Learning the new interface takes some time and may feel like a burden to long-time Office users. The new interface, however, is designed to make common tasks easier to find. The menu bar from Office 2003 and earlier versions has been replaced with a larger, more graphic "Ribbon", which provides access to categorized groups of features and functions.
Ribbon Overview
The Ribbon at the top of the screen is broken into multiple categories based on the feature or function contained within it. Each category of functions is on it's own tab. Tabs are sensitive to the content selected on the page, so when working with objects, such as a chart, a tab may appear containing chart tools.
Home Tab
The Home tab is the default starting point when you open Excel. This tab contains basic formatting options, including font size, color and alignment. It also provides options for printing, sorting, and filtering data.
Insert Tab
The next tab is the Insert tab. As the name implies, this tab contains options for inserting items, such as charts or graphics, into your document.
Page Layout Tab
The Page Layout tab is where you go to adjust margins and page orientation. In addition, it provides access to a new feature in 2007, called "Themes." Themes allow you to quickly change the look of a presentation using a pre-defined set of fonts, spacing, and layout options.
The Formulas tab provides quick access to common functions for date, time, and financial transactions. Other functions are accessible using the "Insert Function" button found on this tab. You can create named ranges and cells and trace formula calculations from here as well.
Data Tab
The Data tab allows you to convert text data to columns based on a specific delimiter, such as a space, remove duplicate values, and create outlines. In addition, you can create connections to databases or external data sources to display data in your sheet. This tab is where the commonly used sort and filter options reside.
Review Tab
The Review tab provides options to protect the data in cells, add comments, check spelling, and access the thesaurus.
View Tab
The final default tab is the View tab. This section contains options related to displaying the document on your screen, such as hiding or displaying specific rows, controlling the page layout on the screen, and switching between multiple documents.
The new Ribbon interface in Microsoft Office Applications takes some getting used to, but once you get used to the layout, you may find it easier and more intuitive to use.
References :
Microsoft: Up to Speed with the 2007 Office System
Microsoft: Reference: Locations of Excel 2003 Commands in Excel 2007
Microsoft: Excel Ribbon mapping Workbook
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