In 45 Seconds... Visual Studio Tools for Office, Version 3.0: Customizing the Ribbon
The 2007 Microsoft Office system introduced a user interface (UI) element that is named the Ribbon. The Ribbon is a way to organize related commands so that they are easier to find. Commands appear as controls on the Ribbon. Controls are organized into groups along a horizontal strip at the top edge of an application window. Related groups are organized on tabs. Most of the features that were accessed by using menus and toolbars in earlier versions of the Microsoft Office system can now be accessed by using the Ribbon.
You can use the Visual Studio Tools for Office in Visual Studio 2008 to customize the Ribbon of the following applications:
- Microsoft Office Excel 2007
- Microsoft Office Outlook 2007
- Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007
- Microsoft Office Word 2007
You use a Ribbon (Visual Designer) item to customize the Ribbon in the following ways:
- Add custom or built-in tabs to a Ribbon.
- Add custom groups to a custom or built-in tab.
You use a Ribbon (XML) item to customize the Ribbon in the following ways:
- Add built-in groups to a custom tab or built-in tab.
- Add built-in controls to a custom group.
- Add custom code to override the event handlers of built-in controls.
- Customize the Quick Access Toolbar.
- Share a Ribbon customization between add-ins by using a qualified ID.
Got more time? Learn more:
- Ribbon Overview: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb386097.aspx
- Walkthrough: Creating a Custom Tab by Using the Ribbon Designer: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb386104.aspx