I too absolutely detest the new 2007 user interface. I find it extremely
rigid and un-customizable. In 2000 Excel, I used to have about 5 different
toolbars with a total of about 45 command icons. About 25 of these icons I
used regularly, and the other 20 or so were occasionally used. The rest of
the excel commands I didn't need, but I knew where to look for them in the
menus if I ever did need them. I had every toolbar and icon exactly how I
wanted it, and exactly where I wanted it.
In the 2007 system I'm just starting to use, there is only one toolbar, the
"quick access" bar, that I can't put wherever I want, and can only handle one
icon after another, after another. I can't split thing up into multiple
toolbars or drag different toolbars to different parts of the screen.

For the menu-based commands, and let's face it, the "ribbon" is the same
system as the old menus, the menus are now cluttered, and I have to sort
through dozens of options to find the one I wanted.

To Autofit a cell's column width for example, Instead of the 2000 method of
going to the format menu, scanning a short list of 7 options, picking column,
and picking autofit from another short sublist of 5 items, in the 2007 method
I now have to go to "home" (a mashing together of edit and format commands?
Why name it "home" instead of "edit"? to confuse people like me who've been
loyal customers for 15 years? And same goes for changing the "file" menu to
an un-named graphical symbol... as practical to users as trying to find a
Prince album in the store after he renamed himself with a symbol in the 90's)
look at a ribbon that has about 42 icons on it (none of which can be
customized as far as I can tell), navigate my eyes through the 42 icon
cluster to the "cells" area, pick "format" from 3 options, and then pick
autofit from a sub-menu list of 12 options. Every menu, from home to insert
to view is a cluster-bomb of icons, most of which I'll never need, that I
have to navigate through to get to the commands I do need.

I feel like I'm having to learn a more complicated 2nd language, when I was
already extremely happy with and fluent in the 1st language that I spoke for
15 years. Not good for efficiency. Are they daring me to try a macintosh for
the 1st time in my life? I have a feeling I'll either ask my IT guy to
install an older version of Office or try one of the add-ons that gives the
old-style feel.




"Crystal" wrote:

I HATE the new 2007 editions of MS Office Excel and Word. I can't find any
of the commands I used to know by heart. Every time I try to use the new
computer I want to cry or throw it out the window. This is totally an
unfamiliar problem for me because
1) I grew up with a mouse in my hand,
2) I have a minor in Computer Science, and
3) my friends call me "Data" because I'm typically so UNemotional.

WHY ON EARTH did microsofties decide to go and change EVERYTHING?????

Is there a way to make 2007 editions look and work like previous editions?
While I await the instructions, I'm going back to my 2000 NT machine. If
there are no instructions, this computer is getting returned ASAP.

Thanks.

Crystal