This article addresses the initial log in on the Server and Client, as well as reviewing the Office Reference for accuracy. If you haven't installed the MacPractice software yet, please review Installing MacPractice For The First Time.

Log in to the Server

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The first time you access MacPractice, log in by using the username admin and the password password.

Once you're logged in, you will be able to create individual usernames and passwords for all office staff; MacPractice recommends disabling the default user after this initial login. You can add Users from the References Ability. The Creating Users & User Privileges article covers how to create new users and control their level of access.

When you log into MacPractice on the server for the first time, you will be prompted for your database encryption password, the Security Password. This is the password you entered when installing MacPractice. If you have forgotten or lost your Security Password, please contact MacPractice Support.
MacPractice also checks for any updates to forms, purchased abilities, and the MacPractice application itself when logging in. Consequently you may see some prompts on log on. Simply read these and respond as appropriate. If you ever have a question about one of these prompts, feel free to call MacPractice Support and we'd be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.

Log in on the Clients 

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Client computers will need to be directed to the server computer to log into the MacPractice database. This is done in the drawer of the login screen on each client. To open the drawer, click the gear button in the top right corner.

In the Connections Setting Drawer, you'll need to click the Lock icon to unlock the fields. This will require the Computer Administrator password. 

In the Server IP Address field, you'll need to enter the server IP address. The quickest way to locate the Server IP Address is to check "About MacPractice" in the MacPractice Menu on the Server Computer. More detailed information is available in the "Confirm the MacPractice Server IP Address" article here.

The database name should remain MacPractice unless instructed otherwise. Log into MacPractice by entering the credentials: admin & password which are the default username and password.

On the initial login, MacPractice will ask to have a pin entered on an authorized computer. Write down the four digit pin that displays, and return to the server.

Once you have returned to the server computer, you'll access Preferences by navigating to the MacPractice Menu and selecting "Preferences". In the Preferences window, select Database Access from the sidebar and enter the four digit pin in the provided field.

If entered correctly, MacPractice will alert you that the client was successfully connected. You can then log in from that client.

Verify the Office Reference Information

After your initial login to the MacPractice database, one of the first things you will need to complete is your Office Reference. The References ability contains all of your non-patient files and is usually a good place to begin setting MacPractice up.

References are usually items you must have in order to use the rest of the software. Your Office Reference contains your billing location and may be used on Statements and Claims so you will want to ensure everything is spelled correctly.

The fields that are dimmed on this page correspond to information that is controlled by the MacPractice Accounting Department. If you need any information on this page changed, please call 402-420-2430 to speak to a member of our Accounting team to update it. Once the change has been made, you will simply need to fetch your license to update the information within MacPractice. This can only be done on the server. 

To fetch your license, open the MacPractice Preferences and select Abilities in the sidebar then click Fetch License. You will need to log out and back into MacPractice to see the changes.

Fields such as phone, fax, facility, group NPI, and taxonomy are not dimmed and can be edited by the office.

Once you are complete here, you'll want to Create Users and Set User Privileges.