Ribbons User Interface

Ribbon

The entire strip across the top is called the ribbon

Ribbon Tab

The ribbon consists of several ribbon tabs which group together features of the software that are used together. There are seven ribbons which have their own purposes and own help topics listed as follows.

• Case Information Ribbon Tab: primarily used to navigate and look through all the data in your model.
• Draw Ribbon Tab: primarily used to draw new oneline diagrams or edit existing onelines by adding, moving, formatting, or resizing existing oneline objects. Most of the options on the Draw ribbon tab are only available in Edit Mode.
• Onelines Ribbon Tab: primarily used after you have already created a oneline diagram. This ribbon provides features for customizing the appearance of your oneline diagram.
• Tools Ribbon Tab: this ribbon provides access to all of the analysis tools that are available in the base package of PowerWorld Simulator. You will use this ribbon when you are performing power flow analysis, contingency analysis, or using the sensitivities tools.
• Options Ribbon Tab: all of the buttons on this ribbon are also available on one of the other ribbons, however this ribbon brings all the options in the software into one place.
• Add Ons Ribbon Tab: this ribbon provides access to all of the add-on tools available for Simulator including the OPF, SCOPF, PVQV, ATC, Transient Stability, GIC Calculations, Scheduled Actions, and Topology Processing tools. If you have not purchased these tools then the options will be grayed out.
• Window Ribbon Tab: this ribbon provides access to customizing the Windows in the User Interface. It also has some information regarding help topics .

The goal in designing these ribbons was to create several task specific ribbons which represent the various ways that the software is used. Our hope is that you will not spend a lot of time flipping back and forth between ribbons. If you find yourself doing this please contact PowerWorld Corporation to help us make the software better for the future.

Ribbon Group

Inside a particular ribbon tab, there are around 4 to 7 groupings called ribbon groups. The following image shows three ribbon groups (Individual Insert, Select, and Formatting) with various buttons and menus available.

Ribbon groups join sets of buttons and menus that are related to one another. The large buttons and icons are used to draw attention to the most commonly used features of the software. All features are still available through drop-down menus in the same manner as was available previously. Our design goal in creating and laying out the ribbons was to provide the new user with insight about using the software, while at the same time giving the experienced user quick access to common features.

	Large Button
	Large Button Menu
	Small Button With Caption
	Small Button Menu
	Small Button without Caption
	Menu Only Caption

Help Button

Clicking the help button on the right edge of the ribbon brings up the online help

Quick Access Toolbar

The quick access toolbar at the top left of the ribbon (near the Application Button) contains small buttons with no caption that are always visible. For more information about how to use and customize this see the Quick Access Toolbar help.

Application Title Bar

File Menu

Click on this to bring up the Application File Menu shown below. For more information about using the File Menu see the File Menu help.