Autodesk Inventor

[#1]

how can i change color of the extruded items becuase when i view it from the top it doesn't look like if anything is extrude. you would have to look from the side to tell if its extruded.

[#2]

Use the selection priority tool as a solid to select your solid body then change it's color.

[#3]

You might also turn on the visual style Shaded with Edges.
Autodesk should have left this as the default.