Request: My Commentary

tcblack said:

After using and being exposed to the Sermon File Addin for awhile (as well
as being *extremely* irked by it's lack of easy wysywig formatting.) I
would like to propose a module at least somewhat similar to it (But with
decent wysywig editing!) for building a running commentary.  Some of the
features I'm asking for are already available in notes, others are not.
Perhaps this is one way to reconsider the notes module as it rather
consistently attracts complaints.
We already have "My sermons" and "My illustrations" so I propose: "My
Commentary".

"My commentary" would permit me to save, edit, re-edit, compile, recompile
and _share_ my commentary with others.

1.  I should be able to define a template to be used for every single
verse, chapter or pericope.   For instance I typically include the
following headings under my notes: Parsing & Syntax, Textual Variance,
Diagram, Translation, Exegesis & Translation Comparison, Explanation,
Application.  Not everyone would want to use those categories but I do, and
I want them automatically available at every single section I'm working on.

2.  Pasting from another book should not only create a footnote but a
properly formatted link back to that resource.

3.  It should be able to automatically keep track of every quotation or
link pasted in, and upon compiling a complete bibliography (in my format of
choice) should be generated either at the end of the commentary or at the
end of the Book.

4.  I should be able to add commentary to non-biblical resources.  For
instance if I wanted to comment on the apostolic fathers or a particular
journal article - I should be able to create a separate commentary for
those extra-biblical resources. (Or combine it with my Bible commentary if
I so desire).

5.  Running a passage guide should pull up my commentary together with the
other commentaries.

6.  It should be printable as a section or as an entire document - no
matter how many pages it consists of.  

7.  Ditto for the ability to export to PDF, HTML, TXT, and maybe even DOC
(I'd push for ODT but that is just me perhaps).

8.  Copying and pasting from "My Commentary" should provide a nice footnote
just like any other resource in Logos.

9.  NO renewable licence fees as in PBB.

10.  Your additional ideas go here.

J. R. Miller said:

I currently use Notes, but your feature requests would be much easier 
and less time consuming and more useful in the end.
Joe

BroJames said:

I do not have it, and am not really familiar with the way the resource 
works, but, aren't most of these ideas packaged in the PBB? Just curious!

BroJames

Mark Smith said:

James,

I'll let Thomas respond in detail, but PBB books have to be created using
HTML as I undertsand. You can start with text, but then it must be
converted. Thomas' idea would be to allow straight-forward entry of text
both via keyboard and the Windows clipboard. This would simplify the
creation of the commentary.

Thomas,

I think this is an excellent idea. It does seem to cross over into the
'ultimate notes' facility that people (including myslef) have asked for
repeatedly. Afterall once the feature set is available, it could be used for
something other than a commentary.

I'd add that this feature should automatically recognize scripture
references (like a smart tag) and allow the text to be added in. It should
allow for quick transfer from English text entry to Greek and Hebrew, and it
should support the exporting of most (if not all) of Libronix's reports to
it.

Mark

tcblack said:

> I'd add that this feature should automatically recognize scripture
> references (like a smart tag) and allow the text to be added in. 
>
> It should  allow for quick transfer from English text entry to Greek and Hebrew, 
> and it should support the exporting of most (if not all) of Libronix's reports to it.

I agree with each one of those ideas.  Yes the general trend is always to
ask for more and more automation, but that's the purpose of this NG.

tcblack said:

> I do not have it, and am not really familiar with the way the resource 
> works, but, aren't most of these ideas packaged in the PBB? Just curious!

yes, several of these ideas are also found in the PBB, but there are
several intervening steps which are just plain laborious and nobody trying
to take notes as you go is about to follow the same steps every day to
recompile all of their notes into a new version of the same old commentary.  

I think the way the sermon addin has solved the auto-compile and save issue
has been a good move.  Further, there are limitations of a sort to PBB
which just don't belong in Libronix.  Things like Markup for instance?  

Notes as a general purpose tool can cause your system to slow to a crawl
(See some of the recent comments regarding the geneva bible notes in other
locations).  But a properly executed "My commentary" would perform the same
instant note writing ability without the lag time because as soon as you
save/compile it would act just like any other resource.

Whyndell said:

Yes this would be great- And I would use this verus notes 10 to 1

10. be able to import charts and diagrams in whole or part- copy and past 
would be great.