Do You Think The New Ribbon Is Better Than Menus

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Bob Valentine - 02 Sep 2007 17:27 GMT

I'm just interested in knowing what others think about the new Ribbon in
Office 2007. I think it is OK for the Office applications (Word, Excel,
etc.), but I can't see myself developing a Ribbon for my own Access
applications. First of all, it takes up too much screen real estate. Second
of all, it isn't easy to create. Maybe I'll change my mind as time goes on,
or if someone comes up with an easy way to create custom ribbons for our
Access applications.

Some of my new users are running Vista, but I am installing the Access 2002
Runtime with the traditional menus and toolbars rather than using the Access
2007 Runtime with Ribbons.

Is anyone planning on developing a Ribbon for their Access applications?

Thanks,
BobV

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Tony Toews [MVP] - 02 Sep 2007 19:05 GMT

>I'm just interested in knowing what others think about the new Ribbon in
>Office 2007. I think it is OK for the Office applications (Word, Excel,
>etc.), but I can't see myself developing a Ribbon for my own Access
>applications.

I've never really used a menu in my runtime apps anyhow so not a big
deal for me.

>First of all, it takes up too much screen real estate.

In Word and Excel Jensen Harris, the MS person who worked on the
ribbon UI, had an excellent blog posting showing how the exact same
text/spreadsheet took exactly the same amount of room in Word 2003 and
Word 2007.

It probably does take more room in Access but I haven't looked at it
closely.

>Second
>of all, it isn't easy to create. Maybe I'll change my mind as time goes on,
>or if someone comes up with an easy way to create custom ribbons for our
>Access applications.

RibbonCustomizer is an add-in for Microsoft® Access, Excel®,
Outlook®, PowerPoint® and Word 2007.
http://pschmid.net/office2007/ribboncustomizer/index.php

Tony

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Tony Toews, Microsoft Access MVP
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Pete D. - 02 Sep 2007 22:14 GMT

Hi,
First few days I hated it as I couldn't find anything, in any MS Office
apps! Then as I used it I found it was pretty intuitive and presented what
I usually needed when I needed it. When working in access...well I'm not
good enough at it to change much in the menus and really in access I have
usually develop my own menu for users. Even the old office menu system
frequently confused people with many only knowing File open, save, save as
and print. Oh they also used spell checker but their and there were
interchangeable. I still have to search for many things but the one thing
the help does well in 2007 is tell you where to find what I know has to be
somewhere. Not sure if I'll ever get used to the new organization of
tables, forms and such but that probably will also fade as I move
things/create new 2007 items instead of upgrading 2000, 2003 databases to
2007.

Signature

Pete D.

>>I'm just interested in knowing what others think about the new Ribbon in
>>Office 2007. I think it is OK for the Office applications (Word, Excel,
[quoted text clipped - 25 lines]
>
> Tony

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Molly - 21 Oct 2007 18:30 GMT

I downloaded the trial version of Office 2007 and found the software a HUGE
waste of my time. My uses of Word are very advanced and require the use of
many functions that I could no longer access in a timely manner because of
the new [but not so improved] ribbons. The ribbons may be helpful to new
users, but they are a real thorn in the side for existing, advanced users.
I'm disappointed and frustrated.

-Molly

> I'm just interested in knowing what others think about the new Ribbon in
> Office 2007. I think it is OK for the Office applications (Word, Excel,
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> Thanks,
> BobV

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J_Goddard - 22 Oct 2007 02:34 GMT

I have looked at the trial version of 2007 as well. I make extensive use of
custom menus and toolbars in my applications at the office, and I shudder to
think of the issues that will create in 2007. MS states in the the help (and
the changes to that aren't good either - where did the index and answer
wizard go?) that custom ribbons can be created - using XML! Then in the next
bit they say our IT departments could help with it - as if.... A prime
opportunity for a third-party wizard developer if ever there was one.

Molly, I think you are right - for people just starting out, the ribbons
might be fine, but for those of us who are experienced in MS Access (and
other MS products), they will be just a pain in the #%#%#%.

My opinion is that MS is guilty of pretending that a) everyone thinks the
same way and b) they - MS - know all about how we think. Then they design
their products to fit that stereotype.

I work in the support section for up to 100 users - if and when we migrate to
Office 2007, let's just say we're likely to be kept busy.

Just a note - it took me about 5 minutes using 2007 with a 2000 database to
reach a point where I couldn't figure out what to do next.

John

>I downloaded the trial version of Office 2007 and found the software a HUGE
>waste of my time. My uses of Word are very advanced and require the use of
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>> Thanks,
>> BobV

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sowa2 - 06 Nov 2007 23:46 GMT

Agree 100% with John. IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT.

Who gives a good goddarn if they're better than menus? (they aren't,
anyway.) TOOLBARS were the most useful and there is simply no comparison.

Several add-ins to fix this mess have been indicated. Why should we need an
add-in? Microsoft should simply have given us the option to use classic
toolbars.

Sick and tired of Microsoft forcing things on us, especially when the new
stuff (designed for newbies and idiots) takes away options for advanced
users. And then to go to help and get a patronizing lecture about "learning
new things can be hard, but be patient?" Would be unbelievable, if it wasn't
Microsoft.

No wonder I'm hanging on to my old 486 with WordPerfect!

Sowa

> I have looked at the trial version of 2007 as well. I make extensive use of
> custom menus and toolbars in my applications at the office, and I shudder to
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>
> John

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