Microsoft Office

Customizing the Quick
Access Toolbar
In previous versions of Excel, it was relatively easy for end users to make
changes to the user interface. They could create custom toolbars that contained
frequently used commands, and they could even remove menu items
that they never used. Users could display any number of toolbars and move them
wherever they liked. Those days are over.
With the introduction of the new Ribbon-based user interface in Office 2007,
end-user customization is severely curtailed. Although you can modify the
Ribbon, it’s a rather complicated process, and it’s not something a casual user
would do. In Office 2007, user-interface customization is limited to the Quick
Access Toolbar, or QAT, which is the topic of this chapter.
IN THIS CHAPTER
About the Quick Access Toolbar
Adding frequently used
commands to the QAT
Adding commands that are
otherwise not available
About the QAT
The QAT is always visible, regardless of which Ribbon tab is selected. After
you customize the QAT, your frequently used commands will always be one
click away.
The only situation in which the QAT is not visible is in Full
NOTE
Screen mode, which is enabled by choosing View ➪ Workbook
Views ➪ Full Screen. To cancel Full Screen mode, right-click any cell and select
Close Full Screen or press Escape.
By default, the QAT is located on the left side of Excel’s title bar (see Figure 23.1).
It includes three tools:
n Save: Saves the active workbook.
n Undo: Reverses the effect of the last action.
n Redo: Reverses the effect of the last undo.
If you prefer, you can move the QAT below the Ribbon. To do so, right-click the
QAT and select Show Quick Access Toolbar Below The Ribbon. Moving the QAT
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