Examining the Ribbon in Windows 8’s Windows Explorer

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In this gallery, I’ll present you with a series of images designed to compliment my article series covering the new Ribbon interface in Windows 8's Windows Explorer: Break down Ribbon Core tabs in Windows 8's Windows Explorer and Get what you need when you need it with contextual tabs in Windows 8 Explorer.

While I’ll show each one of the tabs that I have uncovered in Windows 8's Windows Explorer Ribbon, I’ll only highlight the commands that display secondary user interface items such as submenus or dialog boxes. As always, if you have comments or information to share about this topic, please take a moment to drop by the TechRepublic Community Forums and let us hear from you.

Note: Keep in mind that since this is such an early release of Windows 8, some of the features that I'll describe in this article may change between now and the time that the operating system is actually released.

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The File menu is designed to provide you with quick access to some of the more general commands in Windows Explorer. When you first access the File menu, you'll see a set of commands on the left side and Favorite places on the right side. The Favorite places show the most recently accessed folders and remains visible until you select a command that has a sub-menu. The sub-menu overlays the Favorite places space and provides you with related options.

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The Open new window submenu allows you to open a separate instance of Windows Explorer in the same or a new process.

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The Open command prompt sub-menu contains commands to open a regular or an administrator command prompt. Both open a Command Prompt window targeted on the currently selected folder.

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The Clear history submenu puts the ability to clear both Recent items list and the Address bar history commands within easy access.

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When you select the Change folder and search options command, you’ll see the familiar Folder Options dialog box.

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The Help submenu contains the standard Help system as well as access to the About dialog box and the genuine Windows tool.

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The first of the Core tabs is the Home tab and it provides you with access to the most often used file management commands. The Clipboard group includes all the standard commands along with a very handy Copy Path command. Just select it and the current path is copied to the clipboard.

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The Move to menu is automatically populated with recent items as well as the default Libraries.

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The Copy to menu is automatically populated with recent items as well as the default Libraries.

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When you select the Choose folder command on either the Move to or copy to menus, you’ll see a basic browse dialog box that will allow you to select any folder in any available location.

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When you access the Delete menu, you can choose how you want to delete as well as enable/disable delete confirmation messages.

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The New item menu provides you with a list of items that you can quickly create.

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The Easy access menu makes it a snap to make locations that you access often more readily available. For instance, you can add a folder to a library, add a folder to the favorites, or map a drive letter to a network folder.

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Clicking the Properties command brings up the Properties dialog box.

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The Open menu displays the associated application as well as allows you to select a different application.

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The History command appears to be a new name for the Previous versions feature.

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The Share tab is your one stop location for any command related to sharing files with others. . For example, within the Send group, you can create a Zip file and Email it.

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Once you have selected some files, you can click the Burn to disc command and copy files to an optical disc.

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Selecting the Homegroup icon in the Share with gallery displays the File Sharing wizard.

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Selecting the Specific people icon in the Share with gallery displays the choose people File Sharing wizard.

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If you decide that you don’t want to share a folder any more click the Stop sharing command and you’ll see a lock icon next to the folder icon.

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Clicking the Advanced Security command shows the Security tab.

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If you select a Zip file, you’ll see the Compressed Folder Tools Extract a, which contains the Extract all command.

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On the View tab, you'll find a host of commands that you can use to configure the way that you want Windows Explorer to display files.

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The Navigation menu provides you with a set of commands for configuring the Navigation pane display.

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Click the Preview pane button to display the pane on the left side of Windows Explorer.

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Click the Details pane button to display the pane on the left side of Windows Explorer instead of on the bottom of the window.

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The Sort by menu allows you to arrange your data files in different ways according to the type of arrangement option that you select.

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The Group By feature is designed to display all your files in groups according to the option that you select.

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When you are using the Details layout, the Add Columns and Size all columns to fit commands come in real handy for getting a better look at the available file and folder details in Windows Explorer's display.

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By default, file name extensions are not display, but you can select the check box if you want them back.

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The Computer tab contains a set of commands for the tasks that you typically perform in Computer. When you select a drive letter, a contextual tab titled Disk Tools Drive appears.

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When you select a drive letter and then click Properties, you’ll see the familiar Disk Properties dialog box.

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Click the Map network drive command and you’ll see the Map Network Drive wizard.

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Click the Add a network location command and you’ll see the Add Network Location Wizard.

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Click the Control Panel command and the Control Panel will appear.

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Click the Uninstall or change a program command and the Uninstall or change a program tool appears.

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Click the System Properties command and you’ll see the System page.

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Selecting the Disk Tools Drive tab provides you with access to a set of commands you commonly need to use when working with drives.

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Select a removable drive, choose the AutoPlay command, and you’ll see a metro style dialog box.

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Select a removable drive, choose the Eject command, and you’ll see the Safe to Remove Hardware bubble.

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Choose the BitLocker menu to configure your BitLocker protection.

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Choose the Format button and you’ll encounter the standard Format dialog box.

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Disk Clean up still works the same.

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Choose Optimize and you can configure how the defragmenter works.

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When you select the Search box in any Windows Explorer window, you'll see the Search contextual tab.

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After you conduct a search, the Search again menu provides you with alternative locations.

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The Date modified menu displays a calendar where you can select a date or date range to narrow down your search. If you aren’t sure of the exact date, you can select one of the predefined filters such as This year or Last week.

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The Kind menu displays a host of filters that you can use to narrow your search even further.

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The Size menu allows you to specify the size of the file that you are looking for.

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The Recent searches menu is designed to save you time when performing common searches.

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The Advanced options menu gives you other options when it comes to conducting a search operation.

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If you want to save the Search so that you can use it again in the future, just click the Save search command.

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When you select Libraries in Windows Explorer's Navigation pane, you'll see the Library Tools Manage contextual tab.

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You can use the Manage Library command to add and remove libraries.

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The Set save location menu allows you to specify where to save files,

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The Optimize library for menu allows you to specify the type of file that the library will be optimized for.

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The Homegroup tab makes it a snap to take care of your homegroup.

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Click the Share libraries and devices button and access the Change Homegroup Sharing Settings wizard.

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The Change homegroup settings command displays the Change homegroup settings tool.

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Launching the HomeGroup troubleshooter is quick and easy.

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You can also view the homegroup password.

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The Network tab centralizes Windows 8’s networking features.

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The Properties command displays the properties of the selected device.

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Selecting a computer and then clicking the Connect with Remote Desktop Connection is a great way to make a remote Desktop connection.

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If you select a Router, you can then click the View device webpage command.

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When you do so, you’ll see an Internet Explorer window and will be prompted for your connection credentials.

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Click Add a printer to make a connection.

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The Network and Sharing Center is easily accessible.

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If the Ribbon is in the way, just click the Minimize button.

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When you want the Ribbon back, just click the Expand button.

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Select the Customize Quick Access Toolbar and you can add any of the standard commands.

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You can move the Quick Access Toolbar above the Ribbon.

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You can put the Quick Access Toolbar back below the Ribbon.

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You can right click on any command on any tab and add it to the Quick Access Toolbar.

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You can right click any button and remove it from the Quick Access Toolbar.

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You can put just about every command on the various tabs on the Quick Access Toolbar.

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In this gallery, I’ll present you with a series of images designed to compliment my article series covering the new Ribbon interface in Windows 8's Windows Explorer: Break down Ribbon Core tabs in Windows 8's Windows Explorer and Get what you need when you need it with contextual tabs in Windows 8 Explorer.

While I’ll show each one of the tabs that I have uncovered in Windows 8's Windows Explorer Ribbon, I’ll only highlight the commands that display secondary user interface items such as submenus or dialog boxes. As always, if you have comments or information to share about this topic, please take a moment to drop by the TechRepublic Community Forums and let us hear from you.

Note: Keep in mind that since this is such an early release of Windows 8, some of the features that I'll describe in this article may change between now and the time that the operating system is actually released.

By Greg Shultz

Greg Shultz is a freelance Technical Writer. Previously, he has worked as Documentation Specialist in the software industry, a Technical Support Specialist in educational industry, and a Technical Journalist in the computer publishing industry.

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