Confusion about segues and view controllers

[NightHawk]

Hi there!!

I am struggling to understand one fundamental point to designing the user interface structure in the iPad application which I am constructing. I am attempting to create a 'Home Screen' which will then lead off into four completely different areas of the Application. In effect, my intention was to have four UIButton's to lead into these four different areas. I have managed to successfully do a 'Modal' segue from one view to another, but when I used one of the buttons to try to link into a split view, the app does not seem to be happy to 'Push' segue into a split view.

I think my question falls into two parts. Firstly, there seems to be no clear explanation anywhere about why you should use 'Push', 'Modal', 'Popover', 'Replace', 'Custom', etc. From extensive looking around, it seems that this should be something to do with the type of screen that you are linking towards. For example, a 'Modal' segue is generally used to link into what??? A 'Push' links to what??? etc…

The next question is that there seems to be some suggestion that you cannot have a 'Split View' not as the primary view. I am sure that this is not true, as I have seen applications which do not do this. For example, 'Gusto' the code editor app has an initial screen where you have your project icons are displayed. Then, when you click on the project icon, you are segued into a form of Split View with a Table View in one half and a Tab View built into the Detail View area. I am sure that this kind of thing is common practice.

So, what is the best practice in terms of structure, and how are these segue interactions achieved???

Any help in understanding the best practice here would be truly appreciated!!!

All the best,

NightHawk.