How to set up Think-Cell
Think-Cell is a PowerPoint add-in that makes building charts and structured slides much faster. This article walks you through how to install it and verify it's working.
Before you start
Check the table below to make sure your computer meets the requirements. If you're unsure which version of Office you have, open PowerPoint and go to Help > About PowerPoint (Mac) or File > Account (Windows).
| Requirement | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10 or later | macOS Big Sur (11) or later |
| Microsoft Office | Office 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, or Microsoft 365 | Office 2019, 2021, 2024, or Microsoft 365 |
| Required apps | PowerPoint and Excel must both be installed | |
| Disk space | Less than 300 MB | |
Your Think-Cell licence key will have been shared with you in the initial setup email. If you don't have one, reach out to Viola before starting the installation.
Step-by-step installation
***F12 has enabled auto-installation on all of our work laptops, so you should be able to open PowerPoint and see a think-cell pop up window. If not, you can also follow these steps below.***
Close PowerPoint and Excel completely before starting. The installer will not work if either is open.
1. Download the installerGo to think-cell.com/download and download the Windows setup file. When prompted, choose Save to save it to your Downloads folder.
2. Run the installerOpen your Downloads folder and double-click the setup file. Follow the on-screen prompts — the installer will ask you to confirm the installation path and then copy the files automatically. This takes about a minute.
3. Enter your licence keyOpen PowerPoint. A Think-Cell dialogue box will appear asking for your licence key. Copy and paste your key into the field and click OK.
4. Confirm Think-Cell is visibleLook at the ribbon at the top of PowerPoint. Click the Insert tab - you should see a think-cell group on the right-hand side.
You're set up — what's next?
- Browse the knowledge base for how-to guides on creating your first chart
- Download the Think-Cell cheat sheet for quick reference while you work
- Drop into one of our optional sessions to see Think-Cell in action
- Post any questions in the team Slack channel
Keeping Think-Cell up to date
Think-Cell updates itself automatically. Each time you open PowerPoint or Excel, it checks in the background for any new versions and installs them without interrupting your work.
To manually check for an update: in PowerPoint, go to Insert > think-cell > Tools > Help > About, then select Check for Update.