Customizing a Toolbar Button or Menu Command

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You can change the image on any toolbar button or menu command, except for a button that displays a list or a menu when you click it.

You can copy an image from one toolbar button to another, from one menu command to another, from a toolbar button to a menu command, or vice versa. You can also create an image in a graphics program and then paste it onto the button or menu command.

You can display text, an icon, or both on a toolbar button. And you can display either an icon and text or text only on a menu command.

What do you want to do?

Move or copy a toolbar button

Change the image of a toolbar button

Display text, an icon, or both on a toolbar button

Display an icon and text or text only on a menu command

Rename a toolbar button or menu command

Restore a toolbar button to its original image

Copy an image from one toolbar button or menu command to another

Copy an image from a graphics program to a toolbar button or menu command

To move or copy a toolbar button

  1. Display the toolbar that contains the toolbar button you want to move or copy.

  2. On the Tools menu, click Customize, and then click the Commands tab.

  3. To move a button, drag it to the new location on the same toolbar or to another displayed toolbar. To copy a button, hold down the CTRL key while you drag the button to the new location.

To change the image of a toolbar button

  1. Display the toolbar that contains the button with the image you want to change.

  2. On the Tools menu, click Customize. The Customize dialog box must remain open; however, you might need to move it out of your way.

  3. On the toolbar, point to the button you want to change, and then click the right mouse button.

  4. On the shortcut menu, click Button Appearance.

  5. In the Images area, click the image you want on the toolbar button.

Tip   You can change the button so that it has text on it.

To display text, an icon, or both on a toolbar button

  1. Display the toolbar with the button you want to change.

  2. On the Tools menu, click Customize. The Customize dialog box must remain open; however, you might need to move it out of your way.

  3. On the toolbar, right-click the button you want to change, and then click Button Appearance on the shortcut menu.

  4. To display text, click the Text Only button or the Image and Text button, type the text in the Button Text box.

  5. To display an image, click Image Only or Image and Text, and click an image in the Images area.

Note   You can’t change the text and icon format for a button that displays   a menu list when you click it. When you display text on a toolbar button, the button does not display a tooltip.

To display an icon and text or text only on a menu command

  1. Display the toolbar with the menu command you want to change.

  2. On the Tools menu, click Customize. The Customize dialog box must remain open; however, you might need to move it out of your way.

  3. Click the menu that contains the command you want to change.

  4. Right-click the menu command you want to change, and then click the option you want on the shortcut menu.

Note   Some commands do not have an icon associated with them and can only be displayed on a menu as text. A menu command cannot be displayed as an icon only.

To rename a toolbar button or menu command

  1. Display the toolbar that contains the toolbar button or menu command you want to change.

  2. On the Tools menu, click Customize. The Customize dialog box must remain open; however, you might need to move it out of your way.

  3. To rename a toolbar button, right-click the toolbar button on the toolbar, and then click Button Appearance on the shortcut menu. To rename a menu command, click the menu that contains the command you want to change. Right-click the menu command, and then click Button Appearance on the shortcut menu.

  4. Type the new name in the Button Text box. To specify a letter as the accelerator key, insert an ampersand before the letter when you type the name.

Note   If the toolbar button does not display text, you only see the name change when you view the tooltip.

To restore a toolbar button to its original image

  1. Display the toolbar that contains the button.

  2. On the Tools menu, click Customize. The Customize dialog box must remain open; however, you might need to move it out of your way.

  3. On the toolbar, point to the button you want to restore, and then click the right mouse button.

  4. On the shortcut menu, click Reset.

Note   You can only reset buttons that have a default image.

To copy an image from one toolbar button or menu command to another

  1. Display both the toolbar with the button image or menu command you want to copy and the toolbar you want to change.

  2. On the Tools menu, click Customize, and then click the Commands tab. The Customize dialog box must remain open; however, you might need to move it out of the way.

  3. To copy a toolbar button image, right-click the toolbar button that contains the image you want to copy, and then click Copy Button Image on the shortcut menu. To copy a menu command image, click the menu that contains the command with the image you want to copy. Right-click the menu command, and then click Copy Button Image on the shortcut menu.

  4. To paste the copied image to a toolbar button, right-click the toolbar button you want to paste the image onto, and then click Paste Button Image on the shortcut menu. To paste the copied image to a menu command, click the menu that contains the command you want to paste the image onto. Right-click the menu command, and then click Paste Button Image on the shortcut menu.

Note   You can copy an image from a toolbar button to another button only if the other button is also on a toolbar (the same toolbar or a different one). You cannot change a default button image.

To copy an image from a graphics program to a toolbar button or menu command

  1. Copy the graphic you want to appear on the toolbar button or menu command to the Clipboard. If you can select the format for the copied graphic, select bitmap or picture format.

  2. Switch to Visual C++.

  3. Display the toolbar with the button image or menu command you want to change.

  4. On the Tools menu, click Customize. The Customize dialog box must remain open, however, you might need to move it out of your way.

  5. To paste the copied image to a toolbar button, right-click the toolbar button that contains the image you want to change, and then click Paste Button Image on the shortcut menu.

    To paste the copied image to a menu command, click the menu that contains the command with the image you want to change. Right-click the menu command, and the click Paste Button Image on the shortcut menu.

Note   For a clear image, copy a picture that is the same size as a default button image or menu command (the default button image is 16 by 16 pixels; the large button image (which you can enable on the Options tab in the Customize dialog box) is 32 by 32 pixels). A larger image may be distorted because it will be scaled to fit the size of the button.