There are several reasons why a menu item, toolbar button or status bar
item may be grayed out (unavailable) or missing:
- The item/button is related to a device feature that the selected device does not have, e.g., the PIC16F877A does not support external memory.
- The item/button is related to a tool feature that the selected tool does not have, e.g., “Step Out” is not available on MPLAB ICD 3.
- The item/button is project-related and no project has been selected, e.g., project build will not be available (No Active Project).
- The item/button is not supported for the selected device or tool.
- The item/button is performing its function and so cannot be selected again, e.g., “Run Project” is grayed out when the program is running.
- The item/button is mutually exclusive to another item, e.g., “Pause”
is available when the program is running while “Continue” is grayed out and “Continue”
is available when the program is halted while “Pause” is grayed out.
Figure 1. Grayed Out Menu Items