Set Permissions and Service PATH

Create your chart output directory; this example uses C:\AppxData\Charts. In its Properties > Security tab, give the account running APPX Modify access. Give that account Read & execute access to PHP and the complete ChartDirector library tree. Your service account may differ from the account used to install the software. Check the APPX service's Log On tab before setting permissions. Program directories do not need runtime write access.

Test the session PATH before making a persistent change:

$env:Path = 'C:\AppxTools\PHP85;' + $env:Path
where.exe php
php --ini

Add C:\AppxTools\PHP85 to the machine PATH through the Windows environment-variable editor or an administrator-managed deployment. Preserve existing entries and check for another php.exe earlier in PATH. Restart the affected APPX service and establish a new test login. If the service still inherits the old machine environment, restart Windows during maintenance. A successful PowerShell test does not prove that an already-running service has adopted the new PATH.

Use the APPX 5.5.4 32-bit server installer. Keep each APPX installation in its own directory. PHP runs as a separate x64 process; its architecture does not need to match APPX.