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| {{Short description|Graphical user interface element}} | |||
| {{Use |
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}} | ||
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| In computer interface design, a '''ribbon''' is a ] in the form of a set of ]s placed on several ]. The typical structure of a ribbon includes large, tabbed toolbars, filled with graphical ] and other graphical control elements, grouped by functionality. Such ribbons use tabs to expose different sets of controls, eliminating the need for numerous parallel toolbars. Contextual tabs are tabs that appear only when the user needs them. For instance, in a ], an image-related tab may appear when the user selects an image in a document, allowing the user to interact with that image. | |||
| Use of the term "ribbon" dates back to the 1980s and was originally used as a synonym for plain toolbar. However, in 2007, ] used the term to refer to its own implementation of tabbed toolbars encompassing a conglomerate of controls for ], which Microsoft calls "The Fluent UI". Although Microsoft popularized the term with a new meaning, similar tabbed layouts of controls existed in prior software from other vendors, including ] R3 and later, ], ] ], Sausage Software ], and ]. | |||
| In ]-based ], a '''ribbon''' is an interface where a set of ]s are placed on tabs in a ]. Recent releases of some ] and ]<!-- AutoCAD 2010+ --> applications have popularized this form with a modular ribbon as their main interface. A ribbon provides the user interface of an application with a large toolbar filled with graphical representations of control elements which are grouped by different functionality. Ribbons can contain tabs to expose different sets of control elements, eliminating the need for many different icon-based tool bars. Some of these tabs are contextual and appear only when a certain type of object is selected, providing specific tools for items such as tables or images. | |||
| ==Early use== | |||
| ⚫ | == |
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| Use of a ribbon interface dates from the early 1990s in productivity software such as ] and ]<ref name="Enterprise1991">{{cite magazine |title=Computerworld |magazine=Computerworld: The Newsletter for Information Technology Leaders |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-fG_NOxltlEC&pg=PA41|access-date=28 May 2013 |date=9 December 1991 |quote=The package includes a straightforward intuitive interface featuring an icon ribbon. |publisher=IDG Enterprise |page=41 |issn=0010-4841}}</ref> as an alternative term for ]: It was defined as a portion of a ] consisting of a horizontal row of graphical control elements (e.g., including ] of various sizes and ]s containing ]), typically user-configurable.<ref>{{cite book |title=Dictionary of Computing |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=9780192800466 |quote='''Ribbon''' a horizontal row of control icons that can often be redefined to suit the user's requirements. |edition=4th |first=Valerie |last=Illingworth |series=Oxford Paperback Reference |date=11 December 1997 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofcomp00illi}}</ref><ref name="Inc.1990">{{cite news |title=InfoWorld |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4DAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA15 |date=5 February 1990 |publisher=InfoWorld Media Group |page=15 |issn=0199-6649 |volume=12 |issue=6 |quote=A liberal collection of icons located on the Ribbon replaces an endless string of commands }}</ref><ref name="Innovation1988">{{cite book |date=November 14-17, 1988 |title=ESPRIT '88: putting the technology to use: proceedings of the 5th Annual ESPRIT Conference, Brussels, Part 2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-AAgAQAAIAAJ |access-date=28 May 2013|year=1988|publisher=North-Holland |isbn=978-0-444-87145-9 |quote= a ribbon that contains labeled icons (64×64 bit maps) representing tasks and tools that has been instantiated by the user. Each tasktool is represented by a different icon.}}</ref> | |||
| A ] interface, called the "ribbon",<!--lowercase even in the source--> has been a feature of Microsoft Word from the early ]-based Word 5.5 (ca. 1990)<ref name="Inc.1991">{{cite book |title=InfoWorld |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fVAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA15 |access-date=28 May 2013 |date=10 December 1990 |publisher=InfoWorld Media Group |page=15 |volume=13 |issue=3 |issn=0199-6649 |quote=We've even added a handy new feature, called the ribbon.}}</ref> and the first Windows-based versions (activated by the "View |Ribbon" menu option<ref name="Pfaffenberger1991">{{cite book |last1=Pfaffenberger |first1=Bryans L. |date=22 January 1990 |title=Microsoft Word Quick Reference |url=https://archive.org/details/microsoftwordqui00pfaf|url-access=registration |quote=Select View Ribbon to activate the Ribbon. |access-date=30 May 2013 |publisher=Que |isbn=978-0-88022-720-9}}</ref>), for which early advertising referred to the use of "the Ribbon to replace an endless string of commands to let you format characters by eye instead of memory".<ref name="Inc.1990"/> | |||
| Microsoft touted the ribbon as "the modern way to help users find, understand, and use commands efficiently and directly—with a minimum number of clicks, with less need to resort to trial-and-error, and without having to refer to Help.” | |||
| Microsoft originally implemented ribbons as part of its "Fluent User Interface" in ].<ref></ref> The ribbon is formed as a fixed-size panel that houses certain command buttons and icons; it organizes commands as a set of '']'', each grouping relevant commands. The name ''ribbon'' originated from an early design idea by which commands were placed on a long pane, that could be rolled like a medieval ]; the name was retained after the scrolling mechanism was replaced by tabs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/jensenh/archive/2005/10/07/478214.aspx|title=Why is it called the Ribbon?|author=Jensen Harris|publisher=]}}</ref> | |||
| ⚫ | ==Microsoft software== | ||
| Each application has a different set of tabs which house the options for that specific application. Within each tab, various related options may be grouped together. The Ribbon can be minimized by double clicking the active tab.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/HA100898951033.aspx|title=Microsoft: Use the Ribbon|accessdate=2008-03-04}}</ref> The ribbon consolidates the functionality previously found in ]s, ]s and many task panes into one area.<ref> Retrieved 2009-05-24.</ref> | |||
| {{Wide image|Office2007ribbon.png|952px|The tabbed ribbon as introduced in ]|120%|center}} | |||
| {{Wide image|Microsoft Word LTSC 2021 Ribbon.png|952px|The redesigned tabbed ribbon as introduced in ]|120%|center}} | |||
| With the release of ] came the "Fluent User Interface" or "Fluent UI", which replaced ]s and customizable toolbars with a single "Office menu", a miniature toolbar known as "quick-access toolbar" and what came to be known as the ribbon: multiple ], each holding a toolbar bearing buttons and occasionally other controls. Toolbar controls have assorted sizes and are classified in visually distinguishable groups.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/office/aa905530.aspx |title=Office Fluent user interface, Ribbon, and Backstage view |work=] |publisher=] |access-date=28 May 2013}}</ref><ref name="ComputerWorld"/> The new design was intended to alleviate the problem of users not finding or knowing of the existence of available features in the Office suite.<ref name="whytheui">{{cite web |first=Jensen |last=Harris |url=https://blogs.msdn.com/b/jensenh/archive/2006/04/03/567261.aspx |title=New Rectangles to the Rescue? (Why the UI, Part 4) |publisher=] |website=An Office User Interface Blog |date=3 April 2006 |access-date=16 October 2013}} "Every version we were putting our heart and soul into developing these new features, undergoing a rigorous process to determine which of the many areas we would invest in during a release, and then working hard to design, test, and ship those features. The only problem was that people weren't finding the very features they asked us to add."</ref><ref name="storyoftheribbon">{{cite web |first=Jensen |last=Harris |url=http://channel9.msdn.com/Events/MIX/MIX08/UX09 |title=The Story of the Ribbon |website=] |publisher=] |date=12 March 2008 |access-date=16 October 2013}}</ref> The name "ribbon" was later purported to have originated from an early design idea by which commands were placed on a long pane that could be rolled like a medieval ]; the name was retained after the scrolling mechanism was replaced by tabs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/jensenh/archive/2005/10/07/478214.aspx |title=Why is it called the Ribbon? |publisher=] |work=Jensen Harris: An Office User Interface Blog |date=7 October 2005 |access-date=28 May 2013 |author=Jensen Harris}}</ref> | |||
| Microsoft applications implementing ribbons each have a different set of tabs which house user controls for that application. Within each tab, various related controls may be grouped together. Double-clicking the active tab or clicking the "Minimize" button hides the command panel, leaving only the tabs visible. Repeating this action reveals the pane.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/HA100898951033.aspx |title=Use the Ribbon instead of toolbars and menus |publisher=] |work=] |access-date=28 May 2013 |year=2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080305033418/http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/HA100898951033.aspx |archive-date=5 March 2008}}</ref> The ribbon consolidates the functionality formerly found in menus, toolbars and occasionally task panes into one area.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/products/HA101679411033.aspx#3 |title=The Microsoft Office Fluent user interface overview |work=] |publisher=] |access-date=24 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080104234859/http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/products/HA101679411033.aspx |archive-date=4 January 2008}}</ref> | |||
| In Microsoft Office 2007 ribbon interfaces were limited to the main Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint applications, expanding to all Office applications in their 2010 versions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://community.winsupersite.com/blogs/paul/archive/2009/07/13/office-2010-sports-improved-ribbon-across-all-apps-servers-services.aspx|title=Office 2010 sports improved ribbon across all apps, servers, services|author=Paul Thurrot|date=2009-07-13|publisher=Winsupersite.com}}</ref> | |||
| In Microsoft Office 2007, only ], ], ] and ] implemented ribbons. With the release of ], however, ribbons were implemented in the rest of the ] applications.<ref name="Office2010UI">{{cite web |url=https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee523661%28v=office.14%29.aspx |title=User interface differences in Office 2010 vs earlier versions |publisher=] |work=] |access-date=22 April 2016}}</ref><ref name="RibbonSuperSite">{{cite web |url=http://winsupersite.com/blog/supersite-blog-39/news2/office-2010-sports-improved-ribbon-across-all-apps-servers-services-138823 |title=Office 2010 sports improved ribbon across all apps, servers, services |last1=Thurrott |first1=Paul |date=13 July 2009 |publisher=] |work=SuperSite for Windows |access-date=27 April 2016}}</ref> Microsoft Office 2010 also added additional end-user customization support to its user interface. | |||
| Ribbon GUIs have also begun to be implemented in other Microsoft software such as Windows, SQL Server Report Builder and ].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mssqltips.com/tip.asp?tip=1690|title=Introduction to SQL Server 2008 Report Builder 2.0|author=Ray Barley|date=2009-02-18}}</ref> The ] applications ] and ] now feature ribbon-based UI,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://windowsitpro.com/windowspaulthurrott/article/articleid/100295/ahead-of-pdc-microsoft-begins-internal-test-of-windows-7.html|title=Ahead of PDC, Microsoft Begins Internal Test of Windows 7|date=2008-09-14|accessdate=2008-09-15|publisher=Paul Thurrott}}</ref> as with some ] applications such as ], ], ] and ],<ref></ref> as well as in the ] Explorer. Ribbons are also used in ] 4.0 and ]. | |||
| Microsoft gradually implemented the Ribbon in some of its other software. The fourth wave of ] applications, including ], ], ] and ], featured a ribbon.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Protalinski |first1=Emil |date=22 December 2009 |title=Windows Live Wave 4: Mail, Photo Gallery, Writer go ribbon |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2009/12/windows-live-wave-4-mail-photo-gallery-writer-go-ribbon/ |work=] |publisher=] |access-date=28 May 2013}}</ref> Since ], ] and ] feature ribbons.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Thurrott |first1=Paul |date=13 September 2008 |url=http://windowsitpro.com/windows-server/ahead-pdc-microsoft-begins-internal-test-windows-7-14-sep-2008 |title=Ahead of PDC, Microsoft Begins Internal Test of Windows 7 – 14 Sep 2008 |publisher=] |work=Windows IT Pro |access-date=28 May 2013}}</ref> On ], ] followed suit. Ribbons also appeared in ], ],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mssqltips.com/tip.asp?tip=1690 |title=Introduction to SQL Server 2008 Report Builder 2.0 |publisher=Edgewood Solutions |work=MSSQL Tips |date=18 February 2009 |access-date=28 May 2013 |first=Ray |last=Barley}}</ref> ] v4.0, the desktop client for ], and some other programs that have since been retired. | |||
| The ] Ribbon can be customized by adding a "customUI" RibbonX xml file document to an ] document type. ] supports end-user customization via the application ]. | |||
| A redesigned tabbed ribbon has been introduced, as part of the Office UI redesign in ]. | |||
| ⚫ | == |
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| The development history of the Ribbon, presented by Jensen Harris in 2008, can be seen . | |||
| ⚫ | ==Other software developers== | ||
| <!-- Please avoid including examples that rely on ] sources. Examples should include a third-party evaluation of their relevance to the ribbon as a general design. This is to avoid an ]. --> | <!-- Please avoid including examples that rely on ] sources. Examples should include a third-party evaluation of their relevance to the ribbon as a general design. This is to avoid an ]. --> | ||
| Since the introduction of ribbons in Microsoft Office 2007, there has been an increase in the use of this type of interface in applications created by other developers, especially those creating tools for Microsoft-related products. Microsoft facilitated the adoption with the releases of ], ] and the ] platform update, which included built-in ribbon framework ]s, introduced to allow developers to integrate a ribbon toolbar into their applications.<ref name="pcw-ribbonfw">{{cite web |url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/170536/article.html |title=Microsoft to Backport Windows 7 'ribbon' Interface to Vista |publisher=] |work=] |date=20 August 2009 |access-date=28 May 2013 |first=Elizabeth |last=Montalbano}}</ref> The ] published some examples in a 2008 GUI showcase report.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nngroup.com/reports/applications/design/ |title=Application Design Showcase: 10 Best App UIs |publisher=Nielsen Norman Group |work=nngroup.com |access-date=28 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205004323/http://www.nngroup.com/reports/applications/design/ |archive-date=5 December 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nngroup.com/reports/best-applications-1/ |title=Application Design Showcase: 2008 |publisher=Nielsen Norman Group |work=nngroup.com |access-date=9 May 2016}}</ref> | |||
| ⚫ | In June 2008, ] released RedOffice 4.0 beta, a Chinese ] of ] including a new ] that used many ribbon ideas in its design.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tech.slashdot.org/story/08/06/02/1236237/redoffice-40-beta-updates-openoffice-ui |title=RedOffice 4.0 Beta Updates OpenOffice UI |publisher=] |work=] |date=2 June 2008 |access-date=28 May 2013}}</ref><ref name="libresoftware">{{cite web |url=http://www.libre-software.net/redoffice-review-chinese-office-suite |title=RedOffice 4.0 Beta – A great new UI? |work=libre-software.net |access-date=28 May 2013 |last=Eva |first=Johannes |date=June 2008}}</ref> In November 2008 ] started the project Renaissance to improve the user interface of OpenOffice.org.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wiki.openoffice.org/w/index.php?title=Renaissance/FAQ&oldid=154410 |title=Renaissance/FAQ (revision 154410) |publisher=] |work=] |date=5 January 2010 |access-date=28 May 2013}}</ref> So far the prototypes of the project are frequently seen as similar to ribbons, but this has resulted in some criticism from users.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/tech/1FC9404025D474E8CC25760F0001674E |title=Open-source users revolt over OpenOffice ribbon UI |work=] |date=11 August 2009 |last=Lai |first=Eric}}</ref> | ||
| Since the introduction of ribbons in ], there has been an uptake of this type of interface in applications created by other developers, especially those creating tools for Microsoft related products. The ] published some examples in a 2008 GUI showcase report.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nngroup.com/reports/applications/design/|title=Application Design Showcase: 10 Best App UIs|publisher=Nielsen Norman Group}}</ref> | |||
| In July 2011, ] added a ribbon interface under ] license to Version 7.0 of their ] music notation application, replacing the ] of prior versions. This met with considerable user resistance,<ref>. ]. ].</ref> however the ribbon interface has ] to the current ]. | |||
| ⚫ | In June 2008 ] released |
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| In September 2012, ] introduced a ribbon interface (known as "Toolstrip") in ] R2012b.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/release-notes-R2012b.html |title=R2012b New Features, Bug Fixes, Compatibility Considerations |publisher=MathWorks, Inc. |access-date=7 April 2019}}</ref> | |||
| == Reaction <!--Linked from ] - if you change this section title, update the link --> == | |||
| ⚫ | Prior to |
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| ==Reaction== | |||
| ⚫ | Because of this, users became accustomed to this style of interface, |
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| ⚫ | Prior to Microsoft's introduction of ribbons in Office 2007, the user interface for its Office suites had barely changed since the introduction of Office 97 on 19 November 1996. (] and ] released relatively minor upgrades compared to ], which itself was considered to be something of a milestone compared to ].) | ||
| ⚫ | Because of this, users became accustomed to this style of interface, which was common in many productivity products at the time. {{citation needed|date=October 2016}} When Microsoft implemented ribbons, it was met with mixed reactions. ] thought the new system made ] obsolete as a cornerstone of the ] when it was first revealed in 2005.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.codinghorror.com/on-the-death-of-the-main-menu/ |title=On the Death of the Main Menu |work=Coding Horror |date=23 September 2005 |access-date=25 April 2014 |author=Jeff Atwood}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051125235511/http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/events/pdc/gallery.mspx |title=Microsoft Professional Developers Conference 2005 VPR: Image Gallery |archive-date=2005-11-25| url=http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/events/pdc/gallery.mspx| publisher=Microsoft |work=Office "12" |date=13 September 2005 |access-date=25 April 2014}}</ref> Redmondmag.com reported that ] feel the ribbons take "too much time and patience to learn."<ref name="redmondmag-not-have">{{cite web |url=http://redmondmag.com/articles/2007/10/01/word-2007-not-exactly-a-musthave.aspx |title=Word 2007: Not Exactly a Must-Have |publisher=1105 Media |work=Redmond Magazine |date=1 October 2007 |access-date=28 May 2013 |last=Cummings |first=Joanne |quote=For one thing, Word 2007 uses the entirely new ribbon interface. Power users say it takes too much time and patience to learn. 'People will get used to the new interface, but at major efforts in time, training and cost,' says Mike McCullough, director of systems at Cooling Systems Technologies (CST) Inc. When it came time to move her from 2003 to 2007, he quickly ran into problems. 'I might as well of hit her over the head with a bat,' he says. 'I could see anger and frustration.' Other readers feel it's worth taking the time to learn the new interface.}}</ref> Richard Ericson from '']'' noted that experienced users might find difficulties adapting to the new interface, and that some tasks take more key-presses or clicks to activate.<ref name="ComputerWorld">{{cite web |url=http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9003994/Final_Review_The_Lowdown_on_Office_2007 |title=Final Review: The Lowdown on Office 2007 |publisher=] |work=] |date=11 October 2006 |access-date=28 May 2013 |first=Richard |last=Ericson}}</ref> Though the ribbon can be hidden by double-clicking on the open tab, '']'' wrote that the ribbons crowds the Office work area, especially for notebook users;<ref>{{cite journal |last=Lasky |first=Michael |title=Office Beta: Good Looks, Tricky Formats |journal=] |publisher=] |page=24|date=August 2006}}</ref> the customization options available in the original version didn't allow users to rearrange or remove the predefined commands, although it could be minimized.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/can-i-customize-the-ribbon-HA010227754.aspx |title=Can I customize the Ribbon? |publisher=] |work=] |access-date=28 May 2013 |year=2007}}</ref> Others have called its large icons distracting.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Mendelson |first=Edward |author-link=Edward Mendelson |title=MS Office Edges Closer |journal=] |publisher=] |volume=25 |issue=12 |page=48|date=July 2006}}</ref> An online survey conducted by ExcelUser reports that a majority of respondents had a negative opinion of the change, with advanced users being "somewhat more negative" than intermediate users; the ] reduction in productivity was an average of about 20%, and "about 35%" for people with a negative opinion. | ||
| A reason behind the negative reaction is Microsoft's decision to abandon backward-compatibility with previous versions and remove the traditional menu system, rather than leaving it as an option that could be activated if needed. Users of previous versions had to relearn the user interface in order to accomplish what they already knew how to do, and some configuration options were eliminated.<ref>Office 2007: First Look. Dale Franks. .</ref> The decision to abolish menus has been likened to the Coca-Cola company's infamous ] campaign in its abandonment of the existing user base.<ref></ref> Microsoft Office 2011 for the Macintosh, while employing the ribbon, also retains the menu system in the Mac menu bar.<ref></ref> | |||
| Other users claim that once the new interface is learned, the average user can create "professional-looking documents faster".<ref |
Other users claim that once the new interface is learned, the average user can create "professional-looking documents faster".<ref name="redmondmag-not-have"/> One study reported fairly good acceptance by users except highly experienced users and users of word processing applications with a classical WIMP interface, but was less convinced in terms of efficiency and organisation.<ref>{{cite book |url=http://www.wseas.us/e-library/conferences/2010/Faro/DNCOCO/DNCOCO-25.pdf |title=User Acceptance of the Microsoft Ribbon User Interface |publisher=] |first=M |last=Dostál |isbn=978-960-474-245-5 |issn=1792-6157 |date=9 December 2010 |access-date=28 May 2013}}</ref> | ||
| The decision to abolish menus has been likened to the Coca-Cola company's infamous ] campaign in its abandonment of the existing user base.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/is_office_the_new_coke/ |title=Is Office the New Coke? |publisher={{Self-published inline|date=May 2013}} |work=Outside the Beltway |date=27 March 2007 |access-date=28 May 2013 |last=Schuler |first=Dave}}</ref> Microsoft Office 2011 for the Macintosh, while employing the ribbon, also retains the menu system in the Mac menu bar.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.microsoft.com/mac/word |title=Word for Mac 2011 top features tour |work=] |publisher=] |access-date=28 May 2013}} See </ref> | |||
| == Controversy == | |||
| {{multiple image | align = right | direction = vertical | width = 450 | |||
| ==Patent controversy== | |||
| ⚫ | | |
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| {{Multiple image | |||
| | image2 = esuite spreadsheet.png | caption2 = "Tabbed toolbars" as found in the Lotus eSuite product from January 1999, also proposed as ] for ribbon | |||
| | align = right | |||
| | direction = vertical | |||
| | width = 450 | |||
| | image1 = Homesite-2.5.png | |||
| | image2 = esuite spreadsheet.png | |||
| ⚫ | | footer = Tabbed toolbars, as found in ] and ], have been proposed as ] for ribbons. | ||
| }} | }} | ||
| ], a former Microsoft contractor, left the company and ceased using its software partially over his disagreement with the company's "sweeping ]" including its attempt to ] the ribbon.<ref>For example, {{US patent application|number=US20060036965|title=Command user interface for displaying selectable software functionality controls|fdate=September 30, 2004|pridate=August 16, 2004|pubdate=February 16, 2006|invent1=Harris|invent2=Butcher|invent3=Morton|invent4=Satterfield}}</ref> He refused to "contribut to the eventual death of programming."<ref>, Mike Gunderloy</ref> He states: "Microsoft itself represents a grave threat to the future of software development through its increasing inclination to stifle competition through legal shenanigans."<ref>{{wayback | |||
| ⚫ | Proponents of ], such as KDE developer Jarosław Staniek,<ref name=kde-sue/> have expressed beliefs that patents regarding ribbons cannot be acquired due to the ubiquity of ].<ref name="kde-sue">{{cite web |url=https://blogs.kde.org/node/1617 |title=KDE to sue MS over Ribbon GUI? |publisher=] |work=blogs.kde.org |date=13 November 2005 |access-date=28 May 2012 |last=Staniek |first=Jarosław}}</ref> Staniek notes that the ribbon concept has historically appeared extensively as "tabbed toolbars" in applications such as Sausage Software ], ], ], and ] ].<ref name=kde-sue/> Lotus developed early ribbon UIs for its eSuite product. Screenshots are still available in an IBM (page 109ff).<ref name="benesuite">{{cite web |url=http://www.geniisoft.com/showcase.nsf/archive/20061129-1157 |title=Is Microsoft's new ribbon UI copied from eSuite's UI? |publisher=Genii Software |work=BlogNew |date=29 November 2006 |access-date=28 May 2013}}</ref> | ||
| |url=http://www.afreshcup.com/2006/12/9/what-s-going-on-here | |||
| |date=20070911055336 | |||
| On 13 February 2018, a jury from the Northern District of California found that ] had infringed on several Microsoft ribbon ] and ribbon ] regarding the Fluent UI.<ref>United States District Court, Northern District of California, San Jose division. </ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2018/02/13/93710/id=93710/ |title=Jury finds Corel willfully infringed Microsoft Office patents |date=2018-02-13 |work=IPWatchdog.com — Patents & Patent Law |access-date=2018-02-28 |language=en-US}}</ref> | |||
| |title=Mike - What's Going On Here?}}<!--http://web.archive.org/web/20070911055336/www.afreshcup.com/2006/12/9/what-s-going-on-here--></ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Papadimoulis |first=Alex |url=http://thedailywtf.com/Articles/Mike_Gunderloy_on_Access_Perfection_.aspx |title=Mike Gunderloy on Access Perfection |publisher=The Daily WTF |date=2006-09-12 |accessdate=2012-11-23}}</ref> | |||
| Proponents of ], such as KDE developer Jarosław Staniek<ref name=kde-sue/> have expressed beliefs that the patent cannot be acquired due to the ambiguity of ].<ref name=kde-sue>{{cite news |author=Jarosław Staniek |date=November 13, 2005 |title=KDE to sue MS over Ribbon GUI? |publisher=kdedevelopers.org |url=http://kdedevelopers.org/node/1617 |accessdate=September 11, 2007 }}</ref> As no patent has been acquired {{as of|2008 |alt=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.<ref>{{cite news |author=Mike Weller |date=November 22, 2006 |title=Office 2007 UI License |publisher=Slashdot |url=http://developers.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/11/22/0140215 |accessdate=February 1, 2007 }}</ref> | |||
| ⚫ | Staniek notes that the ribbon concept has historically appeared extensively as "tabbed toolbars" in applications such as Sausage Software |
||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| * '']'' and ''Ribbon Hero 2'' – educational video games that train the users on ribbons | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] – design language behind the user interface of Windows Phone and Windows 8 | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] – Microsoft user interface for Windows Vista and Windows 7 | |||
| {{Clear}} | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
| {{Reflist |
{{Reflist}} | ||
| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
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| ⚫ | * {{cite web |url= |
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| * , a tool expanding the regular set of UI components for Windows Forms with Ribbon-related components | |||
| ==Further reading== | |||
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| ⚫ | * {{cite web |url=http://blogs.msdn.com/jensenh/pages/table-of-contents.aspx |title=An Office User Interface Blog |author=Jensen Harris |date=13 March 2008 |publisher=] |access-date=25 March 2010}} – Extensive discussion of the UI design by Microsoft's Group Program Manager of the Office 2007 User Experience team. | ||
| ⚫ | * {{cite web |url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/jensenh/archive/2008/03/12/the-story-of-the-ribbon.aspx |title=MIX08 Microsoft Office 2007: The Story of the Ribbon |year=2008 |publisher=] 08 |access-date=17 June 2010}} – Prototype sketches and design process. | ||
| {{Refend}} | |||
| {{GUI widgets}} | {{GUI widgets}} | ||
| ] | ] | ||
Latest revision as of 20:45, 21 October 2024
Graphical user interface element
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In computer interface design, a ribbon is a graphical control element in the form of a set of toolbars placed on several tabs. The typical structure of a ribbon includes large, tabbed toolbars, filled with graphical buttons and other graphical control elements, grouped by functionality. Such ribbons use tabs to expose different sets of controls, eliminating the need for numerous parallel toolbars. Contextual tabs are tabs that appear only when the user needs them. For instance, in a word processor, an image-related tab may appear when the user selects an image in a document, allowing the user to interact with that image.
Use of the term "ribbon" dates back to the 1980s and was originally used as a synonym for plain toolbar. However, in 2007, Microsoft used the term to refer to its own implementation of tabbed toolbars encompassing a conglomerate of controls for Microsoft Office 2007, which Microsoft calls "The Fluent UI". Although Microsoft popularized the term with a new meaning, similar tabbed layouts of controls existed in prior software from other vendors, including 3D Studio Max R3 and later, Adobe Dreamweaver, Borland Delphi, Sausage Software HotDog, and Macromedia HomeSite.
Early use
Use of a ribbon interface dates from the early 1990s in productivity software such as Microsoft Word and WordStar as an alternative term for toolbar: It was defined as a portion of a graphical user interface consisting of a horizontal row of graphical control elements (e.g., including buttons of various sizes and drop-down lists containing icons), typically user-configurable.
A toolbar interface, called the "ribbon", has been a feature of Microsoft Word from the early DOS-based Word 5.5 (ca. 1990) and the first Windows-based versions (activated by the "View |Ribbon" menu option), for which early advertising referred to the use of "the Ribbon to replace an endless string of commands to let you format characters by eye instead of memory".
Microsoft software
The tabbed ribbon as introduced in Microsoft Office 2007
The redesigned tabbed ribbon as introduced in Microsoft Office 2021
With the release of Microsoft Office 2007 came the "Fluent User Interface" or "Fluent UI", which replaced menu bars and customizable toolbars with a single "Office menu", a miniature toolbar known as "quick-access toolbar" and what came to be known as the ribbon: multiple tabs, each holding a toolbar bearing buttons and occasionally other controls. Toolbar controls have assorted sizes and are classified in visually distinguishable groups. The new design was intended to alleviate the problem of users not finding or knowing of the existence of available features in the Office suite. The name "ribbon" was later purported to have originated from an early design idea by which commands were placed on a long pane that could be rolled like a medieval scroll; the name was retained after the scrolling mechanism was replaced by tabs.
Microsoft applications implementing ribbons each have a different set of tabs which house user controls for that application. Within each tab, various related controls may be grouped together. Double-clicking the active tab or clicking the "Minimize" button hides the command panel, leaving only the tabs visible. Repeating this action reveals the pane. The ribbon consolidates the functionality formerly found in menus, toolbars and occasionally task panes into one area.
In Microsoft Office 2007, only Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint implemented ribbons. With the release of Microsoft Office 2010, however, ribbons were implemented in the rest of the Microsoft Office applications. Microsoft Office 2010 also added additional end-user customization support to its user interface.
Microsoft gradually implemented the Ribbon in some of its other software. The fourth wave of Windows Live Essentials applications, including Mail, Photo Gallery, Movie Maker and Writer, featured a ribbon. Since Windows 7, Paint and WordPad feature ribbons. On Windows 8, File Explorer followed suit. Ribbons also appeared in SQL Server Report Builder, Dynamics CRM 2011, Microsoft Mathematics v4.0, the desktop client for Microsoft Power BI, and some other programs that have since been retired.
A redesigned tabbed ribbon has been introduced, as part of the Office UI redesign in Microsoft Office 2021.
The development history of the Ribbon, presented by Jensen Harris in 2008, can be seen here.
Other software developers
Since the introduction of ribbons in Microsoft Office 2007, there has been an increase in the use of this type of interface in applications created by other developers, especially those creating tools for Microsoft-related products. Microsoft facilitated the adoption with the releases of Windows 8, Windows 7 and the Windows Vista platform update, which included built-in ribbon framework APIs, introduced to allow developers to integrate a ribbon toolbar into their applications. The Nielsen Norman Group published some examples in a 2008 GUI showcase report.
In June 2008, Red Flag Software released RedOffice 4.0 beta, a Chinese fork of OpenOffice.org including a new user interface that used many ribbon ideas in its design. In November 2008 Sun Microsystems started the project Renaissance to improve the user interface of OpenOffice.org. So far the prototypes of the project are frequently seen as similar to ribbons, but this has resulted in some criticism from users.
In July 2011, Avid Tech added a ribbon interface under Microsoft license to Version 7.0 of their Sibelius (scorewriter) music notation application, replacing the menu navigation system of prior versions. This met with considerable user resistance, however the ribbon interface has remained integral to the current GUI.
In September 2012, MathWorks introduced a ribbon interface (known as "Toolstrip") in MATLAB R2012b.
Reaction
Prior to Microsoft's introduction of ribbons in Office 2007, the user interface for its Office suites had barely changed since the introduction of Office 97 on 19 November 1996. (Office 2000 and Office 2003 released relatively minor upgrades compared to Office 97, which itself was considered to be something of a milestone compared to Office 95.)
Because of this, users became accustomed to this style of interface, which was common in many productivity products at the time. When Microsoft implemented ribbons, it was met with mixed reactions. Jeff Atwood thought the new system made menus obsolete as a cornerstone of the WIMP interface when it was first revealed in 2005. Redmondmag.com reported that power users feel the ribbons take "too much time and patience to learn." Richard Ericson from Computerworld noted that experienced users might find difficulties adapting to the new interface, and that some tasks take more key-presses or clicks to activate. Though the ribbon can be hidden by double-clicking on the open tab, PC World wrote that the ribbons crowds the Office work area, especially for notebook users; the customization options available in the original version didn't allow users to rearrange or remove the predefined commands, although it could be minimized. Others have called its large icons distracting. An online survey conducted by ExcelUser reports that a majority of respondents had a negative opinion of the change, with advanced users being "somewhat more negative" than intermediate users; the self-estimated reduction in productivity was an average of about 20%, and "about 35%" for people with a negative opinion.
Other users claim that once the new interface is learned, the average user can create "professional-looking documents faster". One study reported fairly good acceptance by users except highly experienced users and users of word processing applications with a classical WIMP interface, but was less convinced in terms of efficiency and organisation.
The decision to abolish menus has been likened to the Coca-Cola company's infamous New Coke campaign in its abandonment of the existing user base. Microsoft Office 2011 for the Macintosh, while employing the ribbon, also retains the menu system in the Mac menu bar.
Patent controversy
Tabbed toolbars, as found in Macromedia HomeSite and Lotus eSuite, have been proposed as prior art for ribbons.
Proponents of free software, such as KDE developer Jarosław Staniek, have expressed beliefs that patents regarding ribbons cannot be acquired due to the ubiquity of prior art. Staniek notes that the ribbon concept has historically appeared extensively as "tabbed toolbars" in applications such as Sausage Software HotDog, Macromedia HomeSite, Dreamweaver, and Borland Delphi. Lotus developed early ribbon UIs for its eSuite product. Screenshots are still available in an IBM redbook about eSuite (page 109ff).
On 13 February 2018, a jury from the Northern District of California found that Corel Corporation had infringed on several Microsoft ribbon design patents and ribbon utility patents regarding the Fluent UI.
See also
- Ribbon Hero and Ribbon Hero 2 – educational video games that train the users on ribbons
- Metro (design language) – design language behind the user interface of Windows Phone and Windows 8
- Windows Aero – Microsoft user interface for Windows Vista and Windows 7
References
- "Computerworld". Computerworld: The Newsletter for Information Technology Leaders. IDG Enterprise. 9 December 1991. p. 41. ISSN 0010-4841. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
The package includes a straightforward intuitive interface featuring an icon ribbon.
- Illingworth, Valerie (11 December 1997). Dictionary of Computing. Oxford Paperback Reference (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780192800466.
Ribbon a horizontal row of control icons that can often be redefined to suit the user's requirements.
- ^ "InfoWorld". Vol. 12, no. 6. InfoWorld Media Group. 5 February 1990. p. 15. ISSN 0199-6649.
A liberal collection of icons located on the Ribbon replaces an endless string of commands
- ESPRIT '88: putting the technology to use: proceedings of the 5th Annual ESPRIT Conference, Brussels, Part 2. North-Holland. 14–17 November 1988. ISBN 978-0-444-87145-9. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
a ribbon that contains labeled icons (64×64 bit maps) representing tasks and tools that has been instantiated by the user. Each tasktool is represented by a different icon.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - InfoWorld. Vol. 13. InfoWorld Media Group. 10 December 1990. p. 15. ISSN 0199-6649. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
We've even added a handy new feature, called the ribbon.
- Pfaffenberger, Bryans L. (22 January 1990). Microsoft Word Quick Reference. Que. ISBN 978-0-88022-720-9. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
Select View Ribbon to activate the Ribbon.
- "Office Fluent user interface, Ribbon, and Backstage view". MSDN. Microsoft. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
- ^ Ericson, Richard (11 October 2006). "Final Review: The Lowdown on Office 2007". Computerworld. IDG. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
- Harris, Jensen (3 April 2006). "New Rectangles to the Rescue? (Why the UI, Part 4)". An Office User Interface Blog. Microsoft. Retrieved 16 October 2013. "Every version we were putting our heart and soul into developing these new features, undergoing a rigorous process to determine which of the many areas we would invest in during a release, and then working hard to design, test, and ship those features. The only problem was that people weren't finding the very features they asked us to add."
- Harris, Jensen (12 March 2008). "The Story of the Ribbon". Channel 9. Microsoft. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
- Jensen Harris (7 October 2005). "Why is it called the Ribbon?". Jensen Harris: An Office User Interface Blog. Microsoft. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
- "Use the Ribbon instead of toolbars and menus". Microsoft Office website. Microsoft. 2007. Archived from the original on 5 March 2008. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
- "The Microsoft Office Fluent user interface overview". Microsoft Office website. Microsoft. Archived from the original on 4 January 2008. Retrieved 24 May 2009.
- "User interface differences in Office 2010 vs earlier versions". TechNet. Microsoft. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
- Thurrott, Paul (13 July 2009). "Office 2010 sports improved ribbon across all apps, servers, services". SuperSite for Windows. Penton. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
- Protalinski, Emil (22 December 2009). "Windows Live Wave 4: Mail, Photo Gallery, Writer go ribbon". Ars Technica. Condé Nast. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
- Thurrott, Paul (13 September 2008). "Ahead of PDC, Microsoft Begins Internal Test of Windows 7 – 14 Sep 2008". Windows IT Pro. Penton Media. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
- Barley, Ray (18 February 2009). "Introduction to SQL Server 2008 Report Builder 2.0". MSSQL Tips. Edgewood Solutions. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
- Montalbano, Elizabeth (20 August 2009). "Microsoft to Backport Windows 7 'ribbon' Interface to Vista". PC World. IDG. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
- "Application Design Showcase: 10 Best App UIs". nngroup.com. Nielsen Norman Group. Archived from the original on 5 December 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
- "Application Design Showcase: 2008". nngroup.com. Nielsen Norman Group. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
- "RedOffice 4.0 Beta Updates OpenOffice UI". Slashdot. Dice Holdings. 2 June 2008. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
- Eva, Johannes (June 2008). "RedOffice 4.0 Beta – A great new UI?". libre-software.net. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
- "Renaissance/FAQ (revision 154410)". OpenOffice.org. Apache Software Foundation. 5 January 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
- Lai, Eric (11 August 2009). "Open-source users revolt over OpenOffice ribbon UI". Computerworld.
- 'Sib. 7.0: The blasted Ribbon!'. Sibelius (scorewriter). Avid (company).
- "R2012b New Features, Bug Fixes, Compatibility Considerations". MathWorks, Inc. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
- Jeff Atwood (23 September 2005). "On the Death of the Main Menu". Coding Horror. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
- "Microsoft Professional Developers Conference 2005 VPR: Image Gallery". Office "12". Microsoft. 13 September 2005. Archived from the original on 25 November 2005. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
- ^ Cummings, Joanne (1 October 2007). "Word 2007: Not Exactly a Must-Have". Redmond Magazine. 1105 Media. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
For one thing, Word 2007 uses the entirely new ribbon interface. Power users say it takes too much time and patience to learn. 'People will get used to the new interface, but at major efforts in time, training and cost,' says Mike McCullough, director of systems at Cooling Systems Technologies (CST) Inc. When it came time to move her from 2003 to 2007, he quickly ran into problems. 'I might as well of hit her over the head with a bat,' he says. 'I could see anger and frustration.' Other readers feel it's worth taking the time to learn the new interface.
- Lasky, Michael (August 2006). "Office Beta: Good Looks, Tricky Formats". PC World. IDG: 24.
- "Can I customize the Ribbon?". Microsoft Office website. Microsoft. 2007. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
- Mendelson, Edward (July 2006). "MS Office Edges Closer". PC Magazine. 25 (12). Ziff Davis: 48.
- Dostál, M (9 December 2010). User Acceptance of the Microsoft Ribbon User Interface (PDF). Palacký University of Olomouc. ISBN 978-960-474-245-5. ISSN 1792-6157. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
- Schuler, Dave (27 March 2007). "Is Office the New Coke?". Outside the Beltway. . Retrieved 28 May 2013.
- "Word for Mac 2011 top features tour". Mactopia. Microsoft. Retrieved 28 May 2013. See screenshot
- ^ Staniek, Jarosław (13 November 2005). "KDE to sue MS over Ribbon GUI?". blogs.kde.org. KDE. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
- "Is Microsoft's new ribbon UI copied from eSuite's UI?". BlogNew. Genii Software. 29 November 2006. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
- United States District Court, Northern District of California, San Jose division. Case No. 5:15-cv05836-EJD, Final verdict form
- "Jury finds Corel willfully infringed Microsoft Office patents". IPWatchdog.com — Patents & Patent Law. 13 February 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
External links
- Microsoft's guidelines documentation for Ribbon UI
- Windows Ribbon Framework Developer Guides
- DotNetBar, a tool expanding the regular set of UI components for Windows Forms with Ribbon-related components
Further reading
- Jensen Harris (13 March 2008). "An Office User Interface Blog". Microsoft Developer Network. Retrieved 25 March 2010. – Extensive discussion of the UI design by Microsoft's Group Program Manager of the Office 2007 User Experience team.
- "MIX08 Microsoft Office 2007: The Story of the Ribbon". Microsoft MIX 08. 2008. Retrieved 17 June 2010. – Prototype sketches and design process.
| Graphical control elements | |
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| Command input | |
| Data input-output | |
| Informational | |
| Containers | |
| Navigational | |
| Special windows | |
| Related concepts | |