Here is another approach % small extension to underbar, accepts [settings] \unprotected \def\underbarparameter#1{\getvalue{\??on#1}} \unexpanded\def\dounderbar#1% {\let\betweenisolatedwords#1% \dosingleempty\redounderbar} \unexpanded\def\redounderbar[#1]#2% {\iffirstargument\setupunderbar[#1]\fi \processisolatedwords{#2}\dodounderbar \egroup} % roughly the same \startuniqueMPgraphic{underline}{color,width,height,depth} numeric w,h; w := \MPvar{width} ; h := \MPvar{height} ; d := \MPvar{depth} ; path p; p := (0, -h)..(w/2,0 + (h/3 randomized h/3))..(w, -h); p := p shifted (0,-d) ; draw p withpen pencircle scaled 1 withcolor \MPvar{color} ; setbounds currentpicture to unitsquare xyscaled (OverlayWidth,OverlayHeight); \stopuniqueMPgraphic hook into underbar: \unprotect \def\underbarmethodx#1#2#3% mp {\hbox to #1{\uniqueMPgraphic {underline}{width=#1,height=#2,depth=\underbarparameter\c!bottomoffset,color=\underbarparameter\c!color}}} \protect % usage: \setupunderbar[alternative=x,bottomoffset=1ex,color=red] \startitemize \item test: \underbars[color=blue]{how are you?} \item test: \underbars{how are you?} \item test: \underbars{how are you?} \stopitemize \stoptext in your case, in order to make the graphic unique, you need to pass the second arg in order to make them unique (uniqueness is determined by dimensions and a few more things; another option would be to use the backgroundcolor of inframed which is accessible by \OverlayColor and also determines uniqueness \startuniqueMPgraphic{underline}{color} alternative \startuniqueMPgraphic{underline} numeric w,h; w := OverlayWidth; h := ExHeight/6; path p; p := (0, -h)..(w/2,0 + (h/3 randomized h/3))..(w, -h); draw p withpen pencircle scaled 1 withcolor OverlayColor ; setbounds currentpicture to unitsquare xyscaled (OverlayWidth,OverlayHeight); \stopuniqueMPgraphic \defineoverlay[underline][\uniqueMPgraphic{underline}] \def\aidul{\dosingleempty\doaidul} \def\doaidul[#1]{\inframed[background=underline,frame=off,#1]} \setupcolors[state=start] \startitemize \item test: \aidul[backgroundcolor=red]{how} \aidul[color=green]{are} \aidul[color=blue]{you?} \item test:\aidul[backgroundcolor=blue]{how} \aidul[color=green]{how} \aidul[color=red]{how} \stopitemize Hans ----------------------------------------------------------------- Hans Hagen | PRAGMA ADE Ridderstraat 27 | 8061 GH Hasselt | The Netherlands tel: 038 477 53 69 | fax: 038 477 53 74 | www.pragma-ade.com | www.pragma-pod.nl -----------------------------------------------------------------

Adam Duck wrote:

...

\def\aidul{\dosingleempty\doaidul} \def\doaidul[#1]{\inframed[background=underline,frame=off,#1]}

So, one last question remains: why doesn't this work?

\def\uli{backgroundcolor=peachpuff} \aidul[\uli]{test}

parsing .... \def\doaidul[#1]{\expanded{\inframed[background=underline,frame=off,#1]}} would work however, in that case i'd go for: \def\doaidul[#1]{\inframed[background=underline,frame=off,backgroundcolor=#1]} \definecolor[important][red] \definecolor[notimportant][green] and \aidul[important]{test} as well as \aidul[notimportant]{test} since one can redefine the colors Hans ----------------------------------------------------------------- Hans Hagen | PRAGMA ADE Ridderstraat 27 | 8061 GH Hasselt | The Netherlands tel: 038 477 53 69 | fax: 038 477 53 74 | www.pragma-ade.com | www.pragma-pod.nl -----------------------------------------------------------------