Thanks

In the zip file you will see a directory hierarchy, one of which is customUI. In there is a file called customUI.xml, where the ribbon XML is stored.

In Access it is stored in a system table called USysRibbons, is there an equivalent for excel?

Great site, just found you!

J–

[b]WHAT JON SAID!!![/b]

I spend as much time in Excel as anyone I know, and since last April or so when I bought my new laptop about a third of that has been under XL07, and two-thirds under XL03. That work has included a good range from penny-ante stuff (formatting lists, minor analysis) to some pretty sophisticated work (a power plant economic dispatch model that requires a tonne of logic to calculate dispatch and includes VBA to control model output). I know Excel well; not as well as some of the people here – but let’s face it, this little part of the internet probably represents the top millicile or so (if that’s a word) of Excel users – and I don’t think acceptance of an interface is necessarily tied to application expertise.

I have [i]tried[/i] to use the Ribbon (not like I have much choice) – and I frickin’ hate it. My reaction to the Ribbon is not for want of trying, or want of experience with the damned thing – it’s because it is fundamentally flawed; it’s a bad product that represents the triumph of bafflegab and change for the sake of change over careful design. Microsoft has, for no particularly good reason, determined to [i]encrypt[/i] their interface. Other than the Ribbon (and the graphing module, which has taken a large step backwards), I quite like XL03. The Ribbon isn’t up there with “New Coke” – but it easily runs along with “Clippy” and the “Bob” user interface. The guy in charge of the project should be fired.

Some people are reluctant to switch away from something they are comfortable with. I am reluctant to switch to something that is inherently less effective.

Why is the Excel 2007 ribbon less effective? The Excel 2007 Home tab contains 42 controls. In about the same space (actually less space), my customized Excel 2003 toolbars have 126 controls. My custom controls are visible all the time; I don’t have to hide some to show others. I can move my custom toolbars to places where they’d be more useful. I can change them through the UI. I get at least 18 distinct tear-away palettes in Excel 2003 so I can drag a palette where I want it, and access a selection in one click instead of a minimum of two.

Give the Ribbon a chance and try to use it