Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

Are your apps available on the Android platform?
I'm currently very busy developing apps for iOS (iPhone and iPad). I'm hoping to begin developing apps for Android in the coming months.

Are your apps going to be available on the Blackberry Playbook?
No.

Traffic Lights

The cars are stopping in the wrong place and/or the drawing action isn't so smooth.
Traffic Lights has some memory management issues which are going to be ironed out in a future update. In the meantime, if the app ever starts behaving strangely you should force quit it to return everything back to the default state. Instructions on how to force quit an app can be found here.

Roundabouts

Why do the cars crash into each other?
Roundabouts gives more control to the user than other apps such as Give Way and Traffic Lights. This should make it easier for an instructor to teach this particular subject. However the inevitable consequence of more control is that you have to wield it wisely!

Why doesn't the large roundabout have more animations?
Most of the what you would teach regarding the large roundabout is covered in the section for the medium roundabout. The large roundabout section focusses on aspects which are not already covered elsewhere. For example, going right on the large roundabout and taking the fourth exit is the same as going right on the medium roundabout and taking the third exit.

Road Board

How do I make the traffic lights work?
A single-tap on the traffic lights advances the sequence. For filter lights, a double tap toggles the filter arrow on and off. A triple-tap brings up the contextual menu.

How do I change the settings for this app?
Make sure you have the latest version of Road Board installed. Go to your iPad's Settings app and scroll down the list on the left of the screen. Select Road Board from the list and start editing your settings.

When I save an image, I am unable to move or alter the items I have added to it. Why is this?
Road Board saves a static image of what is on your screen at the time of the save. The ability to save an editable version is being worked on for a future update.

Why don't the cars keep signalling once I've saved the scene?
Road Board saves a static image of what is on your screen at the time of the save. If the signal is visible at the time of the save, it will be captured in the image. The ability to save a "live" version of the scene (with the signals still flashing) is being worked on for a future update.

Records

Where do I store my pupil's address and telephone number?
Records is designed to store licence details, payments and driving records for your pupils. It is not a contacts app. All iPads and iPhones are supplied with an excellent contacts app already installed. It is recommended that this be used to store pupil contact details as it is designed specifically for that purpose.

How do I change the settings for this app?
Make sure you have the latest version of Records installed. Go to your device's Settings app and scroll down the list on the left of the screen. Select Records from the list and start editing your settings.

I don't use "introduced", "full instruction", "prompted" etc to record pupil progress. Can I use a different method with this app?
You can define your own skill levels with the latest version of Records. Go to your device's Settings app to customise the skill levels.

How do I use the payments section?
The first thing you should do is go to Records in your Settings app and input your prices. Return to the Records app, and in the payments section (at the top of each pupil's record sheet) tap the "+" button to add a new payment. Tap the Paid/Due icon to toggle its status. Tap the amount to change the value. Use the +/- stepper to count down the hours used for each payment. Changes made with the stepper will be saved after 2 seconds of inactivity. You can then undo the change if necessary.

How do I change the date of a payment?
In the payments section, tap the "Edit" button. Then tap the Paid/Due icon to bring up the date picker. Tap "Save" when done and then tap the "Done" button to leave edit mode. You can also delete a payment when in edit mode.

How do I export my database?
You need to have your device synced with iTunes in order to export your database. Connect your device to iTunes and select it from the menu on the left. Select "Apps" from the horizontal menu near the top of the iTunes window. Scroll the page down to reveal the "File Sharing" section. Select Records from the list of Apps. To the right, under "Records Documents", you should see a file named "DataStore2.sqlite". This is the database file which contains all your pupil data. Tap on the file to highlight it. Tap the button marked "Save To…" and choose a safe place to backup your data.

How often should I backup my data?
It is recommended that you fully backup your device as often as possible. You should always do a full backup before making any major changes to your device, including app/software updates. It's also a good idea to export your Records database (see above) around once a week to ensure you always have an up-to-date copy in safe place. You may never need to make use of a backup, but it's certainly good to know it will be there for you in the event that you do need it.

Road Pad and Road Pad Mini

The maps provided by Apple are no good. How do I use Google Maps instead?
In the latest version of Road Pad, select the Satellite view and then tap the settings button (the one with the cog icon). Enable the switch to "Use Web Maps".

In the latest version of Road Pad Mini, go to your iPhone's Settings app and select Road Pad. Enable the switch to "Use Web Maps".

I tapped on the Map Data / Terms of Use link and now I can't get back to the maps. What should I do?
Just hit the location (target icon) button to get back to normal.

How do I use Google Maps Street View inside Road Pad?
When using Google Maps (see above) you can access Street View by dragging the yellow man in the top left corner onto the map image. To exit Street View, tap the little cross in the top right corner of the map image.

I'm looking at the satellite view but the image quality isn't so good. Why is this?
The satellite images in Road Pad are provided by Google and Apple. The app uses the most up-to-date images available. For many parts of the world, particularly in big cities, these images are of a very good resolution and extremely useful for teaching purposes. In some areas, particularly rural areas, the resolution of the images is not as high, and may not be suitable for teaching. Google and Apple are constantly updating and improving their satellite images. As soon as new, improved images are made public by these providers, they are available to view in Road Pad.

Why are some satellite images out of date?
The best satellite images available in Road Pad are provided by Google. Google is constantly updating and improving its cache of images of the globe. However, it does not provide a live satellite image to your device so some images will inevitably be more up-to-date than others. If there is a road or junction in your area that has been recently built, you may not be able to get a satellite view of it. As Google updates its images of the relevant area, the new road or junction will become visible through their service. As soon as Google makes new images available, they are available to you in Road Pad. If you cannot get a good enough image using Google Maps, try switching off web maps (see above) to see if Apple's maps provide a better picture.

My iPad is a Wi-Fi only model. Can I use Road Pad to save images of tricky junctions and use them in the car while teaching?
Yes. Whenever you are connected to a Wi-Fi hotspot, you can load up satellite images on the app and save them into memory. You can then retrieve these image when you are out at work without an internet connection. (iPad only)

Mock Test

I just downloaded Mock Test but I can't see the menu. Where is it?
To bring up the menu, just tap on the words "Driving Test Report" at the top of the page. Select "Help" from the menu for more information about how to use the app.

How do I remove a fault from the DL25 sheet?
To remove a fault, you need to drag it out of the box. Touch the screen inside the box and drag your finger sideways out of the box before releasing it. This is easier in landscape mode than it is in portrait mode as the DL25 cannot be scrolled sideways in landscape mode.

How do I change the settings for this app?
Make sure you have the latest version of Mock Test installed. Go to your iPad's Settings app and scroll down the list on the left of the screen. Select Mock Test from the list and start editing your settings.

How do I make notes when carrying out a mock test?
Make sure you have the latest version of Mock Test installed. On the DL25, tap on the box labeled "Examiner". Enter your notes and tap the "Save" button. Notes will be saved along with the DL25 and can be edited after saving. You can email your notes along with the DL25 by selecting this option in your iPad's Settings app (see above).

How do I include the DL25 explanation text with my email?
If you are using the latest version of Mock Test, you need to enable this option in your iPad's Settings app (see "How do I change the settings for this app?" above).

How do I delete a test sheet when I no longer need it?
To delete a mock test, select "Open / Send" from the menu. When the list of saved tests appears, tap the "Edit" button. Tap the red dot next to the test you want to delete, then tap the "Delete" button to confirm.

Manoeuvres

Can I adjust the point of turn in the Parallel Park section?
Yes. Make sure you have the latest version of Manoeuvres installed. Use the back/forward buttons (<< and >>) to position the car ready to turn. A settings button (cog icon) will appear in the top right corner of the screen. Tap the button and use the slider to adjust the position of the car. The app will remember your selected position.

Routes

How do I start recording a new route?
First add a pupil by tapping the "+" button. Once you've added a new pupil, select the pupil by tapping on their name. Tap the "+" button again to add a new route for that pupil.

Help! According to the map I'm in the middle of the ocean. What's going on?
If Routes is showing your location as being in the ocean, it's probably because the app is unable to read your location. On your device, open the Settings app and select Privacy > Location Services. First make sure Location Services is switched on for your device, then find Routes in the list of apps and ensure Location Services is switched on for the app.