I'm guessing #2 isn't possible with a persisted non-OLAP datasource. But back to the question of background colors. My example Pivot now looks like the attached jpeg. [I cannot forward the complete code and DB at this time for contractural reasons]. But having defined oPIV as the Pivot Control; oView as oPIV.ActiveView and oFlds as oPIV.ActiveView.FieldSets I can set
'grid background color
oPIV.BackColor = rgb(213,179,60)
'the row headers and data headers
oView.FieldLabelBackColor = rgb(240,230,117)
oView.HeaderBackColor = rgb(240,230,117)
'the totals and subtotals
oView.TotalBackcolor = rgb(213,179,60)
oFlds.Item("Model").Fields(0).SubTotalBackcolor = rgb(240,230,117)
which leaves the 'grey areas' - You can right-click on say the Acura grey area and format the backcolor manually - I tried all sorts of ways, even something as exotic as
[code]
oView.RowAxis.FieldSets("Make").member.ChildAxisMembers.Label.backcolor = rgb(240,230,117)
[/code/
and kept getting 'Unknown Name' errors. Would really welcome suggestions.
TIA
Stan