One cluncky way might be to adapt Stephen Bullen's PastePicture.xls (.zip)
www.oaltd.co.uk

hide your chartobject somewhere, format the chartarea with no series data /
plot.

Why not let user apply pattern formats directly to selection and see changes
in real time, that's what I do (and a lot else!).

Regards,
Peter T



"Zone" wrote in message
oups.com...
Thank you, Chip and Andy. This is a great help. Chip's frame works
well for the fore and back colors. To complicate matters, I want to be
able to select a pattern to mix the fore and back colors. Don't see
any access to that in the properties. I thinking of just opening
another spreadsheet with a drawing object on it and using spinners on a
userform to set fore RGB, pattern and back RGB unless you have better
idea. At any rate, thanks again!