Hi Senewsom,
There isn't a MS provided way to do this but, if you're determined, you can get much of the way there, either as a short term
workaround while you learn the new interface, or because you just like the way things were
. You might also be interested in
choosing to modify what's on the Ribbon on your own or with the help of some 3rd party software. Although early in Office 2007's
Life Cycle/span there are already a number of resources for this and more are likely to come along.
MS does provide several 'helper' features to get you through the 'was/is' cycle of older to new versions of Office. Much of it is
available through various links on the OfficeOnline 'Getting Started with Office 2007' page,
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/getstarted/FX101938921033.aspx, including:
1. MS 'Getting Started' Add-ins for the Office 2007 Ribbons
under the 'Get it Now' section of
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/HA102146851033.aspx
These add links to some of the items below in the Ribbon
and once you're 'used to it' you can take these training
wheel helpers back out.
2. MS interactive "was/is" guides for each app under the
"Find familiar commands in the new Ribbon" area.
(Flash player required. Available in both online and
downloadable versions).
3. MS OFfice 2007 'Ribbon Mapping Workbooks'
Excel workbooks that list the location of old vs new
commands (searchable <g>) [be sure to rename them
when downloading. The filenames aren't particularly
memorable.
These can be helpful to have handy
for when you just can't find the old command.
Word 2007 command map:
http://office.microsoft.com/download/afile.aspx?AssetID=AM101938681033
Powerpoint 2007 command map:
http://office.microsoft.com/download/afile.aspx?AssetID=AM101923921033
Excel 2007 command map:
http://office.microsoft.com/download/afile.aspx?AssetID=AM101864291033
Similar items, demos and training items are available through the Help section of each of the Office 2007 apps.
Separately, and Office 2007 hasn't been in general circulation all tha long <g>) there are already several add-ins plus some
Do-It-Yourself (DIY) approaches to provide a 'classic' menu. Some of their usefulness will depend on how much effort you want to
take to get it 'just the way you like', and how much you want someone else to do it for you
- Office 2007 Add-ins to untie the Ribbon include:
A. Classic User Interface Option for Word Excel & Powerpoint
(requires 'RibbonCustomizer' available from same site)
http://pschmid.net
(free and more fully featured Customizer versions available)
(also available/rateable through the MS's Office Marketplace
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/marketplace/EM102147231033.aspx
B. "Classic Menus" for Office 2007 (Word, Excel & Powerpoint)
http://addintools.com
(also available/rateable through MS's Office Marketplace
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/marketplace/EM102220661033.aspx
C. ToolbarToggle & Toolbar Toggle-Lite (Word & Excel)
http://toolbartoggle.com (website requires Flash player)
allows you to create toolbars you can drag and place
in areas of the screen other than just the top).
- Customization Tools and Methods for changing the 'innards'
(a). RibbonCustomizer and learning RibbonX (Patrick Schmid)
http://pschmid.net
(b). Excel Ribbon Changer
http://rondebruin.nl/ribbon.htm
http://dailydoseofexcel.com/archives/2007/01/20/excel-2007-menu
(c) MS Office Fluent Ribbon Developer Portal
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/office/aa905530.aspx
including a 'walkthrough' to add your own tab
(for developers formerly known as 'programmers'?)
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb266217.aspx
and some sample walkthroughs for buttons & tabs
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/office/bb266408.aspx
There are also a lot of 3rd party/tip sites that offer various ways to present how to get the answers to 'where did this go in 2007'
, for example, for Excel this presentation
http://rondebruin.nl/0307/commands.htm
It's a matter of what works best for you, from just diving in and finding, then using the interface, to books, websites, flashy
gadgets and add-ins, help files and more to either work with it or put it away on a shelf
(if it's a personal choice and not a
case where it's a required use at work <g>).
Let us know which path you try and your results.
=====================
Is there anyway to change the Ribbon back to the standard toolbars that were
in previous versions of Office 2007? My productivity has gone way down since
I upgraded to Office 2007. I can't find the commands I used to use, the
ribbon requires more steps than I used to take to accomplish something.>>
--
Bob Buckland ?
MS Office System Products MVP
*Courtesy is not expensive and can pay big dividends*
