Color Definition for Columns, Rows, and Cells

Use

You are able to assign different colors to the columns, rows and cells of your ALV output table. A set of colors is available for this purpose that you can use with few restrictions.

Text Color, Background Color, Intensity and Inverse Display

The various ALV tools use different concepts when dealing with color:

In the tree structure, some fixed combinations of text and background color are available.

Text Color	Background color	Technical Name
Black	Standard	DEFAULT
Black	Light yellow	EMPHASIZED
Black	Medium blue	EMPHASIZED_A
Black	Light blue	EMPHASIZED_B
Black	Salmon colored	EMPHASIZED_C
Black	Red	EMPHASIZED_NEGATIVE
Black	Green	EMPHASIZED_POSITIVE
Gray	Standard	INACTIVE
Dark blue	Standard	INTENSIFIED
Dark red	Standard	INTENSIFIED_CRITICAL

In both of the other tools you are able to change the combinations of text and background color to a certain degree:

You choose a color from a set of possible colors.
You determine whether this color is to be light or dark (intensity)
You determine whether the color applies to the background or the text (inverse display)

Color	Technical Name
GUI-dependent	COL_BACKGROUND
Grey-blue	COL_HEADING
Light grey	COL_NORMAL
Yellow	COL_TOTAL
Blue-green	COL_KEY
Green	COL_POSITIVE
Red	COL_NEGATIVE
Orange	COL_GROUP

Note

The color COL_KEY is the color that the system uses for Lead Columns.

Features

You are able to make the following settings for colors:

Lead Columns have a color determined by the system. In lead columns you are only able to change the color in individual cells.
In list-type ALV outputs, you are able to color in rows or cells using the Color Columns. You color in whole columns by changing the color property of the column. In the tree structure, however, you can color in nodes and items directly using the associated methods. You are not able to color in columns here.
You can present the entire ALV output with stripes, that is automatically color in the rows of the ALV output alternating light and dark.

Changing the Color of Columns

The color is a property of the column. You can change them directly this way.

Note

You are only able to change the color of a column if it is not a lead column.

ALV Tool	Display type	Function available
Simple, Two-Dimensional Table	Classic ABAP List	Yes
Fullscreen	Yes
In the Container	Yes
Hierarchical-sequential list	Classic ABAP List	Yes
Tree structure	Fullscreen	No
In the Container	No

Function	Class	Method
Changing the Color of Columns	CL_SALV_COLUMN_LIST	SET_COLOR
Get the color of a column	GET_COLOR

Change Color of Nodes and Items

In the tree structure, the color is the property of each node or individual item.

ALV Tool	Display type	Function available
Simple, Two-Dimensional Table	Classic ABAP List	No
Fullscreen	No
In the Container	No
Hierarchical-sequential list	Classic ABAP List	No
Tree structure	Fullscreen	Yes
In the Container	Yes

Function	Class	Method
Change color combination for node	CL_SALV_NODE	SET_ROW_STYLE
Get color combination for node	GET_ROW_STYLE
Change color combination for item	CL_SALV_ITEM	SET_STYLE
Get color combination for item	GET_STYLE

Display Rows with Stripes

You are able to color the rows of the ALV output alternating light and dark.

Note

The colors for both shades are defined by the system and you cannot change them.

ALV Tool	Display type	Function available
Simple, Two-Dimensional Table	Classic ABAP List	Yes
Fullscreen	Yes
In the Container	Yes
Hierarchical-sequential list	Classic ABAP List	Yes
Tree structure	Fullscreen	No
In the Container	No

Function	Class	Method
Set striped pattern	CL_SALV_DISPLAY_SETTINGS	SET_STRIPED_PATTERN
Check whether the striped pattern is set	IS_STRIPED_PATTERN

Accessible Color Display

To make colored identifiers of ALV elements accessible to visually-impaired users it is necessary to maintain a tool tip for the color.

This takes place using the method ADD_TOOLTIP of the class CL_SALV_TOOLTIPS. You can find more information in the class documentation in the system.