How to Change the Background Color in Word Perfect

By Nick Davis

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A word processing application similar to Microsoft Word, WordPerfect lets you create, edit and print documents as well as share documents with others via email using the program's exporting tool. WordPerfect's workspace, the area where you compose your document, contains a white background, but you can change the background to a color of your liking. The background setting is stored within the program's configuration, but the color you want to use must be selected from the list of colors available within the Windows operating system.

Setting the background color within WordPerfect

Step 1

Open WordPerfect by clicking on the program's icon on your computer's “Desktop” or by clicking “Start,” “All Programs,” “WordPerfect.”

Step 2

Click “Tools” and then “Settings.” If using WordPerfect 7.0 or older, click “Edit” and then “Preferences.”

Step 3

Double click on “Display.” Click on the “Document” tab.

Step 4

Select “Windows System Colors.”

Step 5

Click “OK.” Click “Close” to accept the change. Proceed to the next section to select the background color you want.

Selecting the background color

Step 1

Click “Start” and then “Control Panel.”

Step 2

Click on the “Display” icon. Select the “Appearance” tab.

Step 3

Select “Windows XX style.” With the “XX”s representing your specific operating system—Windows XP, 98, Vista or another Windows operating system. Click the “Advanced” button.

Step 4

Click on the down arrow under the heading “Item:.” Select “Application Background.” Select the color you want by clicking on the down arrow on the box under the heading “Color 1:.” Click “OK."

Step 5

Click “Apply,” “OK” to finalize the change. Click on the “X” in the upper right-hand corner to close the Control Panel's dialog box.

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