SystemWeaver Architects often make updates to the ribbon tabs to meet the needs of users and their use cases. Typically, although not always, once a configured view is ready for use, Architects will add a shortcut to the view on a ribbon tab. Having shortcuts on a ribbon assists users in working more efficiently by providing them with quick access to commonly accessed views and items. 


For config item views, e.g., charts, grids, reports, etc, this is often set directly in the config item by defining the ribbon group there (Adding a Config Item View Button to Ribbon tab). For the built-in multi-configuration views, e.g., coverage, etc., this can be defined in the configuration itself (How to Configure Item View Menu Label Settings). These configuration settings alone work well when basic buttons are being added to the Items ribbon tab. 


However, there is also an Item ribbon tab feature that is good to be aware of which supports the creation of custom ribbon tabs and specialized menu options, e.g., multi-buttons, merge buttons, visibility and locking options, item links, etc. Using the feature, buttons can be organized on additional tabs and in ribbon groups of related functionality or work processes. 


This article describes the types of options that can be added to a ribbon tab and where the options can be added. Links to configuration examples are provided for each option type. To see where you configure the feature and a description of all of the available configuration elements, see Configuring the Item Ribbon Tab.


Prerequisites


Standard Ribbon Tabs

To begin with, it is good to remember that the SystemWeaver swExplorer interface contains 5 standard ribbon tabs in its default configuration. These tabs cannot be removed or renamed.



The Items ribbon tab is where users perform most of their work in SystemWeaver. It includes 7 standard ribbon groups containing basic functionality options. These groups are always activated and the options are available for all item types.


These ribbon groups cannot be removed nor can they be renamed.


Learn more about the standard ribbon tabs.

What Can be Configured?

Using the Item ribbon tab feature, the following options can be added:


Note: Ribbon configuration is for items and item views only. It does not support buttons for redirecting to Project views and issues.


Custom Tabs

If the Items ribbon tab is not sufficient for your organization's work processes, you can add additional ribbon tabs containing custom ribbon groups and buttons. The tabs can be created with or without a colored context header. See Configuring a Custom Ribbon Tab for configuration examples.


Custom Ribbon Groups and Buttons on the Items Tab

Additional ribbon groups can be added to the standard Items ribbon as well. They will appear to the right of the standard ribbon groups as shown below. 


It is also possible to add buttons to the 7 standard ribbon groups. In the below example, a link to a configured Complete status view has been added to the pre-defined CM ribbon group. 


See Adding Ribbon Groups and Buttons to the Items Tab for configuration examples. 


An item view button is defined using the <ItemView> element and redirects users to a specific view. Below is an outline of the different types of item view buttons that can be configured. 


See Creating Item View Buttons for configuration examples. 


Config Item Views

A shortcut to a specific config item view, e.g., chart, grid, graph, report, etc., can be configured. In the below example, links to 3 config item views have been added to a custom "Config items" ribbon group.


Note: As mentioned in the introduction above, if you wish to add only a basic link to a configured view on the Items ribbon tab, you are not required to use the Item ribbon tab feature. Placement on the Items ribbon can simply be defined in the config item definition itself. See Adding a Config Item View Button to Ribbon tab for more information. 


Configured Built-in Multi-instance Views 

A shortcut to a specific built-in configured item view, e.g., Coverage Item-to-Item view as shown below, can also be configured. The below button has been added to a custom ribbon group called "Design"



Note: As mentioned in the introduction above, if you wish to add only a basic link to a configured view on the Items ribbon tab, you are not required to use the Item ribbon tab feature. Placement on the Items ribbon can simply be defined in the view definition itself.  See How to Configure Item View Menu Label Settings for more information. 


Extension Views

Shortcuts to SystemWeaver extension views can be added to the ribbon. The below example is a link to a ComponentGraph view. 


Standard Views

It's also possible to add buttons for SystemWeaver standard (also known as "Base Item") views. This might be of interest if users spend much of their time on custom ribbon tabs instead of the Items tab. In the below example, links to 6 standard views have been added to a custom ribbon group.



An item button redirects users to a specified item, e.g., a training document, as shown below. It is defined using the <OpenItem> tag. See Creating Shortcuts to Specific Items for configuration examples. 



Merge Buttons

A merge button presents alternative <ItemView> views under the same button so that users can navigate between different item types without having to click additional buttons. The view that will be used when the button is clicked will be the first view that matches the selected item type. In the below example, a graph has been configured for the "Hazard identification" item type as well as for its parts shown in the tree. See Configuring a Merge Button for a configuration example using <MergeButton>. 


Multi-buttons

A multi-button loads two views simultaneously. In the below example, a configured graph loads in the left-side pane while the Overview view loads in the right-side pane. See Configuring a Multi-Button for a configuration example using <MultiButton>.



Tree View Setting Shortcuts

A tree view setting can be included as a button in a ribbon group. Instead of selecting the setting from the tree view setting drop-down shown in the below picture to the left, users can quickly click a button. In the below example, a shortcut for the Full LDC tree setting for the selected item type has been added to a custom ribbon group. See Creating Tree View Setting Buttons for a configuration example using <TreeSettings>.


Where Can you Add Menu Options? 

Shortcut buttons for specific views and/or items can be added to the standard Items tab or a custom tab.



The Items Tab

On the Items tab, buttons can be added to either custom ribbon groups or the standard, pre-defined ribbon groups. 


In Custom Ribbon Groups

In Standard Ribbon Groups

See Adding Ribbon Groups and Buttons to the Items Tab for configuration examples. 


A Custom Tab

In Custom RIbbon Groups

What's Next?

Learn more about where to configure the Item ribbon tab feature and about all of the available configuration elements.