Menu items and controls can appear in an enabled state (black) or a disabled state (gray).
In the picture above, the Close Progress Report command is disabled because a Progress Report window is not open. If a Progress Report window were open, the Close Progress Report command would be enabled and the New Progress Report and Open Progress Report commands would be disabled.
Menu items and controls are enabled and disabled based on the settings of other menu and dialog items. Items drawn in black are enabled and can be selected; those drawn in gray are disabled and cannot be selected.