Roadsoft Frequently Asked Questions

Common Beginner Questions

How do I install Roadsoft?

The Roadsoft installer is available at https://roadsoft.org/downloads/roadsoft. There are two main methods of installing Roadsoft for the first time, depending on if you also need to install SQL Server or not. We have an explanation of the two methods here.

Please note - you will either need an existing database to connect to, or a Roadosft backup to restore in order to run the program. If you’re starting from scratch, you’ll need a framework from us to create a database. Instructions for requesting a framework are located at https://www.roadsoft.org/get-roadsoft.

How do I get started?

First, if you have others in your organization that use Roadsoft, they may be your best teachers. There are many ways of using Roadsoft and each organization does things slightly differently, and not all modules are relevant to beginners. We typically offer and Introduction to Roadsoft Training in the spring and fall, and we have technical assistance available to help new users get their feet wet. Visit https://roadsoft.org/form/roadsoft-tech-assist-request to request technical assistance.

What is data migration?

We perform a framework update once per year using data from MDOT. These updates typically include framework map correction requests received before November of the previous year. This data migration updates the base map used by Roadsoft and is released at the end of March prior to the start of TAMC data collection for the year.

What’s my username and password?

Contact the person in your office with administrator access to Roadsoft for your user login. The CTT does not store or have access to usernames or passwords. That being said, should you lose access to the admin account, contact us for assistance in resetting the admin user password. The process used to reset the admin password is only good for that particular business day. If at a later date the admin password needs to be reset again, you’ll once again need to connect us.

I’m clicking an object on the map and Roadsoft won’t select it.

A very common issue is trying to click an object on the map and being unable to. More often than not, this is due to having the wrong layer active.

There are a few ways to check what layer you’re on. You can see it at the bottom-left corner of the main map, to the right of the pointer options, as well as on the layer list and in the selection section (if left pinned).

Keep in mind that having a layer checked means that layer is visible, not active. You will want to check to see that the layer name is highlighted, not just checked.

I can’t see all the roads/culverts/etc. on the map.

There are two main reasons why you may not see all of the roads on your map. The first is conditional visibility, which hides details to save on computing power and speed up the map viewing and regeneration process. If you zoom out and see roads or other items disappear, that is an indication that conditional visibility has been turned on. To turn it off, right click the map and select conditional visibility from the pop-up menu, then select the Turn Con Vis Off button on the next window. Note: this may cause Roadsoft to slow down on older machines or for agencies with a large amount of data.

The second reason why you may not see all the roads on your map is that you could also have a filter applied that hides some of the objects on the map. Look in the lower left-hand corner of the map to see if Roadsoft has a filter applied. You can clear a filter by right-clicking the map or under the filter drop-down directly above the map. More information on the Filter Builder can be found here.

Common Questions from IT Professionals

What is Roadsoft?

Roadsoft, generally speaking, is a collection of roadway asset management software tools for collecting, storing, analyzing, and sharing data associated with transportation infrastructure. The CTT works to make the entire suite as accessible as possible, and so we’ve geared Roadsoft towards municipalities that have little to no IT staff. See more here.

What do I need to run Roadsoft?

We require SQL server to create a database. We include a version of SQL Express server with the Roadsoft installer, and it's also available as a stand-alone installer on our website at https://roadsoft.org/downloads/sql-downloads. SQL can be installed on the local computer you're using to run Roadsoft, or it can be installed on another desktop or file server that will host a shared database. See instructions for setting up network sharing here, if multiple machines will be accessing a single database.

You’ll also need a framework file (FWVersionInfo.dat) if you create a new database. The framework defines your jurisdiction and includes basic road information to get you started using Roadsoft. Instructions for requesting a framework are here

Understand why Roadsoft requires SQL here.

Current minimum system requirements can be found here.

Can I use our organization’s own SQL Server to run Roadsoft?

Yes, as long as it meets our minimum version. There are some basic settings that need to be changed to allow Roadsoft to connect to the database. Please note that the RSUser password cannot be changed, or Roadsoft will fail to connect. You can find more information about setting up an SQL server here.

Can I install Roadsoft silently?

Absolutely. We have instructions for silent install here.

I want to move Roadsoft to a new server, set up by our IT department.

The simplest and most reliable way is to create a Roadsoft backup on the existing server. Once the new server is set up, copy the backup to the new server, then use Roadsoft to restore the database. Instructions for backing up and restoring are here. A framework isn’t necessary if using a backup. Please let users know that any changes made to the old database after it’s backed up won’t be reflected on the new server. We recommend completing this process outside of normal business hours. If it has to happen during a normal work day, backup right before you plan to make the new server live, copy and restore it, and let users know of the change immediately. It's also a good idea to turn off access to the old server once you're sure the new server is up and running. Ask your IT folks to turn of the service for the old SQL server, or give us a call and we can help walk you through the process if you have the proper access to the server.

I have a user that can’t connect to the server and/or Roadsoft says none of the default passwords are working.

See “Quick Troubleshooting Tips for Server Connection Issues”.

One of my users is having issues with an older version of Roadsoft. Can I get an installer for the version they're using?

Roadsoft is maintained and updated by a small team. We are unable to support every past version of Roadsoft. In addition, Roadsoft is under continuous development with enhancements and bug fixes added regularly, so unless there's a compelling reason, we always recommend that the latest release is used. There may be cases were an older version is needed to create a backup. If that is the situation, we recommend contacting us for help with migrating your data and upgrading all users to the latest release.

The current version of Roadsoft can be found in the downloads section of our website.

Quick Troubleshooting Tips for Server Connection Issues

I can’t connect to the database.

Is Roadsoft up to date?

Versions of Roadsoft that are several years old may no longer be supported. Additionally, in a situation where several people are using Roadsoft and accessing the same database, it’s best practice to keep everyone on the same version. If one person updates Roadsoft and makes changes to the database, older versions won’t be able to access that database. Regularly keeping up with Roadsoft updates for all users is the easiest way to avoid these issues. It’s also important to keep Windows up to date, since new versions of Roadsoft will not run on versions of Windows that are no longer supported by Microsoft.

How old is your database?

If you’re trying to access a database you haven’t accessed in a while, you may run into compatibility issues when trying to connect using a version of Roadsoft that’s several versions newer than the version that last connected to the database. Generally, Roadsoft can update and migrate databases that are two frameworks behind. If you receive an error that Roadsoft can't connect to the database because it's too old, contact tech support for help.

Are you connected to the correct SQL server?

Databases can be local - hosted on your computer, or remote - located on a different computer connected to the same network. There may be times where there are multiple Roadsoft databases available on a server. There may also be times where there are multiple SQL servers available on your network. Sometimes network issues can disconnect you from the remote SQL server where your database is hosted. Pay attention to the SQL server and database you normally connect to, as that will provide a clue if something goes awry.

Are you connecting to the correct database?

As mentioned above, it's possible to have multiple SQL servers and multiple databases on each server. There are times after updates, or in the event of other computer-related issues, where Roadsoft will try to connect to an older database you connected to previously. Again, pay attention to the SQL server and database you normally connect to. If you're having issues, try re-establishing the SQL server and database connection. We have instructions here on how to re-establish those connections.

Roadsoft says that my version of SQL is out of date and I need to upgrade. What do I do?

The most likely situation is that Microsoft has discontinued support for the version you are running. You will need to backup the old database and restore it on the new SQL server. Instructions for backing up and restoring are here. Refer to our timing recommendations above when upgrading the SQL server.

TAMC Data and the Data Collection Cycle

What is the Data Collection Cycle?

Roadsoft is designed to follow what we call the Data Collection Cycle. You can see a short write up in our manual here. The Data Collection Cycle lays out best practices for exporting and importing LDC data. We encourage you to look through the article to prevent data loss. If you are having issues with importing/exporting to or from the LDC, please contact support.

I didn’t flag my data for TAMC when exporting to the LDC. Is it too late to flag it?

There are two opportunities for flagging data for TAMC. Should the LDC file not be flagged for TAMC collection during export, there is a second opportunity on import offered for cities and counties to flag the data.

When importing LDC files with road data, you will be prompted “Is this for TAMC?” on import. Saying “Yes” will bring that data in, flagged for TAMC.

Regions shouldn’t be using LDC export files from local agencies for TAMC data collection. Regions should use the options presented under the TAMC menu for data import and export. Contact technical support if you have received LDC export files from a local agency.

It's also worth noting that adding data directly into Roadsoft Desktop will not flag it for TAMC.

I re-imported LDC data and flagged it as TAMC. Why isn’t it showing up as TAMC-flagged?

LDC exports don’t overwrite data when they’re imported into Roadsoft. If you previously brought in road data not flagged for TAMC, then you need to restore from a backup prior to importing or contact support for other options.

I’m new and I don’t know how to start with TAMC collection data.

Under the TAMC menu in Roadsoft, each of the steps are numbered and labeled as either for a city, county, or region. Each step has a tooltip with more information.

When in doubt, ask someone in your office who knows the details of how your office has been handling TAMC.

Refer to the TAMC Data Collection Manual for more information about the process.