Datasheet

Figure 1-17: Examples of dragging handles
About Disabled (Dimmed) Controls
As you explore your computer and start noticing controls all over the place,
you’ll probably notice that some of them appear to be dimmed, as in the exam-
ples shown in the right side if Figure 1-18. If you click one of those dimmed
controls, nothing happens. Why? Because the control is currently disabled. In
other words dimmed stands for disabled. It’s important to understand this,
especially for beginners, because they often click away madly at disabled con-
trols, thinking the control will somehow wake up and start working, That’s not
the way it works.
Figure 1-18: Examples of enabled and
disabled controls
A disabled control is not indicative of something that’s broken or needs fixing.
It’s simply a control that’s not relevant at the moment. When circumstances
change such that the control becomes useful, the control will automatically
become enabled. You’ll see many examples of enabled and disabled controls
throughout this book. For now, it’s enough to know that when you see a dimmed
control, don’t bother clicking it. If it’s dimmed, it’s simply not relevant at the
moment. And no amount of clicking the disabled control will wake it up.
Enabled Disabled
Enabled
Disabled
Enabled
Disabled
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