Ok - The help files can sometimes seem a bit daunting if you're a bit new at it, but it's actually quite easy. Whilst I can't help you with regards to your options, I have attached some code below that shows you how to create a simple CommandBar:
In Excel I find toolbars a real bind compared to the ease of MS Word toolbars, so I always destroy previous instances & recreate it when you open Excel, rather than trying to get it to save in the Personal.xls.
This example is called from an Autoexec routine
'##############################################
Sub AutoExec
Dim cbrNewBar As CommandBar
Dim cbcButtonA As CommandBarButton
Dim cbcButtonB As CommandBarButton
'Destroy previous instance
If Application.CommandBars("New Toolbar").Visible = True Then
Application.CommandBars("New Toolbar").Delete
End If
'recreate, name & position toolbar
Set cbrNewBar = Application.CommandBars.Add
cbrNewBar.Name = "New Toolbar"
cbrNewBar.Position = msoBarTop
'add buttons
With cbrNewBar.Controls
'set what type you want them to be
Set cbcButtonA = .Add(msoControlButton)
Set cbcButtonB = .Add(msoControlButton)
'add their captions
cbcButtonA.Caption = "Button A"
cbcButtonB.Caption = "Button B"
'tooltip text
cbcButtonA.DescriptionText = "Click to run Macro A"
cbcButtonB.DescriptionText = "Click to run Macro B"
'set their style (text/picture etc)
cbcButtonA.Style = msoButtonCaption
cbcButtonB.Style = msoButtonCaption
'add separator
cbcButtonB.BeginGroup = True
'specify macro that runs when you click them
cbcButtonA.OnAction = "MacroA"
cbcButtonB.OnAction = "MacroB"
End With
'make sure you can see it
cbrNewBar.Visible = True
End Sub
'####################################################
A very basic example with ounly 2 buttons but I hope this helps. Obviously you are going to have to do some work with it to get your options sorted, but it should give you a start. As for the criticalness of rewriting your menubar routines, I'm no expert but I suspect that they will still be compatible for a while yet.
Cheers
Asjeff