Microsoft Office Outspace is the name given to the task oriented panel that opens when you click the Office Button in each of the Office 2010 applications. You’ll notice that it displays in a different colour in each application. Really, it offers no more functionality than the old panel that opened in Office 2007 applications, but I guess Microsoft felt a need to call it something esoteric. OutSpace.

Microsoft Office 2010 Outspace Man

I must admint I like the colours, but colours maketh not the application. If you are an old dog that doesn’t like new tricks, you can welcome back with open arms the 2007 style view by changing some registry settings.

Turning Off The Microsoft Office 2010 OutSpace

Follow me: click Start > Run, type regedit and click OK. This takes you into the mysterious world of the Registry Editor. Navigate to the following registry key:

• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Common\Toolbars

If there isn’t a DWORD registry key called UseOutspace, create one by clicking Edit > New > DWORD Value.

Yes, I'm still Using XP

Name the registry key “UseOutspace”. You can change the key’s value by double clicking on it.

Use the following settings, depending on whether you want the Office 2010 OutSpace to display or not:

• 0 – Office 2010 is disabled
• 1- Office 2010 is enabled

After you’ve created or changed the above registry key, you don’t need to reboot your machine. Simply exit whichever Office 2010 applications you have running and reopen them to see the changes. Assuming you changed the UseOutspace value to ‘0′, when you click the Office Button you can all breathe collective sighs of relief as the old style panel now opens. However, there is a little continuity error that occurs after doing this. Can you spot it?

Office 2010 OutSpace Be Gone!