>>>

select distinct your_field from your_table into array diffval
>>>for i=1 to alen(diffval)
>>>   nValue=diffval[i]
>>>   nColor=this.mycolor(nValue)
>>>   replace (colorfield) with nColor for your_field=nValue
>>>endfor
>>>this.grid1.column1.dynamicforecolor='your_table.colorfield'
>>>

>>>You should run this in grid's init or form's load. Not sure about the sparse setting; in the case which initiated this thread, I tried with an additional column which contained the input mask, set the dynamicinputmask to the name of that field, and it worked with sparse=.f., otherwise it changed inputmasks as you moved up and down.
>>
>>Hi Dragan,
>>
>>I added a new field in my addition lookup table AddrStat custColor. I made it integer and put 0, 255, etc. colors respectively (this table has only 8 records). In my main form I set relation to this table based on the status field. In the grid I added this.setall('DynamicForeColor','AddrStat.CustColor') and it worked like a charm!!!!!
>
>So you've extended it a little and took a color source from another table... I'd really like to know how does it work (speed-wise) on a large table (and I remember you have lots of those), and what happens if you change the foreign key for a record, how fast does it change color in that case.
>
>I knew the trick was good - thanks for testing it :). It worked here, but I never really tried it on a big table, or to pull colorsource from a different table.

Well, in my quick tests it works great. Before running the process I save relation lcSaveRel=set('relation') set relation to, then set it back. When I change one record it works just fine. The main table has 6000 records and it related to 8 records. I've tried on another table with 20000 recs and it works too!

I'm going to use this technique since now on!