//how to save original form background color so you can reset color later Color^ origBackColor; //store orig color in a variable #pragma region Form Load private: System::Void Form1_Load(System::Object^ sender, System::EventArgs^ e) { origBackColor = this->BackColor; //grab the original LoadNames(); } private: System::Void resetToolStripMenuItem_Click(System::Object^ sender, System::EventArgs^ e) { //--- now grab the orig color and cast it to a System Color and assign to the form this->BackColor = (System::Drawing::Color) origBackColor; } //**************Changing colors directly from menu items private: System::Void blueToolStripMenuItem_Click(System::Object^ sender, System::EventArgs^ e) { this->BackColor = Color::Blue; } private: System::Void blackToolStripMenuItem_Click(System::Object^ sender, System::EventArgs^ e) { this->BackColor = Color::Black; } //Using the Color dialog control to select any color //add a colordialog control to the form (ColorDialog1) private: System::Void customToolStripMenuItem_Click(System::Object^ sender, System::EventArgs^ e) { // -- - use color dialog to change back color if(colorDialog1->ShowDialog() ==System::Windows::Forms::DialogResult::OK ) this->BackColor = colorDialog1->Color; }