Windows Ribbon Framework

The Windows Ribbon framework is a rich command presentation system that provides a modern alternative to the layered menus, toolbars, and task panes of traditional Windows applications. Similar in functionality and appearance to the Microsoft Office 2007 Fluent user interface, the Ribbon framework is composed of a ribbon command bar that exposes the major features of an application through a series of tabs at the top of an application window, and a context menu system.

In this section

Topic Description
Ribbon Framework Overviews
The topics contained in this section explore the fundamentals of the Ribbon framework.
Ribbon Framework Developer Guides
The topics contained in this section describe specific aspects of the Windows Ribbon framework.
Ribbon Framework Control Library
The topics contained in this section describe the set of controls that are included with the Ribbon framework. The controls listed here are the UI objects in a ribbon that expose Command functionality.
Ribbon Framework Reference
The topics contained in this section provide the Reference specifications for the Ribbon framework.
Ribbon Framework Samples
The topics contained in this section provide details about the code samples that support the Windows Ribbon framework documentation.
Ribbon Framework Glossary

Developer Audience

The Windows Ribbon framework is designed for use by C/C++ developers and UI designers.

Recommended proficiencies:

  • COM programming
  • Windows API programming
  • XML/XAML programming

Recommended foundational knowledge:

  • UI programming concepts
  • General UI concepts

Minimum Requirements

Requirement Value
Minimum supported client Windows 7
Windows Vista with Service Pack 2 (SP2) and Platform Update for Windows Vista
Minimum supported server Windows Server 2008 R2
Windows Server 2008 with SP2 and Platform Update for Windows Server 2008
Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) 7.0
Header and IDL files uiribbon.h, uiribbon.idl

Note

The Platform Update for Windows Vista and Platform Update for Windows Server 2008 are sets of run-time libraries that enable developers to target Windows Ribbon applications to both Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. The platform updates will be available to all Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 customers through Windows Update. Third-party applications that require Platform Update for Windows Vista or Platform Update for Windows Server 2008 can have Windows Update detect whether the required updated is installed; if it is not, Windows Update will download and install it in the background.

See Also

Component Object Model (COM)

Windows API

XAML