Customize Drop-Down Menus

Q. Thanks to you, I now know how to add and remove items in my toolbar, but how do I do the same thing to my drop-down menus?

A. That’s a good question. Editing your drop-down menus makes them more efficient since they’ll include only functions you regularly use.

Begin by going through the same steps to add or subtract functions from the toolbar—that is, click on Tools , Customize and Commands . Now, before you select what you want to add or remove, click on the toolbar you want to edit. For example, let’s say you want to add the icon for the command Organization Chart in the Insert menu. While the Customize screen is engaged, click on Insert in the toolbar and that menu will drop down. Now drag the Organization Chart icon to the place in the Insert drop-down menu you want it to appear. Or drag out of the down-down menu icons you want to remove. When you’ve finished, click on Close .

This customizing technique works not only in Excel, but in all Microsoft applications.