storing and retrieving colors with database, C# windows forms application

Question

I'm making a windows application with C#. I'm using the color dialog box for the user to select a color. I'd like to store that color in a database, and be able to retrieve it later on, and be able to use that color in the user interface.

What approach would you suggest to me?

Answer 1

The best way will be to store the hex color in a database field nvarchar(7) ... the input would be #ffffff as an example. varchar(6) would work just as well, and take up less space in your DB. Just be sure to append the # in your code.

Since you need to convert it to/from a control color, you can use System.Drawing.ColorTranslator.FromHtml(someHexColor)

// Hex to Control Color
var myColor = "#[color from database]";
var myControlColor = System.Drawing.ColorTranslator.FromHtml(myColor);

// Control Color to Hex
var colorBlue = System.Drawing.Color.Blue;
var hexBlue = System.Drawing.ColorTranslator.ToHtml(colorBlue);

Answer 2

I use the functions System.Drawing.Color.FromArgb() and System.Drawing.Color.ToArgb() to convert the color from and to integer, and save it as int on the database