Topic: Ribbon videos

[Mark]

HI, i'm looking for a video that shows how to use the ribbon correctly. I don't get it. I have been using it for a month now and to me its just slower. Hopefully someone can show me the light.

thanks

[Kerry]

I haven't noticed one ... perhaps there's one hidden away in the tutorials on the AutoDesk site.

[Matt__W]

Do you have Google installed??         

[Kerry]

Do you have Google installed??         

OUCH !!!!

[BlackBox]

What product(s) are you using, Mark?


I've been using the Ribbon since it was first implemented in 2009 version (prior to SP3?, when it wasn't even customizable!), and use it daily for my work since, with Civil 3D 2011-2015.

I can see where vanilla users might get frustrated, and it is not without its trade-offs. For verticals though (C3D specifically), much of the required command access UI is not even provided as toolbars, so you're relegated to use Ribbon, or create your own 'native' toolbars... And with the advent of context-sensitive tab display, I simply could not be as proficient in my civil design work without the Ribbon.

Cheers

[Mark]

Do you have Google installed??         

Yeah, good luck with that!

Never mind, they block youtube.com here at work anyway.

[Matt__W]

Honestly, I get the most use out of the QAT instead.  I put all of my favorite commands there.

[dgorsman]

Instead of thinking of it as a full replacement for command line/PGP aliases or toolbars, think of it as a supplement.  There are a couple of key places where it works.

One is for commands that are used infrequently.  From CADWorx Plant Pro, there's a panel on the Ribbon which controls which of their palettes are shown.  Yes, they have commands and yes, they could be memorized or assigned PGP aliases.  But to do that memorization or use up a useful two- or three-letter alias is a bit of a waste since it gets used so infrequently.

Another is for logical grouping of tools to fit a work process.  With panel folding, less used optional tools for that process can be kept out of the way until needed.

Another was already mentioned - contextual tabs.

Finally, given the trend towards making everything automatically mobile-compatible and touchy-feely (literally), the oversized buttons and arrangement are more finger and stylus friendly.

[BlackBox]

... But to do that memorization or use up a useful two- or three-letter alias is a bit of a waste since it gets used so infrequently.

The implementation of autocomplete, etc. is another supplement to aliases, that precludes needing to add more aliases for commonly used commands, as in my case C3D 'learns' your frequently used commands.

As a specific example, when I first started to type O+F+F correctly the OFFSET Command was first in line, followed by OFFSETFEATURE Command. However, given that I use the latter more frequently for surface modeling, it now displays ahead of the former in my autocomplete options which I find to be very useful (for now).

[Jeff H]

If want to break it down to its basic parts its

• either a button with image that when clicked sends a macro to command line
• or some type of control that is bound to some drawings data.

Your tabs or like main Menu Headers(Home, Insert, Annootate, etc.....)

Each Tab contains Panels which is another level of grouping.
In pic below Your tabs or Highlighted in yellow with Home being Active tab and panels have red outline.

Inside panels you can add buttons with image small or big and text above or below, or you can nest more buttons inside, etc...

So it has different options to display buttons and other settings like what help file to open if you hit F1 while hovering over or tooltip to display, but when clicked just sends string to command line. You can see this in CUI

For example the circle buttons in pic below have macro set to
Center, Radius = ^C^C_circle
Center, Diameter = ^C^C_circle \_d
2-Point = ^C^C_circle _2p
3-Point = ^C^C_circle _3p
Tan, Tan, Radius = ^C^C_circle _ttr
Tan, Tan, Tan = ^C^C_circle _3p _tan \_tan \_tan \

If that helps and other type would be like layer combobox that is bound to layers but unlike properties pallet it will filter with currently selected filter in layer manager

[mjfarrell]

I must ask what is the real question?

In theory MOST work begins @ Home Tab....
Then other Tabs are accessed to do those Functions, e.g. Insert - to insert things.

And the Context sensitive Ribbon is set to do those things which one is allowed to do to whatever object one has selected.


Hower you will note that in Civil 3d and Map - there are STILL missing functions that can only be found by restoring the 'old' MENU BAR to your interface.  It's just another partial implementation by autodesk that annoys me.

[Hangman]

I must ask what is the real question?
 ...

I would think from the OP, they (like me) are looking for the efficiency of using the ribbon, not necessarily how to use the ribbon.

HI, i'm looking for a video that shows how to use the ribbon correctly. I don't get it. I have been using it for a month now and to me its just slower. Hopefully someone can show me the light.

thanks

I am also at a loss as to the efficiency of using it.  Of course I use a lot of vanilla CAD as I don't need all the bells & whistles of Structural detailing, but also the fact I've been using CAD since it's 2011 DOS version.  With every update there are small changes to the toolbars, the ribbon, the location of buttons, etc. & I'm tired of searching for things when I just need to get something done.
What works best for some, doesn't work well for others (as the saying goes ... something like that anyway).  So I've reverted back to using the keyboard, LiSP routines, & command line.  For me, this is faster, I don't have to take my eyes off the screen, I don't have to peck like a hen searching for what I need, ... it's all right there at my fingertips.  I just want to draft the project, not search for the commands to draft the project.  I'm lucky they (Autodesk) haven't changed the commands in all those years, they're just changing the toolbars, ribbons, button locations, & icons.

[Rob...]

I've been using CAD since it's 2011 DOS version.

I missed that version. Must be 'cause it was so long ago.

[Hangman]

I've been using CAD since it's 2011 DOS version.

I missed that version. Must be 'cause it was so long ago.

Haa, good catch!  I meant to say, v11 DOS (back in 1992 me thinks).

[Mark]

I must ask what is the real question?
 ...

I would think from the OP, they (like me) are looking for the efficiency of using the ribbon, not necessarily how to use the ribbon.

You would be correct sir.

Most of the commands i use are 1-2 keys long and most under my left hand on the keyboard. I use the Quick Access Bar a lot too.

[mjfarrell]

Well, with that clarification.

The bad answer is; the only way to use the stupid ribbon correctly (efficiently) is to
memorize where autodesk put everything on the ribbon/tabs.
And, or write all your own custom toolbars for the stuff that you do in the order you do it in.
Sadly the effort to do these things is never returned to you, once they shuffle things around with each release.

[dgorsman]

Well, with that clarification.

The bad answer is; the only way to use the stupid ribbon correctly (efficiently) is to
memorize where autodesk put everything on the ribbon/tabs.
And, or write all your own custom toolbars for the stuff that you do in the order you do it in.
Sadly the effort to do these things is never returned to you, once they shuffle things around with each release.

Not true.  While there may be a few new panels or tabs to support new features, for the most part the OOTB Ribbon content stays where it is between releases.  For custom content, with it in a partial CUIx it is easily portable when migrating (just copy the file and do a partial load).  There isn't even a need to memorize what everything looks like or where its found; when in doubt there is the command finder under the application icon.

[ronjonp]

I've found the command line to be the fastest for me. Even more so with the new versions that have autocomplete.

[BlackBox]

I've found the command line to be the fastest for me. Even more so with the new versions that have autocomplete.

1+... For most everything that isn't located on Civil 3D's Home Tab, Create Design Panel.

[Rob...]

I heard from a somewhat reliable source that the ribbon might be going away.

[BlackBox]

I feel that we've gotten quite a bit off topic, so to bring things back to the original question:

... i'm looking for a video that shows how to use the ribbon correctly.

I posit that the only way to use the Ribbon correctly, in a real-world production environment, is as such, particularly if you have multiple widescreen monitors:







... And you're welcome, Swampers.

[Mark]

Made my afternoon! LMAO

thanks

[Bethrine]

@BlackBox

   

[BlackBox]

Made my afternoon! LMAO

thanks

@BlackBox

   

[Hangman]

     (trying to breathe)     
Classic!!!   Excellent!!!