Customizing the Ribbons

Introduction

This topic will explain ribbon customization, describe where to access it, and the options found in it. This topic will also provide links to related topics.

Ribbon Customization

While the default positions of the commands in the Ribbons have been designed to be as clear and organized as possible, we do provide the ability to customize which commands are available in each, and how those commands are arranged.

 

Note: While most of the Ribbons can be customized with this dialog, the Contextual CAM tabs, which appear when you place focus on a job item in the CAM Tree, cannot be modified.

 

Ribbon Customization will allow you to:

 

  • Modify the existing ribbon layout
  • Add your own tabs
  • Add your own groups
  • Add commands to the groups
  • Define the button size
  • Define the button type
    • Button - Click on the button to open a function.
    • Drop Button - Click on the button to see several functions to choose from. Click the displayed function to open that function.
    • Split Button - Offers a button and a drop down list. Click the main button to open that function, or click the arrow to see several other functions to choose from.

To access the Settings dialog , do one of the following:

 

  • In the Backstage, click Settings.

  • In the Quick Access Toolbar, click .

 

Once in the Settings dialog, click on the Customize Ribbons page.

The Customize Ribbon Parameters

Customize Ribbon

The Customize Ribbon page allows you to: 

 

  • Modify the existing ribbon layout
  • Add your own tabs
  • Add your own groups
  • Add commands to the groups
  • Define the button size
  • Define the button type
    • Button - Click on the button to open a function.
    • Drop Button - Click on the button to see several functions to choose from. Click the displayed function to open that function.
    • Split Button - Offers a button and a drop down list. Click the main button to open that function, or click the arrow to see several other functions to choose from.

 

Note: The only ribbons that cannot be customized are the contextual CAM ribbons, which appear when the focus is placed on a job in the CAM Tree, and the document toolbars, which are the ones that offer functions inside the bounds of the graphics area. See the Customizing the Ribbons topic for examples.

 

Choose commands from:   Customize the Ribbon
     
  • All Commands - displays all available commands.

 
  • New Tab - This will add a tab, at the main level, to the tree below the selected tab in the tree named New Tab.
  • Commands not in the ribbon - filters the results to show any commands not currently used.
 
  • New Group – This will add a group item, at the second level, to the tree below the selected group named New Group.
   
  • New Button Group – This will add a button group item below the selected item in the tree. It is recommended that these be used when Medium or Small buttons are to be utilized.
   
  • Rename - This will allow you to alter the name of the selected item. This can also be done using a slow double-click on the item, or by pressing F2 while the item is highlighted.
   
  • Delete - Removes the highlighted item.

 

 

  • Add >> - The highlighted command will be added to the selected Group of Button Group.

  • << Remove - The highlighted item and its children will be removed.

  • ^ - The highlighted command will be moved up the tree.

  • v - The highlighted command will be moved down the tree.

 

Parameters

 

  • Size - Choose between:

    • Large - creates a large button.
    • Medium - creates a medium button.
    • Small - creates a small button.

  • Type - Choose between: 

    • Button - Creates a button which opens the function with a single click.
    • Drop Button - Creates a button which opens a list of functions to choose from. Click on one of the choices to open that function.
    • Split Button - Creates a button which is actually half button, and half drop down list. Click the main button to open that function, or click the arrow to see several other functions to choose from.

  • Access Key - sets the access key to be used for the selected function. Access keys are keyboard-based shortcuts for what would normally be "mouse clicks" These provide a way to access the function without the need no move the mouse over the item and select it. You can turn on the access keys pressing either Alt+F, or Alt+Shift on your keyboard.

 

  • Import - Allows you to import previously saved ribbons. When you click Import, a file open dialog will appear allowing you to select a .xml file. Locate the file and click OK, and the Customize the ribbon group will automatically update. It can then be modified further.

  • Export - Allows you to export the current ribbon. When you click Export, a save as dialog will appear allowing you to name, and save the current ribbon as a .xml file. This can then be saved for use at a later time, or shared with other users.

  • Reset - Allows you to load the default ribbon layout into the dialog. This will present you with a message informing you that this cannot be undone. Clicking OK will throw away any changes in progress and load the default ribbon layout.

 

Example

This example will show how to create a new tab, rename that tab, and assign various groups, buttons, and button types.

1) Create a New Tab

  1. In the Customize Ribbon page, of the System tab, click New Tab.

    New Tab appears under CAM. By default, the new tab has a group called New Group.

  2. Click Apply.

    A new tab called New Tab appears in BobCAD next to the CAM tab, and the dialog remains open.

2) Rename the Tab and Group

  1. With New Tab highlighted, click Rename.

    The tab is changed to a text field and can now be modified.

  2. Type Testing Tab.

  3. Under the Testing Tab, highlight New Group, and click Rename.

    The group is changed to a text field and can now be modified.

  4. Type Testing Group.

  5. Click OK.

    The Settings dialog disappears and New Tab is updated to Testing Tab.

3) Open the Testing Tab

  1. Click on the Testing Tab.

    Notice the only thing in our tab, currently, is an empty group, which we have named Testing Group.

4) Open the Settings dialog

  1. In the Quick Access Toolbar, click .

    The Settings dialog appears.

 

Note: Notice in BobCAD, we are back in our Testing Tab. We have done this so we can see the effects of the changes we make in the ribbon, as we make them.

 

  1. Click on the Customize Ribbon page.

5) Add a Command

  1. In the commands list, select the first item in the list:  2D Add.

    Notice the Add>> button in the middle of the dialog is unavailable.

  2. In the ribbon list, select our Testing Tab.

    The Testing Tab collapses.

    Notice the Add>> button in the middle of the dialog is still unavailable.

  3. Click, once more, on our Testing Tab.

    The Testing Tab expands.

  4. Click on the Testing Group.

    The Add>> button becomes available.

 

Note: Buttons (Commands), and Button Groups can only be added to Groups, and Groups can only be added to Tabs. This is why the Add>> button has not been available until now.

 

  1. Click Add>>.

    The 2D Add button is placed under the Testing Group.

    Notice the command has not yet been added to our Testing Group in the ribbon.

  2. Click Apply.

    The command appears in our Testing Group.

 

Tip: The Settings dialog can be resized if needed. Hover over a corner, like the upper left corner, until a icon appears. Then click and drag inside the dialog to make the dialog smaller. This will allow you to see the ribbon bar, and our updates to it, easier.

6) Setting Sizes

  1. In the commands list, select the   2D Subtract.

  2. Click Add>>.

    The 2D Subtract command is added to Testing Group.

  3. Select the 2D Subtract in the Testing Group and, in the Parameters group, set the Size to Medium.

  4. In the commands list, select the   2D Intersect.

  5. Click Add>>.

    The 2D Intersect command is added to Testing Group.

  6. Select the 2D Intersect in the Testing Group and, in the Parameters group, set the Size to Small.

  7. Click Apply.

    Notice the differences in the sizes of the buttons we have created.

7) Create a Button Group

Button Groups will allow you to stack commands on top of each other. This is only possible with Medium or Small buttons.

 

  1. In our Testing Group, highlight the 2D Add command, and set the Size to Small.

  2. Highlight the 2D Subtract command, and set the Size to Small.

  3. Click Apply.

    Notice our commands in the ribbon are all small, without the name of the command as they appeared with the Medium and Large sizes, and are all set side by side.

  4. At the top of the dialog, click New Button Group.

    Button Group is added to the Testing Group. Currently, the buttons and the Button Group are on the same branch of the tree. In this next step, we will move the commands under the Button Group.

  5. Drag and drop the 2D Add button onto our Button Group.

    The command is moved off of the main branch, and onto the Button Group branch.

  6. Drag and drop the 2D Subtract button onto our Button Group.

  7. Drag and drop the 2D Intersect button onto our Button Group.

  8. Click Apply.

Note: Our commands update in the ribbon. They are all small, and stacked one on the other. This is the maximum height commands can be stacked on one another. If we add additional commands to our Button Group, they will begin a new stack next to this one.

8) Changing Button Types

  1. Highlight our Testing Group.

  2. In the command list, select 3 Edges.

  3. Click Add>>.

    The command is added to Testing Group.

  4. Highlight 3 Edges, and set the Type to Drop Button.

  5. In the command list, select 4 Edges.

  6. Click Add>>.

    The command appears under the 3 Edges command.

  7. In the command list, scroll down to the Boolean command.

    Notice there are two of them.

    Highlight the one with the arrow next to it.

  8. Click Add>>.

    The command is added to the Testing Group.

    Click on the Boolean command and notice the Type is set to Split Button.

  9. On the right side of the dialog click Move Up until our Boolean command is the first item in out Testing Group.

  10. Click OK.

    The Settings dialog closes, and our ribbon updates.

Note: Notice we have move the Boolean command in front of our 2D Boolean commands. Click on the 3 Edges command, and notice the options it contain appear. This is a Drop Button. If you hover over the Boolean command, you will notice it is split in two. If you click the lower half, you will see the options it contains. If you click the top half it will launch the main command, in this case the Boolean Add command. This is a Split Button.