A useful hand.
When you need it.
Getting started, finding your licence or looking after your records? Start here. And if something still isn’t behaving, there’s a real team ready to help.
Plain answers. Practical next steps. No need to speak fluent software.
I once tried to recharge a filing cabinet.”
The right help.
In the right place.
Choose the application you’re using. Product-specific answers keep the details clear, from the first download to your next backup.
Useful Course & Class Manager
Help with installation, trials, licences, bookings and keeping your course records safe.
Using something we built for your business? Contact the team with the project name and a short description of what you need. Your project agreement sets out its support arrangements.
What can we
help you with?
Choose a topic, then open a question. You can leave more than one answer open while you work through it.
Getting started
Which computers can run it?
The current release runs on Windows 10 version 22H2 or Windows 11, on a 64-bit Intel or AMD PC. Windows 11 is recommended. Windows on ARM and 32-bit Windows are not currently supported.
There isn’t a macOS release available yet. See the download page’s full requirements for memory, storage and display details.
Where should I start on my first launch?
Download the installer from our official download page, install the app and open it. Your seven-day trial starts at that first launch.
Explore the example data for a look around. When you’re ready, create a separate empty database for your own business, or open an existing one. You don’t need an account or a payment card to try the software.
Windows has paused the download. What now?
A new installer can trigger a download-reputation message. Check that it came from our official download page and that the publisher is Useful Software & Systems Limited.
The installation help explains the published filename, publisher and checksum. If the details don’t match, the publisher is unknown or Windows reports a threat, stop and ask us for help.
Trials & licences
When does the free trial start?
You get seven full calendar days from first launch, with every feature included. Downloading the installer doesn’t start the clock. No account, registration form or payment card is needed.
What happens to my work when the trial ends?
Your records stay yours. Editing pauses until you enter a Version 1 licence, but you can still view, back up and export your databases. Activating a licence lets you continue the work you started during the trial.
How do I activate a licence I’ve bought?
In the app, open Settings → Licence. Paste the signed licence key supplied with your purchase, or choose the supplied .lic file.
Activation works offline and does not upload your database. If the key or file isn’t accepted, contact us with the purchase email address, order reference and exact message shown. Please don’t post your licence key publicly.
A Version 1 purchase includes all 1.x updates. For the purchase conditions, see the software licence and terms of sale.
Records & backups
Where are my course and customer records stored?
In the .uwm database files you create. Everyday course management, reports, backups and Ask your data run on your computer. Your customer database is not sent to a cloud AI service.
Keep track of where you save each file. Separate databases can hold different organisations’ records and settings.
How should I look after my backups?
The app supports automatic and manual backups, restore tools and read-only health checks. Make a manual backup before an important change, and keep a separate copy somewhere you can recover it if the computer fails.
Keep your original database and a known-good backup when investigating a problem. If you’re unsure which file to restore, ask us before replacing your current records.
Bryn’s note: “A backup is the spare umbrella of software. Much nicer to have one before it rains.”
Can I use a cloud-synced folder or move to another PC?
If a database is in a cloud-synced folder, keep it available offline and open it on only one computer at a time. A synced file is not a shared, multi-user database.
Before moving to another supported Windows PC, make a backup and close the app. Keep the original files while checking the copied database on the destination computer. If you need help with the move or licence arrangements, contact the team first.
Everyday questions
Can I bring in bookings I already have?
Yes. You can add bookings directly, import suitable CSV data, or review details captured locally from saved emails, PDFs, screenshots, images and text files.
You confirm the details before they are written. Make a backup before a substantial import, and check a small sample first. If your existing data is awkward, describe its format when you contact us.
Does the app send emails to my customers?
It prepares personalised confirmations, joining information, reminders and follow-ups for you to review. You then copy them or open them in your email app.
It does not send customer messages automatically. You stay in charge of what is sent and when.
Can customers book and pay through my website?
Course & Class Manager is a desktop application for managing your records, rather than a hosted public booking portal. Recording a payment in the app is separate from taking that payment.
If you need a website booking flow or a connection to another system, discuss a project with us. We can look at what would fit your process.
Something’s not right
The app shows an error. What should I send you?
Tell us the product and version, your Windows version, what you were trying to do and the exact error message. A few steps that reproduce it are especially useful.
A screenshot can help; remove private information first. You don’t need to work out the cause before asking. The short checklist below explains what to include.
I can’t see the records I expected. What should I check?
First check that you have opened the intended .uwm database, rather than the example data, a new empty file or an older copy. Different databases keep separate records.
Keep the original files and backups. Don’t delete or overwrite them while trying to work out what happened. If you’re still unsure, tell us when you last saw the records and what changed afterwards.
I need help with a receipt, order or refund.
Follow the support details in your purchase receipt. For purchases identified as “Sold through Link”, the receipt provides the route for order, receipt and refund enquiries. For help with the software or licence itself, contact our team.
If you’re unsure, send us the order reference and email address used to buy. See purchases and billing or our refund information for the relevant details.
Looking for the current installer?
The download page carries the published version, requirements and file details.
A few details.
A better starting point.
You don’t need a technical report. A short explanation of what happened is enough to start the conversation.
Bryn’s note: “It did a thing” is a start.
“It did this thing when I clicked that” is even better.
Which software?
The application name, version number and operating system. Include the project name if it’s a bespoke application.
What happened?
What you were trying to do, what you expected and what happened instead. Include the exact error message and the steps that led to it.
Anything that helps explain it?
A screenshot with private details removed, or an order reference for a purchase question. Send diagnostic logs only if we ask for them.
Please don’t send passwords, full payment-card details or a live customer database. If we need files, we’ll agree a suitable way to share them. How we handle your information.
Let’s get it
sorted.
Tell us what’s happening and we’ll help you find the next step. No need to apologise for asking.
We aim to send an initial response to product-support emails within two UK working days. That’s a response target, not a guaranteed fix time. Support for your product or project follows its applicable support arrangements.
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