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6/1/2010

Ribbon Hero Update: Now Works with OneNote!

Ribbon Hero is a *gasp* game for Office 2007 and Office 2010 (Word, PowerPoint, Excel and now OneNote!) designed to help you boost your Office skills and knowledge. If you feel Office can do a lot more than you have time to figure out, then Ribbon Hero is for you. Play games (aka "challenges"), score points, and compete with your friends while improving your productivity with Office.  As a concept test, this is an opportunity for you to try out an idea we are working on and let us know what you think.  As with any Labs project, if you have problems we’ll try to help, but no promises!

If you've never used Ribbon Hero before, now is a perfect time to start playing. If you've been using Ribbon Hero, install the update and get rolling!  Install it on Windows 7 or Vista! Install it on Windows XP!

There are three major changes in this release, all in response to feedback you've reported to us:

Ribbon Hero for OneNote

This Ribbon Hero update works with OneNote 2007 and 2010 RTM (RTM stands for Release to Market)! That's right, you can now earn a lot more points by using Ribbon Hero in OneNote. OneNote is a great app with lots of exciting features to discover, which makes it a perfect match for Ribbon Hero. Here are just a few of the OneNote features around which we've created challenges in Ribbon Hero:

  • Converting handwriting to text
  • Copying text from pictures
  • Playing audio
  • Using tags to create powerful to-do lists

 

This version of Ribbon Hero does not work with OneNote 2010 Beta 2. You can download the free OneNote 2007 trial here, the free Office 2010 Professional Plus trial here, or you can wait just a few days until June 15, when Office 2010 will be available to the public! 

Playing a OneNote challenge

Simpler Setup

We've heard your feedback about setup. The biggest issues most people reported were (1) having to be an admin to complete the install, and (2) having to install an additional component (VSTO). We've changed setup to address both of these issues. You no longer have to be an admin to install Ribbon Hero, and we no longer require VSTO to use Ribbon Hero.

 

The bottom line is that if you've tried to install Ribbon Hero unsuccessfully in the past, we invite you to install it again (Install on Windows 7/Vista; Install on Windows XP)! We think you'll be successful this time. But if you still experience any issues, make sure you let us know.

 

Ribbon Hero Launcher

To make it easier to start playing Ribbon Hero, this release includes a launcher application that lets you start playing Ribbon Hero directly from the Start menu. This launcher lets you see all of your scores all in one place!

 

Ribbon Hero launcher, available from Start menu

 

Feedback or questions?

We're listening - so leave a comment, or post your feedback in our discussion forums!

 

Happy playing!

Jen (Office Labs)

Posted at 12:40 PM by Jen (Office Labs) | Category: Ribbon Hero | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (21)

Comments

SearchCommands

But please update the most loved addon SearchCommands to search the ribbon in all Office 2010 apps.
anonymuos at 6/1/2010 11:08 PM

Vista

I tried to install the update for vista, but right before completion, i get the message that it can't be installed because it's the version for XP.
Ann at 6/2/2010 2:48 AM

Outlook?

Awesome concept, can't wait to try it out!

Would love to see support for outlook since it's the only part of Office (besides OneNote of course) that I use every day...
sonofabit at 6/2/2010 1:33 PM

Responses

Hi - Thanks for the early enthusiasm for the new release!

Ann: Please click on the downward triangle that's next to the Try It link. There, you will find a version of the installer that's designed for Vista. Can you try again and let us know if it worked?

Sono: Thanks for the suggestion! We may add support for more apps down the road, but our immediate priorities are working on making Ribbon Hero even better for the 4 apps we currently support :)

Happy gaming!   (Who's going to get a perfect score in OneNote first?)
Jen (Office Labs) at 6/2/2010 1:49 PM

Vista update

Jen, I followed your instructions but got the same message again. I'm absolutely sure I have Vista, and I'm absolutely sure I downloaded the version for Vista. 
Ann at 6/3/2010 5:26 AM

Vista/7 install

Doesn't work for me either. Looks like the XP installer was bundled incorrectly with that file.
BillaPgh at 6/3/2010 6:49 AM

-----------------HELP!!!

OK, so I played ribbon hero before and really liked the game, but recently reinstalled xp pro sp2 since i had some major glitch issues.


i installed the game again, but this time it doesnt appear on the home tab of word. when i open word options and look in add-ins I find it classified under "inactive application add-ins."

I've typed "COM add-ins" in the managed box, clicked "go" and checked the box beside ribbon hero, then clicked "ok." Nada. Ive also deleted the add-in and reinstalled. at the end of the installation it tells me it has been succesfull and that i can start playing right away. I open word and find myself in the scenerio noting it's absence and fiddling with the add in options.


ive also traced it to the program files to look if there might be any executable file which wasnt activated. any suggestions would greatly appreciated





thecustomerknowsbest at 6/4/2010 1:31 AM

COM Surrogate has stopped working

Hi. I tried to play the latest RH on OneNote 2010 (14.0.4536.1000), Click-to-Run version: 14.0.4545.1000, with no luck. Every time I receive "COM Surrogate has stopped working error". I am using a 32-bit Windows 7, duly updated.


The faulting application is "C:\Windows\System32\dllhost.exe", event name "CLR20r3", problem signature "System.IO.FileNotFoundException".

I downloaded the latest BETA version of Office 2010. Can you help me out, please?

Kalin at 6/4/2010 2:53 PM

Install trouble?

Jen (Office Labs) at 6/9/2010 8:49 AM

OneNote 2007 interface != Ribbon

Um, if OneNote 2007 doesn't have a Ribbon interface, then how can it support Ribbon Hero?

I successfully installed RH on my Windows XP SP2 machine, and it works fine with Word 2007.  When I open ON with the RH application, it adds "Ribbon Hero" to my toolbar, but clicking it just greys it out.  No RH quiz pops up, nothing.

I've tried a few times.  Do we need to reboot first?

But I'm still left with my original question, if ON doesn't have ribbons, how can it support RH???
StewS at 6/11/2010 10:14 AM

Not seeing RH in OneNote

I am running on Windows XP, have Office 2010, with OneNote build 14.0.4673.1000. Ribbon Hero runs beautifully for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, but doesn't show up at all in OneNote, with or without the ribbon visible. Any suggestions?
RandyW at 6/16/2010 10:54 AM

Re: Not seeing RH in OneNote

Hi RandW,
Sorry you are having trouble with OneNote.  In OneNote 2010, if you go to File-> Options -> Add-Ins, do you see Ribbon Hero listed? If you do, one thing you can try is to click on "Go..." next to Manage COM Add-ins and checking the checkbox next to RibbonHero.
Otherwise, try uninstalling and reinstalling making sure you use the XP installer:
http://www.officelabs.com/_layouts/olsite/TryIt.ashx?downloadUrl=http://officelabs.vo.msecnd.net/8e56c6f5-2817-4a5f-9aef-8098487687a3/1.2.10527.0/RHSetupXP.msi&project=Ribbon%20Hero
Abhishek (Office Labs) at 6/25/2010 2:37 PM

end of the labs?

i heard that the labs team in office has being disbanded and folded into the larger ms office group. is this true?? does this mean that the labs are just like every other office team now or will they still make wacky videos and games?
Raj4 at 7/1/2010 12:17 PM

Search Commands means Productivity

The Hero thing is very nice for the students, but the staff miss Search Commands. Most working adults don't have the time or inclination to play games, even if they are educational.

Really, Search Commands was the best add-in ever written for an Office product. People who assured me that they "hated" the ribbon turned right around and loved Office after I installed SC. Please revive it for 2010. That would make you superheroes!
jck0roses at 7/5/2010 7:30 PM

Re: Not seeing RH in OneNote

Hi Abhishek -

I have taken your suggestion, but without success. The RH is shown in the list of Add-Ins as Inactive Application Add-Ins. When managing COM add-ins, it is displayed, and when selected reads  Load Behavior: Not loaded. A runtime error occurred during the loading of the COM Add-in.

Checking and clicking OK does not enable the add-in.
RandyW at 7/6/2010 11:31 AM

vow ahhhh   

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Wow! Some amazing effects. Definitely some great ideas here. Thanks for sharing!
linlianming at 7/7/2010 2:01 AM

Ribbon Hero?  Ribbon Villain!

I have recently purchased Office 2010 and there is no doubt that one needs a lot of help with this software. Never mind - here comes our Ribbon Hero!  Well it took me several hours and I forget how many tries to first get the latest version of Microsoft Net, then RH and install it and, of course, it doesn't work! It can be seen in some apps and not others (in Administrator mode, of course)...  Only then do I find that you folks at  the famous labs were surprised to hear that someone RH working in Windows XP - I suppose the fact that one person made it work in XP produced the XP seal of approval.  Frankly I won't be touching/buying or downloading for free another MIcrosoft program until the cows come home - just don't have the time and I also don't have the cows!  Good luck guys!
NOTFLAG at 7/7/2010 3:23 PM

Be a real hero and have a Classic / Transition Menu

I wish you all had spent the time and energy making a classic / transition menu like the many menu add-ins on the web instead of further reducing productivity in the office with a game.

Please tell the Office development team that the Ribbon needs further work.  It isn't positional / floatable.  The customization doesn't allow for the you to make a vertical menu.  You can't easily specify text only menu items. 

Give us the ability to easily assign my shortcut key combinations to my commonly used commands so I don't have to stop, navigate the menu, click to or 3 times to get the command or clutter my QAT.

You all can do better than this.  I challenge you all to do so.  Don't make my productivity in the workplace a game.  You're costing me time and raises/performance bonuses.

Golanogorf at 7/16/2010 5:25 AM

Here's a new Ribbon Hero Challenge

Why don't you have a challenge for Access 2007 SP2 and give points to someone who can display the Description Column in the Navigation pane in Details View?  The only thing shown are the Database Object, Date Created, Date Modified.  Even when we mouse over the object we can't read the Description for the object.  So now to see the description for each item we have to alt-enter on each object or right-click and select the properties for the object to read the description.
Golanogorf at 7/16/2010 1:39 PM

Responses

Hello - thanks for all of the comments. Here are a few responses to the latest comments:

Raj4 - Office Labs is still here and we're still prototyping!

jck0roses - happy to hear you've enjoyed Search Commands. Your feedback has been heard.

Notflag - You should not have to run Office as an administrator to be able to use Ribbon Hero. Please provide more info about the issues we are seeing, so that we can investigate what's going on.

Golangorf - thank you for your feedback. Ribbon Hero doesn't currently support Access (only Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and OneNote)
Jen (Office Labs) at 7/21/2010 3:40 PM

RH in schools

After spending the day with Microsoft UK and the 'Partners in Learning Network' teachers cummer camp. Ribbon Hero was the centre a much debate. I appreciate there is Facebook integration but are there any other ways to manage scores on a local network (LDAP)? in this instance a school. We ould like to introduce ribbon hero but also record students / staff progress and recognise their successes. Thank you for your time in advance.
Kristianstill at 8/18/2010 5:35 AM
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