Console color

Some programs are best implemented with complex graphical controls, but often using console output is sufficient. And in VB.NET we can improve console display with colors.

By assigning enums to some properties, we can adjust the background and foreground (text) color. Colors remain set until we reset them with ResetColor.

Example

The Windows console supports colors. We can apply foreground (text) and background colors. We assign the ForegroundColor and BackgroundColor properties.

Module Module1
    Sub Main()
        ' Step 1: set background to blue.
        Console.BackgroundColor = ConsoleColor.Blue

        ' Step 2: set foreground to white.
        Console.ForegroundColor = ConsoleColor.White

        ' Step 3: write some text, and reset the colors.
        Console.WriteLine("White on blue.")
        Console.WriteLine("Another line.")
        Console.ResetColor()
    End Sub
End Module
White on blue.
Another line.

Different color example

Many colors are available in .NET. We can use bright red with Console.Red to signify a concerning error or warning.

Module Module1
    Sub Main()
        ' Set Foreground and Background colors.
        ' ... You can just set one.
        Console.ForegroundColor = ConsoleColor.Red
        Console.BackgroundColor = ConsoleColor.DarkCyan

        Console.WriteLine("Warning")
        Console.WriteLine("Download failed")

        ' Reset the colors.
        Console.ResetColor()

        Console.WriteLine("Sorry")
    End Sub
End Module
Warning
Download failed
Sorry

Though it will not be the same as a native Windows Forms program, a console program with colors is often more enjoyable to use than one without colors.