Ribbon UI Studio v4.0.0 — Visual Office Add-in Studio

Ribbon UI Studio v4.0.0

Ribbon UI Studio v4.0.0 expands the project from a RibbonX/VBA editor into a broader visual Office add-in studio.

The release keeps the existing RibbonX, VBA, callback, imageMso, validation and Office add-in workflows from v3, while adding new visual designers, a modern forms runtime and new PRO capabilities for protected add-in distribution.

Highlights

• Ribbon Visual Designer with live preview, structure tree, toolbox and properties.
• Native VBA UserForm Designer for classic MSForms-based Office forms.
• Modern Forms Designer (PRO) with a separate JSON-based runtime and modern controls.
• Modern VBA-compatible dialogs (PRO) through the Modern Forms runtime.
• Add-in licensing management (PRO) to add or remove licensing from Office add-ins.
• InstallerLab integration for Office add-in packaging and deployment.
• Improved editor/session workflow around Ribbon XML, VBA modules and active Office documents.

Ribbon Visual Designer

Version 4 adds a dedicated visual Ribbon designer for supported Excel, Word and PowerPoint projects.

The designer works with the current Ribbon XML and lets you:

• create and edit custom tabs;
• add groups and supported Ribbon controls;
• select elements from the visual preview or Structure tree;
• edit IDs, labels, callbacks, state and display properties;
• assign Office imageMso icons or supported custom images;
• hide supported Ribbon nodes;
• disable supported controls;
• position elements with Place Before / Place After;
• anchor custom tabs relative to Office-native tabs where supported;
• apply the resulting Ribbon XML back to the Office file.

The Ribbon designer is structural rather than a freeform drag-and-drop canvas. Ordering is controlled through the available placement options so the generated Ribbon remains consistent with RibbonX structure.

Native VBA UserForm Designer

The classic VBA UserForm designer is available in the Community edition and works with native MSForms/VBA UserForms.

It provides a visual design surface for supported native controls, including labels, text inputs, buttons, check boxes, combo/list controls, frames, images, calendars and related controls.

Supported forms can be imported, moved, resized and edited through the properties panel. When an existing form is edited, Ribbon UI Studio preserves the existing VBA event module and binary resources where supported by the Office integration.

Image controls can embed PNG, JPEG, GIF or BMP content into the form design instead of depending on developer-machine absolute paths.

Modern Forms (PRO)

Modern Forms are a separate form system and are exclusive to Ribbon UI Studio PRO.

They are not native MSForms UserForms. Definitions are stored as JSON and rendered by the installed Modern Forms runtime.

The visual designer includes:

• form list and form management;
• drag and resize canvas;
• multi-selection;
• properties editor;
• runtime Preview;
• Save to project;
• delete workflow;
• themes and accent colors;
• width, height, scale and elevation settings.

Supported Modern Forms controls include:

• TextBox;
• ComboBox;
• CheckBox;
• Date picker;
• Calendar with single-date or range selection;
• File or folder picker;
• Label;
• Image;
• Button with accept/cancel actions.

Modern Forms can return values to VBA by control ID and expose whether the form was accepted and which button action closed it.

Modern MessageBox (PRO)

Version 4 also includes a VBA-compatible modern message workflow through OER_ModernMsgBox.

It supports the standard button groups used by the compatibility wrapper, including OK, OK/Cancel, Abort/Retry/Ignore, Yes/No/Cancel, Yes/No and Retry/Cancel, together with standard information, question, warning and critical message types.

If the modern runtime cannot be used, the compatibility wrapper can fall back to the native VBA MsgBox behavior.

The shared message form can be customized in the Modern Forms designer so multiple dialogs can reuse one visual design.

Add-in licensing management (PRO)

Ribbon UI Studio PRO can manage licensing for Office add-ins before distribution.

PRO users can:

• add licensing protection to an add-in;
• remove licensing when it is no longer required;
• keep the application's own Ribbon UI Studio license separate from the license embedded into distributed add-ins.

This gives developers a direct path from add-in creation to controlled distribution without mixing the editor's own activation with the licensing of generated Office solutions.

InstallerLab packaging integration

Ribbon UI Studio v4 uses InstallerLab for Windows package generation.

To convert/package an Office add-in as EXE, MSI or Bundle, InstallerLab must be installed separately. Ribbon UI Studio prepares the temporary OfficeAddin project and deployment data; InstallerLab validates and generates the Windows package while the original add-in remains unchanged when staging or protection is required.

For Modern Forms add-ins, the packaging workflow includes the required Modern Forms runtime/bridge components. Modern Forms are intended for installed deployments rather than a manually copied loose add-in.

InstallerLab: https://installerlab.website/

Community and PRO

Capability	Community	PRO
RibbonX / VBA editing	✅	✅
Ribbon Visual Designer	✅	✅
Native VBA UserForm Designer	✅	✅
imageMso and icon workflow	✅	✅
Callback generation and diagnostics	✅	✅
Modern Forms Designer	—	✅
Modern Forms runtime	—	✅
Modern VBA-compatible dialogs	—	✅
Add licensing to add-ins	—	✅
Remove add-in licensing	—	✅
Advanced protected distribution workflows	—	✅

Existing v3 capabilities retained

Version 4 keeps the major capabilities introduced in the v3 line, including:

• Windows Explorer integration;
• Office 2007 and Office 2010+ RibbonX support;
• Excel .xlam, Word .dotm and PowerPoint .ppam add-in workflows;
• RibbonX callback generation;
• callback signature diagnostics;
• duplicate ID and Ribbon structure validation;
• VBA module editing;
• Monaco multi-document editing;
• imageMso browsing;
• Office-aware previews;
• installer and portable distribution of Ribbon UI Studio itself.

Modern Forms deployment notes

• Modern Forms require the installed runtime/bridge used by the v4 packaging workflow.
• The current runtime targets Windows 64-bit with .NET Framework 4.8; Office may be 32-bit or 64-bit.
• Runtime form definitions are stored inside the Office package.
• Preview validates rendering of a form definition; final Office/VBA integration should still be verified in the installed add-in.

Release status

Ribbon UI Studio v4.0.0 is published with the official Windows binaries:

• Ribbon.UI.Studio-Setup.exe
• Ribbon.UI.Studio_Portable.exe
• Ribbon_UI_Studio-Setup.msi
• Ribbon_UI_Studio_Bundle.exe

For Office add-in deployment, remember that InstallerLab is a separate required application when generating EXE, MSI or Bundle packages.

InstallerLab: https://installerlab.website/

Ribbon UI Studio 3.2 — Packaging V3.2 & Stable Portable Runtime

Ribbon UI Studio 3.1.1

This release introduces the new SetupStudio Packaging V3.1 system, focused on making the Portable edition faster, more reliable, and safer during updates.

What's new

• Stable reusable Portable runtime

  • The application is extracted and verified on the first run.
  • Subsequent launches reuse the existing verified runtime instead of extracting everything again.

• Persistent application data

  • Ribbon UI Studio configuration is now preserved separately from replaceable application code.
  • Settings survive normal restarts, runtime rebuilds, package hash changes, and application updates.

• Improved update/recovery behavior

  • If application code becomes corrupted, the runtime can be rebuilt from the original verified package while preserving declared user data.

• Manifest and SHA-256 integrity verification

  • Packaged application files remain protected by the V3.1 manifest and integrity checks.

• Better support for applications that generate runtime resources

  • Dynamically generated non-executable resources no longer cause unnecessary runtime rebuilds.

• Improved Portable lifecycle

  • More predictable locking and recovery.
  • Automatic cleanup of old temporary data and diagnostic logs.
  • No full extraction on every launch.

The goal of Packaging V3.1 is to keep the convenience of a single-file Portable download while avoiding unnecessary repeated extraction and keeping user configuration safe across updates.

Portable behavior

First launch:

Extract → Verify → Promote Runtime → Launch

Following launches:

Verify / Reuse Runtime → Launch

A full rebuild is only required when the package changes, required application files are missing, or corruption is detected.

Security note

Ribbon UI Studio is currently unsigned, so Windows SmartScreen may display Unknown publisher.

This release does not attempt to bypass or interfere with Windows or antivirus security mechanisms.

Thanks to everyone who has been testing the Portable edition on different Windows and antivirus configurations. Your reports have been extremely useful while developing Packaging V3.1. ❤️

Ribbon UI Studio v3.1.0

Ribbon UI Studio v3.1.0

This release focuses on Portable reliability, integrity and community feedback.

🚀 New Portable packaging architecture

The single-file Portable EXE has been internally redesigned.

• Added package identity and internal manifests.
• Added SHA-256 integrity verification for packaged files.
• Added version-specific verified cache.
• Added atomic staging and safer extraction.
• Added automatic recovery when application files are missing or corrupted.
• Added explicit separation between application files and persistent user settings.
• User preferences are preserved between launches and package updates.
• Improved simultaneous-launch handling.
• Added startup diagnostics and logging.
• Improved reporting when the internal application cannot start correctly.

The Portable version is still distributed as a single EXE.

🪟 Window behavior

Following feedback from the B4X community:

• Ribbon UI Studio no longer starts with Always on Top enabled.
• Other applications can now move normally in front of Ribbon UI Studio.

🖼 imageMso Gallery

Ribbon UI Studio can download the complete imageMso icon collection for local browsing.

The initial download contains thousands of small files, so it can take some time, but it only needs to be downloaded once. After that, the icons are reused locally.

🔐 Security note

The packaging changes are intended to improve integrity, transparency and reliability.

The executables are currently unsigned, so Windows SmartScreen may still display Unknown Publisher. This is related to code-signing/reputation and is separate from the application integrity checks.

No antivirus exclusions or disabling of Windows security protections are required or recommended.

❤️ Thank you

Special thanks to the B4X community members who tested the Portable builds on different Windows and antivirus configurations.

Your reports directly helped improve this release.

Ribbon UI Studio v3.0.0

What's changed

Windows Explorer integration

• Added a Create Ribbon Add-in context-menu submenu for creating Office add-ins directly from a folder.
• Added separate Legacy 2007 and Modern 2010+ templates for:
  • Excel .xlam
  • Word .dotm
  • PowerPoint .ppam
• Added Edit RibbonX with Ribbon UI Studio to the Windows Explorer context menu for supported Office files.
• Added Open with Ribbon UI Studio integration for supported Office files.

RibbonX callbacks

• Corrected generated VBA signatures for dynamic RibbonX callbacks.
• Fixed callback generation for:
  • getPressed
  • getSize
  • Gallery callbacks
  • Image callbacks
  • Dynamic menus
  • getContent
• Improved callback validation to detect incorrect VBA signatures, not only missing callback names.
• Corrected getItemWidth and getItemHeight callback handling.
• Corrected image callbacks that return IPictureDisp.

RibbonX validation and diagnostics

• Improved validation of Office 2007 and Office 2010+ RibbonX structures.
• Improved validation of:
  • tabs
  • contextualTabs
  • tabSet
  • tab
  • group
• Added detection of conflicting static and dynamic attributes.
• Improved detection of duplicate control IDs.
• Improved checks for missing embedded images.
• Improved validation of invalid static size values.

Office 2007 and modern Ribbon support

• Corrected handling of Office 2007 customUI/customUI.xml.
• Corrected handling of Office 2010+ customUI/customUI14.xml.
• Ribbon templates now automatically use the correct Custom UI registration and namespace.

VBA module editing

• Improved VBA module saving performance.
• Reduced unnecessary Office automation sessions when saving modules.
• Improved VBA module cache synchronization after saving.
• Improved handling of the currently active VBA module and document tab.
• Improved callback generation without repeatedly reopening Excel, Word, or PowerPoint.

Editor improvements

• Improved multi-document editing with Monaco.
• Improved tracking of the active document, VBA module, source file, and Ribbon XML entry.
• Improved save routing so changes are written to the correct active document or module.

Reliability

• Improved internal Office ZIP handling.
• Improved temporary file isolation when multiple Office files are processed.
• Improved PowerPoint .ppam handling.
• Fixed several RibbonX parser and Java integration issues.

Full Changelog: v2.2...v3.0.0

Office Ribbon Editor v2.2.1

What's new in v2.2.1

Word add-ins

• Improved .dotm packaging and VBA project locking after obfuscation.

PowerPoint add-ins

• Improved .ppam creation and editing workflow.
• Generate callbacks even when the module does not exist yet.
• Read VBA modules from existing PowerPoint add-ins.
• Obfuscate the VBA project before creating the installer.

Safer VBA protection

• The original add-in is never modified during packaging.
• Obfuscation is applied only to the installer copy.
• PowerPoint verifies that its internal VBA project was replaced before the installer is compiled.
• If verification fails, no installer is created with unprotected code.

Reduced antivirus false positives

• The validator is generated as pure VBA code.
• Packaging avoids behaviors that commonly trigger heuristic detections.

Installer identity and branding

• Every add-in keeps a stable AppId in its own .addininstaller file for reliable upgrades.
• Custom .ico installer icons are copied explicitly from the configured path.

Editor improvements

• Expanded Monaco autocomplete for XML RibbonX, VBA, VB.NET, B4X, JavaScript, TypeScript, C#, C++, and Markdown.
• New themes: GitHub Dark, Nord, Solarized Dark, Ribbon Light, and High Contrast.
• Host-aware title bar colors for Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and the neutral workspace.

Feedback welcome

Please report which Office host you use, whether installers work on another computer, any antivirus alerts, and which workflow should be improved next.

SHA-256

• OfficeRibbonEditor_Setup_v2.2.1.exe: 0ed6d4c6b9d02d39bc61d58e4a7ef9f6cb9044fc27fadf13f7bbce60b1115c91
• OfficeRibbonEditor.zip: 7c228ff1df5639f1f2ec582df8a639529309f0fd0f83294cfef1779065b45601

Office Ribbon Editor 1.0.0

First official public release of Office Ribbon Editor for Windows.

Office Ribbon Editor is proprietary software distributed free of charge.

Downloads

• OfficeRibbonEditor_Setup.exe — Recommended guided installer.
• OfficeRibbonEditor.zip — Portable package. Extract it before running the application.

Always keep a backup of your Office documents before editing their custom UI.

SHA-256

• OfficeRibbonEditor_Setup.exe: 66328F8ECBE772D5F4AB8E908EB50140AE941AE8D7FE39AF534FC62AD14E1F9B
• OfficeRibbonEditor.zip: 6C1B162D451CDE90F6160DE4F1B3EFBC6963724B1DC023169BCC908F00ADEED9