In honor of Microsoft‘s announcement about the upcoming Office 2010, I thought I might talk about “the ribbon.” Office 2003 users may ignore this post if they wish, but 2007 and those waiting for Office 2010 should perk their ears.

Have you gotten a handle on the infamous “ribbon”?

“What’s the “ribbon?” you ask.  According to Wikipedia, “[t]he ‘Ribbon User Interface’ is a task-orientated Graphical User Interface (GUI). It features a central menu button, widely known as the ‘Office Button’. The Ribbon Interface has been introduced into Microsoft Office 2010.” In other words, its that strip of commands adorning the top of each program in the Office suite offering a changing set of buttons for tools as you select one of the categories at the very top of the screen contained in the tabs. The tab commands are relevant to whatever program you are using.

You can minimize the ribbon with a click.

The ribbon and related functionality is, by far, the biggest stumbling block for users migrating from Office 2003 to 2007 or later. So, in an effort to help those still stuck in 2003 prepare for 2010, I thought I might share a link to Microsoft’s “ribbon” page, with overview of the ribbon and toolbars, a video demo of the ribbon, tools, tutorials, demos, interactive tour and more. If you really aren’t doing well with the ribbon using the “hunt and peck” method, you might try some of the helpful features Microsoft is offering. A nice overview, falling just short of an admission that the “ribbon” might as well be written in some dead language, based on the average user response to it.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Microsoft Office 2010 – where’s the part where they get paid? (venturebeat.com)
• You: Office 2010 The Movie Promo Video (techie-buzz.com)
• Microsoft Office Web App to Launch Monday? (gigaom.com)