---
title: "How to install Graphviz software"
canonical: "https://support.appfire.com/space/SUPPORT/89137385/How%20to%20install%20Graphviz%20software"
format: markdown
---
> Macro (toc)

# Description

The Confluence server must have the [Graph Visualization Software](http://www.graphviz.org/)<span style="color: #404040"> (Graphviz) package installed in order for the </span>[<span style="color: #404040">Graphviz Diagrams for Confluence</span>](https://appfire.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/SUPPORT/pages/89137385)<span style="color: #404040"> macros to work. The Graphviz package is free and supports a variety of operating systems including those supported by Confluence. </span>

> ✅ **Test your Graphviz installation**
> ✅ 
> ✅ After you have installed Graphviz, make sure the **dot** executable run from a command line using the same environment (especially the **path**) used to startup Confluence.
> ✅ 
> ✅ If Confluence cannot find the executable, you will get macro errors in Confluence like - **No useable executable name defined in graphviz.properties****...**

# Downloading Graphviz

Before you can use [<span style="color: #404040">Graphviz Diagrams for Confluence</span>](https://appfire.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/SUPPORT/pages/89137385)<span style="color: #404040">, </span> you will need to download and install [Graph Visualization Software](http://www.graphviz.org/)<span style="color: #404040"> (Graphviz) on the system where you are running Confluence.  Download the correct version of the software that matches your environment.  You can find the available versions on the </span>[<span style="color: #404040">Graphviz Downloads</span>](http://www.graphviz.org/download/)<span style="color: #404040"> page.  Once the download is complete then following the instructions below for your operating system. </span>

# Graphviz on Windows

1. Download the installer from this [link](https://graphviz.gitlab.io/_pages/Download/Download_windows.html)
2. The default installation path will be C:\Program Files (x86)\Graphviz**X.XX**\bin (**Example:** Graphviz**X.XX** **→ **Graphviz**2.38)**
3. Open cmd window as administrator and go the location C:\Program Files (x86)\Graphviz**X.XX**\bin and run the below command:
4. Exit the command window.
5. Go to the **Control Panel →  System and Security → System,** and on the right side navigation panel, you will see the link Advanced systems settings.
6. Once there in advance settings, a dialogue box will open which will show the button Environment Variables. Click on the button Environment Variables.
7. Select the entry "Path" on the system variables section and add C:\Program Files (x86)\Graphviz**X.XX**\bin to the existing path. <span style="color: #172b4d">Please see the below screenshot for reference.                                    </span>> Macro (inline-media-image)

> Macro (inline-media-image)

<span style="color: #172b4d"> </span>  
**Note:** *Please make sure you add ";" at the PATH which is already existing under User Variables and mention the path C:\Program Files (x86)\Graphviz****X.XX****\bin. **Also please add a New path on the system variables section and add the Path C:\Program Files (x86)\Graphviz****X.XX****\bin*
8. <span style="color: #172b4d">Click on Ok Button.</span><span style="color: #172b4d"> </span>
9. <span style="color: #172b4d"> Restart Confluence from a new cmd window.</span>
10. <span style="color: #172b4d">Go to the system information page on confluence instance.</span>
11. <span style="color: #172b4d"> Verify if you can see C:\Program Files (x86)\Graphviz</span>**<span style="color: #172b4d">X.XX</span>**<span style="color: #172b4d">\bin on "Path" attribute on system information page in confluence.</span>
12. <span style="color: #172b4d">If the path is available, that means that the configuration changes are successful.</span><span style="color: #172b4d"> </span>
13. <span style="color: #172b4d">Go the page where you have used the macro and verify if the add-ons work.</span>
14. Restart Confluence
15. Verify it works by creating a page with a simple flowchart macro like:

# Graphviz on Mac OSX

1. Follow the instructions mentioned [here](http://macappstore.org/graphviz/).
2. The installer should set up everything so that the **dot** <span style="color: #333333"> appears under</span> on the path<span style="color: #404040"> </span>

# Graphviz on Linux and Unix

1. Install the graphviz.rpm, the graphviz-graphs.rpm, and the graphviz-gd.rpm packages
2. Open the directory GraphViz is installed under and confirm the path
3. Log in as the user who runs Confluence or starts the Confluence service
4. Append the path to the `bin` directory of GraphViz to the 'Path' variable

# <span style="color: #404040">Last resort</span>

<span style="color: #404040">The method mentioned in this section is not required and not recommended in most cases</span><span style="color: #404040">, but, if you can't get your </span>**<span style="color: #404040">path</span>**<span style="color: #404040"> set correctly to find the </span>**<span style="color: #404040">dot</span>**<span style="color: #404040"> executable, then this is an alternative.</span><span style="color: #404040"> </span>

> ℹ️ **If you get errors about not finding dot.exe**
> ℹ️ 
> ℹ️ 1. Download the add-on jar file
> ℹ️ 2. Unzip the jar to a temporary directory
> ℹ️ 3. Edit the **graphviz.properties **file
> ℹ️   - Replace dot.candidate.paths setting with something like (yes, use forward slashes 🙂):
> ℹ️ 4. Zip all files in the temporary directory to create a new jar file
> ℹ️ 5. Uninstall the Graphviz App and re-install your customized version
> ℹ️ 6. [GVIZ-1](https://appfire.atlassian.net/browse/GVIZ-1) will make this easier