How do I get rid of ribbons and go back to old office menus?

Anonymous
2011-06-02T20:48:28+00:00

I have just purchased Office 2010. Sorry Microsoft but I hate it. Worst update of a familiar software product I have seen for a long time (and have worked in IT industry for 25 years) Why? Its the changes that have been made to the menus and the introduction of those dreadful ribbons. I can't find anything and waste ages looking for what should be the most obvious functions. Am seriously considering un-installing 2010 and going back to use older version.

Before I do that thought might ask if there was way of making 2010 suite look and feel like older versions without just binning it and starting again.

Many thanks

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

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Anonymous
2011-06-04T08:36:45+00:00

The contributors to this forum are not Microsoft employees, do not speak for Microsoft and have little to no influence over Microsoft's design process. The reasons for the change to the ribbon have been well documented since its introduction, with the pre-release versions of Word 2007, at least 5 years ago and the arguments for and against have been waged ad nauseam in this and other forums and are resurrected time and again by late adopters - which is why, reasonable or not, Hans can say for certain that there will be no return to the menu driven structure of earlier versions. First and foremost this was a business decision to stimulate sales.

Microsoft's response to the demand for more hands-on user configuration has been to add a ribbon editor to Office 2010. There will be no patch to make Word 2010 use the interface of Word 2003.

The idea of a third party add-in, which attempts, but ultimately fails, to recreate the menu structure of Word 2003 is a cul-de-sac that ultimately will inhibit your ability to adapt to the new menu ribbon driven system. Better to fine tune the ribbon to your own requirements.

When I was first exposed to the ribbon - in Word 2007 - I can confirm that I too was annoyed at the change, and I did not like the change from 2007 to 2010 either, but now I use the latter all the time and only ever refer to the others for reference in connection with user support.

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HansV 462.7K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
2011-06-02T21:20:14+00:00

It is possible to return to the old interface, but I seriously recommend taking a bit of time to get used to the ribbon, for the following reasons:

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-03-07T02:13:21+00:00

    It is possible to return to the old interface, but I seriously recommend ...

    Recommendation noted.  So, how do you return to the old interface?

     

    Like  for many long time users and power users, Word ribbon was a total shock.  I do remember the distress feelings and the frustration of having to look everywhere for my "toolbars".

    I also remember wanting to have some sort of midway interface that would allow me to build floating toolbars and such.

    It only stopped being annoying when i became CURIOUS and INTERESTED of the new possibilities available.

    Except for removed features, you can do all you used to do, better and most of the time, more efficiently on the new UI.

    Wanting to progress by going back to the old interface is denying that the world moves on and depriving yourself from new possibilities.

    Bruce Lee said something about a cup of tea: you have to empty it to fill it again. You need to start with a clean slate with Word. Frustrating and complaining will not make you learn it faster. And, you are right you have the choice to accept it or refuse it. But saying yes to change is the only way to progress. Whether good or bad.  You can work with us at finding fixes, way around, way to work and improve, or you can just quit. Your choice.

    If you just open your mind a tiny bit, you might discover some pretty cool stuff about the Ribbon.

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-02-21T06:27:25+00:00

    Fortunately for us all, those that came up with the "ribbon" concept at the expense of countless productivity hours for long-standing MS customers are not able to change basic rules of supply/demand.  If they are right, they will see their customer base grow ... if they are wrong, they will see their customer base shrink.

    It's been 6 years since the preview of Word 2007. If you had put half the effort into adapting as brooding over it, you would have moved on years ago. The ribbon is here to stay. Get over it!

    As for Microsoft. They seem to be doing quite nicely despite the recession.

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  3. Charles Kenyon 171K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2012-02-14T22:01:42+00:00

    Microsoft has the audacity to foist a very dubious GUI improvement on their loyal customers and then when that decision is roundly repudiated, MS basically tells them to "deal with it".  What an abuse of a monopoly!  My productivity with the Office apps featuring the ribbon are nowhere near what they were with the more primitive GUIs, and I'm a software engineer with 15 years of experience.  I normally love new tech and innovative ideas.  I don't mind so much the attempt at innovation on MS's part.  It's their arrogance in telling customers to "stick it" if they don't like the new ways.  That's a very socialist way of making software -- automatically assuming that the common man is too simple and lacking in sophistication to appreciate the care and structure that is forced upon them.  I want freedom.  I want choice.  Have the ribbon if you must MS, but give your users the freedom to choose the GUI that is more productive for them.  That part about other software producers adopting the ribbon is pure bullsh*t.  They adopt it so that they can get the "blessed by Microsoft" decal on their box.

    This is the capitalist way, I'm afraid, doing what you think will bring the most in sales and profit.

    You have plenty of choice, you do not have to choose to buy this Microsoft product or any. Despite their wishes, MS does not have a monopoly, certainly not in the word processing arena. Consider Word Perfect or Office Libre. That, too, is the capitalist way. Not one company meeting everyone's needs, but different companies trying to outdo each other in attracting customers.

    The other software I've seen adopt the ribbon are not blessed by MS. Some are direct competitors. The most recent one I've notices is the Snagit Editor.

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