Foxit Read 7.3.0.118 Classic toolbar missing

[aphidity]

I joined this forum today just to add my voice to the other comments lamenting the decision to deprecate the classic toolbar in Foxit Reader.

I've been using Foxit Reader in Windows since I don't know when (long time), and it's one of the reasons I haven't switched full-time to Linux yet on my primary home computer, which still runs Win7. Foxit is a wonderful alternative to Adobe Reader in Windows, and I wish they hadn't abandoned their Linux efforts. But I realize that perceived business constraints/requirements may mandate choices that I, a user of their free software, won't appreciate. And I've never needed the power of Foxit Phantom, so I've remained a free user. As have many, many people for whom I've installed Foxit Reader.

Sorry to say that classic toolbar is no longer available in latest version. Maintaining two toolbar modes always require more human resources and workload. The classic mode may be phased out in the future considering more and more people get used to the Ribbon mode. May I know what the chief obstacle is for you to swtich to the Ribbon mode? Thank you.

For Richell (and anyone else at Foxit), my chief obstacle to switching to the ribbon mode tool bar is (as several others have noted) primarily that I dislike it. But it's more than mere dislike or reluctance to change--as others have pointed out, ribbon interfaces take up considerably more room, which is especially noticeable on a laptop. Further, my workflow has developed without the ribbon, so learning a new interface would slow me down. Which isn't to say I never learn anything new--I do so all the time. And I constantly switch between different operating systems and UI, so it's not like I can't keep track of how to do the same things differently when necessary. But why make it harder on your users? Is it really that difficult for you to maintain the classic toolbar alongside the ribbon? Please heed our comments here and reconsider your decision to eliminate support for the classic toolbar

[thomas.dahl]

Such a shame. The ability to use the comact and efficient classic tool bar is what made foxit such a powerful product. The ribbon is just a bad piece of design. I have to spend hours trying to find things. The logic and design logic behind it defies my imagination.

[androlite83]

Please return the classic toolbar option. I never use the ribbon because it's so inefficient. I will stay in 7.2.8.1124 until the toolbar returns. Sad that foxit is not listening to user feedbacks.

[Eric Draven]

Sorry to say that classic toolbar is no longer available in latest version. Maintaining two toolbar modes always require more human resources and workload. The classic mode may be phased out in the future considering more and more people get used to the Ribbon mode. May I know what the chief obstacle is for you to swtich to the Ribbon mode? Thank you.

Hi Richell,

The chief obstacle in my specific case is personal preference. Regardless of the fact that you can hide the ribbon (which also degrades its usefulness from a UI/UX perspective), the classic skin is still more space efficient, and flows more naturally from a workflow perspective. I use no other applications that have a ribbon interface, and 7.3 wants to force me to break that. Forgive my lack of technical expertise in this specific area but if it takes too many resources to maintain the classic skin, is there a sensible way that you can just stop updating the classic skin but leave it there as an option for users who do not use the ribbon at all?

[Eric Draven]

I add my voice to this although I must say that everyone has most eloquently put my mind's sentiments about the ribbon interface in this thread. There must be a good chunk of users who have NEVER used the ribbon. What other major applications use the ribbon interface anyway? I also am a LibreOffice user, and one of the major reasons I refuse to use MS Office is because of the ribbon (the most important reason being file format compatibilities). I was also taken by surprise by this change. If maintaining the classic interface requires too many resources, just don't update it and just leave it there as an option. Does Foxit have no information what percentage of users before 7.3 actually use the ribbon interface?

[TrueFalcon]

I just reverted back by restoring the program directory from yesterday's backup. The settings are stored elsewhere in user files so they stayed put, but I did have to change it back to the classic toolbar. I also turned OFF all version checking. I'll check in to the website from now on and won't install any updates until they FIX this MISTAKE. I also disabled the cloud (never used it anyway) and added a firewall rule to prevent Foxit Reader from connecting to the internet. The prior version runs just fine and does what I want. And I HATE RIBBONS! ;-)

[chrisgl]

I joined up to add my frustration at he lack of the classic (better) toolbar. I understand it is an idea foisted on us by Microsoft Office. I don't use M$ Office, I use LibreOffice, it has a "classic" toolbar. This ribbon thing is awful. More clicks to locate anything and many other annoyances

It should say something that few other programs use a ribbon.

I am also VERY ANNOYED that the removal of the toolbar came with no warning. Very rude.
How can I get back to an earlier version that has the toolbar please?

[RamonS]

I can only echo the complaints here. The ribbon is the worst thing ever invented and in all aspects horrible UX. It wastes a lot of space and all it does is add cryptic icons that require text descriptions to make sense. It adds absolutely nothing in regards to usability. The Classic Toolbar as any other menu based UI makes using an app tremendously easy. The images in the ribbon add so much optical noise that it is very tedious to find the feature needed. I kindly ask you to revert back to including the toolbar/menu. If resources are a problem then ditch the ribbon.
You really put your users into a tough place, we either bow to the bad UI design or forgo security updates. I will see what the next version brings. What a way to ruin an otherwise perfect Sunday!

[lyndi_wu]

Hi Darkrats & all,

Sorry for the inconvenience. I have forwarded all your feedback to our PM team, report ID:PHANTOM-5994.

[darkrats]

Another product jumps the shark. After patiently waiting for an option to permanently remove the Navigation Bar, I now read that the Classic Toolbar is gone. I won't be upgrading here either. Are you serious when you say that keeping the Classic Toolbar used too many resources? What is wrong with software creators? It's almost as if they reach a stage where they run out of ideas and decide that messing with Users would keep them interested. I don't suppose Foxit will be one of the extremely rare creators who will listen to their Users. Maybe, but probably not. It's a sad day for me.

[Beachcomber]

Downgrade completed. Back to sanity. Ugly space-consuming ribbon is now history.

[Beachcomber]

Thanks for the input. I shall either have to revert to an older version or abandon Foxit Reader altogether. I hope Foxit reconsiders.

[arturox]

Well! I've hated Ribbon toolbars with a passion since MS first started sticking them in their products, I dumped Word 7 asap and reinstalled a previous version, and I'm still using that previous version of Word to this day. I've really enjoyed using Foxit PDF Reader over the years, but unless I get the classic toobar configuration back it's gonna be I'm off elsewhere.. In the meantime, I've uninstalled this latest nasty version and installed 7.2.8.1124 again. Ax

[tonybullard]

I am also disappointed the toolbar is missing. I've been using Foxit Read for years and loved its interface. I will be looking for a better reader also but really hope there is a fix to this.

[santiago102]

7.2.8.1124 is much better and may be the last one with the classic toolbar. Remember to turn off all updates, though. Check 'get rid of the ribbon' on Google for removing the ribbon in other programs. We just have to hope for a change of heart or some other helpful software company to write the necessary code.