I like working with this new Excel version. Not so much difference with the 2007 version, but with just enough new stuff to enjoy working with it. There are not more rows or something like that possible, but several functions has been much approved. I want to mention the Pivot tables for instance, but you can find a lot more on the internet and in (online) books about these extended functionalities. Especially if your still working with the 2003 version, skip the 2007 and go to Office 2010 at once. You will be used to the new looks and the ribbon after a week and after that week you will be able to work smoothly with it. So stable as it is, I can recomment the use of it to anyone. In this articles I like to share with you, some "best practices" that came up during working with this product So, initially set up, of this article was for my own references, now I share it with you. Enjoy these articles!! Due to the fact that a big percentage of visitors of this page are international based, this article is in the english language.
I often work with the default ribbon that resides on the "Home" tab. This is enough for the most functions. With a well considered and customized "Quick Access Toolbar", there is almost no need to click to another ribbon. In Word 2010 it is now possible to export and import the Quick Access Toolbar, which was not possible in the 2007 version.
How do you modify the Quick Access Toolbar:
Click with the right mouse buttom on the "Home" tab. (Does not really matter by the way, as right clicking on any tab is possible will give you exactly the same options). Choose the upper option "Customize Quick Access Toolbar". The right side contains the current icons in the Quick Access Toolbar. You can choose new functions for it, by clicking on them, from the mid-section, or choose the "Add/Remove" button. Note that you can change the order with the arrows on the right side. Please notice in the top-middle a drop-down box, from where you can choose directly from popular commands, or another ribbon for instance. Try not to choose more than 24 icons I want to suggest, if you choose them right, it will be more than enough. Click on the "OK" button to leave this screen. By default the new Quick Access Toolbar will be there on every Word document.
How do you export or import a custom Quick Access Bar:
This is actually in the same page as above mentioned when you customize the Quick Access Toolbar. Look at the bottom right, and notice the Import/Export button. From there you can choose export all customizations, or import an existing file. Easy enough!! Copy the exported "Excel Customizations.exportedUI" file, to a save location when youre satisfied with it and use it as an import, on your work, virtual machines, your netbook, laptop or child pc. Easy like that. Customizations are user based, so you don't harm anyone with it.
An example of this file can be downloaded at this link. Feel free to use it yourself!
Tip: With the same right click on, for instance the home tab, you can set the Quick Access Toolbar underneath the ribbon, hide or even create a ribbon for your own. It is my opinion that a well designed Quick Access Toolbar is enough for most users. If you do not use much functions in Excel 2010, you might even think off hiding the whole ribbon and just use the Quick Access Toolbar. That will give you for sure more space for the text itselves !.
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Ben Oostdam has been working with Windows systems since 1993. Started shortly with Windows NT 4, and every Windows system after that. Worked for several companies as a system administrator, and is currently a Senior Support Engineer for a large company in the Netherlands specialized in System Center Solutions.
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