Ribbon (computing)

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The ribbon is a graphical user interface widget composed of a strip across the top of the window that exposes all functions the program can perform in a single place.

One of the ideas behind using a ribbon is that all the functionalities of the software should be put in one and only one place and that they are easily reachable and discoverable. One need not look through multiple levels of hierarchical menus, toolbars or task panes before finding the right functionality.

1 The ribbon in Microsoft Office 2007
2 The ribbon in other software
3 Controversy
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

[edit] The ribbon in Microsoft Office 2007

The ribbon in Microsoft PowerPoint 2007

The ribbon is used in Microsoft Office 2007 and replaces menus, toolbars and many task panes. Microsoft claims that this will consolidate all the related functionality in one place and hence improve usability.

The ribbon is a pane that contains controls (such as buttons and icons) that are organized into a set of tabs, each one containing a grouping of relevant commands. Each application has a different set of tabs which expose the functionality that application offers.

For example, while Excel has a tab for working with formulas, Word has a tab for creating envelopes and mailings. Within each tab, related commands are grouped together. The ribbon is designed to make the features of the application more discoverable and accessible with fewer mouse clicks as compared to the menu-based UI used for all versions of Office prior to Office 2007.

Some tabs, called contextual tabs, appear only when an object is selected. Contextual tabs expose functionality specific only to the object with focus. For example, selecting a picture brings up the picture tools contextual tabs, which present commands for working with the picture. Similarly, focusing on a table exposes table-related options in a specific tab. Contextual tabs remain hidden when the object it works on are not selected.

[edit] The ribbon in other software

Microsoft is in the process of acquiring a patent on the ribbon user interface concept^{[citation needed]} and is licensing the ribbon design to third party developers royalty-free, as long as the user interface conforms to the Microsoft's design guidelines and they can get an approval from Microsoft. The ribbon design guidelines are confidential and an evaluation copy is only available when a non-disclosure agreement has been agreed to.^[1]^[2] However, until the patent has been filed, one does not have to agree to the license to implement this user interface concept on their own.

[edit] Controversy

Many long-time and traditional users, especially power-users, are upset with the lack of choice between "The Ribbon" and traditional menus in the new 2007 Office system.^[3]

Many free software proponents have expressed beliefs that the patent cannot be acquired due to the ambiguity of prior art, and are referring to the licensing campaign as fear, uncertainty and doubt (FUD), as no patent has been acquired yet, and anyone who has not signed the license can legally implement the concept in their applications without having to conform to Microsoft's requirements.^[4] Concerns have also been risen that Microsoft might not give their approval to free software applications, or products competing directly with Microsoft's, thus using the patent to their competitive advantage. Jensen Harris, a developer of Microsoft Office, has stated on his blog that "if you are building a program which directly competes with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, or Access (the Microsoft applications with the new UI), you can't obtain the royalty-free license."^[5] Some have also raised concerns that the design guidelines might contain legal loopholes that give Microsoft a basis for future lawsuits against products exploiting this concept, and they would not be able to inform others due to the non-disclosure agreement.^[2]