Ribbon (computing)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Example of a ribbon, an element of graphical user interfaces

In computer interface design, a ribbon is a

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.

The usage of the term "ribbon" dates back to the 1980s and was originally used as a synonym for plain toolbar. However, in 2007,

Borland Delphi, HotDog and Macromedia HomeSite
.

Early use

Use of a ribbon interface dates from the early 1990s in productivity software such as Microsoft Word and

icons), typically user-configurable.[2][3][4]

A toolbar interface, called the "ribbon", has been a feature of Microsoft Word from the early DOS-based Word 5.5 (ca. 1990)[5] and the first Windows-based versions (activated by the "View | Ribbon" menu option[6]), 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".[3]

Microsoft software

The tabbed ribbon as introduced in Microsoft Office 2007

With the release of

tabs, each holding a toolbar bearing buttons and occasionally other controls. Toolbar controls have assorted sizes and are classified in visually distinguishable groups.[7][8] 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.[9][10] 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.[11]

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.[12] The ribbon consolidates the functionality previously found in menus, toolbars and occasionally task panes into one area.[13]

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.[14][15] 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

Microsoft Mathematics v4.0, the desktop client for Microsoft Power BI
, and some other programs that have since been retired.

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.[19] The Nielsen Norman Group published some examples in a 2008 GUI showcase report.[20][21]

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.[22][23] In November 2008 Sun Microsystems started the project Renaissance to improve the user interface of OpenOffice.org.[24] So far the prototypes of the project are frequently seen as similar to ribbons, but this has resulted in some criticism from users.[25]

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 previous versions. This met with considerable user resistance,[26] 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.[27]

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 95
.)

Because of this, users became accustomed to this style of interface, which was common in many productivity products at the time. [

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".[30] 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.[34]

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.[35] Microsoft Office 2011 for the Macintosh, while employing the ribbon, also retains the menu system in the Mac menu bar.[36]

Patent controversy

Tabbed toolbars, as found in Macromedia HomeSite and Lotus eSuite, have been proposed as prior art for ribbons

Proponents of

Borland Delphi.[37] Lotus developed early ribbon UIs for its product eSuite. Screen shots are still available in an IBM redbook about eSuite (page 109ff).[38]

On 13 February 2018, a jury from the Northern District of California found that

Corel Corporation had infringed on several Microsoft's Ribbon Design Patents and Ribbon Utility Patents regarding the Fluent UI.[39][40]

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

  1. ISSN 0010-4841
    . Retrieved 28 May 2013. The [Wordstar] package includes a straightforward intuitive interface featuring an icon ribbon.
  2. ISBN 9780192800466
    . Ribbon [...] a horizontal row of control icons that can often be redefined to suit the user's requirements.
  3. ^
    ISSN 0199-6649. A liberal collection of icons located on the Ribbon replaces an endless string of commands [...] {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help
    )
  4. 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.
  5. ISSN 0199-6649
    . Retrieved 28 May 2013. We've even added a handy new feature, called the ribbon.
  6. ISBN 978-0-88022-720-9
    . Retrieved 30 May 2013. Select View Ribbon to activate the Ribbon.
  7. MSDN. Microsoft
    . Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  8. ^ a b Ericson, Richard (11 October 2006). "Final Review: The Lowdown on Office 2007". Computerworld. IDG. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  9. ^ 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."
  10. Channel 9. Microsoft
    . Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  11. ^ Jensen Harris (7 October 2005). "Why is it called the Ribbon?". Jensen Harris: An Office User Interface Blog. Microsoft. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  12. Microsoft Office website. Microsoft. 2007. Archived from the original
    on 5 March 2008. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  13. Microsoft Office website. Microsoft. Archived from the original
    on 4 January 2008. Retrieved 24 May 2009.
  14. ^ "User interface differences in Office 2010 vs earlier versions". TechNet. Microsoft. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  15. ^ Thurrott, Paul (13 July 2009). "Office 2010 sports improved ribbon across all apps, servers, services". SuperSite for Windows. Penton. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  16. Condé Nast
    . Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  17. Penton Media
    . Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  18. ^ Barley, Ray (18 February 2009). "Introduction to SQL Server 2008 Report Builder 2.0". MSSQL Tips. Edgewood Solutions. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  19. ^ Montalbano, Elizabeth (20 August 2009). "Microsoft to Backport Windows 7 'ribbon' Interface to Vista". PC World. IDG. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  20. ^ "Application Design Showcase: 10 Best App UIs". nngroup.com. Nielsen Norman Group. Archived from the original on 5 December 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  21. ^ "Application Design Showcase: 2008". nngroup.com. Nielsen Norman Group. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  22. Dice Holdings
    . 2 June 2008. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  23. ^ Eva, Johannes (June 2008). "RedOffice 4.0 Beta – A great new UI?". libre-software.net. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  24. Apache Software Foundation
    . 5 January 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  25. ^ Lai, Eric (11 August 2009). "Open-source users revolt over OpenOffice ribbon UI". Computerworld.
  26. Avid (company)
    .
  27. ^ "R2012b New Features, Bug Fixes, Compatibility Considerations". MathWorks, Inc. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  28. ^ Jeff Atwood (23 September 2005). "On the Death of the Main Menu". Coding Horror. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  29. ^ "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.
  30. ^ a b 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.
  31. ^ Lasky, Michael (August 2006). "Office Beta: Good Looks, Tricky Formats". PC World. IDG: 24.
  32. Microsoft Office website. Microsoft
    . 2007. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  33. PC Magazine. 25 (12). Ziff Davis
    : 48.
  34. ISSN 1792-6157
    . Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  35. ^ Schuler, Dave (27 March 2007). "Is Office the New Coke?". Outside the Beltway. [self-published source?]. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  36. Mactopia. Microsoft. Retrieved 28 May 2013. See screenshot {{cite web}}: External link in |quote= (help
    )
  37. ^ a b c Staniek, Jarosław (13 November 2005). "KDE to sue MS over Ribbon GUI?". blogs.kde.org. KDE. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  38. ^ "Is Microsoft's new ribbon UI copied from eSuite's UI?". BlogNew. Genii Software. 29 November 2006. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  39. ^ United States District Court, Northern District of California, San Jose division. Case No. 5:15-cv05836-EJD, Final verdict form
  40. ^ "Jury finds Corel willfully infringed Microsoft Office patents – IPWatchdog.com | Patents & Patent Law". IPWatchdog.com | Patents & Patent Law. 13 February 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2018.

External links

Further reading

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