How to: Add controls to the Backstage view

Applies to: Visual Studio Visual Studio for Mac

You can use the Ribbon Designer to add controls to the menu that opens when you click the File tab. When you run the application, controls that you add to the File tab appear a group named Add-ins.

You cannot position controls before or after built-in controls by using the Ribbon designer in Visual Studio. A built-in control is a control that already appears in Backstage view. If you want to position controls before or after built-in controls, you must use a Ribbon XML. For more information about Ribbon (XML), see Ribbon XML. For more information about customizing the Backstage view, see Introduction to the Office 2010 Backstage view for developers and Customize the Office 2010 Backstage view for developers.

Applies to: The information in this topic applies to document-level projects and VSTO Add-in projects for the following applications: Excel; InfoPath 2013 and InfoPath 2010; Outlook; PowerPoint; Project; Visio; Word. For more information, see Features available by Office application and project type.

To add controls to Backstage view

1. Open the Ribbon item in Design view.

   For information about how to add a Ribbon (Visual Designer) item to your project, see How to: Get started customizing the Ribbon.

2. In the Ribbon Designer, click the File tab.

   A menu designer appears. This design surface does not contain any controls.

3. From the Office Ribbon Controls tab of the Toolbox, drag any of the following controls onto the menu designer:

   • Button

   • CheckBox

   • Gallery

   • Menu

   • Separator

   • SplitButton

   • ToggleButton

4. Drag controls to move them to new positions on the menu.

See also

• Ribbon overview
• Ribbon Designer
• Ribbon XML
• How to: Get started customize the Ribbon
• Walkthrough: Create a custom tab by using the Ribbon Designer