Use the OnStyle Ribbon to access authoring and validation tools in Microsoft Word.

Where to find the OnStyle tab #

When Word starts, the OnStyle tab appears at the right end of the Word Ribbon, but no OnStyle functions are loaded. After clicking the OnStyle tab, the OnStyle Starter is displayed. Within a few seconds, the groups that do not require a DocConfig become available. To unlock the full Ribbon, assign a DocConfig in the Configuration group.

Steps to navigate the OnStyle Ribbon #

1. Open Microsoft Word.

2. Click the OnStyle tab in the Ribbon.

3. In Configuration: click Assign DocConfig and select a configuration. Then open Preferences if you need to update the configuration or restart OnStyle.

4. Explore the function groups across the Ribbon.

5. Return to Configuration at any time to change the assigned DocConfig.

Ribbon groups (all editions) #

• Configuration – Assign DocConfig, open Preferences, restart OnStyle, update configuration, Help.
• View – Show/Hide Styles, Hidden Text, Instructions, Paragraph Marks, Text Boundaries, Table Gridlines, Line Numbers.
• Quick Symbols – Insert predefined symbols from the active DocConfig.
• Format – Insert Breaks, Page Break Before, Keep with Next, Superscript, Subscript, Clear/Reset formats.
• List – Set list type (alpha, number, dash, bullet, text), change indent, and renumber.
• Quick Styles – Apply frequently used styles defined by the current DocConfig.
• Tools – Headings, Texts, Tables, Figures, References, TOC, Page, Header/Footer, Paste, Export, Update Fields.
• Validation – Execute an Inspection, an Inspection Group, or an Inspection Set; edit Custom Inspection Set.

Differences by edition and version #

Modules and Tools available only in Professional and higher editions (3.4 and 3.5)

• Switch Headings – Switch heading levels quickly from the Tools > Headings menu.
• Proofing Language – Set or change proofing language from Tools > Text.
• Cleanup group – Tools for removing hidden text, instructions, unused nonstandard styles, and restoring styles.
• Att/App group – Custom styles for Attachments and Appendices.
• More Symbols – Extended symbol support including custom strings with non-breaking spaces.
• All-in-One TOC tool – Insert TOC, TOF, TOT, List of Appendices, and List of Attachments in one step. Essential has only separate TOC/LOF/LOT menus.
• Extended Table/Figure functions – Professional includes custom merged row definition, full reformatting of all/selected tables, more advanced figure handling. Essential offers only header/footer rows, borders, and figure footer parts.
• Validation report – PDF report generation
• Comment Issue under Validation – allows discussion/commenting on validation findings.

Version notes

3.4 – Provides the same Ribbon navigation; some functions appear with slightly different menu names.

3.5 – Adds Default Tab Stop handling and Standard Style Missing/Modified checks in Validation; expands Correction modules.

3.6.1 – Introduces the OnStyle Guide Tool, available via Configuration → Help → Start Guide. It highlights key elements of the OnStyle Ribbon and provides short usage explanations.