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
    2018-11-12T04:44:25+00:00

    Did your "user testing" made sure to include the silent majority of millions of users that where already satisfied and happy with the way things were already?  Didn't windows 8 genius metro style idea, with the tiles nightmare teach you a lesson already that changing something people are used to for years is not a good path?  You lost the search engine, browser, and the social media battle to platform that were simple and consistent.  Using the voice of a few "users" that have the time to do your "user" surveys and testing and alienate the entire community that are actually busy using the product and not complaining or requesting any change is the best way to have your users go look for alternatives.  Always leave the original state as an option and see if "your new and great idea" gets adopted.  If everyone reverts back maybe it wasn't that great, simple way to grow a product and not lose users.

    With you 100% Ray. Well said.

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-11-11T14:36:21+00:00

    Did your "user testing" made sure to include the silent majority of millions of users that where already satisfied and happy with the way things were already?  Didn't windows 8 genius metro style idea, with the tiles nightmare teach you a lesson already that changing something people are used to for years is not a good path?  You lost the search engine, browser, and the social media battle to platform that were simple and consistent.  Using the voice of a few "users" that have the time to do your "user" surveys and testing and alienate the entire community that are actually busy using the product and not complaining or requesting any change is the best way to have your users go look for alternatives.  Always leave the original state as an option and see if "your new and great idea" gets adopted.  If everyone reverts back maybe it wasn't that great, simple way to grow a product and not lose users.

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-11-04T23:48:02+00:00

    Nick,

    I'm not sure what "user testing" you've done, but I can tell you from my perspective that the new way you have it SUCKS and is NOT PRODUCTIVE.

    Hint: whenever you make usability changes like this with seemingly very little "user testing", it is always prudent to have it be an option - not a requirement!

    I'm with the others that replied to this, I'm moving back to the 2016 version unit you all figure it out!

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