Michael’s Corner

Michael's Corner is a monthly publication written by Michael E. Beall, Autodesk Authorized Author and peripatetic AutoCAD trainer. Michael travels all over the USA, bringing his fantastic experience and great understanding of AutoCAD to his clients. Michael's Corner brings together many of the tips, tricks and methods developed during these training sessions for the benefit of all users.

Michael's Corner provides something for every AutoCAD user. Every month, a number of articles cover a wide range of topics, suitable for users at all levels, including "The Basics" for those just starting out. Essentially, the aim of Michael's Corner is to help all AutoCAD users work smarter and faster.

This month…

From the Vault

Originally published August 2009

Adding a New Tab and Panel to the Ribbon in A2010

If you want to set one of the buttons of your car radio to a specific station, you have to actually be in the car with the radio on. Similarly, if you want to add a Panel to the Ribbon, you have to make a Tab for the panel to "live" in. The exercises are created in AutoCAD 2010; A2009 is similar. Hang on tight, here we go.

Important: Since the Ribbon is directly associated with a Workspace, I would (highly) recommend you save your current workspace if you haven't done so already. Then use Workspace SwitchingSave Current As again and make a workspace that is exclusive to this exercise. My Workspace name for this exercise is Add a Tab & Panel.

Instructions to Create a New TAB on the Ribbon

1. Open the CUI from the Manage tab of the Ribbon, or just type CUI.

2. Navigate to Partial Customization FilesCUSTOM, then expand the Ribbon node. [The CUSTOM node is the optimum location for your customized menu components as these will be retained if AutoCAD needs to be re-installed or if when you upgrade to the next version.]

3. Under the Ribbon node, right-click on Tabs, then click New Tab and enter a name. In this exercise, I'm naming it CT-AUG09.

Instructions to Add a PANEL with Commands to the TAB

1. Under the Ribbon node, right-click on Panels, then click New Panel and enter a name. In this exercise, my panel name is Cool Stuff.

   Note: Under your panel name, you will see three default components: Panel Dialog Box Launcher, Row 1, and <SLIDEOUT>. In the next step, you will put commands in Row 1 for this panel.

2. Similar to adding commands to a toolbar (see December 2008 & January 2006), from the Command List, drag and drop your favorite command(s) up and release it next to Row 1.

3. Then, after populating Row 1 with commands, drag your "Cool Stuff" panel up, and drop it beside your tab.

   

Instructions to Update the WORKSPACE with the New TAB

1. To have your new tab (with the associated panel) recognized in your workspace, go back up to the Workspaces node and click the name of the workspace where you want this tab & panel to (mine is current). You will now see the Workspace Contents area in the upper right quadrant of the CUI.

2. Under Workspace Contents, click Customize Workspace.

3. Under CUSTOM (where you made your tab and panel), put a check in the box beside your newly created Tab. You will now see your new tab Ribbon Tabs listing of your Workspace Contents.

   

4. Click Done, then click OK to apply and close the CUI, then check out your new tab!

Note: If you want to add more commands to your panel, just open the CUI, go to CUSTOM and expand your Panel, then drag and drop commands onto Row 1. When you apply the changes and close the CUI, your panel will be updated with the additional commands!

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