Using Polls in Keynote and PowerPoint Mac

Video demonstrating Mac Deskbar setup

To use Poll Everywhere polls while presenting using any version of PowerPoint Mac or Apple Keynote, follow the steps below. Mac support is in Beta, so please email us about any problems you have.

1. Download and install the Poll Everywhere Deskbar. This is a Mac OS X Dashboard Widget. Be sure Keynote is not running. First unzip the file, then double click the .wdgt file.
2. When first installing, the widget may take up to 10 seconds to load. The desktop may flash and restart
3. After the desktop restarts, show the dashboard (F12) and click the (+) plus sign in the lower left of the dashboard. Drag the PollEverywhere widget to the dashboard.
4. Drag the widget off the dashboard and on to the desktop. This is a little tricky. Start dragging the widget, and press the dashboard shortcut key (usually F4 or F12) before you release the mouse. This will allow it to float above other programs, including your presentations.
5. The first time you use the Deskbar, you will need to login with your Poll Everywhere username and password.
6. If you need to hide the widget, either drag it back onto the dashboard with the trick in Step 4 above, or hold the alt key to reveal the black and white (X).

Troubleshooting...

• The most common problem is that right after the install process, you login and click "show" and your first poll is black. We don't know why this happens, but there's an easy fix. Just close the widget (hold option and hover over the deskbar to see the big X), and re-drag it from the Dashboard Widget bar to the desktop (you're just repeating steps 3 and 4 from the instructions above).
• If you can login and list your polls, but you don't see any poll at all when you click show, be sure to look for the resize handle and drag it out to make the poll bigger.

• If you find you can't type in the Login or Password fields, just click on any other program for a moment and then click back - then you'll be able to type.
• Keynote Users: If the Deskbar doesn't appear above your presentations or you can't use your mouse, verify the following settings are enabled: "Allow Dashboard, Expose, and Others to use the screen" and "Show pointer when the mouse moves" in the Keynote Preferences under Slideshow