How to: Customize a Built-in Tab
You can add groups and controls to a built-in tab. A built-in tab is a tab that is already on the Ribbon of a Microsoft Office application. For example, the Data tab is a built-in tab in Excel. By default, a custom group appears as the last group on a built-in tab. However, you can position a custom group before or after a built-in group on the tab.
Applies to: The information in this topic applies to document-level projects and application-level projects for the following applications: Excel 2007 and Excel 2010; InfoPath 2010; Outlook 2007 and Outlook 2010; PowerPoint 2007 and PowerPoint 2010; Project 2010; Visio 2010; Word 2007 and Word 2010. For more information, see Features Available by Office Application and Project Type.
Note
You can add groups to a built-in tab, but you cannot remove built-in groups from a built-in tab.
To add groups to a built-in tab
Right-click the Ribbon code file in Solution Explorer, and then click View Designer.
Right-click any tab in the Ribbon designer, and then click Properties.
In the Properties window, expand the ControlId property, and then set the ControlIdType property to Office.
Set the OfficeId property to the control ID of the built-in tab that you want to customize.
The control ID is the name that uniquely identifies tabs, groups, and controls that are built into Microsoft Office applications.
For a list of Office 2010 control IDs, see Office 2010 Help Files: Office Fluent User Interface Control Identifiers.
For a list of Office 2007 control IDs, see 2007 Office System Document: Lists of Control IDs.
From the Office Ribbon Controls tab of the Toolbox, drag groups onto the tab.
Note
Built-in groups do not appear in the designer. Therefore, the only way to determine whether you are working with a built-in tab is to examine the ControlId property of the tab.
To position groups on a built-in tab
In the Ribbon Designer, select a custom group.
In the Properties window, expand the Position property.
Set the PositionType property to the appropriate value:
BeforeOfficeId positions the group before a specified built-in group.
AfterOfficeId positions the group after a specified built-in group.
Set the OfficeId property to the control ID of a built-in group.
For a list of Office 2010 control IDs, see Office 2010 Help Files: Office Fluent User Interface Control Identifiers.
For a list of Office 2007 control IDs, see 2007 Office System Document: Lists of Control IDs.
See Also
Tasks
Walkthrough: Creating a Custom Tab by Using the Ribbon Designer
Walkthrough: Creating a Custom Tab by Using Ribbon XML
How to: Get Started Customizing the Ribbon
How to: Change the Position of a Tab on the Ribbon
How to: Customize the Microsoft Office Menu
How to: Show Add-in User Interface Errors