Campaign to bring back the Classic Toolbar in Office 2007

[GrahamFerrer]

Reading through the forums, it seems there is quite a wide discontent over
the fact that Office 2007 cannot display the Classic Toolbar menus as in
previous versions. I personally use many programs and having a "standard"
format for toolbars makes using multiple (and non-MS) programs easier to use.
I have found that my productivity has gone down after installing Office 2007.
The Ribbon is slow to use, takes many more mouse clicks, has split single
dialogs into multiple dialogs, and finding those infrequently used commands
is now getting quite annoying.

Would MS take any notice of a petition? I would certainly hope that they
would, as I am not recommending the wholescale roll-out of Office 2007 to our
firm. The results on productivity would be catastrophic.

--
Graham Ferrer
IT Manager

----------------
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http://www.microsoft.com/office/com...-c9150046d81e&dg=microsoft.public.office.misc

 

[Opinicus]

Would MS take any notice of a petition? I would certainly hope that they
would, as I am not recommending the wholescale roll-out of Office 2007 to
our
firm. The results on productivity would be catastrophic.

I doubt it. I haven't felt a need to move on to Office 2007 but if I ever
do, it's going to be with this:

Ribbon Customizer
http://www.pschmid.net/index.php

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

Since Office 14 (next version) will have even more Ribbons for its applications, I seriously doubt that Microsoft would entertain any petitions. Besides, my productivity has skyrocketed with the Ribbon interface in seldom used parts of Office.

I would surmise that Microsoft's research shows my experience to be far more widespread than yours.

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. All
unsolicited mail sent to my personal account will be deleted without
reading.

After furious head scratching, GrahamFerrer asked:

| Reading through the forums, it seems there is quite a wide discontent
| over the fact that Office 2007 cannot display the Classic Toolbar
| menus as in previous versions. I personally use many programs and
| having a "standard" format for toolbars makes using multiple (and
| non-MS) programs easier to use. I have found that my productivity has
| gone down after installing Office 2007. The Ribbon is slow to use,
| takes many more mouse clicks, has split single dialogs into multiple
| dialogs, and finding those infrequently used commands is now getting
| quite annoying.
|
| Would MS take any notice of a petition? I would certainly hope that
| they would, as I am not recommending the wholescale roll-out of
| Office 2007 to our firm. The results on productivity would be
| catastrophic.

 

[darkrats]

Has any MVP ever posted anything negative about the Ribbon?



"Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]"
Since Office 14 (next version) will have even more Ribbons for its
applications, I seriously doubt that Microsoft would entertain any
petitions. Besides, my productivity has skyrocketed with the Ribbon
interface in seldom used parts of Office.

I would surmise that Microsoft's research shows my experience to be far more
widespread than yours.

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. All
unsolicited mail sent to my personal account will be deleted without
reading.

After furious head scratching, GrahamFerrer asked:

| Reading through the forums, it seems there is quite a wide discontent
| over the fact that Office 2007 cannot display the Classic Toolbar
| menus as in previous versions. I personally use many programs and
| having a "standard" format for toolbars makes using multiple (and
| non-MS) programs easier to use. I have found that my productivity has
| gone down after installing Office 2007. The Ribbon is slow to use,
| takes many more mouse clicks, has split single dialogs into multiple
| dialogs, and finding those infrequently used commands is now getting
| quite annoying.
|
| Would MS take any notice of a petition? I would certainly hope that
| they would, as I am not recommending the wholescale roll-out of
| Office 2007 to our firm. The results on productivity would be
| catastrophic.

 

[JoAnn Paules]

Yes.

--
JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

~~~~~
How to ask a question
http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375

 

[David]

I don't like the interface on 2007( I used the trial version ), so i
installed Office 2003 on our new Vista laptops. I could get a 3 seat
license of 2007 on sale for just $110, but I don't see any compelling
reason to give up 2003 which works well, and I'm totally familar with
it. PLUS it loads up a lot faster. Excel will load on my laptop in less
than 1.5 seconds. Microsoft doesn't always seem to move forward when
updating certain programs. Flight Simulator X is another example of
"new is NOT always better".

Dave

 

[darkrats]

And where would I go to read those negative comments about the Ribbon?

Yes.

--
JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

~~~~~
How to ask a question
http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375

Has any MVP ever posted anything negative about the Ribbon?



"Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]"
Since Office 14 (next version) will have even more Ribbons for its
applications, I seriously doubt that Microsoft would entertain any
petitions. Besides, my productivity has skyrocketed with the Ribbon
interface in seldom used parts of Office.

I would surmise that Microsoft's research shows my experience to be far
more widespread than yours.

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. All
unsolicited mail sent to my personal account will be deleted without
reading.

After furious head scratching, GrahamFerrer asked:

| Reading through the forums, it seems there is quite a wide discontent
| over the fact that Office 2007 cannot display the Classic Toolbar
| menus as in previous versions. I personally use many programs and
| having a "standard" format for toolbars makes using multiple (and
| non-MS) programs easier to use. I have found that my productivity has
| gone down after installing Office 2007. The Ribbon is slow to use,
| takes many more mouse clicks, has split single dialogs into multiple
| dialogs, and finding those infrequently used commands is now getting
| quite annoying.
|
| Would MS take any notice of a petition? I would certainly hope that
| they would, as I am not recommending the wholescale roll-out of
| Office 2007 to our firm. The results on productivity would be
| catastrophic.

 

[JoAnn Paules]

They are found in several of the newsgroups. I know they're out there
because I made a few of those comments. Now that I've had an opportunity to
actually use the ribbon, I am adapting. Not learning new skills is shooting
yourself in the foot professionally. By the time I start working with Office
2007 on the job, I'll be up and running from Day 1 whilst my coworkers are
grousing about about how different it is and how much they hate it.



--
JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

~~~~~
How to ask a question
http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375

And where would I go to read those negative comments about the Ribbon?

Yes.

--
JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

~~~~~
How to ask a question
http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375

Has any MVP ever posted anything negative about the Ribbon?



"Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]"
Since Office 14 (next version) will have even more Ribbons for its
applications, I seriously doubt that Microsoft would entertain any
petitions. Besides, my productivity has skyrocketed with the Ribbon
interface in seldom used parts of Office.

I would surmise that Microsoft's research shows my experience to be far
more widespread than yours.

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. All
unsolicited mail sent to my personal account will be deleted without
reading.

After furious head scratching, GrahamFerrer asked:

| Reading through the forums, it seems there is quite a wide discontent
| over the fact that Office 2007 cannot display the Classic Toolbar
| menus as in previous versions. I personally use many programs and
| having a "standard" format for toolbars makes using multiple (and
| non-MS) programs easier to use. I have found that my productivity has
| gone down after installing Office 2007. The Ribbon is slow to use,
| takes many more mouse clicks, has split single dialogs into multiple
| dialogs, and finding those infrequently used commands is now getting
| quite annoying.
|
| Would MS take any notice of a petition? I would certainly hope that
| they would, as I am not recommending the wholescale roll-out of
| Office 2007 to our firm. The results on productivity would be
| catastrophic.

 

[darkrats]

There are already third party add-ons that simulate the old 2003 toolbar, so
the Ribbon doesn't bother me too much. What does bother me is the inability
to change the color scheme to something other than the three official
colors. When you change colors, the change is so fast that it's got to be a
simple process. Has anyone given any thought about adding new color schemes,
or at least tracking down where the color schemes are stored, so that others
can have a crack at it.

I use Windows XP with the Classic UI, and I'd really like to be able to have
the old grey colored toolbars back in Office.

They are found in several of the newsgroups. I know they're out there
because I made a few of those comments. Now that I've had an opportunity
to actually use the ribbon, I am adapting. Not learning new skills is
shooting yourself in the foot professionally. By the time I start working
with Office 2007 on the job, I'll be up and running from Day 1 whilst my
coworkers are grousing about about how different it is and how much they
hate it.



--
JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

~~~~~
How to ask a question
http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375

And where would I go to read those negative comments about the Ribbon?

Yes.

--
JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

~~~~~
How to ask a question
http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375


Has any MVP ever posted anything negative about the Ribbon?



"Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]"
Since Office 14 (next version) will have even more Ribbons for its
applications, I seriously doubt that Microsoft would entertain any
petitions. Besides, my productivity has skyrocketed with the Ribbon
interface in seldom used parts of Office.

I would surmise that Microsoft's research shows my experience to be far
more widespread than yours.

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. All
unsolicited mail sent to my personal account will be deleted without
reading.

After furious head scratching, GrahamFerrer asked:

| Reading through the forums, it seems there is quite a wide discontent
| over the fact that Office 2007 cannot display the Classic Toolbar
| menus as in previous versions. I personally use many programs and
| having a "standard" format for toolbars makes using multiple (and
| non-MS) programs easier to use. I have found that my productivity has
| gone down after installing Office 2007. The Ribbon is slow to use,
| takes many more mouse clicks, has split single dialogs into multiple
| dialogs, and finding those infrequently used commands is now getting
| quite annoying.
|
| Would MS take any notice of a petition? I would certainly hope that
| they would, as I am not recommending the wholescale roll-out of
| Office 2007 to our firm. The results on productivity would be
| catastrophic.

 

[gls858]

Reading through the forums, it seems there is quite a wide discontent over
the fact that Office 2007 cannot display the Classic Toolbar menus as in
previous versions. I personally use many programs and having a "standard"
format for toolbars makes using multiple (and non-MS) programs easier to use.
I have found that my productivity has gone down after installing Office 2007.
The Ribbon is slow to use, takes many more mouse clicks, has split single
dialogs into multiple dialogs, and finding those infrequently used commands
is now getting quite annoying.

Would MS take any notice of a petition? I would certainly hope that they
would, as I am not recommending the wholescale roll-out of Office 2007 to our
firm. The results on productivity would be catastrophic.

I felt the same way when I first saw the ribbon. Then I
found out I could add items to a Quick Access toolbar. I
added the commands I used most. Essentially that gives you
have a custom menu with the commands you use. After using
the ribbon and the quick access toolbar for about 2 months
now I find that it's much quicker that using the old drop
downs.

gls858

 

[JoAnn Paules]

I suspect that there will more more color choices available down the road.
If that's the only thing that bothers you about Offive 2007, you have it
made.

--
JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

~~~~~
How to ask a question
http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375

There are already third party add-ons that simulate the old 2003 toolbar,
so the Ribbon doesn't bother me too much. What does bother me is the
inability to change the color scheme to something other than the three
official colors. When you change colors, the change is so fast that it's
got to be a simple process. Has anyone given any thought about adding new
color schemes, or at least tracking down where the color schemes are
stored, so that others can have a crack at it.

I use Windows XP with the Classic UI, and I'd really like to be able to
have the old grey colored toolbars back in Office.

They are found in several of the newsgroups. I know they're out there
because I made a few of those comments. Now that I've had an opportunity
to actually use the ribbon, I am adapting. Not learning new skills is
shooting yourself in the foot professionally. By the time I start working
with Office 2007 on the job, I'll be up and running from Day 1 whilst my
coworkers are grousing about about how different it is and how much they
hate it.



--
JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

~~~~~
How to ask a question
http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375

And where would I go to read those negative comments about the Ribbon?


Yes.

--
JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

~~~~~
How to ask a question
http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375


Has any MVP ever posted anything negative about the Ribbon?



"Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]"
Since Office 14 (next version) will have even more Ribbons for its
applications, I seriously doubt that Microsoft would entertain any
petitions. Besides, my productivity has skyrocketed with the Ribbon
interface in seldom used parts of Office.

I would surmise that Microsoft's research shows my experience to be
far more widespread than yours.

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. All
unsolicited mail sent to my personal account will be deleted without
reading.

After furious head scratching, GrahamFerrer asked:

| Reading through the forums, it seems there is quite a wide
discontent
| over the fact that Office 2007 cannot display the Classic Toolbar
| menus as in previous versions. I personally use many programs and
| having a "standard" format for toolbars makes using multiple (and
| non-MS) programs easier to use. I have found that my productivity
has
| gone down after installing Office 2007. The Ribbon is slow to use,
| takes many more mouse clicks, has split single dialogs into multiple
| dialogs, and finding those infrequently used commands is now getting
| quite annoying.
|
| Would MS take any notice of a petition? I would certainly hope that
| they would, as I am not recommending the wholescale roll-out of
| Office 2007 to our firm. The results on productivity would be
| catastrophic.

 

[chemicals]

Although I am not opposed to new changes...I have lost productuctivity for
several weeks (so far) in my Office apps. I find the new groups cumbersome,
inconsistent, and unintuitive. I am constantantly searching for the same
functions. Supposedly the ribbon is to reduce the number of mouse-clicks but
I think it's just driven by the Microsoft developers wanting to do something
new after years of the same interface. I don't think it is driven by the
user community....

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

http://blogs.msdn.com/jensenh - think again.

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. All
unsolicited mail sent to my personal account will be deleted without
reading.

After furious head scratching, chemicals asked:

| Although I am not opposed to new changes...I have lost
| productuctivity for several weeks (so far) in my Office apps. I find
| the new groups cumbersome, inconsistent, and unintuitive. I am
| constantantly searching for the same functions. Supposedly the
| ribbon is to reduce the number of mouse-clicks but I think it's just
| driven by the Microsoft developers wanting to do something new after
| years of the same interface. I don't think it is driven by the user
| community....

 

[Bring back Classic Menus]

I agree 100% Microsoft has an obligation to provide us with the option of a
classic mode. They have failed. If the Office team is still resisting a
classic mode, then that team needs to be fired.

 

[Gordon]

"Bring back Classic Menus" <Bring back Classic
(e-mail address removed)> wrote in message

I agree 100% Microsoft has an obligation to provide us with the option of
a
classic mode.

Why? It's THEIR product, not yours.....


They have failed. If the Office team is still resisting a

classic mode, then that team needs to be fired.

Why? Your "classic" mode is hardly a "classic", having only existed for just
over TEN YEARS....

 

[Bring back Classic Menus]

Simple. There is demand for a classic mode as is illustrated by the third
party add-ons as anyone with half a brain can see.

 

[Gordon]

Simple. There is demand for a classic mode as is illustrated by the third
party add-ons as anyone with half a brain can see.

Umm no. There is a "demand" by SOME people - generally those whose brain
can't cope with anything different to the way it's always been done.
Like you for example.

 

[kh]

I find it fascianting that so often the response given by MVPs and Ribbon
advocates is that people who dislike the Ribbon are backward, inflexible, or
stupid.

The fact is, power users who customized their toolbars in Office XP for
maximize their efficiency have been screwed over in Office 2007 because
CUSTOMIZATION has been severely limited with the Ribbons. The Quick Access
bar does allow frequently used items to surface, but it doesn't let you
customize to the same extent that the Office XP toolbars did.

Newbies or people who weren't power users of Office XP will find the Ribbon
helpful, undoubtedly. But the lowest common denominator is not the best
approach to software development: properly developed software should work as
well for newbies as it does for power users. The Ribbon fails utterly in this
regard.

Power Users, who are not stupid, inflexible, or backward--but who are
proactive people who have the intelligence and desire to customize--have been
given fewer customization options in Office 2007. Period. And that is
insulting.

 

[Gordon]

I find it fascianting that so often the response given by MVPs and Ribbon
advocates is that people who dislike the Ribbon are backward, inflexible,
or
stupid.

The fact is, power users who customized their toolbars in Office XP for
maximize their efficiency have been screwed over in Office 2007 because
CUSTOMIZATION has been severely limited with the Ribbons. The Quick Access
bar does allow frequently used items to surface, but it doesn't let you
customize to the same extent that the Office XP toolbars did.

Newbies or people who weren't power users of Office XP will find the
Ribbon
helpful, undoubtedly. But the lowest common denominator is not the best
approach to software development: properly developed software should work
as
well for newbies as it does for power users. The Ribbon fails utterly in
this
regard.

Power Users, who are not stupid, inflexible, or backward--but who are
proactive people who have the intelligence and desire to customize--have
been
given fewer customization options in Office 2007. Period. And that is
insulting.

Umm. I'm an ADVANCED Excel user (there's no such term as POWER user in my
lexicography), have been since Excel 2000 - NEVER needed to "customise" any
of my toolbars, and have NEVER understood this desire to do so. I find Excel
2007 perfectly usable as it is, along with Word and Outlook.
I am starting to get the impression that the "customisers" who winge about
this are those who are too lazy to discover where their commonly-used
functions exist in the standard layout....

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

And, get ready for even more Ribbons in Office 14.

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. All
unsolicited mail sent to my personal account will be deleted without
reading.

After furious head scratching, Gordon asked:

| || I find it fascianting that so often the response given by MVPs and
|| Ribbon advocates is that people who dislike the Ribbon are backward,
|| inflexible, or
|| stupid.
||
|| The fact is, power users who customized their toolbars in Office XP
|| for maximize their efficiency have been screwed over in Office 2007
|| because CUSTOMIZATION has been severely limited with the Ribbons.
|| The Quick Access bar does allow frequently used items to surface,
|| but it doesn't let you customize to the same extent that the Office
|| XP toolbars did.
||
|| Newbies or people who weren't power users of Office XP will find the
|| Ribbon
|| helpful, undoubtedly. But the lowest common denominator is not the
|| best approach to software development: properly developed software
|| should work as
|| well for newbies as it does for power users. The Ribbon fails
|| utterly in this
|| regard.
||
|| Power Users, who are not stupid, inflexible, or backward--but who are
|| proactive people who have the intelligence and desire to
|| customize--have been
|| given fewer customization options in Office 2007. Period. And that is
|| insulting.
||
|
| Umm. I'm an ADVANCED Excel user (there's no such term as POWER user
| in my lexicography), have been since Excel 2000 - NEVER needed to
| "customise" any of my toolbars, and have NEVER understood this desire
| to do so. I find Excel 2007 perfectly usable as it is, along with
| Word and Outlook.
| I am starting to get the impression that the "customisers" who winge
| about this are those who are too lazy to discover where their
| commonly-used functions exist in the standard layout....