Spectra/myStratus Desktop | Installing myStratus Desktop

PLEASE NOTE:
The majority of the contents in this guide apply to both StudioPlus Spectra AND myStratus Desktop.
In most cases, instructions referring to "Spectra" also apply to myStratus Desktop.

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Contents

Welcome
myStratus API and Zapier Integration
Lab Integration
- Getting Started with Lab Integration
- Enabling Lab Integration
- Production Statuses for Lab Integration
- Price List for Lab Integration
InspiredByYou.com 2.0
- Overview
- Features
- Existing Users - Upgrading Process
  - Transitioning to InspiredByYou 2
  - Additional Set-up
- New Users - Setting up InspiredByYou
- FAQ's: InspiredByYou.com 2.0
Getting Started
- Overview
- Getting Help
- myStratus
- Best Performance Practices
- Basic Setup How To's
Getting Around the Software
- Navigating Spectra Video
- Home Page Overview
- FAQ: How to read Today's Snapshot
- Customizing the Home Page
- Notification Center
- Company Shortcuts
- FAQ - Alphabetized List of All our FAQ's
Menus
- File Menu
- Go Menu
- Maintenance Menu
- Utilities Menu
- Tools Menu
- Reports Menu
- Help Menu
Accounting
- Accounting Overview
- Setting up the Accounting Link - NEW to 2021 - QuickBooks Online
- Using the Accounting Link
- End of Day Wizard
- Cash Reconciliation
- FAQ - Unlocking Posted Invoices
- FAQ - Reconciling with QuickBooks Desktop
Advanced Features (Tools)
- Filters
- Triggers
- Triggers - 2016 and Older
- Wizard Builder
Appointments & Sessions
- Scheduling Overview
- Help! Should I create an appointment or session?
- Using the Scheduling Wizard
- Appointments
- Sessions
Calendar
- Calendar Overview
- Calendar How To's
- Customizing the Calendar
Clients
- Clients Overview
- Client Reference
- Client Ribbon
- Clients Hub
- Client Wizard
- Client How To's
- Customizing Clients
- Client Maintenance
- Client Referral Programs
Communication
- Communication Overview
- Messages Hub
- Communication Wizard
- Managing Scheduled Communication Jobs
- Form Letter Builder
- HTML Email Builder
- FAQ - Header / Footers Printing on HTML Letters
- FAQ - HTML Emails vs. Email Form Letters
- FAQ: How to export SendGrid HTML Emails and use them in Stratus
- Communication Maintenance
- Email
- Phone Calls
Control Center
- The Control Center
- Control Center Logs
Credit Card Processing
- Credit Card Processing Overview
- TSYS (Cayan) Credit Card Processing (US)
- Genius Credit Card Terminals (US)
- eWAY Credit Card Processing (AU NZ)
- Global Payments Credit Card Processing (UK, EU, Canada)
Dashboard
- Dashboard Overview
- Dashboard Examples
- Performance Panels
- Dashboard Reports
- Reading your Dashboard
- Arranging your Dashboard
- FAQ: How to Delete a Dashboard Report
- Setting up Budgets
Data Management
- Spectra Database Utility
- myStratus Database Utility
- Internet Update Utility - Spectra 2014 or older
- Maintaining your Spectra Database
- Database Backup Best Practices
- Updates and Upgrades
- FAQ - Upgrading to Spectra SQL
- FAQ - myStratus Firewall
Digital Workflow
- Digital Workflow Overview
- Workflow Ribbon
- Workflow Hub
- Digital Workflow Reference Guide
- Digital Template Builder Overview
- Printing Workflow
- Workflow How To's
- Digital Integrations
- Digital Maintenance
Hubs
- Hub Overview
- Customizing the Hubs
InSpiredByYou.com 1.0 (Spectra only)
- Setting up InSpiredByYou
- Synchronizing InSpiredByYou
- Using InSpiredByYou
- Tips for Managing InSpiredByYou
- Contracts - SPECTRA only - IBY 1.0
- Client Album Statuses
- FAQ - Finding InSpired Orders in Spectra
Invoices
- Invoicing Overview
- Invoicing Setup
- Invoices Hub
- Invoice Reference
- Invoice Ribbon
- Features of the Invoice Line Item Detail Screen
- Invoice Wizard
- Invoice How To's
- Invoice Maintenance
Mobile Devices
- MyStratus Mobile App (Stratus ONLY)
- Google Syncing
Online Booking (myStratus ONLY)
- Getting Started with Online Booking
- Online Booking Overview
- Online Booking Set Up
- Online Booking Set up - Session and Appointment Types
- Online Booking Set up - Time Slots
- Online Booking Set up - Additional Features
- Online Booking Promotions
- Online Booking for Organizations
- FAQs - Online Booking
Payments and Refunds
- Features of Payment and Refund Records
- Payment Wizard
- Payment How To's
Price List
- Price List Overview
- Price List Reference
- Price List Ribbons
- About Item Types
- Creating a Coupon or Promotion
- Creating a Package
- Inventory
- Advanced Pricing
- Unit Pricing
- Importing a Price List
- Price List View Options
- Price List Maintenance
Production
- Production Overview
- Production Hub
- Production Order Reference
- Production Order Ribbon
- Preproduction Order Reference
- Preproduction Order Ribbon
- Production How To's
- Production Maintenance
Reports
- Sales Tax Report
- Account Receivable Aging Report
- Customer Deposit Reconciliation Report
- Print Group of Invoices Report
- Order Status Report
- Pictorial Directory - Deprecated 2018
- Time Sheet
- Employee Commissions Report
- Inventory Quantity On-Hand
- Client Referral Report
- Lists and Labels
- Organization Reports
- Gift Certificate Reports
  - Gift Certificate Activity
  - Gift Certificates Outstanding
- Loyalty Rewards Reports
  - Loyalty Rewards Activity
  - Loyalty Rewards Outstanding
- Analysis Reports
- Custom Reports
- Dashboard Reports
- Saved Reports and Report Subscriptions - NEW 2020!
StudioPlus Finale
- StudioPlus Finale Overview
- Setting up Render Jobs
- Finale Ribbon
- Finale Settings
- Using Finale
- Tasks
Users and Security
- Audit Trail Logs
- Data Entry Validation
- GDPR Practices (EU)
- FAQ: How to add Allow Marketing flags
- Time Clock
- FAQ: How to fix overlapping Clock in's
- FAQs - Ex-Employees
- Setting up Users
- Setting up Departments
- Setting up Security
- Security Settings
Web Forms (myStratus ONLY)
- Introduction to Web Forms
- 1. Web Forms Preferences
- 2. Building Web Forms
- 3. Creating Web Forms for Clients
- 4. Accessing Web Forms
- Web Form Statuses
- Bulk Create Web Forms
Optional Add-Ons
- Perfectly Clear Plug-in
- myStratus Maps
- DataSafe (Spectra only) - Depreciated 2023
  - Getting Started with DataSafe
  - Troubleshooting DataSafe Setup
- StudioPlus Mail
- OnLocation - Depreciated 2023
  - Getting Started with OnLocation - Depreciated 2023
  - Tips for using OnLocation - Depreciated 2023
- SMS Text Messages
- How to flag many clients SMS texts boxes
Appendices
- End User License Agreement
- StudioPlus Mail TOU

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Home > Getting Started > myStratus > Installing myStratus Desktop
Installing myStratus Desktop

NOTE: This feature is available in the Standard, Professional, and Enterprise versions of myStratus Desktop. Spectra does not include this feature.

The myStratus Desktop app works with the myStratus business management software by StudioPlus Software. You must have a current subscription to myStratus Standard, Professional, or Enterprise in order to use the desktop app. Please note, we recommend an internet speed of 7 up and 25 down in order for myStratus to run at its peak efficiency.

Installation Overview

Okay, let’s get started! Before you can use myStratus Desktop, it must be installed on each computer you plan to use it on. The installation process will copy files and create settings based on your particular needs.

System Requirements

Make sure your system meets the minimum system requirements to properly run myStratus Desktop:

Operating System	64 Bit Windows 10 or higher
Processor	Pentium dual core or AMD equivalent processor or higher
Minimum RAM	4 GB
Recommended RAM	8 GB
Hard Disk Space for Program Files	32 GM
Hard Disk Space for Data Files	5 - 20 MB
Monitor Resolution	1024 x 768 or better

Additional Requirements:

The Windows user must have local administrative rights on each computer myStratus is being installed on.

Installation Instructions

Download the current myStratus Desktop installer from the Downloads page of the StudioPlus website. (Save the installer to a shared folder if you’ll be installing myStratus Desktop on multiple computers.)
If you're upgrading your myStratus Desktop software, uninstall the version currently on your computer before installing the new version.
Find the myStratus Desktop installer you saved in step 1 and run it.
When the installation is finished, start your myStratus Desktop software.
The first time you launch the software, you will be prompted to enter your myStratus Account Name, which is the same thing as your sub-domain. For example, if you use "TheStudio.myStratus.com" to log in to your myStratus website, then "TheStudio" would be your account name. This information was provided in the email you received when you signed up for myStratus.
You will receive a message that your IP address has not been "authorized" for use. This is a security measure to prevent unauthorized access to your account. You will only need to authorize an IP address once. To do so, you’ll need to enter your StudioPlus Customer Account Number and Password. This information was provided in the email you received when you signed up for myStratus.

I ALREADY AUTHORIZED MY IP ADDRESS! WHY AM I GETTING A MESSAGE THAT I'M NOT AUTHORIZED?

Most Internet service providers automatically assign your IP address and they may change it without warning! So, you may be working fine one day and get a message the following day that your IP address has not been "authorized," requiring you to authorize the new one by entering your account number and password again. To avoid this, we suggest you check with your ISP and request a "Static IP Address" that will never change. There may be an additional cost, but it shouldn’t be much. Also, this may be a good time to see what bandwidth speeds you’re currently paying for. You may be able to upgrade for a few dollars more each month, giving you a faster experience in general and when using myStratus Desktop. See also: FAQ - myStratus Firewall