As per rule ["Do you have separate development, testing, and production environment?"](/do-you-have-separate-development-testing-and-production-environments), it's better to use different background colors to identify **Development**, **Test** and **Production** servers. ### CRM ![Figure: Staging uses blue background](/uploads/rules/identify-crm-web-servers-by-colors/ssw staging 2.png) ![Figure: Production uses red background](/uploads/rules/identify-crm-web-servers-by-colors/ssw production 2.png) The way to change the default background color is to edit the CRM CSS files. These changes aren't supported and may be overwritten when CRM Rollups are applied. ### CRM 2015 and CRM 2016 Using theme feature to change the environment color. ![Figure: Changing CRM 2016 UI by using theme feature](/uploads/rules/identify-crm-web-servers-by-colors/CRM2015Theme.jpg) ### CRM 2013 Edit `{{ CRM WEBSITE ROOT }}\_controls\navbar\navbar.css`: ```css .navigationControl { background-color: #006600; margin: 0; z-index: 999; float: left; width: 100%; position: relative; } ``` **Figure: Edit the background color to reflect the environment** ![Figure: CRM 2013 with a green navigation bar](/uploads/rules/identify-crm-web-servers-by-colors/crm2013_greenbar.jpg) } /> ### CRM 2011 Edit `{{ CRM WEBSITE ROOT }}\_static\css\1033\cui.css`, locate and modify the section ms-cui-tabBody so that it reads: ```css background-color: #ffffff; ``` Change color to a suitable color for the environment: ```css background-color: #bbffaa; ``` ### CRM 4 Edit, `{{ CRM WEBSITE ROOT }}\_common\styles\global.css.aspx` ```css body.stage { <% if (CrmStyles.IsRightToLeft) { %> dir:rtl; <%} %> border-top:1px solid #6893cf; /* background-color: #d6e8ff; */ background-color: #ffff00; padding: 4px; /* background-repeat: repeat-x; background-image: url(/_imgs/app_back.gif); */ } ``` **Figure: In `C:\Inetpub\wwwroot\\_common\styles\global.css.aspx` comment out and change the reference in yellow so the users know what server they are on** ### SharePoint Online In SharePoint Online, we use Theme colours to differentiate between Production and Development environments. To change the Theme, simply navigate to Site Settings | Change The Look | Theme ![](/uploads/rules/identify-crm-web-servers-by-colors/2024-09-16_18-10-35.jpg) ### Development - Default Microsoft Blue Theme ![](/uploads/rules/identify-crm-web-servers-by-colors/2024-09-16_18-03-50.jpg) ### Production - SSW Custom Theme More about SharePoint Online custom themes: [https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepoint/dev/general-development/how-to-deploy-a-custom-theme-in-sharepoint?WT.mc_id=DX-MVP-33518](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepoint/dev/general-development/how-to-deploy-a-custom-theme-in-sharepoint?WT.mc_id=DX-MVP-33518)