Ribbon (computing)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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, with additional ribbons appearing based on the context of the data.
One of the main driving ideas behind using a ribbon is enhancing usability; by consolidating the program's functions and commands in an easily recognizable place, one need not look through multiple levels of hierarchical menus, toolbars or task panes before finding the right command.
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[edit] Ribbon in Microsoft Office 2007
Recently, the ribbon has been implemented in Microsoft Office 2007 where Microsoft refers to it as the Office Fluent Ribbon[1] 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] 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. This is despite the Ribbon appearing to be essentially the same as a well established UI control, the tab notebook. The ribbon design guidelines are confidential and an evaluation copy is only available when a non-disclosure agreement has been agreed to.[2][3] 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. Since April 2008 Ribbon interface is available as a free feature pack to Visual C++ 2008.[4]
Some of the first 3rd-party applications to use the Ribbon concept are Offline Explorer 5[5] and Help & Manual 5[6].
[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.[citation needed] However, several add-ins have been developed for providing the old menu interface as one of the tabs.
Many free software proponents have expressed beliefs that the patent cannot be acquired due to the ambiguity of prior art[7], and are referring to Microsoft's licensing campaign as fear, uncertainty and doubt (FUD). As no patent has been acquired yet, they assert that anyone who has not signed the license can legally implement the concept in their applications without having to conform to Microsoft's requirements.[8] It has also been stated that Microsoft will not give their approval to products competing directly with Microsoft's; Jensen Harris, a program manager in Microsoft's Office Group, 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."[9] 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.[3]
According to KDE developer Jaroslaw Staniek, the concept of the Ribbon has already been extensively used as "tabbed toolbars" in applications such as Macromedia HomeSite, Dreamweaver and Borland Delphi.[7]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Office Fluent User Interface
- ^ Microsoft Evaluation License: 2007 Microsoft Office System User Interface. license agreement of the Office guidelines evaluation copy. Retrieved on 2007-02-03.
- ^ a b Joe Wilcox. "Microsoft Cuts the Ribbon on Office 2007 UI Licensing", Microsoft Watch, 2006-11-21. Retrieved on 2007-02-01.
- ^ Microsoft Visual C++ Feature Pack. Microsoft Corporation (2008-04-22). Retrieved on 2008-05-29.
- ^ Oleg Chernavin (2008-04-12). MetaProducts Offline Explorer 5.0. MetaProducts. Retrieved on 2008-04-12.
- ^ Help & Manual 5. EC Software (2008-06-8). Retrieved on 2008-08-13.
- ^ a b Jaroslaw Staniek. "KDE to sue MS over Ribbon GUI?", kdedevelopers.org, 2005-11-13. Retrieved on 2007-09-11.
- ^ Mike Weller. "Office 2007 UI License", Slashdot, 2006-11-22. Retrieved on 2007-02-01.
- ^ Jensen Harris (2006-11-21). Licensing the 2007 Microsoft Office User Interface. MSDN Blogs. Retrieved on 2006-02-01.
[edit] External links
- The Story of the Ribbon presentation from Jensen Harris at the MIX (Microsoft) conference (including video)
- Examples of Ribbons and discussion about their use
- Office UI Licensing site
- A non-commercial free Ribbon library for .NET 3.5
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