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29 changes: 23 additions & 6 deletions docs/design/add-in-commands.md
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
---
title: Basic concepts for add-in commands
description: Learn how to add custom ribbon buttons and menu items to Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word as part of an Office Add-in.
ms.date: 06/27/2025
ms.date: 07/15/2025
ms.topic: overview
ms.localizationpriority: high
---
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -39,15 +39,15 @@ There are two types of add-in commands, based on the kind of action that the com

## Location of add-in commands

When a user installs an add-in, the add-in's commands are found on the ribbon, in a built-in Office tab or a custom tab that is specified in the manifest. (You can also put add-in commands on a [custom contextual tab](#contextual-tabs) that your add-in code defines at runtime.) They appear in the UI as a button or an item in a drop-down menu.
When a user installs an add-in, the add-in's commands are found on the ribbon, in a built-in Office tab or a custom tab that is specified in the manifest. (You can also put add-in commands on a [custom contextual tab](#contextual-tabs) that your add-in code defines at runtime.) They appear in the UI as a button or an item in a dropdown menu.

> [!NOTE]
> On certain Outlook platforms, the commands are on an action bar rather than the ribbon.

For add-in commands that appear on the ribbon, if you're using the simplified ribbon layout, the add-in name is removed from the app bar. Only the add-in command button on the ribbon remains.

As the ribbon or action bar gets more crowded, add-in commands are displayed in the overflow menu. Commands for the same add-in are usually grouped together.

In Office on the web, if you're using the single-line or simplified ribbon layout, the add-in name isn't shown on the ribbon. Only the add-in's command icon is shown.

### Excel, PowerPoint, and Word

The following shows an example of add-in commands in a custom group on the **Data** tab of the Excel ribbon.
Expand All @@ -58,12 +58,29 @@ The following shows an example of add-in commands in a custom group on the **Dat

For Outlook, when you want an add-in command on a built-in ribbon tab, rather than creating your own, the command will appear on the default tab based on the platform and current Outlook mode. For guidance, see [Use add-ins in Outlook](https://support.microsoft.com/office/1ee261f9-49bf-4ba6-b3e2-2ba7bcab64c8).

### Drop-down menu
### Dropdown menu

A drop-down menu add-in command defines a static list of items. The menu can be any mix of items that execute a function or that open a task pane. Submenus aren't supported.
A dropdown menu add-in command defines a static list of items. The menu can be any mix of items that execute a function or that open a task pane. Submenus aren't supported.

![A button that drops down a menu on the Outlook ribbon.](../images/commands-menu-button-1.png)

### Grouped add-in commands on the ribbon

Multiple add-in commands can be grouped together on the ribbon. A group must contain at least one add-in command in the form of a button or a dropdown menu. In Office on Windows and on Mac, the label and icon of a button or dropdown menu are usually shown for add-in commands in a group. However, the icon size and label visibility may vary due to the following factors that constrain space.
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Copilot AI Jul 15, 2025

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[nitpick] The term "dropdown" is used inconsistently in the doc (previously hyphenated as "drop-down"). Consider choosing a single style and applying it consistently throughout.

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- The number of add-in commands in the group.
- The size of the Office client window.

If the client window is maximized and there are more than three controls in a group, the label of each control is shown, but the size of its icon may vary (some are shown as 16 x 16 pixels while others are shown as 32 x 32 pixels).

When there are two or more add-in commands in a group and space becomes limited, the following adjustments are made to how the add-in commands are displayed. These changes are applied to the groups of add-in commands from right to left across the ribbon in the following sequence.

1. Small icons (16 x 16 pixels) and labels are shown for each add-in command in a group.
1. Only small icons are shown.
1. The group is displayed as a dropdown menu instead of showing individual add-in commands on the ribbon. A scroll slider icon also appears on the ribbon, so that you can scroll through the ribbon.
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[nitpick] Since this is an ordered sequence, consider numbering the steps as 1, 2, 3 instead of repeating "1." to improve reader clarity.

Suggested change
1. Only small icons are shown.
1. The group is displayed as a dropdown menu instead of showing individual add-in commands on the ribbon. A scroll slider icon also appears on the ribbon, so that you can scroll through the ribbon.
2. Only small icons are shown.
3. The group is displayed as a dropdown menu instead of showing individual add-in commands on the ribbon. A scroll slider icon also appears on the ribbon, so that you can scroll through the ribbon.

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In Office on the web, the icon size and label visibility of controls in groups don't change as the browser window is resized. The scroll slider icon is simply shown on the ribbon.

## Command capabilities

The following command capabilities are currently supported.
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