Microsoft Office Common User Interface

 

1.      What it is:

A user interface is the meeting point between computer software such as Word2010 and Excel2010

and the person using it and provides the means for a person to communicate with a software program.

This interface is made up of three sections:

a.       Section-1: Quick Access Toolbar and Title bar

b.      Section-2: Ribbon

c.       Section-3: Status Bar

 

2.      Quick Access Toolbar

Contains frequently used commands such as Save, Undo, Redo, Open, Spelling&Grammar.

You can easily customize the Quick Access Toolbar by clicking the Customize Quick Access Toolbar

drop-down arrow on the right end of the bar and by adding command buttons from the list that displays.

 

3.      Title Bar

Displays the name of the open program and the name of the file at the top of the window.

 

4.      Ribbon

A large strip of visual commands that displays across the screen below the Quick Access Toolbar and Title Bar.

The Ribbon is the most important section of the Interface.

It is the command center of Office 2010 interface, providing access to functionalities of the programs.

It is structured as a hierarchy of following three major components:

                 Tabs, Groups and Commands.

Tabs:        They are at top level of this hierarchy as they divide the Ribbon into

                 task-oriented section.

                 For example, Word2010 Tabs include Home, Insert, Page Layout, References,

                 Mailings, Review and View.

                 Generally, the Home Tab will display a set of core commands for the currently

                 open program.

Groups:    They are at the middle level of this hierarchy.

                 They organize related commands on each tab.

                 For example, Groups of the Word2010 Home Tab include Clipboard,  

                 Font, Paragraph, Styles, Editing

Commands:

                 They are at the bottom level of this hierarch.

                 They represent specific tasks performed under each Group.

                 They appear as visual icons or buttons within groups on the Ribbon.

                 These icons are designed to give a visual clue of the purpose of the command.

                             You can temporarily hide the Ribbon (except Tabs) by double-clicking

                             the active (open) Tab. Double-clicking any tab will undo the hiding.

 

5.      Status Bar 

Displays at the bottom of a program window and contains information about the open file and tools for quick access

For example, Word2010 Status Bar typically shows current page, total number of pages, total words in the document, and proofreading status.

The Zoom Slider, located on the right edge of the Status Bar, enables us to drag the slide control to change the magnification of the current document.