What is Ribbon in Excel?

In an earlier version of Excel, a menu and toolbar were replaced by a ribbon 2007. The basic tabs under the ribbon are – “Home,” “Insert,” “Page Layout,” “Formulas,” “Data,” “Review,” and “View.” We can customize it according to the requirements. See the image below. The highlighted strip is called ribbon, consisting of tabs like “Home, “Insert,” etc.

How to Customize Ribbon in Excel?

Below are the steps to customize the ribbon.

Step 1 – Right-click anywhere on the ribbon. It will open a pop-up with options, including “Customize the Ribbon.”

Step 2 – This will open the Excel Options box for you.

Step 3 – You can see two options on the screen: “Customize the Ribbon” on the right and the “Choose commands from” option on the left.

Step 4 – You can click on the (+) sign to expand the list.

You will see some more tabs under the Main Tabs.

You can shrink the list by clicking on the (-) sign.

Step 5 – You can select or deselect the required tab to customize the ribbon. It will appear on the sheet accordingly.

You can also add additional tabs to your sheet by following the below steps.

  • Click New Tab or New group and rename it with some name (not necessary) by clicking on the rename option.Go to choose a command from option and select the desired option from the dropdown.Add command to the tab or group you have created.

Click on File Menu —> Options

It will open Excel options for you, where you will see the option to customize the ribbon.

How to Collapse (Minimize) Ribbon in Excel?

You can collapse the ribbon by right-clicking anywhere on the ribbon and then selecting the “Collapse the Ribbon” option.

How to Use a Ribbon in Excel with Examples

Below are some examples where you required customization of the ribbon.

Example #1

Someone asks you to record a macro or write a code in VBAWrite A Code In VBAVBA code refers to a set of instructions written by the user in the Visual Basic Applications programming language on a Visual Basic Editor (VBE) to perform a specific task.read more. How will you do that?

Solution:

We can use excel shortcutsExcel ShortcutsAn Excel shortcut is a technique of performing a manual task in a quicker way.read more “Alt + F8” to record macro and “Alt + F11” to open the VBA screen. But remembering shortcuts is not always easy, so here is another option.

Shortcut key to Record Macro:

Shortcut key to Open VBA Screen:

Add developer ribbon in excel by using the following steps. First, “Customize the Ribbon” will open the Excel options box.

Check on the developer option shown in the list under the main tabs. See the image below. Click Ok.

You will see the developer tabDeveloper TabEnabling the developer tab in excel can help the user perform various functions for VBA, Macros and Add-ins like importing and exporting XML, designing forms, etc. This tab is disabled by default on excel; thus, the user needs to enable it first from the options menu.read more under your ribbon. See the image below.

You can see the macros or basic visual screens option.

Example #2

Someone asks you to create an interactive dashboard using Power View in ExcelPower View In ExcelExcel Power View is a data visualization technology that helps you create interactive visuals like graphs, charts. It allows you to analyze data by looking at the visuals you created. As a result, it makes your excel data more meaningful and insightful for better decision making.read more 2016 version.

The “Power View” option is hidden in Excel 2016. So, we must follow the below steps to add the “Power View” command in our Excel. First, go to “Customize the Ribbon.”

Under “Customize the Ribbon,” extend the “Insert” option, then click on the “New Group (Custom).”

Now, choose the command shown on the left and select the command, not in the ribbon from the dropdown. Now, select “Insert a Power View Report.” Next, click on “Add.” It will add a “Power View” under the “Insert” tab. (When you click on “Add,” make sure a “New Group (Custom)” is selected. Else, an error will pop up). Select “OK.” See the below image:

Now you can see the power view option under the insert tab in the new group section:

Example #3

Let’s take another scenario.

Suppose we are working on a report requiring the sum of the values in subsequent rows or columns very frequently.

To sum up the values, we need to write a SUM function whenever the total value is required. Here, we can simplify our work by adding the AutoSum command to our ribbon. Then, go to “Customize the Ribbon.”

Under customize, the ribbon, Extend home, then click on the new group.

Now, choose the command shown on the left and select “All commands” from the dropdown. Now, select the “∑” AutoSum option. Next, click on “Add.” It will add “∑” “AutoSum” under the “Home” tab. (when you click on “Add,” make sure a “New Group (Custom)” is selected. Else, an error will pop up). Select “OK.” See the below image:

Now you can see the Autosum option under Home Tab in the New Group section:

Now let us see the use of it.

We have some numbers in cells A1 to A7. We need to get the sum in A8. Select cell A8 and click “AutoSum.” It will automatically apply the SUM formula for the active range and give you the SUM.

We get the following result.

Things to Remember

  • We must slow the performance by adding tabs to the ribbon. So, we must add and keep only those tabs, whichever is required frequently.We must add a logical command to a logical group or tab so it can easily find that command.When adding commands from the “Command” option, not the ribbon, we must ensure that we have created a “New Group (Custom).” Otherwise, it will display the error.

This article is a guide to Ribbon in Excel. Here, we discuss how to customize, collapse, and use ribbon in Excel, along with examples and explanations. You can learn more about Excel from the following articles: –

  • List of Top 10 Excel CommandsStep Chart work in ExcelStep Chart Work In ExcelStep Chart in excel shows the exact time of change along with the trend of the data points as well.read moreWatermark in ExcelExcel 2016 RibbonsExcel 2016 RibbonsRibbons in Excel 2016 are designed to help you easily locate the command you want to use. Ribbons are organized into logical groups called Tabs, each of which has its own set of functions.read more