What Is the Microsoft Office Button?
The Microsoft Office Button is a user interface feature change that replaces the traditional “File” menu, commonly seen at the top of certain Microsoft Office programs. It contains many of the same functions, but is visually different, as it replaces the standard text interface with a pronounced, colorful button.
The Microsoft Office Button was a stark departure from its previous design interface and only exists in the 2007 version of Microsoft Office. It is located in the upper-left corner of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access. The Button also exists within Outlook, but can only be seen upon creating a new message, task, contact or calendar item.
The change is part of a new menu and toolbar interface called “the Ribbon” that organizes similar commands into logical groups for quick access. In addition to standard, task-centered commands, the Button also includes additional functions, including “Finish,” which allows a user to check a file for personal information or hidden metadata. Another feature of the Button is the option to close out of a program quickly by double-clicking the Button. Though the design change is notable and differentiated, it has since been removed from future versions of Microsoft Office, including the 2010 and 2013 versions.
