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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
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.

Was this answer helpful?

2 people found this answer helpful.
0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
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:

Was this answer helpful?

0 comments

57 additional answers

Sort by: Oldest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2011-10-19T18:45:30+00:00

    Jerry,

    It may simply be "urban legend," but you can "Google" and find several references to:

    You will have a classic mode, right?" - Bill Gates to Jensen Harris, after seeing the Office 2007 ribbon

    You can also find stories that when told "No." Mr. Gates predicted a whole generation of frustrated long time users.

    If any of that is true (and I don't lend credence to a whit of it), then the answer to your question may very well be that there is no one at Microsoft who is going to act on any comment suggesting the ribbon be abolished in favor of command bars.

    i have been reading these forums for years and I think you can be certain that plenty of people have expressed dissatisfaction with the ribbon.

    Some have suggested the market will sway MS to change its errant ways. Well MSFT stock price is about the same now as it was when the ribbon was introduced. So there may not be hope there.

    Let me be the first person you hear from that will say the ribbon UI is better than what it replaced.  That of course is my opinion and that opinion only developed after I got used to it.  Why is it better?  Because I can customize it in ways that were simply not possible with command bars.

    As for your direct question, I can offer this:

    1. You can find information on Microsoft Executives here:

    http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/a-d.aspx 2. It appears that the big dog wrt Offfice applications is the President of Microsoft Office Division:http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/kurtd/ 3. How you get his attention or one of the other executive's attention is really up to you. Letter, phone call, personal meeting? Good luck.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2011-11-21T20:30:10+00:00

    You most certainly can customize the Ribbon in Word 2010. Right-click on the QAT and choose Customize the Ribbon. You can add new ribbon tabs, and, although you cannot add buttons to existing groups, you can add new groups to existing tabs.

    The QAT?  Is there an english translation?

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. HansV 462.7K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2011-11-21T20:39:15+00:00

    The QAT is the Quick Access Toolbar, by default displayed at the top of the application window next to the application icon (there is an option to move it below the ribbon).

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments