9/12/2012 version 6.0 Of07/10

GETTING STARTED WITH MEKKO GRAPHICS A GUIDE FOR OFFICE 2007 AND OFFICE 2010

USERS

2

CONTENTS

Getting Started with Mekko Graphics ...................................................... 1 A Guide for Office 2007 and Office 2010 Users ......................................... 1 Chapter 1 Getting Started ..................................................................... 3

What is Mekko Graphics?................................................................... 3 Chapter 2 Installing Mekko Graphics ....................................................... 4

System Requirements ....................................................................... 4 Installing Mekko Graphics ................................................................. 5

Chapter 3 Starting Mekko Graphics ........................................................ 10 Using the Trial Version ...................................................................... 10 Activation ........................................................................................ 11 Registration ..................................................................................... 19

Chapter 4 Using Mekko Graphics ........................................................... 21 Chapter 5 Support ............................................................................... 25

Technical Support ............................................................................. 25 Appendix: What’s New in Mekko Graphics? ............................................ 26

Direct Manipulation of Charts in PowerPoint ......................................... 26 Chart Editing Toolbar ........................................................................ 27 Chart Margin Flexibility ...................................................................... 28 Reverse Data Row Order ................................................................... 28 File Path for Export to Excel ............................................................... 29 Email and Web Support from Mekko Graphics ...................................... 30 Improved Installation and Activation Process ....................................... 30

Chapter 1 – Welcome to Mekko Graphics 3

CHAPTER 1 GETTING STARTED

WHAT IS MEKKO GRAPHICS? Mekko Graphics is a professional tool designed to provide powerful business

charting capabilities in one simple package that works seamlessly with Microsoft PowerPoint™. Mekko Graphics offers powerful features and flexibility that make outstanding, eye-catching charts more quickly and

efficiently, and can be individually customized to adhere to corporate standards and design. With Mekko Graphics, your charts will leverage your

data and present it clearly and effectively. Mekko Graphics is the result of years of development incorporating new

features suggested by you, our users. We have redesigned Mekko from the ground up, enabling you to make more distinctive, eye catching charts in

less time. You will immediately see the difference! Here are just some of the new features you can expect.

What’s New?

Direct manipulation of chart objects in PowerPoint New chart editing toolbar and context-sensitive right click chart

menus

Multi- and Half-page quick launch chart layout options Faster chart editing

Greater flexibility with chart margins Support for reverse data row order

File path for Export to Excel Ability to email Mekko support and visit Mekko website directly

from Mekko Graphics

Improved Installation and Activation process

Please see the Appendix at the end of this document for details on all the

new features in Mekko Graphics 6.0.

Chapter 2 – Installing Mekko Graphics 4

CHAPTER 2 INSTALLING MEKKO GRAPHICS

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS To use Mekko Graphics, your computer system should include the hardware and software listed below.

Operating System Requirements:

MS Windows XP Service Pack 3 or MS Windows Vista or MS Windows 7 (32- or 64-bit)

Microsoft Office Version Requirements:

MS Office 2003 MS Office 2007

MS Office 2010 (32- or 64-bit)

System Requirements MS .NET Framework 4.0 is required.

Microsoft Visual Studio Tools for the Microsoft Office system (VSTO 4.0) Microsoft Office 2010: Primary Interop Assemblies Redistributable (PIA

2010)

Hardware Requirements

Component

Requirement

Computer and

processor

1.0 GHz or higher CPU

Memory and Video

2 GB of RAM recommended, 1024x768 high-

color 32-bit display

Hard disk 150 MB of available hard-disk space; optional

installation files cache (recommended)

requires an additional 200 MB of available

hard-disk space

Chapter 2 – Installing Mekko Graphics 5

INSTALLING MEKKO GRAPHICS

1. Close all programs.

2. Go to our website (www.mekkographics.com) and download the installation file MekkoGraphics6.exe to your computer.

3. Double click MekkoGraphics6.exe to begin installation

4. At the Welcome screen, click to begin installation.

Chapter 2 – Installing Mekko Graphics 6

5. Read and click to accept the License Agreement and

continue. You must accept this Agreement to continue.

Chapter 2 – Installing Mekko Graphics 7

6. Select a destination folder for the installation. It is recommended that you install in the default location

(C:\Program Files\Knowledge Management\Mekko Graphics 6). You may however, choose any location on your computer. You

may not install the software on the network.

Chapter 2 – Installing Mekko Graphics 8

7. Review your settings and click before continuing.

Click to make changes.

The installation process will begin.

Chapter 2 – Installing Mekko Graphics 9

8. Congratulations. The installation is complete. Click Finish.

Chapter 3 – Starting Mekko Graphics10

CHAPTER 3

STARTING MEKKO GRAPHICS Once installation is complete, you can simply launch PowerPoint to start Mekko Graphics.

You will see the Mekko Graphics Welcome Screen upon launching PowerPoint.

Go to the Start menu and launch PowerPoint

USING THE TRIAL VERSION When you install Mekko Graphics, the product is a 10-day trial version until you activate the software. It is very important to activate the software within 10 days of installing. Once the 10 days have passed, you will be unable to use the software unless you activate

it. To use the trial version, select the second radio button and click Continue.

Chapter 3 – Starting Mekko Graphics11

While you are in trial mode, all charts will have a watermark on them, both in Mekko Graphics and in PowerPoint. When you purchase and activate the software, the

watermark is removed.

ACTIVATION The activation process verifies your product serial number and license. You have two methods of activation: Automatic and Manual (browser-based) activation.

Activation of our software is good for one year from date of purchase. If your subscription has expired, Mekko Graphics will be deactivated on your machine and you will no longer be able to edit Mekko Graphics charts.

For those users who purchased Mekko Graphics before February 1, 2012 Customers who purchased Mekko Graphics before February 1, 2012 will be able to

download and install new upgrades free of charge until December 31, 2013. For those users who purchased Mekko Graphics after February 1, 2012

Customers who purchased Mekko Graphics after February 1, 2012 will be able to download and install new upgrades free of charge for one year from date of purchase.

Chapter 3 – Starting Mekko Graphics12

Automatic Activation

1. Choose the first radio button and click Continue to activate your software.

Chapter 3 – Starting Mekko Graphics13

2. Choose the first radio button for Automatic Activation and enter your serial

number. (The product serial number is provided to you in your purchase confirmation email). To avoid typos in entering, we recommend copying and

pasting from your purchase confirmation email). Click Continue.

3. The activation process begins. When the process is complete, a message

appears stating that the software was successfully activated.

Chapter 3 – Starting Mekko Graphics14

See the Registration Section to learn how to register your software.

Chapter 3 – Starting Mekko Graphics15

Manual (Browser-Based) Activation

1. If you are unable to activate using automatic activation, enter your serial number (located in your purchase confirmation email), select the Manual

(Browser-based) Activation radio button and click Continue.

2. The Mekko Graphics Manual Activation screen will appear. (Your Serial

Number and Activation Number will be pre-filled in the appropriate fields of the Manual Activation Screen). Click on the link "Activate Mekko Graphics" specified in Step 1 of the next screen. Note: You can print this screen if

necessary.

Chapter 3 – Starting Mekko Graphics16

MEKKO GRAPHICS MANUAL ACTIVATION SCREEN

3. Once you navigate to the web page (below), copy both your Serial Number

and Activation Number from Step 2 of the Mekko Graphics Manual Activation page and paste to their respective fields on the activation screen. Also fill out the bottom fields to register your software.

Chapter 3 – Starting Mekko Graphics17

4. Click . An Authorization Code is generated

Chapter 3 – Starting Mekko Graphics18

5. Copy the Authorization Code from the webpage, and paste it into Step 3 of

the Mekko Graphics Activation screen and click Continue.

MEKKO GRAPHICS MANUAL ACTIVATION SCREEN

Chapter 3 – Starting Mekko Graphics19

6. Your software will be successfully activated.

REGISTRATION If you have not yet registered, please register your copy of Mekko Graphics. Go to

the Mekko Graphics tab, and from the Help drop down menu, select “Register”.

Type in your name and e-mail address and click Register. Fields in red are required. A web page appears and confirms your registration. Registration is required and needs to

Chapter 3 – Starting Mekko Graphics20

be accurate in order to receive technical support. We do not sell or use this information in any way except for support purposes and to send you updates and news about Mekko

Graphics.

Chapter 4 – Using Mekko Graphics 21

CHAPTER 4

USING MEKKO GRAPHICS Once you have installed, activated and registered your software, you are

ready to begin creating charts! Mekko Graphics 6 uses the Quick Launch method for inserting a single chart on a slide.

From Microsoft PowerPoint™, go to the Mekko Graphics menu, and choose from the seven drop down menus for your desired chart type. (For more

information on the chart types and subtypes, hovering your mouse over the chart type will display a brief description of the chart).

Your chart will automatically appear in PowerPoint with prepopulated data, which you can easily replace with your own data. The "dummy data" that

populates the chart allows you to quickly see how the chart utilizes the data. To enter your data, double click anywhere in the chart area or right click the

chart and choose Edit Chart Data.

Chapter 4 – Using Mekko Graphics 22

Enter data for your chart in our Data View. Once you have entered your data, close the Data View screen.

Formatting your chart is likely where you will spend the majority of your time. You have several chart, series, segment, bar, axis, and label formatting

options, accessible through toolbars and menus right in PowerPoint.

Activate your chart for editing by clicking on it. Once you activate it, the Edit Chart toolbar will display in PowerPoint (in MS Office 2007 you must click on the Edit chart tab under Picture Tools).

Chapter 4 – Using Mekko Graphics 23

Various functions are available via the right click option. Right clicking anywhere in the chart area will display the right click chart

formatting menu.

Right click on a segment or label in your chart, and a context-sensitive menu will appear, allowing you to format the selected series, segment or label.

Chapter 4 – Using Mekko Graphics 24

Right clicking on the axis will display a context-sensitive menu, allowing you

to format your axis.

Format your series, segments, labels, and axes until you are satisfied with

the look of your chart. Then simply click off the chart to save all your changes. For more detailed training on creating charts, visit our website for

the latest webinar information or contact us at support@mekkographics.com.

Chapter 5 – Getting Help 25

CHAPTER 5 SUPPORT

Mekko Graphics includes a variety of resources to help you learn the program quickly and become proficient in creating your own charts.

The Mekko Graphics Support Center at www.mekkographics.com is updated regularly with the latest information on Mekko Graphics, including videos,

updates, sample presentations, FAQs, and information on advanced topics.

TECHNICAL SUPPORT Contact our Technical Support department to get answers to questions not

found on our web site. Installation and activation support is free. Please see our website for information about other support options.

Email

Mekko Forum

Mekko FAQ Mekko Graphics Webinar Demonstration

Mekko Blog

Appendix – What’s New in Mekko Graphics

APPENDIX: WHAT’S NEW IN MEKKO GRAPHICS?

DIRECT MANIPULATION OF CHARTS IN POWERPOINT

We’ve redesigned Mekko Graphics so you can now create and edit your Mekko Graphics charts right from PowerPoint. Access all your chart and

formatting options using the new chart editing toolbar or context-sensitive right click menus, all from toolbars and menus in PowerPoint.

Appendix – What’s New in Mekko Graphics

RIGHT CLICK A SEGMENT TO SEE VARIOUS SERIES/SEGMENT AND LABEL FUNCTIONS

You can right-click anywhere on the chart area to make quick global edits to the entire chart, like color scheme, margins, bar totals, sorts, legends, and

more.

RIGHT CLICK IN THE CHART AREA TO MAKE GLOBAL CHANGES TO YOUR CHART

CHART EDITING TOOLBAR

Our new chart editing toolbar allows you to create and edit your charts more

quickly and easily than ever. All the functions are at your fingertips.

Appendix – What’s New in Mekko Graphics

CHART MARGIN FLEXIBILITY

Now you have much greater control over the margins in your chart, and you can now set those default margins using the Preference Manager. Need

extra room for multiple data rows, or a narrower left margin? Or a horizontal legend? Create the look that best fits your needs.

REVERSE DATA ROW ORDER We’ve added the ability to change the display order of data rows.

Appendix – What’s New in Mekko Graphics

FILE PATH FOR EXPORT TO EXCEL

Designate the file path when you export charts to an Excel spreadsheet.

Appendix – What’s New in Mekko Graphics

EMAIL AND WEB SUPPORT FROM MEKKO GRAPHICS

Have a question or need information? Just visit our website for the latest on product information, blog posts, or training, or join the conversation in our Mekko Graphics Community Forum. Have a problem, click Email

Support to send your question or issue to our highly knowledgeable Mekko Support engineers.

IMPROVED INSTALLATION AND ACTIVATION PROCESS

We’ve improved our installation and activation process to make it even easier to get up and running quickly. If you have Mekko Graphics 5 installed on your machine, there is no longer any need to uninstall prior to installing the

new version. Activation is faster and easier too.