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Ribbon (computing)

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In GUI-based application software, a ribbon is a form of toolbar, combined with a tab bar, intended to replace both menus and toolbars.[1] Recent releases of some Microsoft applications have embraced this form with an intricate modular ribbon as their main interface. The term "Ribbon" was introduced by Microsoft for its Office 2007 products.

Ribbons in Microsoft software

Microsoft originally implemented ribbons as part of its "Fluent User Interface" in Office 2007.[2] The ribbon is formed as a panel that houses the command buttons and icons, organizes commands as a set of tabs, each grouping relevant commands. Each application has a different set of tabs which expose the functionality that application offers. For example, while Excel has a tab for the graphing capabilities, Powerpoint does not, instead providing tabs for controlling animation and configuring slide shows. Within each tab, various related options may be grouped together. The Ribbon is designed to make the features of the application more discoverable and accessible with fewer mouse clicks[3][dead link] as compared to the menu-based UI used prior to Office 2007. Moving the mouse scroll wheel while on any of the tabs on the ribbon cycles through the tabs. The Ribbon can be minimized by double clicking the active section's title, such as the Home text in the picture below.(notice the lack of File/Edit menu.)[4] The ribbon consolidates the functionality previously found in menus, toolbars and many task panes into one area to increase speed, if you know where commands are.[5].

Note: The option to revert to classical file menu is not available, you may however use an external addon to add this. There is no expectation that Microsoft may make this a standard feature in the near future.

The ribbon UI has also begun to be implemented in other Microsoft software, some applications in Windows 7 such as Paint and WordPad now utilize a ribbon-based UI.[6]

Design Guidelines

The Office 2007 ribbon design guidelines are confidential and an evaluation copy is only available when a non-disclosure agreement has been signed.[7][8]

Ribbon design guidelines have also been released on Microsoft Developers Network (MSDN).[9]

Patent protection

File:Homesite-2.5.gif
"Tabbed toolbars", such as this 1997 one found in the Allaire HomeSite (now branded Macromedia HomeSite), have been contested as prior art for the Ribbon UI.

Microsoft has filed patent applications for functional innovations in the ribbon user interface.[10] No patent has so far been issued. Since April 2008, the Ribbon interface is available as a Visual C++ 2008 feature.[11] Since the implementation in Visual Studio is not the same as in Office 2007 subtle differences in functionality and handling might have been introduced.

Mike Gunderloy, a former Microsoft developer left the company partially over his disagreement with the company's "sweeping land grab" including its attempt to patent the Ribbon interface. He refused to "contribut[e] to the eventual death of programming."[12] He states: "Microsoft itself represents a grave threat to the future of software development through its increasing inclination to stifle competition through legal shenanigans."[13] KDE developer Jarosław Staniek[14] has expressed beliefs that the patent cannot be acquired due to the ambiguity of prior art.[14] As no patent has been acquired 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.[15] Microsoft will grant free licensing for all to implement the ribbon interface except for products competing directly with Microsoft Office programs.[16] If the design guidelines contain legal loopholes that give Microsoft a basis for future lawsuits against products exploiting this concept, those disenfranchised would not be able to inform others due to the non-disclosure agreement.[8]

KDE developer Jarosław Staniek notes that the ribbon concept has historically appeared extensively as "tabbed toolbars" in applications such as Macromedia HomeSite, Dreamweaver and Borland Delphi.[14]

In 1992 and 1993 Micrografx introduced the ribbon concept into the products ABC Flowcharter 2.0, Designer 4.0, Picture Publisher 5.0, and Charisma 4.0.

See also

References

  1. ^ "MSDN: Windows User Experience Interaction Guidelines: Ribbons". Retrieved 2009-08-25.
  2. ^ Office Fluent User Interface
  3. ^ "The New Microsoft Office User Interface Overview". Retrieved 2006-05-25.
  4. ^ "Microsoft: Use the Ribbon". Retrieved 2008-03-04.
  5. ^ The Microsoft Office Fluent user interface overview. Retrieved 2009-05-24.
  6. ^ "Ahead of PDC, Microsoft Begins Internal Test of Windows 7". Paul Thurrott. 2008-09-14. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
  7. ^ "Microsoft Evaluation License: 2007 Microsoft Office System User Interface". license agreement of the Office guidelines evaluation copy. Retrieved 2007-02-03.
  8. ^ a b Joe Wilcox (2006-11-21). "Microsoft Cuts the Ribbon on Office 2007 UI Licensing". Microsoft Watch. Retrieved 2007-02-01.
  9. ^ "MSDN: Windows User Experience Interaction Guidelines: Ribbons". Retrieved 2009-08-25.
  10. ^ "Licensing the 2007 Microsoft Office User Interface". Jensen Harris. 2006-11-21. Retrieved 2008-08-22. [unreliable source?], mentioned in a comment by Chris Bryant
  11. ^ "Microsoft Visual C++ Feature Pack". Microsoft Corporation. 2008-04-22. Retrieved 2008-05-29.
  12. ^ Veteran developer ditches Microsoft for open source, Mike Gunderloy
  13. ^ Template:Waybac [unreliable source?]
  14. ^ a b c Jarosław Staniek (2005-11-13). "KDE to sue MS over Ribbon GUI?". kdedevelopers.org. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
  15. ^ Mike Weller (2006-11-22). "Office 2007 UI License". Slashdot. Retrieved 2007-02-01. [unreliable source?]
  16. ^ Jensen Harris (2006-11-21). "Licensing the 2007 Microsoft Office User Interface". MSDN Blogs. Retrieved 2006-02-01.
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