>So how come VB can do it?

Simply because VB controls are windows, VFP's aren't. That's why the MS Forms 2.0 Command Button has a setable backcolor. You're setting the window backcolor. Since it may be desirable to have a window who's backcolor is something other than the standard, such as a splash screen, that's modifiable.

As a side note, for some reasons, I can't get VB 6.0 command buttons to "take" a background color. I'm not sure what the reason is. Erik Moore tested it under Win2K with problems, but I can't get it to work under Win98SE. I'm assuming incompetence on the part of the developer.:-)