NEWSLETTER

Using the SpecLink-E and LinkMan-E Ribbon Bars

Both SpecLink-E and LinkMan-E use the relatively new Microsoft “ribbon bar” instead of the older, menu-based system used in BSD SpecLink+. The ribbon bar debuted in the Microsoft Office applications in 2007 and users familiar with Microsoft Office 2007 have already used it. Initially, this command concept may appear to be a screen hog that makes things more difficult to find. On closer examination, however, one will find that the bar is easily minimized and accessed, and it organizes commands into logical groups that are arranged on separate tabs. It is a much more visual interface that ultimately makes everything easier to find and use.

The primary components are:

• App Button – The application button appears to be simply a version of the application’s icon located in the top left corner of the application window.  When clicked, however, the App Button drops down a menu of global commands, such as New, Open and Print or Export, along with a list of recently used Projects (SLE) or Groups (LME).
• Ribbon Bar – This is the tabbed area that contains all the commands associated with a particular tab divided into groups. The Ribbon can be minimized by right-clicking on the ribbon or double-clicking on any tab name. When minimized, the ribbon bar will reappear when you click on a tab, allowing you to navigate through the tabs, groups and commands. Once you select a command or function, the ribbon bar will slide back into the window border leaving only the row of tabs exposed until you again click a tab. To lock the ribbon in view again, simply right click or double click any tab.
• Tabs – Tabs are used to organize “controls” (commands) according to main application functions. The Home tab is a special tab used to group many of the most commonly used application commands. In BSD SpecLink-E (SLE) we have 6 other tabs, including Insert, View, Project Tree, Documents, Format, and Tools. In BSD LinkMan-E (LME), in addition to the Home tab we have Applications and Tools tabs.
• Groups – Each tab is divided into one or more groups. A vertical bar separates one group from the next and the bottom row of the ribbon bar shows the name of the group. Groups divide a tab by function or object type. For example, the Home tab in SLE is divided into the Clipboard, Editing, Move to Paragraph, and Paragraph groups.
• Quick Access Toolbar – The Quick Access Toolbar is a row of small icons next to the App Button in the top left border of the application window. You can right-click on any command on any tab to add it to the Quick Access Toolbar.
• Help – The Help documentation window is accessed by clicking on the small, light blue circle with a question mark, at the top right corner of the application. You can also press F1 to access the Help menu.

Customizing the Quick Access Toolbar is the best thing to do to make it faster and easier to find the functions you use most frequently. For example, if you frequently hide the Project Tree to see more of the Document Panel, then right click on the Left Panels button from the View tab Panels group to add it to your Quick Access Toolbar. Subsequently, you will use a single click to perform that function, rather than having to click on the View tab first and then click the Left Panels icon. When you customize the Quick Access Toolbar, your changes will remain after you install a software update.

Users who prefer to use the keyboard instead of a mouse or other pointing device should know that all the menu commands can be accessed by using the keyboard. If you use the Alt key followed by the first letter of a tab (such as Alt and then D for Documents tab) the shortcut key abbreviations for the commands on that tab appear on the menus. Type the key for the command you want. You do not need to hold the Alt key down when you type the key for the desired tab or the command within the tab. Dedicated keyboard enthusiasts will discover they quickly learn the key combinations for common commands and can complete the action faster than with a mouse.

You should notice that some commands are toggle commands that have a status of either On (Open), or Off (Closed). These commands have an orange color when they are in the On state. Also, the background of a command that is available will turn yellow when you run the cursor over it but retains the light blue background of the ribbon bar with grayed-out title if it is not available for use. The ribbon bar also shrinks automatically to fit the size of the current window and screen. Large icons become small icons, the command name text is dropped (a tool tip remains to help with identification), and groups finally become drop down menus at smaller window sizes.

We suggest you take a few minutes to look at each tab and the groups it contains to familiarize yourself with how the ribbon is organized. For example, on the Insert tab there are groups for New Section (all the ways you can insert a new section into your spec), Tables, Illustrations, Links (including both hyperlinks to the web and SpecLink links), and Choice Fields. Note that you come here to edit these objects as well as insert them.

We think you will find this new interface easy, intuitive, and fun to use once you have been at it for a few days. This article should help get you oriented, but don’t hesitate to call our Support group at 800-266-SPEC if you need assistance. We’re here to help.