a:sysClr (System Color)

Description

a:sysClr is the DrawingML system color element that references operating system-defined colors. It is defined in ECMA-376 Part 1 §20.1.2.3.31.

System colors provide:

• Accessibility through OS color settings
• Consistency with Windows visual design
• High contrast mode support
• User preference respect for visual accessibility

Common system colors:

• windowText, window: Text and background colors
• highlight, highlightText: Selection colors
• face3d, shadow, scrollBar: UI element colors
• activeBorder, inactiveBorder: Window border colors

Attributes

Examples

Window Text Color with Fallback

<a:solidFill>
  <a:sysClr val="windowText" lastClr="000000"/>
</a:solidFill>

using DocumentFormat.OpenXml.Drawing;

var solidFill = new SolidFill();
var sysClr = new SystemColor 
{ 
  Val = SystemColorValues.WindowText,
  LastColor = "000000" // Fallback to black
};
solidFill.Append(sysClr);

Highlight Color (Selection)

<a:ln>
  <a:solidFill>
    <a:sysClr val="highlight" lastClr="0070C0"/>
  </a:solidFill>
</a:ln>

var ln = new Outline();
var solidFill = new SolidFill();
var sysClr = new SystemColor 
{ 
  Val = SystemColorValues.Highlight,
  LastColor = "0070C0" // Fallback to blue
};
solidFill.Append(sysClr);
ln.Append(solidFill);

Notes

• System colors adapt to Windows settings and themes
• lastClr attribute provides fallback color if system color unavailable
• Improves accessibility and respects user OS preferences
• Colors can be modified with tint/shade but should be used sparingly
• Essential for applications supporting Windows high contrast mode
• Typical system colors: windowText, window, highlight, face3d, shadow, scrollBar