This Privacy Policy explains how the Route Planner add-in for Microsoft Excel ("the Add-in"), published by Bosau Digital LLC and made by Sven Bosau, operating Python & VBA at pythonandvba.com ("we", "us", or "our"), handles your data. It applies specifically to the Add-in. Our general website Privacy Policy continues to apply to your use of our website.

1. In Short

• The Add-in runs inside Microsoft Excel on your own device.
• The stops you optimize are sent only to Google Maps, using your own Google Maps API key, to compute the best stop order, distances, and travel times.
• We never receive, see, or store your stops, your routes, or your spreadsheet contents.
• The only data sent to us is what is needed to check your license: your license key, an anonymous installation identifier, and the Add-in version.
• Your license key, Google Maps API key, and settings are stored only in your local Office add-in storage on your device.
• The Add-in contains no advertising, no cookies, and no third-party analytics or tracking.

2. Who We Are

The Add-in is published and operated by Bosau Digital LLC, the company behind Python & VBA (pythonandvba.com), founded by Sven Bosau. For any privacy-related questions, please contact us at contact@pythonandvba.com.

3. What Data the Add-in Processes

Stops and Spreadsheet Data

When you optimize a route, the Add-in reads the stop values (addresses or latitude/longitude pairs) from the column you select and sends them in a single request to Google Maps Platform (the Maps JavaScript API and the Routes API) to compute the optimized stop order, distances, and travel times. These requests are made directly from Excel to Google using your own Google Maps API key. The results are written back into your worksheet.

We do not receive, process, store, or have any access to your stops, your routes, or any other content of your workbook. Your stops are handled by Google under Google's own privacy policy (see Section 4). The Add-in only reads the column you select for a route; it does not scan or transmit the rest of your workbook.

The "Open Route in Google Maps" Link

After a route is calculated, the Add-in can build a Google Maps directions link that contains your stops in the optimized order. This link only leaves the Add-in if you click it, in which case it opens maps.google.com in your own browser, where Google's privacy policy applies. The link is not sent to us.

License Validation Data

To confirm that you hold a valid license, the Add-in sends the following to our license server (api.pythonandvba.com) over an encrypted connection:

• Your license key;
• An anonymous installation identifier, a random value generated on your device. It contains no name, email, or hardware/device information, and is used only to enforce the per-installation activation limit of your license;
• The Add-in version.

A record of your last successful check is stored on your device so the Add-in keeps working for a short offline grace period (currently 7 days) if the license server cannot be reached, and then re-verifies once you are back online. No personally identifiable information beyond what is described above is transmitted for license validation.

Data Stored Locally on Your Device

Your license key, your Google Maps API key, and your settings are saved only in your local Office add-in storage (your per-user Office storage) on your device. Your Google Maps API key is never sent to us; it is used only to make requests directly to Google. You can remove this data at any time by clearing the keys in the Add-in's Settings or by removing the Add-in.

Data Handled by Microsoft Excel

The Add-in runs inside Microsoft Excel (on Windows, Mac, the web, and iPad). Microsoft's handling of your Office documents and account data is governed by Microsoft's own privacy terms. See the Microsoft Privacy Statement.

4. Third-Party Services

The Add-in relies on the following third-party services:

• Google Maps Platform: receives the stops you optimize, via your own API key, to return the optimized order, distances, and travel times. Your use of Google's services is governed by the Google Privacy Policy and the Google Maps Platform Terms of Service.
• Microsoft Excel / Microsoft 365: the host application in which the Add-in runs. See the Microsoft Privacy Statement.

No other third parties receive your data through the Add-in. We do not sell your personal data.

5. What the Add-in Does Not Do

• It does not include advertising, cookies, or third-party analytics or tracking.
• It does not send your stops, routes, or workbook contents to us or to anyone other than Google (via your own key).
• It does not send automatic error reports to us. Error messages are shown in the Add-in only. If you contact support, you can choose to copy a short diagnostic report (add-in version, Excel version, recent error messages: never your stops or keys) and include it yourself; nothing is transmitted unless you send it.
• It does not access hardware identifiers, your contacts, or files outside the workbook you are working in.

6. How We Use Data

• To validate and manage your license and enforce its activation limit.
• To let the Add-in keep working during a short offline grace period after a successful license check.
• To provide the route optimization feature (by sending your stops to Google using your own key).

7. Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR)

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA) or the United Kingdom, we process the limited license-validation data described above under the following legal bases:

• Contract performance: Verifying your license so we can provide the licensed Add-in.
• Legitimate interests: Enforcing license limits and preventing misuse of our software.

The stops you optimize are processed by Google under your own Google Maps API key; that processing is subject to Google's terms and your relationship with Google.

8. Data Sharing

We do not sell your personal data. The Add-in shares data only as strictly necessary to function: your stops go to Google (via your own key) to perform the optimization, and your license-validation data goes to our license server. No other third parties receive your data through the Add-in.

9. Data Retention

• License records: Retained for as long as necessary to support your license and comply with legal obligations.
• Locally stored keys and settings: Remain on your device until you clear them or remove the Add-in.
• Stops and routes: Not retained by us at all; they are handled by Google under your key and written into your own worksheet.

10. Your Rights

If you are located in the EEA or UK, you have the following rights under GDPR in respect of the personal data we hold (essentially, your license record):

• Access: Request a copy of the data we hold about you
• Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate data
• Erasure: Request deletion of your data ("right to be forgotten")
• Restriction: Request that we limit how we use your data
• Portability: Request your data in a machine-readable format
• Objection: Object to processing based on legitimate interests

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at contact@pythonandvba.com. We will respond within 30 days.

11. Data Security

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your data against unauthorised access, loss, or disclosure. License validation is transmitted over encrypted (HTTPS) connections, and requests to Google Maps are made over encrypted connections using your own API key. We recommend you restrict your Google Maps API key in the Google Cloud Console to keep it secure.

12. Children's Privacy

The Add-in is not directed at children under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children.

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page will reflect any changes. Continued use of the Add-in after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

14. Contact

For any privacy-related questions or to exercise your rights, please contact:

Related documents: Route Planner Terms of Use · Website Privacy Policy · Refund Policy · Terms & Conditions