CHAPTER 17
Working with the Ribbon

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IN THIS CHAPTER

• Looking at the Excel Ribbon UI from a user's perspective
• Using VBA to work with the Ribbon
• Customizing the Ribbon with RibbonX code
• Looking at examples of workbooks that modify the Ribbon
• Using boilerplate code for creating an old-style toolbar

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Ribbon Basics

Beginning with Microsoft Office 2007, the primary user interface was changed from menus and toolbars to the Ribbon. While there are similarities between toolbars and the Ribbon, the Ribbon is radically different, particularly when it comes to VBA.

The Ribbon consists of a hierarchy of tabs, groups, and controls. The tabs appear across the top. Each tab consists of one or more groups, and each group consists of one or more controls.

• Tabs These are the top objects in the Ribbon hierarchy. You use tabs to separate the most fundamental operations into logical groups. The default Ribbon contains the Home, Insert, Page Layout, Formulas, Data, Review, View, and Help tabs...