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OfficeTabs: add tabs to Excel, PowerPoint, and Word

May 4, 2011 By 15 Comments

OfficeTabs adds tabs to MS Office applications Excel, PowerPoint, and Word, allowing for tabbed navigation across several open documents in the manner familiarized by Firefox or Chrome, etc (see screenshot above)

The free version allows for personal, non commercial use, and provides a number of options such as the ability to place tabs on top, bottom, and even left or right of the main display area, clicking on the empty space next to a tab to start a new document, customizing the style and color of displayed tabs, and a few other options.

OfficeTabs Screenshot3

Tabs are so ubiquitous (and so useful) that it’s a mystery to me why Microsoft doesn’t feature them as navigational tools in MS Office by default, or in Windows explorer, for that matter. This software adds tabs to MS Office and does it so well. Here are some PROs and a Wish list:

PROS:

  • OfficeTabs Screenshot4Can place tabs on any of the 4 corners of the screen. Actually a very nice implementation of tabs on the side (see screenshot to the right).
  • Tabs look good, and are highly customizable, can be moved around via drag and drop
  • Compatible with all versions of MS Office (2003, 2007, 2010)
  • Adds keyboard shortcuts to scroll through/select tabs.

CONS:

  • Adds a few more seconds to your Excel/Word/PowerPoint startup time (invariably)
  • Right clicking a tab displays options that are only available in the paid version. Which is ok, except that I wish there was a way to remove these and to NOT have to always see the functions that are not available in the free version.

Differences between free and paid versions: the free version is for personal non commercial use. Also, the paid version has a few options available on tab right click, including locking a workbook, opening workbook path folder, etc… none of which are particularly worth having in my opinion.

The verdict: this is the second free software that I’ve seen that adds tabs to MS Office (both programs having the same name), although the program reviewed here has the better looking tabs by far. So, while the concept is not entirely new, it nonetheless holds a certain attraction and can be quite useful; check it out for yourself.

[Thanks go to reader Brockman for letting me know about this program].

Note on installing the right version: when choosing whether to download and install the 32 bit or 64 bit version of this software, your decision should be based on whether you have the 32bit or 64bit version of MS Office, and not your Windows operating system.

Version Tested: 6.51

Compatibility: Requires MS Office 2003, 2007, or 2010; 32bit or 64bit.

Go to the program home page to download the latest version (approx 2.91 megs).


 
 
 
Samer Kurdi

Samer Kurdi

Has been reviewing software since 2006 when he started Freewaregenius.com
Samer Kurdi

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May 4, 2011
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  • aka Muttley

    A very nice little add-in that solves one of the obvious issues with Word. Slightly puzzled by the homepage though. It touts the software as free and makes no mention that I can see of a paid or “professional” version (unless I’m missing something, always possible). But when it’s installed, there are context menus on the tabs that refer to the paid version.

    A bit of googling took me to extendoffice.com, which is apparently the same programme but touts a full version for $25.

    The “please pay up” context menus are a bit of a nuisance but I can live with them. Samer, is there a link to the other programme you mention of the same name so we can do a compare? Thanks!

  • http://www.gsmpedia.net GSMPedia

    Tabs to word and excel… never thought that was possible

  • Michel

    “it’s a mystery to me why Microsoft doesn’t feature them as navigational tools in MS Office by default, or in Windows explorer,”

    On the other hand, I can’t figure out why people don’t see this as simply a duplication of the Taskbar functionality. Taksbar buttons = tabbed documents. Built into the Os, no need to add it on to the application.

    • Samer

      @ Michel: MS could have used the same logic to forgo tabs in IE 8 or IE 9; instead, they went ahead and put tabs in their browser. The reason? Tabs work and people like them.

      • Noel

        @Samer,
        The utility that you mentioned seem to have changed now. There is no 32 or 64-bit version. There is only one installer.

        Thanks to Michel for posting the Chinese link. I was using their trialware because the English site does not feature freeware.

        It does baffle me though why Microsoft would not implement this feature.

        • Noel

          Oh Sorry, I used Fred Thompson’s link, not Michel’s

  • Fred Thompson

    Source is http://hi.baidu.com/officecm

    Site went down a few hours ago. At least, I’m not able to connect. I have the 1.20 version which was full freeware. Gave a copy to Samer a while back. Don’t know if it works with Office 2010.

    There is a Excel freeware version at http://exshail.web.officelive.com/Exshail_Classic_Menu.aspx

    • Samer

      @ Fred: the link you provide is not the Office Tabs reviewed here (it is that ‘other’ one that I mention in the review).
      I just checked and the link that I have in the review (http://www.office-tabs.com/index.htm) is working just fine.

  • Fred Thompson

    @Samer, They’re the same source. I was looking at the Chinese site today after seeing your review. That site mentioned the 6.51 builds and had links to extendoffice.com as well. I managed to get SetupOfficeTabEnterprisex64 from it before the site disappeared. I normally block China in my firewall and was looking at the site through a VPN so anything could have happened.

    Found this for Word: http://gregmaxey.mvps.org/Ribbon_Menu_Controls.htm

    Exshail has an Access menu but states it’s only for Office 2007.

  • RB_Boulay

    Hi,

    the latest version (v7) of Office Tab free edition can be download here

    http://www.extendoffice.com/download/office-tab-free-edition.html

    Have a nice day.

  • Tom Williams

    Love it. Love it. Love it.

    I’m the rockstar of the week at the office since you shared this with me and I shared this with them. We just converted from Office 2003 and everybody is going through the duldrums of change (let it be said that I like change) so this is a welcome find. BTW, we are non-profit so I think we can use this considering the corporate limitations ( I hope ).

    Thanks.

    Tom

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  • http://talbot.typepad.com/fs FS

    Does anyone else have the issue where Excel and Word go in different directions when CTRL+TABbing? Excel goes left, Word goes right. Wonder if there is any way to customize?

  • http://www.portablefreeware.com webfork

    Agree with Tom on this: OfficeTabs has become indefensible and is a huge improvement on Microsoft Word and other programs. I was trying to get away from Microsoft products, but this program has really restored it. I can only hope LibreOffice adds this kind of functionality in the future. If Microsoft is smart they’ll buy the company out and put the whole program in by default.

    Great stuff.