Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
106 Introduction to Microsoft Offi fice
depending on the application. Additionally, one or more on-demand tabs
may be present. An on-demand tab is displayed depending on what is
selected in the program document.
In the lower-right corner of most groups on the ribbon is a small
arrow. This is called a dialog box launcher. Clicking the arrow opens a
dialog box related to the commands in the group.
Keyboard Navigation
The ribbon is designed for using a mouse to select commands.
However, the keyboard can also be used to navigate the ribbon and
select commands. This allows the user to quickly complete tasks without
removing his or her hands from the keyboard to use the mouse. Access
keys are used to navigate the ribbon with the keyboard. An access key
is the keyboard key or key combination used instead of the mouse to
activate a command. These are often called keyboard shortcuts.
Access keys are displayed by pressing the
[Alt]
key on the keyboard.
Little boxes called key tip badges appear over each command in the
Quick Access
toolbar and the ribbon tabs, as shown in Figure 4-3. To
activate a command on the
Quick Access
toolbar, press the key or key
combination shown in the key tip badge corresponding to the command.
To access a command on the ribbon, fi rst press the access key for the fi
tab, even if the tab is currently visible, and then press the key or key
combination shown for the command.
FYI FYI
Many computer
users find navigating fi
the ribbon using
the keyboard to be
significantly faster and fi
more efficient than fi
using the mouse.
Ribbon
Tab Command button
Group
Goodheart-Willcox Publisher
Figure 4-2. The ribbon is the main command interface in the Microsoft Office suite of software.
Key tip badges
Goodheart-Willcox Publisher
Figure 4-3. Key tip badges are displayed on the ribbon when the [Alt] key is
pressed.