[VBA] How to Change the Outline Color of a Shape (AutoShape)

Introduction

In this article, I will share how to change the outline (border) color of a shape using VBA.

I previously learned how to change the fill color, but I also wanted to customize the line color to suit my design. Here is the method I found.

Conclusion: Use “.Line.ForeColor.RGB”

You can specify the outline color using the property .Line.ForeColor.RGB.

Sample Code:

ActiveSheet.Shapes(1).Line.ForeColor.RGB = RGB(255, 255, 255)

This code sets the outline color of the first shape on the active sheet to White.

Note:

• RGB(255, 255, 255) represents White.
• If you want to set it to Black, use RGB(0, 0, 0).

Common RGB Color Codes

Here is a list of common colors and their RGB values for your reference.

Specifying a Shape by Name

If you have multiple shapes on a sheet, it is safer to specify the target shape by its name rather than its index number.

' Example: Changing the outline of a shape named "Rectangle 1" to Black
ActiveSheet.Shapes("Rectangle 1").Line.ForeColor.RGB = RGB(0, 0, 0)

Summary

• To change the outline color, use Shape.Line.ForeColor.RGB = RGB(Red, Green, Blue).
• Remember that RGB(255, 255, 255) is White and RGB(0, 0, 0) is Black.
• You can access shapes by their index number (e.g., Shapes(1)) or by their name (e.g., Shapes("Name")).

Through this exercise, I deepened my understanding of basic shape manipulation in VBA. Next, I plan to explore how to change the weight (thickness) and style (dashed lines, etc.) of the borders.