Musical Nerdery - Unequivocal, undeniable, irrefutable proof that the new Office 2007 interface sucks...

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I like to think I am open to change, so I have been working with Word 2007 for a week. I gotta say that I am only getting more frustrated. My gripes: (1) like a lot of people now, I have a 'widescreen' - you could also call it a 'shortscreen'. Either way, there is a lot more real estate on the sides then on the top and bottom. With Word 2003, I was able to put some of the tool bar buttons on the sides to keep as much vertical space available for the document. Can't do that now, as there is a huge ribbon with a bunch of buttons I will never use - Styles? When would I need that and why does it take up half the screen? (2) I never understood why Word didn't come stock with a file close button - you have to close ever doc you open eventually. One of the first things I did when setting up a new computer is add the Close File button to the (side) tool bar. Can't do that with Office 2007 - so where is the document 'x' close button that used to sit in the corner? It's missing too. I guess they want us to have to navigate the menus just to do simple and frequent tasks. Sort of on the same lines - File Open - for god's sake, how many times a day do I do that? Why did they take away the dedicated button for that? Yes, there is keyboard shortcut, which I have been using. (3) I also used to program macros and attach them to buttons to do simple tasks like printing current page only. Can't do that apparently. Well - I am glad I have a friend and MS and got the Office Suite for like $40.

Posted by mbrenengen, on 10/11/2007 at 10:15

Hi - me again. I think this might be helpful for people struggling with Office 2007. It is easy to add a file open and file close button to the Quick Access toolbar at the top - my bad MS. Just click the down pointy arrow and it allows for the deletion of useless buttons (like undo - ctrl-z man), and the addition of buttons like file open and file close (although apparently file close is so unimportant it doesn't even have its own icon). I will keep fighting with this program for another week and see if I have any better luck with the other issues. Oh, and another one! When you close the last document, the whole program shuts down. What's with that? I want to close one doc and start on another one without having to start the program again...

Posted by mbrenengen, on 10/11/2007 at 14:16

Okay - ya, it's me again. My Bad x2. The reason the program was closing (and why there was no icon for File Close) was that I was trying to use the command 'Close or Exit'. Under 'All Commands' is a close command with the right icon. I switched those out and now the program doesn't shut down. Also - and this is very exciting, I moved the Quick Access tool bar 'below the ribbon' (that down arrow thing has the menu for that). Then, and this is the best(!), I selected, 'Minimize the Ribbon' from the same menu, and the god-awful ribbon hid itself. If I felt the need to summon it again, I can click one of the headings, like 'Home', 'Insert', etc., and it floats on top of the doc without moving anything, then disappears again when a button has been clicked.
I think that there is plenty of room on the quick access bar to add all the buttons I normally use, so they are there for one-click access. For the less commonly used buttons, they will float up on the ribbon for two-click use. I am starting to think I may not have to ditch Office2007 after all. I will keep working with it and let you know...

Posted by mbrenengen, on 10/11/2007 at 15:10

Comment: It's stupid we've even got to put any effort into finding FILE EDIT and VIEW; aren't those GIVENS for ANY MS Program, ANYWHERE? Way to sell out your old faithful Gates. It's evident this is an MS attempt to latch onto the NEXT generations 'short attention span'; Gen x y or z or whatever they are coming up through the ranks. Franky, if they (MS) make it though this (mistake? daring attempt?) and gain a user base that can't live without Ribbons, we'll all be sad (and proficient using ribbons by then). Oh well, while I am actively looking for the old skin add-in, I might as well learn to use Ribbons, as inevitibly, Window's Vista will crash, require numerous reloads of the OS and Office packages, and I'll never have the add-in where I need it, when I need it, and I'll finally give up/in. Resistance is futile. You must be assimilated (sic?). I'm the first one in line for Windows 2009, I'll bet they have 'Retro Ribbons TM' (you heard it HERE first Gates! I'll want royalities!) Here's to a 6 pack and installation of a Dual Boot to XP w/ Office '

Posted by Cj, on 10/16/2007 at 22:50

. . . . . . Here's to a 6 pack and installation of a Dual Boot to XP w/ Office Fill in the BLANK prior to 2007

wait, make that a case.

Pretty _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and BOWS TIE A YELLOW _ _ _ _ _ _ STUPID _ _ _ _ _ _ _ WHATEVER . . . -Cj

Posted by Cj, on 10/16/2007 at 22:51

Turns out it is possible to bring the old office menus back on Office 2007. You can with this add-in: http://www.addintools.com/. I'm not affiliated with the company that makes it in any way and I haven't tried it yet. (I refused to get Office '07 because of the @#$%ing ribbon.) I'm intrigued enough to at least want to try this add-in.

Posted by Tom Meinen, on 11/27/2007 at 10:20

I hate 2007 word with a passion. What freaking idiot decided it was a good idea to screw up the program we've ALL been working with, with minor modifications, for YEARS??????

What the hell is the idiocy with making the default line spacing 1.15? I change it to single, but it only works if you're writing paragraphs, if you're doing headings as in address it still comes out 1.15 because you hit enter.

This is the stupidest program ever written. These people should be brought up on charges and be shot for making my life so hard.

Posted by Michael, on 03/25/2008 at 03:39

Yes, I was led here by a Google search for 'hate the ribbon' which I periodically type in with the hope that MS will have released us from its grip. God, do I hate it. It is unintuitive as hell. Just as one example, in Outlook, if I wish to change the format of an email from Plain Text to Rich Text, it's NOT under 'Format Text' but under 'Options'. WTF?

Posted by e, on 06/18/2008 at 14:42

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