This Privacy Policy explains how the Chartmeister 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 builds every chart locally, inside Microsoft Excel on your own device. The chart engine is bundled with the Add-in.
• Your worksheet data never leaves Excel. We do not receive, process, store, or have any access to your workbook contents.
• The Add-in's only network request is validating your license key. During the free trial, and in free mode, the Add-in makes no network requests at all.
• Files you export (HTML charts, PNG images, dashboard pages) and share links you create contain the charted data by design - you decide where they go; they are never sent to us.
• 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

Your Spreadsheet Data

Everything the Add-in does (reading your selected range, building the live preview, rendering charts, inserting chart pictures, exporting files) happens locally, inside Excel, on your device. The Add-in reads only the range you bind and renders it with the bundled chart engine. We do not receive, process, store, or have any access to your workbook contents.

Outputs You Create (Exports, Share Links, Dashboards)

Charts are only useful if they show your data, so outputs you deliberately create contain it:

• Exported files (interactive HTML charts, PNG images, dashboard pages) are generated on your device and saved where you choose. They include the charted values.
• Share links encode the chart's configuration and charted values, compressed, in the link itself (the part after the #). This fragment is never transmitted to our server - the viewer page rebuilds the chart locally in the browser of whoever opens the link. Treat a share link like the chart itself: anyone you give the link to can see the charted data.
• Inserted chart pictures store their chart settings and the address of the source range (not the cell values) inside the picture's alternative text, within your own workbook file, so you can reopen and edit them later. This information travels with your workbook, like any other workbook content.

All of these are created only when you trigger them, and none of them are 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.

This check runs when the Add-in starts and when you save a license key. A record of your last successful check is stored on your device so licensed features keep working for a short offline grace period (currently 7 days) if the license server cannot be reached, and then re-verify once you are back online. If you never enter a license key, this request is never made.

Data Stored Locally on Your Device

Your license key, your settings (theme and defaults), your presets, your dashboard collection (chart snapshots you add, including their charted values), your per-chart-type options, and the date of your first use (which anchors the free trial) are saved only in your local Office add-in storage on your device. Settings → "Reset all Chartmeister settings" removes all of it except the date of first use (so the free trial cannot be restarted); that date stays on your device until you remove the Add-in and clear its Office add-in storage.

Data Handled by Microsoft Excel

The Add-in runs inside Microsoft Excel (on Windows, Mac, and the web). 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

• Microsoft Excel / Microsoft 365: the host application in which the Add-in runs. See the Microsoft Privacy Statement.
• jsDelivr (CDN), only in one optional case: the chart engine is normally embedded into exported HTML files so they work fully offline. If you switch off "Embed chart engine" in Settings to get smaller files, the exported file will load the open-source chart library from the jsDelivr CDN when that file is opened. This request is made by the exported file in the viewer's browser, not by the Add-in, and contains no worksheet data.

No other third parties receive any 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 worksheet contents, charts, or dashboards to us or to anyone else.
• It does not send automatic error reports to us. Error messages are shown in the Add-in only.
• 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 licensed features keep working during a short offline grace period after a successful license check.

That is the complete list: the Add-in's charting features themselves require no data to be sent to us.

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 features.
• Legitimate interests: Enforcing license limits and preventing misuse of our software.

8. Data Sharing

We do not sell your personal data. The only data the Add-in transmits is the license-validation data described above, and it goes only to our license server. Share links and exported files are shared by you, at your discretion, with recipients you choose; they are never routed through us.

9. Data Retention

• License records: Retained for as long as necessary to support your license and comply with legal obligations.
• Locally stored keys, settings, presets, and dashboard snapshots: Remain on your device until you clear them or remove the Add-in.
• Worksheet contents: Not retained, received, or seen by us at all.

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. Everything else stays on your device - or in the files and links you choose to create and share.

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: Chartmeister Terms of Use · Website Privacy Policy · Refund Policy · Terms & Conditions