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. Stefan Blom 352.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2013-08-25T19:09:23+00:00

    This is an old thread started in July 2011. I'm surprised that in August 2013 there are still people complaining about the menu to ribbon change which was made in 2007. The 2003 version will no longer be supported with patches and updates after April 2014 so its basically the end of the line now.

    For what it's worth, I agree with you, and I don't agree with you. It's true that we have been living with the ribbon interface since 2007 and it's unlikely that we will ever see a traditional menu interface again. I'm not saying that the ribbon interface is terrible, but changing a fully functional standard menu interface to something new was pointless.

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-08-25T01:31:34+00:00

    This is an old thread started in July 2011. I'm surprised that in August 2013 there are still people complaining about the menu to ribbon change which was made in 2007. The 2003 version will no longer be supported with patches and updates after April 2014 so its basically the end of the line now.

    I used an interactive guide like this http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/support/learn-where-menu-and-toolbar-commands-are-in-office-2010-and-related-products-HA101794130.aspx when I transitioned from Office 2003 to Office 2007. After that, the next change to Office 2010 was easy.

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-08-23T23:44:57+00:00

    If you read through this thread you will find a way to get your familiar menus, on the Ribbon, if you want. You can even get rid of the entire Ribbon except your menus.

    Yes, and when you re-install your Microsoft software you get to spend a few extra hours getting rid of the ribbon and fixing Word.  Me, I have better things to do.  Maybe Ballmer's replacement will restore order and discipline.

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