Hey folks -



Ran into a template that has a customized toolbar in the "Add-In" Section of the Ribbon.

I'm attempting to understand what the author of this was doing - and trying to decipher what the commands do. But my first step to this is for me to figure out where this custom ribbon was made and how. I'm having a tough time with that after much self-research.

Below is a screenshot of the menu I am referring to (just for context).


Things I have tried to figure out editing this:

1. Go into developer/VBA and took out all VBA content. The custom ribbon still remains with all buttons (they are just broken since the methods they called are no longer there).

2. Went into MS Word Options - specifically File -> Options -> Customize Ribbon.

This shows me nothing really helpful - and upon trying to add a command to the Custom Toolbar it gives me the following error message: "Commands need to be added to custom groups. To create a custom group, pick a tab in the list, then click New Group"... Which is hilarious because it's literally called "Custom Toolbar"


3. Looked in the Add-in Sections - not seeing anything. Again this is a FLAT .dotm file. I was emailed this file and this file alone and if you open it on another computer the custom toolbar still loads with it.

4. Lastly, I downloaded/installed Office Custom UI for building ribbons and told it to open this dotm. When I opened it, it didn't seem to act as if anything was built for it previously. I was really hoping this was my answer was hidden XML - but, alas, if it has nothing to open then I guess that isn't the answer?



So at this point I'm rather confused - where did the author create these? And how can I edit them?

This is a toolbar developed in Word 2003 or an earlier version. It is not a ribbon modification, per se but rather the implementation of a legacy commandbar. Each of the icons is linked to a macro or a Word Command. I know of no way of deciphering which icon goes to which command other than trial and error. If you want a similar example, take a look at my Legal Toolbars Add-In.

If you have access to Word 2003, you could easily edit the toolbar.

For easier solutions, consider adding your macros to the QAT or writing your own custom tab.

• Modifying the Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) in Microsoft Word
• Customize the Ribbon (It doesn't take rocket science) by Greg Maxey

QAT modifications are fairly easy through the user interface although coming up with different icons for the different macros requires XML. Modify Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) Button Image or Text by Greg Maxey
QAT modifications can (and, IMO, should) be stored in the same global template that holds the macros.

Wow - Really?

What gives this away to you that this is from Word 2003 or before?

I've been using Word since Word 95 (or Word 3 on the Mac). One of the things that really angered me was the inability to easily create custom toolbars when they came out with the Ribbon interface with Word 2007. I used to have custom toolbars all over my screen! The Legal Toolbars Add-In was a major piece of work for me.

When Word 2007 came out, custom toolbars (and menus) all went to the Add-Ins tab if they displayed at all.

In some ways, the QAT makes up for it, especially once I learned to store my QAT modifications in the templates rather than in the default. Ribbon XML modification is extremely powerful but nowhere as easy as the old toolbar creation/customization. One of the goals of the Ribbon interface was to make it harder to customize menus and toolbars because the customizations really frustrated the corporate IT departments.

If you have Word 2003 or are interested in trying to use vba to modify commandbars let me know and I will send you some links. I think you are farther ahead using the QAT and ribbon modification tools available.

I strongly recommend against doing ribbon modification through the user interface. if you want your modifications to be portable.

Gotcha - So the only way to make the changes portable to other users is through backdoor XML methods of Custom UI Editor?

Just want to make sure I understand.

Appreciate all the help and guidance - I checked with the source of the file and they said it was DEFINITELY from prior to 2003, so you definitely know your stuff.

Yes, I can confirm that a custom Ribbon that can be saved in a template and shared with other users MUST be done by editing the XML (made easier by using tools like the Custom UI Editor).

Using the GUI to 'edit the ribbon' makes changes to YOUR machine but those are not saved in the template and therefore can't be passed on via the template.

__________________
Andrew Lockton
Chrysalis Design, Melbourne Australia