Support

We're offering this plugin for free because we've already invested in its development for our own firm's use. By sharing it, we aim to gain brand recognition and gather valuable feedback to improve its features. This helps us refine the plugin while providing value to other professionals.

There's no catch, but there are a few important points to keep in mind. We ask users to occasionally provide feedback, which helps us improve the plugin. It's crucial that you stay subscribed to our email communications about updates and new features. Unsubscribing from these emails will result in the termination of your license key, as we use this channel to ensure you receive important information about the software. The plugin itself is fully functional, with the only limitation being certain optional AI features that require a minimal fee to help us cover our costs. By maintaining your subscription to our emails, you ensure continued access to the free plugin and its updates.

Our plugin focuses on creating professional-grade slides, moving away from the more gimmicky templates native to PowerPoint. It's designed to work with our flagship framework and trademarked "StoryTelling Charts," helping users create more impactful presentations.

Installation is simple and secure. Just sign up on our website for a license, and you'll receive an email with a unique license key assigned to your machine. You can then install the plugin locally on your computer. This ensures enterprise-grade safety and ease of use.

Yes, the plugin is compatible with both Mac and Windows versions of PowerPoint.

We strive to maintain compatibility with current versions of PowerPoint. The plugin is regularly updated to ensure it remains compatible with the latest Office releases. While we can't guarantee backward compatibility, this will largely depend on Microsoft's own backward compatibility support. For the most up-to-date compatibility information, please check our website.

We update the plugin continuously to ensure it remains enterprise-compliant and compatible with the latest versions of Windows Office. This regular maintenance helps keep the plugin secure and functional.

Yes, the plugin is intended for commercial use. It's designed to help professionals create high-quality presentations for business purposes.

The free version of the plugin is fully functional with one main limitation: certain optional AI features are not included. These AI capabilities require a license upgrade and a minimal monthly fee to cover our running costs. All other features are available in the free version.

Yes, the plugin does send some information over the internet, but only for essential functions. Every time you open PowerPoint, the plugin checks if the software matches the latest version on our server. If it doesn't, an update is automatically performed using the BITS protocol, a technique similar to the one used by Windows for its updates. When a check is performed, we record your IP address, license key, the date and time of the request, version numbers of your Microsoft Windows and Office, and any error reports. If an error or bug is detected, the plugin automatically sends an error report to our database using an encrypted connection. This information helps us understand and fix bugs immediately, ensuring reliability for all users. In addition, regarding AI functions, we do not store any information about your personal data, data from your presentations and do not use it to train a neural network.

Does the plugin collect any personal data? We prioritize your privacy and collect only essential data to provide our service. The personal information we maintain is limited to your email address, which is used for important communications about updates, upgrades, and technical support. To ensure you receive critical information and maintain an active license, we regularly verify that our emails are reaching you. Please note that opting out of these communications will result in the termination of your license key. Additionally, the plugin collects some technical data for functionality and improvement purposes. This includes:

• Your IP address
• License key
• Date and time of update checks
• Version numbers of your Microsoft Windows and Office
• Error reports (if applicable)

This technical information is used solely for maintaining and enhancing the plugin's performance and is not linked to your personal identity. Our goal is to balance respecting your privacy with providing an optimal user experience and keeping you informed about essential changes to our software.

We take the security of your data very seriously. All data transfers, including update checks and error reports, use encrypted connections. We employ industry-standard security protocols to protect your information, regularly conduct security audits, and ensure compliance with data protection regulations.

• Encryption: All data at rest is encrypted using AES-256, and data in transit is protected using TLS 1.2 or higher.
• Regular Security Audits: We conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments to identify and mitigate potential threats.
• Data Anonymization: Any personally identifiable information (PII) is anonymized where possible to protect user privacy.
• Secure Coding Practices: Our development team follows secure coding practices and regularly participates in security training to stay updated on the latest threats and mitigation techniques.
• Incident Response Plan: We have a robust incident response plan in place to quickly address and remediate any security incidents.
• Compliance with Regulations: We ensure compliance with relevant data protection regulations such as GDPR, CCPA, and HIPAA, where applicable.
• Regular Updates and Patches: We regularly update and patch our software to address any security vulnerabilities and ensure our systems are protected against known threats.

Yes, we offer customer support for our plugin. You can contact support via the chat window on our website or by submitting a ticket through our support system. To keep our costs manageable and serve you better, please note that paid users get priority support. If you are a free user, we ask for your patience as we strive to serve all our customers. Rest assured, we are committed to assisting all users, regardless of their subscription status.

Our plugin offers exceptional value compared to competitors charging hundreds in annual fees. It provides a unique combination of qualitative and quantitative possibilities with endless freehand design elements. To achieve what our single plugin offers, you would typically need multiple paid tools, making our solution not only cost-effective but also more convenient. We've invested in developing this plugin for our own firm's use, allowing us to offer it to you at no cost while still delivering professional-grade features. By choosing our free plugin, you get access to high-quality tools without the financial burden, all while benefiting from our ongoing updates and improvements based on user feedback.

A standout feature of our plugin is its universal compatibility. All elements and slides created using our plugin are fully compatible across any PowerPoint version. This means you can share your slides without worrying about compatibility issues - even if the recipient doesn't have our plugin installed, they can still view and edit the charts on their computer. This level of compatibility is rare in the plugin market and ensures seamless collaboration. Additionally, our plugin is built around our flagship framework and trademarked "StoryTelling Charts", offering a unique approach to creating impactful, professional-grade presentations that move beyond the gimmicky templates often found in native PowerPoint.

Not at all. In fact, the performance of our plugin should be either on par with or better than most paid solutions. We've developed this plugin to meet our own professional standards, ensuring it delivers high-quality results efficiently. Our continuous updates keep the plugin optimized for the latest versions of PowerPoint, maintaining its performance edge. The only difference you might notice is in certain AI features, which are available for a minimal fee to cover our running costs. However, these optional features don't affect the core performance of the plugin, which remains robust and efficient in its free version.

Choosing our free plugin over a paid alternative offers several compelling advantages:
1. Cost-effectiveness: You get professional-grade tools without any financial investment.
2. Regular updates: We continuously improve the plugin based on user feedback and to maintain compatibility with the latest PowerPoint versions.
3. Universal compatibility: Your creations are shareable and editable by anyone, even without our plugin.
4. Professional-quality output: Our plugin is designed for creating high-impact, business-ready presentations.
5. Unique features: Access to our trademarked "StoryTelling Charts" and custom design elements.
6. Performance: Enjoy efficiency and quality on par with or exceeding many paid solutions.
7. Flexibility: Use the core features for free, with the option to access advanced AI capabilities for a minimal fee if needed.
8. Support and community: Benefit from our support system and the feedback of a growing user base.
By choosing our free plugin, you're not just saving money - you're gaining access to a professional tool that's continually evolving to meet the needs of its users, all without the commitment typically required by paid solutions.

Getting started with our plugin is quick and easy:
1. Sign up on our website at www.storytellingwithcharts.com
2. You'll receive an email with your unique license key.
3. After you enter your name and work email, you will be redirected to the download page, where you can choose the Mac or Windows version of the plugin and download it.
4. Run the installer on your computer and follow the prompts to complete the installation.
5. Open PowerPoint.
6. When prompted, enter your license key and accept the terms and conditions.
7. The plugin is now ready to use! You can start creating professional presentations right away.
Remember to keep your license key safe and ensure you remain subscribed to our email communications to maintain an active license.

We offer a variety of resources to help you make the most of our plugin:
1. Video Tutorials: Visit our video tutorial section for step-by-step guides on using various features.
2. User Guide: A comprehensive PDF guide is available for download in the 'Resources' section of our website.
3. FAQs: Check our frequently asked questions page for quick answers to common queries.
4. Blog: We regularly post tips, tricks, and best practices on our blog.
5. Webinars: Join our live webinars for in-depth feature demonstrations and Q&A sessions.
If you can't find what you're looking for, don't hesitate to contact our support team.

If you're experiencing issues with the plugin, please follow these troubleshooting steps:
1. Verify your license key: Ensure you've entered the correct license key in PowerPoint.
2. Check your email subscription: Confirm you haven't opted out of our communications, as this can invalidate your license.
3. Restart PowerPoint: Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve minor issues.
4. Update the plugin: Make sure you're running the latest version of the plugin.
5. Check compatibility: Ensure your PowerPoint version is compatible with our plugin.
If these steps don't resolve the issue, please contact our support team. When reaching out, provide details about the problem, your PowerPoint version, and your operating system to help us assist you more effectively.

While our plugin offers a wide range of features to suit most professional needs, we understand that some users may have unique requirements. For any customization requests:
1. Contact our support team with a detailed description of your needs.
2. Our team will evaluate your request and discuss potential solutions.
3. For minor customizations, we may be able to guide you through using existing features to achieve your goal.
4. For more significant customizations, we may offer tailored solutions, which could involve additional costs depending on the complexity.
Please note that while we strive to accommodate user needs, not all customization requests may be feasible. We'll work with you to find the best possible solution within the capabilities of our plugin.

If you need to uninstall the plugin, follow these steps:

1. Open PowerPoint.
2. Go to "File" > "Options" > "Add-ins."
3. At the bottom of the window, select "COM Add-ins" from the dropdown menu and click "Go."
4. If you need to temporarily disable the plugin:
   • Find the plugin in the list and uncheck it.
   • Click "OK" to disable the plugin.
5. If for some reason you need to remove the plugin completely, return to the "Add-ins" section, select "COM Add-ins," click "Go," select the add-in, and click "Remove."

If you encounter any issues or need further assistance, please contact our support team.

Yes, we are committed to keeping the core functionality of our plugin free for all users. Specifically:
All non-AI and non-algorithmic based features will remain free indefinitely. This includes our professional-grade slide creation tools, our trademarked "StoryTelling Charts," and other design elements. We believe in providing value to our community and maintaining accessibility to high-quality presentation tools. However, please note:

• Certain advanced AI-driven or computationally intensive algorithmic features may require a minimal fee to cover our operational costs.
• These premium features are optional and not necessary for the core functionality of the plugin.
• We will always clearly communicate which features are free and which may require payment.

Our goal is to maintain a sustainable model that allows us to continue offering a robust free version while developing new, cutting-edge features.

Staying informed about updates and new features is crucial for getting the most out of our plugin. Here's how you can stay up-to-date:
1. Stay opted in to our email communications: This is the most important step. Our emails contain:

• Announcements about new features and updates
• Tips and tricks for using the plugin effectively
• Important information about your license

2. Check our website regularly: We post updates and feature announcements on our homepage and blog.
3. Follow us on social media: Connect with us on platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook for real-time updates and community discussions.
5. Join our user community: Participate in our forums or user groups to discuss updates with other users and our team.

Remember, staying subscribed to our emails is not just about staying informed—it's also necessary to keep your free license active. We use this channel to ensure you receive critical information about the software.

Absolutely! We highly value user feedback and suggestions as they help us improve the plugin and tailor it to your needs. Here's how you can contribute your ideas:
1. Use our "Suggest a Feature" section:
- Visit page on our website.
- Fill out the feature suggestion form with as much detail as possible.
- Include use cases or scenarios where this feature would be beneficial.
2. Participate in our user forums:
- Join discussions about potential improvements.
- See if others have suggested similar features and add your voice to the conversation.
3. Respond to our surveys: We periodically send out user surveys. These are great opportunities to provide feedback.
4. Contact our support team: If you have a unique suggestion that doesn't fit the usual categories, feel free to reach out to our support team.
5. Beta testing: Sign up for our beta testing program to try new features before they're released and provide direct feedback.
We review all suggestions carefully. While we can't implement every idea, your input is crucial in shaping the future of our plugin. We often prioritize features that are frequently requested or aligned with our development roadmap.

Currently, we don't have a dedicated user community or forum for the plugin. However, we recognize the value of community engagement and are actively working on building a user community platform in the near future. As soon as the community forum is launched, we will inform all our users via email and announcements on our website. In the meantime, we encourage you to follow us on social media platforms for updates and to engage with other users. You can also check our FAQ section and blog for common questions and tips, and use our support channels to get assistance and share your experiences. We're excited about the prospect of creating a space where users can interact, share ideas, and help each other, so stay tuned for updates!

We offer multiple channels for support to ensure you can get help when you need it. You can use our live chat window on our website for quick queries, submit a support ticket for more complex issues, or reach out to us via email if you prefer that form of communication. Please note that paid users receive priority support to manage our resources effectively. If you're a free user, we appreciate your patience as we strive to assist all our customers. To help us serve you better, please provide as much detail as possible about your issue, including screenshots if applicable. For paid users, we aim to respond within 48 business hours, while for free users, our typical response time varies and is based on a first come first serve basis. We're committed to supporting all our users and continuously work on improving our support services.

We offer a variety of training resources to help you make the most of our plugin. For self-paced learning, we provide comprehensive video tutorials covering all plugin features, available in our Video Tutorial section on our website. These tutorials cover topics from basic to advanced levels. For those seeking more personalized guidance, we offer individualized training sessions on StoryTelling Charts, strategy development, advanced plugin features, and presentation design best practices. To learn more about these customized training packages, please contact our sales team by submitting a support request. In addition to these options, we host regular live webinars covering various topics, including Q&A sessions with our experts. To stay informed about upcoming webinars, sign up for our StoryTelling with Charts newsletter. We also maintain a regularly updated FAQ section on our website. For ongoing tips and insights, check out our blog, which features regular posts with tips, tricks, and case studies. Whether you prefer self-guided learning through our video tutorials or are interested in more intensive, personalized training, we have options to suit your needs. Don't hesitate to reach out if you have specific training requirements – we're here to help you succeed with our plugin!