Are you confused about the new interface of Microsoft Office 2007? Have you been taken a lot of frustrating time to figure out the new interface of the Microsoft Office 2007? Actually, the developments for Microsoft Office 2007 do provide users with impressive shortcuts. But the shortcut is hard to remember. Besides, if you are used to the interface of Microsoft Office 2003, you will find the new interface of Microsoft Office 2007 is hard to used, because it is completely new. You will have to take some time to go through the new interface. In this case, to use the interface add-on for Microsoft Office 2007 will be a “shortcut” for you. Then, I will introduce 3 add-ons that bring back the classic interface of the Microsoft Office 2003 with all the new features of Microsoft Office 2007, as well as the ability to automatically deploy to a client’s computers in enterprises or organizations. They are Classic Menu for Office 2007, UBitMenu and Toolbar Toggle.
Why add-on for Microsoft Office 2007?
The 3 add-ons have basically the same functions and layouts. In fact, the three add-ons don’t remove the new interface of Microsoft Office 2007, while adding the classic interface of Microsoft Office 2003 to Microsoft Office 2007, so you can seamlessly switch between the classic interface of Microsoft Office 2003 and the new interface of Microsoft Office 2007.
Comparison
Here are some comparative parameters, such as price, size, and CNET Rating in the table (see table 1):
Table 1
※※ Ubitmenu is free for home version, while for commercial version its price is € 10 base fee + € 0.65 per user + VAT if applicable.
1. Interface
Classic Menu for Office 2007 and UBitMenu take the same way to display the classic interface of Miscrosoft Office 2003 in the new interface of Microsoft Office 2007. After the installation of the Classic Menu for Office 2007 or UBitMenu, there is a tab “Menus” added in the new interface of Microsoft Office 2007 (see figure 1). They combine interfaces of Office 2003 and Office 2007 smoothly, and users can switch between the new interface and the classic interfaces at ease. Toolbar Toggle displays the toolbar of Office 2003 under the new interface of Microsoft Office 2007 (see figure 2)
(Figure 1)
After the installation of Classic Menu for Office 2007 or UBitMenu, you can switch between the new interface and the classic interfaces seamlessly , while by Toolbar Toggle’s way users view two interfaces synchronously, which help users compare two interfaces and learn the new one more easily. Toolbar Toggle combines two ribbons, which makes editing area smaller even if you can minimize both ribbons. Especially in laptops, take 14-inch laptop for example, after installing Toolbar Toggle there are about 10 cm-high editing area left. It is quite inconvenient to work in a narrow area!
(Figure 2)
Classic Menu for Office 2007－no special requirement
UBit Menu－no special requirement
Just Microsoft .NET Framework’s download and installation will cost 22 minutes.
Besides, after install the Toolbar Toggle, users are required to reboot the computer.
3. Available for office
Classic Menu for Office 2007: available for Word, Excel, Access, Outlook and PowerPoint 2007.
UBit Menu－available for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007.
Toolbar Toggle－available for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007.
4. Features
Actually, we find that not every latest function of Office 2007 is in the above 3 add-ons. During comparison, it convinces us that Classic Menu for Office 2007 does have more complete functions than the other. Here we take MS Word for example, there are 18 toolbars in the file menu of Classic Menu for Office 2007, while 15 toolbars in UBit Menu. What’s more, when we make a table, the function of directly inserting, which was provided by Office 2007, can be seen in the Classic Menu with a mini formatting toolbar but not in UBit Menu. Just as the following picture shows:
What a pity! Toolbar Toggle only supports English version, but it highlights its functions, such as Float/Dock Pane, Customize Existing Toolbars and Menus as well as Create New Toolbars and Menus. These functions are funny to make unique toolbar by your own.
Publisher of Classic Menu for Office, Addintools.com, separates functions of customizing and creating toolbars/menus from Classic Menu, and users can find these functions in its another software: Ribbon Customizer. In Classic Menu for Office 2007, all tabs in Office 2003 toolbars are collected, and all new features in Office 2007 have been added to the classic menu and toolbars.
Because of the different language support, my advice is that: If you need PowerPoint, Outlook or Access; or if you need a language other than English, you will have to go with Classic Office Menu. If you are a power user who regularly customized your Office 2003 toolbars, then Toolbar Toggle is the way to go!
Overall, they are cool programs if you need the latest and greatest version of Office, but don’t like the interface yet that much. They may ease the transition from Office 2003 to Office 2007. Once settled into Office 2007, you can uninstall the add-in. From the comparison we make above, surely you will have your own opinions that which one is most suitable for you.
Download Classic Menu for Office 2007
Buy Classic Menu for Office 2007
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