Import HTML table - formatting question

[jimbobsteele]

Dear All

A web page generated via ASP provides a long table with data from a DB. I want to give users the ability to import the table into Excel.

I have found that I can simply send the table, in HTML format, to a text file and name the file with an XLS extension. Excel will read the file and convert it with no further coding. (So I can deliver it directly from the web page.)

I like the simplicity of this method. However, the users now want colors/formatting, etc. I have found that I can change the bgcolor of cells, and Excel accepts those colors. But, it only seems to render a few standard Excel colors. And it seems hit & miss as to which code provides which color.

For example:
bgcolor="#D0D0D0" is gray
bgcolor="#F0F0F0" is white

Is there a list of codes/colors that are defined and known to work? I've check the Excel VB help, and have not found this information.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks - Jamie