Show Office 2007 Who's the Boss!

(&$@&$( ribbon!

Published on April 30, 2007 By Zoomba In WinCustomize News

Microsoft Office 2007 decided it had enough of that old menu system that users had come to know, and if not love, at least become acclimated to, over the past decade or more. In place of such classics as "File", "Edit", "View, and the always popular "Help", it organized features in something called the "ribbon". The idea was to organize features in an easy to access way, with everything grouped with common tasks. Of course, Microsoft being Microsoft didn't just add a new UI method for users to explore, it completely replaced the old menu system we all knew. No soft transition here folks, you'll take that ribbon and you'll like it.

The result? Many hours spent searching around for a feature you used to know how to find, now moved somewhere else, grouped in with tasks that seem completely irrelevant. In the struggle to figure out how the heck to get regular work done, third party software developers have again come to the rescue with tools that will allow you to customize the Office user interface. Even bring back the old menu system!

ComputerWorld has an article detailing just a few of these UI enhancements you can download and install to make your Office 2007 experience more bearable.

Kudos to ZubaZ for showing me the story.

Comments

thomassen

on Apr 30, 2007

DIdn't really find the Ribbon feature that much of an hassle.
People go on that menu's has been around for a long time and works great. But I find the Ribbon to work better for a feature rich app like Office. I find sub menu after sub menu more of an hassle really.

c242

on Apr 30, 2007

Another ribbon-lover here to.

Zoomba

on Apr 30, 2007

I'm starting to get used to it, and it does have it's nice points. My main issue is that they completely removed the menu system. I would have weaned myself off that and onto the ribbon, but they gave me absolutely no choice.

bennnnny

on Apr 30, 2007

I had some hassel when trying to number pages and create sections in a word document but a quick search on google got me the answer.

I love the ribbon! I think moving away from the old file edit help button system is definatley a positive.

MadMax008

on Apr 30, 2007

I'm a ribbon-supporter....usually. Sometimes it'll be tough to find those hardly-used features, but other than that, i'm satisfied. and it looks better!

Life is a Game

on Apr 30, 2007

I admit. I needed like two weeks to figure these ribbons out. But now I just love them. It's so much easier and quicker to work now in Office.

Yay, Microsoft!

cavalierex

on Apr 30, 2007

The ribbon takes a week or two to figure out. But after becoming acclimated, you will never want to go back to the toolbar/menu system again.

harrison1701

on May 01, 2007

I didn't think I was going to like it at first glimpse.
Until it took me about 2 seconds to make a good looking document.
But you're right, change is a scary thing. Now, where are my DOS disks?

Lassan

on May 01, 2007

I figured the Ribbon out in like 30 mins. I love it. It's awesome!

Aquamonkey

on May 02, 2007

Office 2007 is great! I only wish MS did as good a job with Vista

Corky_O

on May 02, 2007

I am also a huge fan of the new Office 2007 design.

I really think Microsoft built an outstanding suite of programs in this one.

Kamafucktra

on May 02, 2007

I love the Ribbon. The big UI change might have been a problem if the options weren't so well-organized. In my opinion, a better solution than just going back to the classic menu system is to facilitate the transition by using the Interactive command reference guides found on Microsoft's website -- For Word, For Excel, For Powerpoint -- and they are also available as downloadable/offline versions.

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