The layout of controls in the Ribbon changes when the width of the application window changes. When displayed on a large monitor, the Ribbon will adjust to show the “large versions” of groups in the Ribbon. When displayed on a small monitor, or when the user chooses to manually reduce the size of the application window, the Ribbon will adjust to show the “small versions” of groups in the Ribbon. The Ribbon is not designed for a particular display resolution. The Ribbon simply provides the best arrangement of the controls for the application and displays that arrangement appropriately for every possible size of the application window.

The figure below illustrates how the layouts of controls on Microsoft Word’s Insert Tab change when the application window is horizontally resized. Note that some controls change from being displayed as large controls to being displayed as small controls when the Ribbon is narrower. Also note that some text labels for controls are removed from the Ribbon when the Ribbon is narrower.

DEFINING GROUPS FOR RIBBON RESIZING
1. Resizing the width of the application window MUST change the layout of controls on the Ribbon.
2. The layout of controls on the Ribbon MUST change in real-time when the application window is resized by dragging with the mouse. The change in the layout of controls on the Ribbon MUST NOT be delayed until after the application window has been resized and the left mouse button is released.

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