How to move onenote sections back to top of notebook?

Anonymous
2017-05-26T06:50:42+00:00

I have found that the default onenote view is to have sections run along the top of the notebook instead of on the right (vertical view). I prefer to have my sections run along the top in the default view, but somehow, my view changed where all my sections are in a left aligned vertical view. I cannot figure out how to revert back to where all the section tabs are back along the top of each notebook. Please show me how. I cannot find this info anywhere in Microsoft support. Please note, this screenshot was taken while Office Theme = Colorful and while the "Enable Experimental Features" box was checked.

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneNote | For home | Windows

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Anonymous
2017-05-27T19:38:21+00:00

Hi Nick. I'm glad to hear you're an actual MicroSoft engineer. I hope it is an engineer specifically for the OneNote product. I want to call B.S. on your "user testing". Switching over without the option of giving your end users a choice of layout was plain stupid and short-sighted on the part of MicroSoft. I've been using OneNote for just over a year despite being an avid Apple products user. I did this on the advice of two colleagues who use Onenote regularly, and who actually work for Microsoft (as employees, not vendors). Both of them state that they use tabs across the top and they believe it is only the Apple version that was changed permanently. They stated they would revert to version 15.33 if the engineering team forced this changed upon the software! Also, why don't you take a moment to read the feedback that you've been receiving about this forced change? Not just within the VOTE page (which has risen to 370), but throughout all the tickets that have been submitted asking how to restore this, as well as posts and comments made within the Microsoft online community. The 370 votes posted are only a small percentage of dissent that's out there. Nick, take your head out of the sand. Really. You can add this as an option for those who prefer tabs on the left... But why force it? Stupid. Plain stupid. 

I have reverted back to version 15.33 using Apple's time machine. If anyone reading this wants to know how to fix this issue, the answer is revert back to version 15.33. If you don' have Time Machine, and you need an alternative means to do so, please post a message here and I will help you with this.

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Anonymous
2017-05-27T05:41:55+00:00

Hey Santiago! I'm an engineer on the OneNote team.

To bring consistency across the OneNote platforms we've moved the section selection to the left side of the screen. Through user testing we've determined that (while the migration can be confusing) users find the updated experience to be more intuitive given our hierarchy structure (Notebook => Section => Page).

You're welcome to leave feedback for this change on UserVoice :)

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  1. Anonymous
    2022-12-15T15:20:52+00:00

    Yes they don't care. That is made obvious that this complaint has been around since day two after the initial roll-out of the 365 version of OneNote, which was well over 5 years (or more).

    I used to use OneNote all the time for everything as it was very intuitive and logical as it was (as mentioned) built on a business model. Meaning people used it to be productive.

    Now it is built around cell phones and people taking selfies.

    MS has bloated most everything.... every app..... every OS, with all sorts of ways to 'customize' how you use either. Well every app besides OneNote.

    Frankly, I doubt we will ever see a fix. But, I understand that OpenOffice has a OneNote type product, but I just haven't found the time to check it out. Has anyone?

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-12-12T16:53:20+00:00

    I too find this very irritating and you should have the option to move the navigation panel back to the top.

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  3. Anonymous
    2022-12-07T00:41:50+00:00

    It has become more than obvious to me that MS has moved it's perceived users concept of how things are used.

    What I mean is that back when One note was worthwhile, it was used people with real computers/keyboards. Everything was 'business' orintated ..... like a filing cabinet.

    Since that time, everybody is cell phone touch screen orientatied. And from my experinece .... for what ever reason most all cell/pad orientation is left to right or the reverse. Unlike the top-down approach.

    Times change. I get that. Peoples use of tools changes.

    Heck I convinced a much younger new house owner that the reason why there are red and blue handled screwdrivers was that red means to tighten ..... blue screwdrivers...... means left to loosen.

    I have been connected to this Don Quixote .... One note thing. I think at the very least the owner of 365 should have the option of where they want the damn folders. I mean ..... face it..... MS and everybody else give "us" all sorts of customizing options.
    hey what background you want .... what font..... what foremate.... html, jpeg..... it's yours.

    Except for OneNote.

    I loved OneNote..... till it changed. Now it.............. ahh sxucks. And 'they' don't care.

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