Is there a way to get rid of that horrid 'ribbon' and go back to a
'normal' menu structure in '07? I'd like to continue to develop and
distribute databases (preferrably with the access run time) that use
custom 'normal' menus and none of the horrid ribbons that are such a
terrible waste of screen space. Thanks!

On Thu, 21 Feb 2008 09:50:12 -0800 (PST), frogsteaks (AT) yahoo (DOT) com wrote:

You can minimize the ribbon: right-click towards the top of the ribbon
and choose minimize.
Rick Brand recently posted that what you call "normal" menus (and I
call "old fashioned" menus) are still supported.

-Tom.

On Feb 22, 2:50*am, frogste... (AT) yahoo (DOT) com wrote:
This article describes how to "switch off" the ribbon altogether if
you only want your custom menus to show:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/ac...CH100621861033

It's harder to create new custom menus in 2007 though as you can't do
it through the GUI any more. I think you can still do it through VBA
code but have not tried yet.

On Feb 22, 1:38*pm, helenwhee... (AT) yahoo (DOT) com.au wrote:
IMHO this is a really sad failing of Access 2007. They have taken
away the excellent menu builder of previous versions and replaced it
with nothing. I think I've seen at least one third party ribbon
builder around but this should have been a standard part of Access 07.

On Feb 22, 6:46 am, Wayne <cqdigi... (AT) volcanomail (DOT) com> wrote:
I haven't learned yet how to build custom toolbars in Access 07
interactively.

But applications created in previous versions of Access and opened in
Access 2007 have their custom toolbars available. I'm assuming it's
not too hard to import/export these custom toolbars.

That's not great, but it is a workaround.

On Feb 22, 8:17 am, lyle <lyle.fairfi... (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote:
Pursuing this a bit further, I imported my current project, created in
Access 2000 (client has standardized to Access 2000), to Access 2007
and fooled a bit with Access Options.
As far as I can see right now, it looks and behaves exactly as it
looks and behaves in Access 2000, except that, in the eyes of this
beholder, it's a bit prettier. The only toolbar showing is the custom
toolbar created in Access 2000.

On Feb 22, 11:17*pm, lyle <lyle.fairfi... (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote:

Yes, I understand this. As you say, it's a workaround that thankfully
is available. What I think is flakey though is that they haven't
included a "ribbon builder" in the new version similar to the menu/
toolbar builder of previous versions. The user is now required to use
code to assemble a custom ribbon. This is in a new version that from
what I understand, is aimed at making it easier for basic users to put
together a database application.

If MS had included the tool, custom ribbons could have been as easy to
build as custom toolbars. I think the reason for the omission is
probably obvious. To me, Office 2007 has that "rushed to market" feel
about it. Some of the bugs before SP1 were glaring and Outlook
doesn't even have a standard ribbon interface.

Hey frogsteaks,

While I agree that the methods for creating the new ribbons offer a very
high learning curve, the payoff is very much worth it in the end. I estimate
that I spent upwards of 80-100 hours on re-working the menus in my app when
I imported my Access 97 project into Access 2007. I was a fan of the old
style menu's as well, but after working with Access 2007 for some time, I
gradually got used to the new ribbon style menus. Everyone resists change,
from user's of your applications, to developers themselves. However, if
you've ever received comments from your users that your app's look old and
out of date, the new ribbon menus will solve that one. I sell database
software online, and I had received numerous critiques that the software was
not very modern looking. Since my Access 2007 re-design, all I've received
is positive feedback on the looks and interface, and now the feedback is
completely the reverse: User's now say the program is very modern, and that
the interface just has a better "feel" to it. I believe this is all due to
the new ribbon menus.

I agree it's a new mind-set for us developers. Microsoft has made the call
to move the menu system into the new millennia, and after all is said and
done, I think it's a great call. The look alone will make us all
(developers) much more money in the end. I did have my share of grief in
trying to get ribbons to work, but I feel I have them down, and minor
changes are now easy. They are not for the faint of heart, however, nor
would they ever be for the casual user. I'd be happy to share ribbon code
with you. I'll point you to my site, where I have numerous screenshots that
show how the new ribbon interface can be utilized:
http://www.pcesoft.com/iqProscreenshots.html

Microsoft has 3 pages on the new ribbon interface:
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa338202.aspx

Then there's Gunter's site, that has samples you can download:
http://www.accessribbon.de/en/

The above 2 links are basically how I learned the ribbons, by the way.

Hope this helps,

Andy

<frogsteaks (AT) yahoo (DOT) com> wrote

ARC wrote:
Very well-done interfaces. My 2003 systems look fairly drab by comparison
(they're clean and functional, just not much pizzazz). How can I get your
ribbon code? Thanks

Thanks for that...You should see my pre-2007 interface for comparison:
http://www.pcesoft.com/newres.html

Talk about drab...I was a little tired of hearing e-mails about the
interface being out of date, so 2007 was the answer, and now the e-mails are
just the opposite.

Give me a day or 2, and I'll upload a sample db with the ribbon code, then
post the link here.

Andy
"DFS" <nospam (AT) dfs_ (DOT) com> wrote