
Toolbars present only the most frequently used commands, whereas menu bars catalog all the available toplevel commands within a program. Traditionally, toolbars are different from menu bars in the following ways: For these reasons, a program's menu bar and its toolbar don't need to correspond directly.

#Microsoft word toolbar too zoomed in how to
Once users learn how to access a command on a toolbar, they rarely continue to access the command from the menu bar. A toolbar doesn't attempt to train users—just make them productive.

All rights reserved.Ī good menu bar is a comprehensive catalog of all the available top-level commands, whereas a good toolbar gives quick, convenient access to frequently used commands. If your program has a toolbar without a menu bar, and most of the commands are accessible indirectly through menu buttons and split buttons, this toolbar is essentially a menu bar. If the command icons aren't high quality and aren't self-explanatory, a menu bar may be a better choice.
In contrast to menu bars, toolbars don't have to be comprehensive or self-explanatory—just quick, convenient, and efficient. Toolbars can be more efficient than menu bars because they are direct (always displayed instead of being displayed on mouse click), immediate (instead of requiring additional input) and contain the most frequently used commands (instead of a comprehensive list). Use toolbars in addition to or in place of menu bars.
#Microsoft word toolbar too zoomed in windows
Designing with Windows Presentation FoundationĪ toolbar is a graphical presentation of commands optimized for efficient access.Windows User Experience Design Principles.Windows User Experience Interaction Guidelines.
