Frequently Asked Questions

Getting started

What is GeoAddIn?

GeoAddIn is a PowerPoint add-in that lets you insert professional territory maps — countries, regions, cities, airports — directly into your slides without leaving PowerPoint. No Geographic Information System (GIS) software, no manual drawing.

How is GeoAddIn different from downloadable PowerPoint map templates?

Templates are static: one fixed map, one level of detail, often outdated. GeoAddIn generates exactly the map you need — any combination of 56 countries, at country, region, province or county level, with cities and airports — in about 30 seconds.

Read more about editable PowerPoint maps →

Is GeoAddIn an alternative to pasting Google Maps screenshots?

Yes, and that's exactly why it exists. Screenshots are blurry, can't be recolored, and can't be updated. GeoAddIn maps are native PowerPoint shapes: sharp at any size, restyled in seconds, editable by anyone.

Is GeoAddIn free?

GeoAddIn is available as a €119/year subscription. If you'd rather try it first, a 14-day free trial is available (one per device, no credit card, no automatic purchase afterwards) — see our pricing page for details.

Which version of PowerPoint do I need?

GeoAddIn works with PowerPoint 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Microsoft 365 (desktop edition on Windows). The web version of PowerPoint (PowerPoint Online) is not supported.

Does GeoAddIn work on Mac?

Not yet. GeoAddIn currently supports PowerPoint for Windows only.

Does GeoAddIn need an internet connection?

Only for the initial download. After installation, an internet connection is used to 1-update the database automatically, 2-check for GeoAddIn updates, 3-check the license integrity every two weeks. So after installation you can work mostly offline.

How do I get the installer?

Start a free trial or buy a license — either way, you'll receive a license key by email along with a link to download and run the installer.

Installation

My browser warns that setup.exe "isn't commonly downloaded." Is it safe?

Yes. This is Microsoft Edge/Chrome's download-reputation check, shown at the bottom of the browser window with Keep and Delete options. GeoAddIn is signed with a valid certificate issued to Arvestria SRL, but new installers are flagged as unfamiliar until enough people have downloaded them. Click Keep, then Keep anyway if asked again.

I see a blue "Windows protected your PC" screen when running setup.exe. What do I do?

This is Windows SmartScreen, a separate check that runs when you open the file (not when you download it) — same underlying reason as the browser warning above: the installer is new and hasn't built up download reputation yet. Click More info, confirm the publisher shown is Arvestria SRL, then click Run anyway. You can also verify the signer beforehand: right-click setup.exe → Properties → Digital Signatures tab.

The installer asks me to install .NET Framework 4.8. Should I accept?

Yes. .NET Framework 4.8 is a free Microsoft component required by GeoAddIn. If your system does not already have it, the setup wizard will install it for you. Your computer may need to restart before the installation continues.

I don't see a GeoAddIn tab in the ribbon after installation.

Go to File → Options → Add-ins, set Manage to COM Add-ins, and click Go…. Make sure GeoAddIn is checked. If it does not appear in the list, re-run setup.exe from the extracted folder.

Can I install GeoAddIn on more than one computer?

Yes, on up to 3 devices you own or control, per our Terms of Use. Use the same download link and run setup.exe on each device.

I get a "Visual Studio Tools for Office" error mentioning Microsoft.Office.BusinessApplications.Fba when installing.

This error is not caused by GeoAddIn itself — it comes from a Windows component shared by all Office add-ins. On some PCs (most often Office 2016) a system configuration file refers to an Office file that is missing, which stops the installer before it can finish. You can fix it in under a minute:

1. Close PowerPoint and the GeoAddIn installer.
2. Open File Explorer and go to the folder shown in your error message — usually C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VSTO\10.0\ (if your error shows the path without (x86), use that one instead).
3. Find the file named VSTOInstaller.exe.Config and rename it to VSTOInstaller.exe.Config.bak (you may be asked for administrator permission — click Yes).
4. Run setup.exe again. The installation should now complete normally.
5. Once GeoAddIn is installed, you can rename the file back to VSTOInstaller.exe.Config if you wish.

If you'd rather not change this file, repairing Office (Control Panel → Programs → Microsoft Office → Change → Repair) sometimes restores the missing component, though the step above is the more reliable fix.

Using GeoAddIn

Which countries and regions are covered?

GeoAddIn includes map data for 56 countries and territories across Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Oceania, each with country-level outlines and sub-national divisions (states, provinces, regions, etc.). New countries will be added progressively; when they're available GeoAddIn will update its country database automatically at the next start-up. See the full coverage list →

Does GeoAddIn cover counties, municipalities and other sub-national levels?

Yes. Each of the 56 countries is available at several administrative levels — for example US states and counties, French regions, departments and arrondissements, German Bundesländer. See the coverage page for the full list.

Can I plot cities and airports on my maps?

Yes. GeoAddIn includes a built-in database of cities and airports. You can add them as point markers on top of any territory map.

Can I create sales territory maps with GeoAddIn?

Yes. Build a map from the regions, provinces or counties that make up each territory, then color each territory like any PowerPoint shape. Add city markers for key accounts or offices. See the coverage page for available subdivision levels.

Can I save a map and reuse it in a different presentation?

Yes. Use the save function in the GeoAddIn task pane to export your map configuration to a file. You can then reload it in any PowerPoint presentation to recreate the map instantly.

Can I customise the colours and styles of the maps?

Yes, since the GeoAddIn maps are made of native PowerPoint shapes, you can customize them by changing their color, transparency, contour thickness,...

Can people without GeoAddIn edit the maps I create?

Yes. Every map is made of native PowerPoint shapes, so anyone with PowerPoint can recolor, resize and edit them — no add-in or license required. A license is only needed to create new maps.

Where can I find tutorials?

Visit the Video Tutorials page for step-by-step walkthroughs covering the most common use cases.

I see a window "Updating Office customization" with a moving progress bar when I start PowerPoint. What is happening?

It indicates that a new version of GeoAddIn was detected and is being installed. Although it's possible to cancel these updates, it's best to accept them, since they carry bug fixes and improvements. If an update is declined, GeoAddIn can in some cases stop working correctly, or its tab can disappear from the ribbon entirely. Should that happen, simply reinstall from install.geoaddin.com/setup.exe — this restores GeoAddIn to a working, up-to-date state.

Support & feedback

How do I report a bug or give feedback?

Use the Feedback page to report bugs or share suggestions. Your input directly shapes the development of GeoAddIn.

Licensing & pricing

See the pricing page for the full plan comparison.

How much does GeoAddIn cost?

A yearly license is €119 excl. taxes — less than €10 a month.

Is there a free trial?

Yes. You can request a 14-day trial license: the full product, at no cost, with no credit card. It simply stops working after 14 days, and one trial is possible per machine. It never turns into a paid subscription.

Is the license per user or per company?

Per user. Your personal license can be activated on up to 3 of your own machines — for example your work laptop, a desktop and a home PC. For teams, each user needs their own license.

What happens if I cancel my yearly license?

Cancelling stops any future payment. Your license remains fully valid until the end of the year you paid for.

How do I receive my license after purchase?

Immediately after checkout, your license is created automatically and sent to the email address you entered during payment.