Add a Custom Tab

A Custom Tab

In Microsoft Office, you issue commands by clicking buttons that are located on tabs. You may use some commands frequently and others not at all. In Office 2010, you can create custom tabs and place the options you use most frequently on those tabs, thereby keeping them at your fingertips. You can also modify existing tabs.

You modify existing tabs and create custom tabs in the Customize The Ribbon panel. There are two types of tabs, Main tabs and Tool tabs. Main tabs always appear. Tool tabs are context sensitive and only appear when you are working on an object to which the tool applies. For example, the Home tab always appears, but the Chart Tools tab only appears when you are working on a chart. You can choose the type of tab to which you want to add a custom tab.

Create a Custom Tab and a Custom Group

1. Click the File tab. A menu appears.

2. Click Options. The Options panel appears.

3. Click Customize Ribbon. The Customize The Ribbon panel appears.
4. In the Customize The Ribbon field, choose Main Tabs or Tool Tabs, depending on the type of tabs you want to customize. The tab options appear.
5. Click the tab after which you want to create a new tab. In the example, we clicked the Home tab.
6. Click the New Tab button. Office creates a new tab and a new group. Office names the new tab New Tab (Custom). Office names the new group New Group (Custom).

Rename a Tab

1. Click New Tab (Custom).
2. Click the Rename button. The Rename dialog box appears.

3. Type a new name for the tab.
4. Click OK. Office renames the tab.

Rename a Group

1. Click New Group (Custom).
2. Click the Rename button. The Rename dialog box appears.

3. Type a new name for the group.
4. Click OK. Office renames the group.

Add Command Buttons to a Group

1. With the name of the group selected, click to choose the location of the commands in the Choose Commands From field. The most frequently used commands are listed under Popular Commands. You can find all of the Ribbon commands under All Tabs.
2. Click the command you want to add.
3. Click the Add button. Office adds the command button to the group.

Note: To add a new group, click the New Group button and then add the command buttons.

Change the Position of Commands or Tabs

Commands and tabs appear in the order listed in the Customize The Ribbon panel. You can change the order.

1. Click a command or tab name.
2. Click the up-arrow to move the command up the stack.
3. Click the down-arrow to move the command down the stack.

When you have completed your modifications, click OK. The new tab appears on the Ribbon.

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