Quick Answer
planmaker.exe is safe. It's SoftMaker Office PlanMaker, a spreadsheet program that runs as a standard Windows application. It uses multi-threading for calculations, rendering, and background tasks to stay responsive.
Is it a Virus?
✔ NO - Safe
Must be in C:\Program Files\SoftMaker Office\PlanMaker\PlanMaker.exe; publisher should match SoftMaker Software GmbH
Warning
Often legitimate processes may run together
PlanMaker can spawn threads for calculations and autosave; there may be multiple concurrent PlanMaker-related processes
Can I Disable?
✔ YES
Close PlanMaker gracefully or end the process via Task Manager to stop resource usage
What is planmaker.exe?
planmaker.exe is the executable for SoftMaker Office PlanMaker, the spreadsheet component of PlanMaker. It opens workbooks, performs calculations, renders charts, and handles saving, printing, and UI tasks. It supports XLSX, XLS, and SoftMaker's native formats.
PlanMaker uses a modern, multi-threaded architecture to perform calculations, render charts, and manage UI updates. Background tasks such as autosave and cloud sync run within the application to keep data safe without blocking interactions.
Quick Fact: PlanMaker supports large spreadsheets with multi-core calculation and smart recalc, improving responsiveness on complex formulas.
Types of PlanMaker Processes
- Main GUI Process: User interface and workbook management (1 instance)
- Calculation Engine: Formula evaluation and recalculation (threaded)
- Autosave/Recovery: Background saving and crash recovery
- Print/Render: Page rendering and print job handling
- Cloud Sync: Sync with SoftMaker Cloud or linked services
- Macro/Script Engine: Automation macros and scripts (optional)
Is planmaker.exe Safe?
Yes, planmaker.exe is safe when it is the legitimate file from SoftMaker Software GmbH downloaded from official sources (softmaker.com or bundled with SoftMaker Office).
Is planmaker.exe a Virus or Malware?
The real planmaker.exe is NOT a virus. However, malware sometimes disguises itself with similar names.
How to Tell if planmaker.exe is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in C:\\Program Files\\SoftMaker Office\\PlanMaker\\PlanMaker.exe or C:\\Program Files (x86)\\SoftMaker Office\\PlanMaker\\PlanMaker.exe. Any planmaker.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
- Digital Signature: Right-click PlanMaker.exe → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show SoftMaker Software GmbH as signer.
- Resource Usage: Normal usage is 4-20% CPU; memory 150-600 MB. Consistent high usage when idle is suspicious.
- Behavior: PlanMaker should launch when you start PlanMaker or open a workbook. If it runs unexpectedly at startup or without user action, scan for malware.
Red Flags: If planmaker.exe is located outside the SoftMaker Office folder, has no valid signature, or runs when you’re not using PlanMaker, scan with antivirus software and consider reinstalling SoftMaker Office.
Why Is planmaker.exe Running on My PC?
planmaker.exe runs when you open SoftMaker PlanMaker or when PlanMaker is configured to run in the background for autosave or cloud sync.
Reasons it's running:
- Active Spreadsheet Use: You're editing or calculating in a workbook; formulas trigger calculation threads
- Autosave/Recovery: PlanMaker autosaves periodically to prevent data loss
- Cloud Sync: PlanMaker or SoftMaker Cloud syncs changes in the background
- Background Printing/Rendering: Background rendering for print previews or large sheets may run during operations
- Startup/Background Services: PlanMaker may start in the background if you enabled startup or background features
Can I Disable or Remove planmaker.exe?
Yes, you can disable planmaker.exe. You can exit PlanMaker or uninstall SoftMaker Office if you no longer need it.
How to Stop planmaker.exe
- Close PlanMaker: Close all PlanMaker windows or use File → Exit
- End PlanMaker Process: Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), locate planmaker.exe, End Task
- Disable Startup: Task Manager → Startup tab → Disable SoftMaker PlanMaker
- Disable Background Tasks: PlanMaker settings → General → disable autosave or cloud sync if not needed
- Alternative Scheduler: If you use Windows Task Scheduler to launch PlanMaker, remove it to prevent startup
How to Uninstall PlanMaker
- ✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → SoftMaker Office (PlanMaker) → Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → SoftMaker Office → Uninstall
- ✔ Consider alternative spreadsheet software: Excel, Google Sheets, LibreOffice Calc
Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage
If planmaker.exe is consuming excessive resources:
Common Causes & Solutions
- Too Many Spreadsheets Open: Close unused workbooks or use workbook grouping and tab management.
- Complex Formulas: Recalculate or simplify formulas; use iterative calculation settings if needed.
- Background Autosave: Adjust autosave interval in PlanMaker settings or disable autosave temporarily.
- Macros or Add-ins: Disable or review macros/add-ins in the Macro Manager.
- Outdated Software: Update PlanMaker to the latest version from softmaker.com
- Hardware Acceleration: Toggle hardware acceleration in PlanMaker Settings → General → Use hardware acceleration when available
Quick Fixes:
1. Use Task Manager to identify heavy worksheets or add-ins (Ctrl+Shift+Esc)
2. Close unnecessary spreadsheets
3. Disable or remove unused add-ins in PlanMaker
4. Update PlanMaker to latest version
5. Disable hardware acceleration to test
Frequently Asked Questions
Is planmaker.exe a virus?
No, the legitimate planmaker.exe from SoftMaker is not a virus. Verify the path is C:\Program Files\SoftMaker Office\PlanMaker\PlanMaker.exe and check the digital signature from SoftMaker Software GmbH.
Why is planmaker.exe using so much CPU?
High CPU can result from complex formulas, large spreadsheets, or macros running in the background. Check Task Manager for the specific workbook or macro and optimize formulas or disable unnecessary macros.
Can I delete planmaker.exe?
Yes, you can uninstall SoftMaker Office PlanMaker via Windows Settings or Programs and Features. Your data remains unless you delete workbooks separately or do not cloud-sync.
Can I disable planmaker.exe?
Yes, close PlanMaker or disable startup tasks in Task Manager. Turn off autosave or background syncing in PlanMaker options to reduce background activity.
Why does PlanMaker start when Windows starts?
If you enabled PlanMaker to start with Windows, it will launch in the background. Disable startup in Task Manager → Startup tab or in PlanMaker settings to prevent auto-launch.
Why are there multiple planmaker.exe processes?
PlanMaker can spawn separate processes for autosave, cloud sync, or macro execution in some configurations. Most users see a single main process; additional processes are normal if features are active.