Installation and Activation
I‘ve installed Mekko Graphics but why doesn’t it appear in PowerPoint or Excel?
This may be a problem with installation or the add-in may need to be manually loaded. Follow the steps in this Troubleshooting Guide to resolve the issue.
How can I access my license information?
Use the Mekko Graphics Portal to add users to an active subscription, renew an expired subscription, or renew a subscription that expires within 90 days. Your portal username is your email address.
On your first visit to the portal, enter your username in the “New Purchasers” section, and click the Submit button to have a temporary password emailed to you. If you have any problem accessing the portal, please contact us. Please include your serial number along with a description of the problem.
How do I renew my subscription?
You can use the Mekko Graphics Portal to renew your license or you can contact us to renew. Alternatively, you can purchase a new license and use the new serial number to reactivate.
How do I update my serial number?
In the Mekko Graphics ribbon, click on Help (located on the far right) and select Update Your License.
Can I add licenses to my subscription?
If you wish to add licenses to an existing volume subscription license, please use the Mekko Graphics Portal or contact us. New licenses may be added to existing volume license serial numbers and the price will be prorated to account for the remaining time on your license. Additional licenses will follow the original volume purchase price. Example: If a 12-pack was purchased in January 2017 at $219 per license per year and you wish to add an additional license to this 12-pack in July 2017, your license will follow the initial price of $219 per year, then it will be prorated to $109 (based on the key’s remaining license time). The license key will expire in January 2018.
Can I use Mekko Graphics on more than one computer?
A license for Mekko Graphics is issued to individuals and not to machines. So, you can install Mekko Graphics on any number of machines, including PCs or Macs.
I am a new employee. Can I use the license of an employee who has left the company?
Yes, you can use the license of an employee who has left the company, but you must uninstall and reinstall in order to activate the software and to register the software to your name.
How do I register my software?
Once you have activated your license, you will immediately be prompted to register. If you did not register at the time of activation, you can still register your license at any time. To register your license of Mekko Graphics, go to the Mekko Graphics menu and select Register from the Help menu.
Automatic activation is not working for me. What should I do?
It is possible that your firewall is preventing online activation. You can still activate Mekko Graphics using manual activation. When you start PowerPoint, enter your serial number, select "Manual (browser-based) Activation," and click Continue. This will open the Manual Activation screen.
Click on the link in step 1 to open a web form in your default browser. Enter your serial number and activation number (provided in the Manual Activation screen) and, if you choose, register your name and email address, then click on the Create button. This will generate an Authorization code, which you must copy and paste back into Step 2) on the Manual Activation screen. Click Continue and you should be all set.
I’m in IT. Can I install Mekko Graphics for users silently?
In order to run an InstallScript MSI or InstallScript project installation program in silent mode, you must first run MekkoGraphics.exe with the /r option to generate a response file, which stores information about the data entered and options selected by the user at run time.
/r: Record mode (InstallScript and InstallScript MSI projects)
Running an InstallScript MSI or InstallScript installation program with the command MekkoGraphics.exe /r displays all the run-time dialog boxes, and stores the data in a file called Setup.iss, created inside the system's Windows folder.
To specify an alternative response file name and location, use the /f1 option, described below. The /f1 option allows the user to define a custom location for the Setup.iss file.
Example
MekkoGraphics.exe /r /f1"C:setup.iss"
*Note that there can be no space between /f1 and the file path.
/s: Silent mode (InstallScript and InstallScript MSI projects)
For an InstallScript MSI or InstallScript project, the command MekkoGraphics.exe /s runs the installation in silent mode, by default based on the responses contained in a response file called Setup.iss in the same directory. (Response files are created by running MekkoGraphics.exe with the /r option.)
/v"/qn" will send the silent command to the MSI installation.
Example
MekkoGraphics.exe /s /v"/qn"
This will use setup.iss found in the current directory.
/v"/qn" will send the silent command to the MSI installation.
To specify an alternative response file name and location, use the /f1 option, described below. The /f1 option allows the user to define a custom location for the Setup.iss file. Use /f2 to specify alternative log file name and path.
Example
MekkoGraphics.exe /s /v"/qn" /f1"C:setup.iss" /f2"C:MekkoGraphics.log"
How do I uninstall Mekko Graphics for Mac?
The easiest way to uninstall Mekko Graphics for Mac is to run our Uninstall script. The script is an executable file located in the system library at:
/Library/Application Support/MekkoGraphics/
Just navigate to this folder and double-click the script to uninstall Mekko Graphics for Mac from your machine.
What are the terms of your licensing agreement?
Visit the License Agreement page to read the End User Licensing Agreement (EULA).
Do you offer a free or discounted subscription for students?
Yes. Please complete this form to get your free student license.
Using Mekko Graphics
I have a Mac. Can I use Mekko Graphics?
Yes. We have a PowerPoint add-in for Mac users but there is no Excel add-in for the Mac. Your annual subscription allows the installation of both the Mac and Windows version of Mekko Graphics.
How do I insert an axis break?
To add an axis break, simply right click on the axis and choose Insert an Axis Break from the floating menu. To change the style of the axis break, click on the break (squiggly line) and choose the slanted line image. To resize your axis break, click on it and dashed horizontal lines will appear around the break. Drag the dashed line up to increase the size of the axis break.
Learn more about using axis breaks in your charts by watching this video.
When I right click on a chart a blank box appears instead of the right click menu. How do I access the menus?
If you find that the right click menus do not work or are blank, this is caused by a compatibility issue with some versions of Office (including Office 365). Here's how to fix it.
For PowerPoint
Under File > Options > General, select Optimize for compatiblity and then restart PowerPoint
For Excel
If the problem occurs in Excel as well, you can solve it by unchecking the box next to "Use best settings for my display" under File > Options > General and then re-starting Excel.
How do I choose the right chart for my data?
We know this can be the hardest part about creating a chart. View this Mastering Chart Selection guide to learn some tips for choosing the best chart based on the question you are trying to answer or the message you are trying to convey.
Learn more about how to use specific chart types, like the Marimekko & Bar Mekko or Cascade/Waterfall charts. You can also visit our chart gallery to see real examples of each chart type.
When I create a chart with many series some of the labels are not shown. How do I get them to appear?
You can use the Preference Manager to automatically place all labels on your charts. Under the Settings tab in the Preference Manager, check Place All Labels and then click OK. All charts you create will not display all labels by default. You can update previous charts with this setting by selecting Apply PM settings from the Mekko Graphics menu.
My boss asked me to add a CAGR to my bar chart. How do I do that?
You can use the Mekko Graphics data sheet in your bar chart to calculate the CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate). Add the years as the column title (e.g. 2011-2015) and then type this CAGR formula into the row: =cagr(first year value, last year value, number of periods).
Once you have the CAGR calculation in your data sheet, right click on that column and select Bar on Chart to de-select this option. They select Bar as CAGR column in the drop down menu. Now your CAGR data will appear as data to the right of your series of bars in a column labeled CAGR with the date range you entered into the data sheet.
Watch this video to learn how to add a CAGR column or a CAGR growth line to your chart.
Can more than one user work on charts at the same time?
Yes. Mekko Graphics makes it easy to collaborate with your colleagues. The software supports co-authoring for multiple users and multiple platforms. If multiple users are signed on to OneDrive or SharePoint, they can work on the same PowerPoint presentation using PCs or Macs.
How do I add data below my chart?
Add the data or text you want to appear below your chart as a row or rows (data table) in the Mekko Graphics chart data sheet. Then, choose Bars and Series from the Format section of the Mekko Graphics ribbon. On the Series Visibility tab you will see all of the series in your chart. Choose the row(s) with the data to be displayed below the chart and uncheck the Chart box and check the Data box. Format the numbers using the dropdown menu in the Number Format column.
You can also add data to the side of your chart (data table) using a data column. Add the data or text as columns in the chart data sheet. Choose Bars and Series from the Format section of the Mekko Graphics ribbon. On the Bars Visibility tab you will see all of the bars in your chart. Choose the column(s) with the data to be displayed next to the chart and uncheck the Chart box and check the Data box. Format the numbers using the dropdown menu in the Number Format column.
Read 5 Ways to Enhance Your Charts to learn more about data rows, data columns and CAGR columns.
Does Mekko Graphics come in different languages?
Yes. We have German and Spanish versions of Mekko Graphics. When you install Mekko Graphics, it will use the default language you set for Microsoft Office.
What is a total bar in a cascade chart?
In a cascade chart (also known as a waterfall chart), a total bar is a bar that begins at the axis rather than at the end point of the previous bar or another bar that you can select. You will often see a sub-total in the middle of a cascade chart and typically the last bar in the chart is a total bar.
Can charts from older versions of Mekko Graphics be opened in the latest version?
Yes, Mekko Graphics charts created in previous versions may be opened and edited in the current version. Once you edit the chart in the current version, the chart will convert to the new format.
Can I use shortcuts instead of the menus in Mekko Graphics?
Yes. Many of the shortcuts are shown next to the menu options in Mekko Graphics. View a complete list of shortcuts here.
How do I share charts with colleagues who do not have a Mekko Graphics subscription?
When you share a PowerPoint presentation, charts will appear as images in the slides if the user does not have the Mekko Graphics installed. If you want to share the data in the Mekko Graphics charts, use the Export data to Excel option in the Mekko Graphics ribbon. View detailed instructions on how to export data.
A free, 30-day trial of Mekko Graphics can be used if a user needs to edit the data or charts but is not currently a Mekko Graphics subscriber.
Formatting
How do I change the colors and fonts in Mekko Graphics?
The Preference Manager allows you to select colors, draw orders, fonts and other default formats. In addition, the import and export function allows multiple users at one organization to share their preferences. Launch the Preference Manager from the Mekko Graphics menu in PowerPoint.
Watch this video to learn how to save time by using the Preference Manager.
Can I add a chart title?
You can use the Y axis title as a chart title, especially if you format it to be top tick aligned. Click on Axes in the Mekko Graphics ribbon and choose Top Tick Aligned from the Position dropdown menu. You can also drag the Y axis title to the center of your chart if you prefer.
How do I change labels from horizontal to vertical?
For a single label, right click on the label and choose Vertical from the Label Orientation drop down menu. For multiple labels, multi-select by holding down the Ctrl key and clicking on the labels you want to change. Then, right click and choose Vertical from the Label Orientation drop down menu.
I don’t want to show bar totals. Can I hide them?
Yes. In the Edit Chart ribbon, choose Chart to open the Format Chart task pane. Just uncheck the box next to bar totals to hide them in your chart. 
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How do I add a second Y axis (2Y axis)?
There are 2 ways to show a series on the second Y axis.
When you are entering your data or pasting it into the chart data sheet, right click on a series name and choose "Plot on 2Y axis" from the floating menu.
Alternatively, you can choose the 2Y axis from Format Bars and Series. Choose Bars and Series from the Mekko Graphics ribbon. On the Series, Visibility tab, check the box in the Set 2Y axis column for one or more series.
How do I update a Mekko Graphics chart with my new Preference Manager settings?
Once you use the Preference Manager, those changes will affect future charts that you create or edit. It will not automatically change charts you have already created. For existing charts, you can apply our new Preference Manager settings by opening the chart and choosing Apply PM settings from the Mekko Graphics menu.
Why is my chart not updating to my new Preference Manager settings?
Your chart may contain custom color settings for either your series or segments, and those colors will stay with your chart, regardless of your Preference Manager settings.
Can I import my custom palettes and draw orders from previous versions of Mekko Graphics?
Yes, you can import custom .xml files containing custom colors and draw orders which you created in earlier versions of Mekko Graphics. Launch the Preference Manager from the Mekko Graphics menu in PowerPoint. Click Add from File, and navigate to the XML file you wish to import. Click OK.
Can I add a custom color that is not part of my color palette in the Preference Manager?
You can create custom colors for segments or series in your chart. To do this, right click the desired segment in your chart, click the Series or Segment fill color drop down menu and select the More Colors button to create a custom color. Here, you may create a new color by selecting on the palette or by directly typing in a RGB value. This custom color will remain an option in your chart regardless of your Preference Manager settings.
