expansion, e.g. by using a special character in front of an expression.

>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.