Love it or hate it, the new Office 2007 ribbon takes some time getting used to the new layout. At times it can be down right challenging to find commands, unlike the old Office menu that you knew like the back of your hand.
You can always use the Office 2003 to 2007 command reference interactive guide to locate commands that maps all menu toolbar commands from Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint 2003 to the exact locations in 2007.
While the interactive guide is good, you do have to switch to your browser and use the guide to find the commands on the menu. What you really need (A.K.A… really want) is something built into Office 2007, such as the new add on known as Search Commands.
This little add-on will end the frustration of trying to navigate the new Office 2007 ribbon by helping you find commands, options, wizards, and galleries in Office 2007 Word, Excel and PowerPoint (Access is not supported at this time).
To install, visit Microsoft Office Labs web site and download Search Commands by clicking on the download link to the right.
After the download has completed, go to the folder (where you saved the file) and double click on setup.msi .
If the following dialog box appears, just click on Run to conrinue.
On the next screen, click Next. Accept the terms of this agreement by clicking on the check box and click the Install button. When the installation has completed, click the Finish button.
Now lets take a look at how to use Search commands.
Using Word, you will notice the new Search Commands on the menu. Clicking on it will display the interface.
To use, just type any command in the search field and press enter. The command you are looking for will instantly appear.
It couldn't be any easier (what took MS so long to create this add-on??).
Search Commands also includes Guided Help, which acts as a tour guide for specific tasks. But the best feature is that you can type what you are looking for, as if you were talking naturally. It'll find it.
For example, say you wanted to change the background of your document and you did not know the real command name. Just type 'change background' (with out the quote).
Search command comes with a lot of features built-in. Here two you will use the most:
- Shortcut Key - to access Search Commands from the keyboard, just press Windows Key+Y
- Locate Command On Ribbon - after a command is found, just hover over it and a pop up window will display with the actual location (path) on the ribbon.
If you need to uninstall Search Commands, just go to Add or Remove Programs (XP) or Uninstall a program (Vista) and look for Search Commands from Microsoft Office Labs .
Leave a Comment