Spectra/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 > Getting Help
Getting Help

We've got the resources you need within the software and on the StudioPlus website. Take a look below.

Finding Help Within Spectra/myStratus

Help Menu

The Help menu is always in the upper right corner of the software. Check out the different ways to access the Help menu. See also: Help Menu

Hover Help

Some screens have hover help, anytime you see the icon with the I, simply hover over it and you'll see helpful info.

Dynamic Help

Find specific answers throughout the software by clicking F1 on most of the screens or one of the many Help buttons provided. Whether you're working with the calendar, importing clients, creating your price list, etc., the online help should open to just the right spot!

Getting Help Online

Finding the answers you need may be easier than you think! Many self-help tools are available on the StudioPlus website.

Online Chat - Help is just a click away with our online chat! You can chat with a live tech support person from the Help menu in the software (shown above) or from the bottom, right corner of any page of our site.
Blogs - The three StudioPlus blogs – Company, Support, and Learning – are the best way to get the most up-to-date information about the company, current releases, software tips, and more. Subscribe to them!
Search Tool - Search our entire website or narrow your search to just the support documents.
Training Videos - StudioPlus maintains a complete library of training videos designed to help you make the most of the features in the software.
Online Help - The web version of the user guide, found on the Documentation page of our website, is always the most current.
Knowledge Base - These helpful articles feature how-to's, troubleshooting tips, release notes, and FAQs.

Contacting Tech Support

From online services to expert telephone support, we at StudioPlus Software offer several avenues of technical assistance so you can be assured of having your questions answered quickly and professionally. You can reach us in any of the following ways:

Email

Support@StudioPlusSoftware.com (or click Email Technical Support from the Help menu)

Web

www.StudioPlusSoftware.com

Telephone

(763) 552-5500, Option 2

Support Hours

Monday - Friday 8:30 PM - 5:00 PM (Times are Central Standard time - USA)

ATTENTION!

Phone and email technical support and software upgrades are available at no charge if you are enrolled in a StudioPlus Maintenance Plan (Spectra) or are a current subscriber (myStratus). You have a certain period of maintenance included with the purchase of Spectra. Otherwise, if you are not currently enrolled in the Maintenance Plan, there maybe a per-call charge for technical support.

Please see the Technical Support page of our website or call StudioPlus sales at (763) 552-5500, option 3.