Ron,

I have looked at your website revisions and l think the explanation /
examples for changing the Ribbon are now much clearer.

I have followed / used your examples succesfully to the extent that l
have even 'edited' the XML code to give me the look and appearance l
wanted on the Ribbon. (I know very little about XML) Many thanks, l am
sure many advanced Excel users will benefit from your efforts.

I have 1 further question to ask you. How did you create the XML
example code? If l could do the same it would enable me to create
templates for the menu structures l use frequently. I would then only
have to rename the Tab & Group within the XML code.

TIA

Regards

Michael Beckinsale

Michael,

You can edit XML in any text editor, but Ron probably used the Custom UI
Editor Tool that he mentions at the start of this page
http://www.rondebruin.nl/ribbon.htm

--
HTH

Bob Phillips

(there's no email, no snail mail, but somewhere should be gmail in my addy)

"michael.beckinsale" wrote in message
oups.com...
Ron,

I have looked at your website revisions and l think the explanation /
examples for changing the Ribbon are now much clearer.

I have followed / used your examples succesfully to the extent that l
have even 'edited' the XML code to give me the look and appearance l
wanted on the Ribbon. (I know very little about XML) Many thanks, l am
sure many advanced Excel users will benefit from your efforts.

I have 1 further question to ask you. How did you create the XML
example code? If l could do the same it would enable me to create
templates for the menu structures l use frequently. I would then only
have to rename the Tab & Group within the XML code.

TIA

Regards

Michael Beckinsale

Hi Bob,

I tried that yesterday without success.

However after you confirmed what l thought l persevered, using
notepad, and if you change the extension to XML you can save to the
'Samples' folder of Custom RibbinUI tool. This means that you can make
'XML templates' of your favourite type of menu layouts and then easily
edit them for the particular workbook you are developing. I used the
examples in the tools + Ron's examples as a starting point and have
succesfully created customised menus as l want them.

You cant use the tool directly to save an 'XML template' as it will
only save it directly into an .xlsm workbook.

The next stage is to try and integrate this with John Walkenbach's /
Rons 'MenuMaker' approach which l use on a regular basis. Any ideas?

Thanks for your quick response.

Regards

Michael beckinsale

Hi Michael

You can create one menu button on the ribbon and call the PopUp macro with onAction.
This is very easy

Or add the code in the macro

Sub Macro1(control as IRibbonControl)
On Error Resume Next
Application.CommandBars(ThisWorkbook.Sheets("MenuS heet").Range("B2").Value).ShowPopup
On Error GoTo 0
End Sub



--

Regards Ron de Bruin
http://www.rondebruin.nl/tips.htm


"michael.beckinsale" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi Bob,

I tried that yesterday without success.

However after you confirmed what l thought l persevered, using
notepad, and if you change the extension to XML you can save to the
'Samples' folder of Custom RibbinUI tool. This means that you can make
'XML templates' of your favourite type of menu layouts and then easily
edit them for the particular workbook you are developing. I used the
examples in the tools + Ron's examples as a starting point and have
succesfully created customised menus as l want them.

You cant use the tool directly to save an 'XML template' as it will
only save it directly into an .xlsm workbook.

The next stage is to try and integrate this with John Walkenbach's /
Rons 'MenuMaker' approach which l use on a regular basis. Any ideas?

Thanks for your quick response.

Regards

Michael beckinsale

I thought someone had already done that. If I can find it, I will post back.

--
---
HTH

Bob

(there's no email, no snail mail, but somewhere should be gmail in my addy)



"michael.beckinsale" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi Bob,

I tried that yesterday without success.

However after you confirmed what l thought l persevered, using
notepad, and if you change the extension to XML you can save to the
'Samples' folder of Custom RibbinUI tool. This means that you can make
'XML templates' of your favourite type of menu layouts and then easily
edit them for the particular workbook you are developing. I used the
examples in the tools + Ron's examples as a starting point and have
succesfully created customised menus as l want them.

You cant use the tool directly to save an 'XML template' as it will
only save it directly into an .xlsm workbook.

The next stage is to try and integrate this with John Walkenbach's /
Rons 'MenuMaker' approach which l use on a regular basis. Any ideas?

Thanks for your quick response.

Regards

Michael beckinsale

Michael-

The custom UI editor is a great tool for several things but it is a terrible
pure XML editor. For one thing the text is constantly reformatting as you
type so the screen jumps all over the place. For another it does not
reference the customUI.XSD so you get no intellisense. For another it has
no Find or Find/Replace. For another it does not support
outlining/collapsing...

If you're going to spend any time creating or editing XML files you have to
get a true XML editor. I'm new to actually doing things with XML too, so I
don't know all the editors out there and their pros and cons. But since I
have Visual Studio 2005 I use its built-in XML editor, which supplies all
the things I mentioned above. Folks - INTELLISENSE - you must have this to
get anything done creating Ribbonx. It's great - soooo much easier.

What all XML editors lack (as far as I know) is the ability to do what the
Custom UI editor does - stick your Ribbonx file in the Excel file and create
the needed references to it. When that happens we'll have the tool we
really need. Until then, I create in the VS editor and copy/paste into the
Custom UI editor.

--
Jim
"michael.beckinsale" wrote in message
oups.com...
| Hi Bob,
|
| I tried that yesterday without success.
|
| However after you confirmed what l thought l persevered, using
| notepad, and if you change the extension to XML you can save to the
| 'Samples' folder of Custom RibbinUI tool. This means that you can make
| 'XML templates' of your favourite type of menu layouts and then easily
| edit them for the particular workbook you are developing. I used the
| examples in the tools + Ron's examples as a starting point and have
| succesfully created customised menus as l want them.
|
| You cant use the tool directly to save an 'XML template' as it will
| only save it directly into an .xlsm workbook.
|
| The next stage is to try and integrate this with John Walkenbach's /
| Rons 'MenuMaker' approach which l use on a regular basis. Any ideas?
|
| Thanks for your quick response.
|
| Regards
|
| Michael beckinsale
|
|
|
|

Sounds like a homework project Jim <G

Bob



"Jim Rech" wrote in message
...
Michael-

The custom UI editor is a great tool for several things but it is a
terrible
pure XML editor. For one thing the text is constantly reformatting as you
type so the screen jumps all over the place. For another it does not
reference the customUI.XSD so you get no intellisense. For another it has
no Find or Find/Replace. For another it does not support
outlining/collapsing...

If you're going to spend any time creating or editing XML files you have
to
get a true XML editor. I'm new to actually doing things with XML too, so
I
don't know all the editors out there and their pros and cons. But since I
have Visual Studio 2005 I use its built-in XML editor, which supplies all
the things I mentioned above. Folks - INTELLISENSE - you must have this
to
get anything done creating Ribbonx. It's great - soooo much easier.

What all XML editors lack (as far as I know) is the ability to do what the
Custom UI editor does - stick your Ribbonx file in the Excel file and
create
the needed references to it. When that happens we'll have the tool we
really need. Until then, I create in the VS editor and copy/paste into
the
Custom UI editor.

--
Jim
"michael.beckinsale" wrote in message
oups.com...
| Hi Bob,
|
| I tried that yesterday without success.
|
| However after you confirmed what l thought l persevered, using
| notepad, and if you change the extension to XML you can save to the
| 'Samples' folder of Custom RibbinUI tool. This means that you can make
| 'XML templates' of your favourite type of menu layouts and then easily
| edit them for the particular workbook you are developing. I used the
| examples in the tools + Ron's examples as a starting point and have
| succesfully created customised menus as l want them.
|
| You cant use the tool directly to save an 'XML template' as it will
| only save it directly into an .xlsm workbook.
|
| The next stage is to try and integrate this with John Walkenbach's /
| Rons 'MenuMaker' approach which l use on a regular basis. Any ideas?
|
| Thanks for your quick response.
|
| Regards
|
| Michael beckinsale
|
|
|
|

Hi Jim

Until then, I create in the VS editor and copy/paste into the
Custom UI editor.

Yes this is the best way for big projects.
But for a lot of the the Excel users no option I think.(home users)

I hope the creator of the UI edito will update the program.???

Btw:
I add information on the page about creating your own templates in the UI editor.

--

Regards Ron de Bruin
http://www.rondebruin.nl/tips.htm


"Jim Rech" wrote in message ...
Michael-

The custom UI editor is a great tool for several things but it is a terrible
pure XML editor. For one thing the text is constantly reformatting as you
type so the screen jumps all over the place. For another it does not
reference the customUI.XSD so you get no intellisense. For another it has
no Find or Find/Replace. For another it does not support
outlining/collapsing...

If you're going to spend any time creating or editing XML files you have to
get a true XML editor. I'm new to actually doing things with XML too, so I
don't know all the editors out there and their pros and cons. But since I
have Visual Studio 2005 I use its built-in XML editor, which supplies all
the things I mentioned above. Folks - INTELLISENSE - you must have this to
get anything done creating Ribbonx. It's great - soooo much easier.

What all XML editors lack (as far as I know) is the ability to do what the
Custom UI editor does - stick your Ribbonx file in the Excel file and create
the needed references to it. When that happens we'll have the tool we
really need. Until then, I create in the VS editor and copy/paste into the
Custom UI editor.

--
Jim
"michael.beckinsale" wrote in message
oups.com...
| Hi Bob,
|
| I tried that yesterday without success.
|
| However after you confirmed what l thought l persevered, using
| notepad, and if you change the extension to XML you can save to the
| 'Samples' folder of Custom RibbinUI tool. This means that you can make
| 'XML templates' of your favourite type of menu layouts and then easily
| edit them for the particular workbook you are developing. I used the
| examples in the tools + Ron's examples as a starting point and have
| succesfully created customised menus as l want them.
|
| You cant use the tool directly to save an 'XML template' as it will
| only save it directly into an .xlsm workbook.
|
| The next stage is to try and integrate this with John Walkenbach's /
| Rons 'MenuMaker' approach which l use on a regular basis. Any ideas?
|
| Thanks for your quick response.
|
| Regards
|
| Michael beckinsale
|
|
|
|

Yes this is the best way for big projects.

Ron, it doesn't have to be very big before an XML editor pays dividends.

But for a lot of the the Excel users no option I think.(home users)

I'm hoping someone with more XML experience than me can jump in with a
recommendation of an XML editor that does what's needed and doesn't cost a
lot.

I hope the creator of the UI edito will update the program.???

That would be nice if it met all my criteria. But I'd certainly expect to
and be willing to pay for such a tool. Not a small fortune though - maybe
$60-$80 max.

--
Jim
"Ron de Bruin" wrote in message
...
| Hi Jim
|
| Until then, I create in the VS editor and copy/paste into the
| Custom UI editor.
|
| Yes this is the best way for big projects.
| But for a lot of the the Excel users no option I think.(home users)
|
| I hope the creator of the UI edito will update the program.???
|
| Btw:
| I add information on the page about creating your own templates in the UI
editor.
|
| --
|
| Regards Ron de Bruin
| http://www.rondebruin.nl/tips.htm

Hi Michael

Thanks for thr feedback

(I know very little about XML)
Me to <g

Download the Zip with examples again an unzip the files on your desktop.
Rename the file or files and open the files in Notepad.
Edit the XML and save the file.
Then copy it in the same folder as the other examples.

I hope I have time to add a few more examples this week



--

Regards Ron de Bruin
http://www.rondebruin.nl/tips.htm


"michael.beckinsale" wrote in message
oups.com...
Ron,

I have looked at your website revisions and l think the explanation /
examples for changing the Ribbon are now much clearer.

I have followed / used your examples succesfully to the extent that l
have even 'edited' the XML code to give me the look and appearance l
wanted on the Ribbon. (I know very little about XML) Many thanks, l am
sure many advanced Excel users will benefit from your efforts.

I have 1 further question to ask you. How did you create the XML
example code? If l could do the same it would enable me to create
templates for the menu structures l use frequently. I would then only
have to rename the Tab & Group within the XML code.

TIA

Regards

Michael Beckinsale

Hi Ron. You are looking good in that picture <G.

Bob

"Ron de Bruin" wrote in message
...
Hi Michael

Thanks for thr feedback

(I know very little about XML)
Me to <g

Download the Zip with examples again an unzip the files on your desktop.
Rename the file or files and open the files in Notepad.
Edit the XML and save the file.
Then copy it in the same folder as the other examples.

I hope I have time to add a few more examples this week



--

Regards Ron de Bruin
http://www.rondebruin.nl/tips.htm


"michael.beckinsale" wrote in message
oups.com...
Ron,

I have looked at your website revisions and l think the explanation /
examples for changing the Ribbon are now much clearer.

I have followed / used your examples succesfully to the extent that l
have even 'edited' the XML code to give me the look and appearance l
wanted on the Ribbon. (I know very little about XML) Many thanks, l am
sure many advanced Excel users will benefit from your efforts.

I have 1 further question to ask you. How did you create the XML
example code? If l could do the same it would enable me to create
templates for the menu structures l use frequently. I would then only
have to rename the Tab & Group within the XML code.

TIA

Regards

Michael Beckinsale

It is my best picture Bob <g


--

Regards Ron de Bruin
http://www.rondebruin.nl/tips.htm


"Bob Phillips" wrote in message ...
Hi Ron. You are looking good in that picture <G.

Bob

"Ron de Bruin" wrote in message
...
Hi Michael

Thanks for thr feedback

(I know very little about XML)
Me to <g

Download the Zip with examples again an unzip the files on your desktop.
Rename the file or files and open the files in Notepad.
Edit the XML and save the file.
Then copy it in the same folder as the other examples.

I hope I have time to add a few more examples this week



--

Regards Ron de Bruin
http://www.rondebruin.nl/tips.htm


"michael.beckinsale" wrote in message
oups.com...
Ron,

I have looked at your website revisions and l think the explanation /
examples for changing the Ribbon are now much clearer.

I have followed / used your examples succesfully to the extent that l
have even 'edited' the XML code to give me the look and appearance l
wanted on the Ribbon. (I know very little about XML) Many thanks, l am
sure many advanced Excel users will benefit from your efforts.

I have 1 further question to ask you. How did you create the XML
example code? If l could do the same it would enable me to create
templates for the menu structures l use frequently. I would then only
have to rename the Tab & Group within the XML code.

TIA

Regards

Michael Beckinsale

Ron / Bob / Jim,

Many thanks for all of your advice & comments, as usual its spot on
and you have addressed the questions l was going to raise as a result
of 'playing around' with XL2007menu customisation.

I have Visio 'somewhere' and will give that a try

Here are some of my comments / observations after 'playing around'. If
l have got anything wrong or if you have any comments to add l would
be gratefull for your reply.

I have now got a few ' XML templates ' that l can use to satisfy the
most frequently menu layouts l use. In my opininion they are not as
user friendly / efficient as the XL2003 & previous versions because
they either require more clicks to access (ie in previous versions ABC
Ltd could be a command bar item and upon clicking the user could
immediately acces their macros via a dropdown/popup.) or they are not
so pleasing to the eye. (this is a matter of opinion, if you like
XL2007 you might think them attractive!)

For presentation purposes l like the client to have their own menu so
in XL2007 l create a custom tab & group.( I assume l am correct in
that you cannot have an 'On Action' attribute within Tab & Group) I
then have to add buttons to the custom group and have the following
choice:

A) using XML script / callbacksto generate buttons / dropdowns within
the group. This is user friendly for the end user and requires the
same number of clicks. The drawback being the amount of effort
required by the developer who will need to learn XML if they are not
familiar with it.

B) create a button to utilise something like Rons 'MenuMaker'. This
requires an additional click by the user. From a developers view it
involves a very few lines of XML script and everything can then be
added to the menu from within the workbook

I am also looking forward to somebody developing an application that
combines true XML editing and the features of the CustomUIEditor

Regards

Michael beckinsale

XML script

You used that term a couple times, Michael. I believe it's an oxymoron.
XML is not a script. It is a markup language for describing structured
data. A fancy table, if you will. It is not inherently executable as a
script is, although a program can read it an do anything it wants with it.

create a button to utilise something like Rons 'MenuMaker'

Bear in mind that the user has to manually add a button to the QAT and
manually attach the macro to it. This is somewhat differently than a ribbon
tab appearing automatically when a user opens an Excel workbook or add-in.
So I'd use this approach for making my Personal.xls macros easier for me to
get to but, for an application that's going to be distributed to users, I
think you have to go the RibbonX route.

--
Jim
"michael.beckinsale" wrote in message
oups.com...
| Ron / Bob / Jim,
|
| Many thanks for all of your advice & comments, as usual its spot on
| and you have addressed the questions l was going to raise as a result
| of 'playing around' with XL2007menu customisation.
|
| I have Visio 'somewhere' and will give that a try
|
| Here are some of my comments / observations after 'playing around'. If
| l have got anything wrong or if you have any comments to add l would
| be gratefull for your reply.
|
| I have now got a few ' XML templates ' that l can use to satisfy the
| most frequently menu layouts l use. In my opininion they are not as
| user friendly / efficient as the XL2003 & previous versions because
| they either require more clicks to access (ie in previous versions ABC
| Ltd could be a command bar item and upon clicking the user could
| immediately acces their macros via a dropdown/popup.) or they are not
| so pleasing to the eye. (this is a matter of opinion, if you like
| XL2007 you might think them attractive!)
|
| For presentation purposes l like the client to have their own menu so
| in XL2007 l create a custom tab & group.( I assume l am correct in
| that you cannot have an 'On Action' attribute within Tab & Group) I
| then have to add buttons to the custom group and have the following
| choice:
|
| A) using XML script / callbacksto generate buttons / dropdowns within
| the group. This is user friendly for the end user and requires the
| same number of clicks. The drawback being the amount of effort
| required by the developer who will need to learn XML if they are not
| familiar with it.
|
| B) create a button to utilise something like Rons 'MenuMaker'. This
| requires an additional click by the user. From a developers view it
| involves a very few lines of XML script and everything can then be
| added to the menu from within the workbook
|
| I am also looking forward to somebody developing an application that
| combines true XML editing and the features of the CustomUIEditor
|
| Regards
|
| Michael beckinsale
|