CrystalSolutions SoleTrader & PraxisClinic FAQ & Forum

the easiest install we have tested so far is Mamp (free for Mac) and i believe there is a windows version xamp which we haven't as yet tested but should be pretty similar -- details in the install guides on the software page

for now the Mamp goes like this:

Just testing? Use MAMP instead

If you want to try CrystalSolutions or Praxis on your Mac before committing to a full installation, MAMP is much simpler — no Terminal, no Homebrew, no configuration files.

    Download MAMP (free version) from mamp.info → install and open
    Click Start — Apache and MySQL indicators turn green
    Copy all CrystalSolutions files to /Applications/MAMP/htdocs/cspractice/
    Open phpMyAdmin at http://localhost:8888/phpmyadmin → create database crystalsolutions with collation utf8mb4_unicode_ci
    Visit http://localhost:8888/cspractice/cs_install.php — use localhost as host, root as username, root as password (MAMP default)
    Delete cs_install.php after installation

MAMP tip: Default port is 8888. To use port 80 (cleaner URLs): MAMP → Preferences → Ports → set Apache to 80. Then use http://localhost/cspractice/ instead.

MAMP is ideal for testing and development.

 For a permanent practice server, use the Homebrew/Caddy setup above — it runs as a proper background service and starts automatically on boot.

Now we have field encryption that you can switch ON in Setup, the easiest option is on a live server , internet or intranet ; shared hosting or your own website is now an easier and secure option

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