Need search tips

Dwayne Justice

Hello. I have long had an issue of how to search for scripture references or books in my library when either (a) I don't know exact verbiage or (b) the topic I want to search for isn't really considered a "topic" in Logos. For example. Just today, I had to use Google to help me find the scriptures I was looking for. I didn't have exact verbiage memorized in order to use the "search bible" function. So, in Google, I just typed "what are some biblical references that talk about being in the world but not of the world?" BAM! instantaneous results that led me to multiple passages. Is there a way to do a similar search within Logos? Another example is my paper project for my Christian Ethics class. I want to do my paper on the level Christians should or shouldn't get involved with media, i.e social media, television, movies, video games, etc. How do I perform a search in logos that doesn't just show me all of the media components I own, and/or bring back a million un-related results? Thank you.

Dave Hooton

Dwayne Justice said:

So, in Google, I just typed "what are some biblical references that talk about being in the world but not of the world?" BAM! instantaneous results that led me to multiple passages. Is there a way to do a similar search within Logos?

Enter in the world but not of the world into a Basic Search of Everything (without quotes). It may not be as quick, but you will get results under FUZZY BIBLE SEARCH.

Dwayne Justice said:

I want to do my paper on the level Christians should or shouldn't get involved with media, i.e social media, television, movies, video games, etc.

Topic Guide will provide suggestions for Ethics --> Biblical Ethics; which won't directly answer the modern question you pose. Results for Christian Ethics will depend on your library:-

• create a Collection with the rule subject:ethics  ---> you could even narrow that to subject:"christian ethics"
• search the collection (Basic Search) for television, movies,  "social media", games with "Match all word forms" checked (in the menu) 

You will get more relevant results from this.

Dwayne Justice

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/906884#Comment_906884

Thanks, Dave!

Keep Smiling 4 Jesus :)

Dwayne Justice said:

Another example is my paper project for my Christian Ethics class. I want to do my paper on the level Christians should or shouldn't get involved with media, i.e social media, television, movies, video games, etc. How do I perform a search in logos that doesn't just show me all of the media components I own, and/or bring back a million un-related results?

One search idea is looking for article titles or chapter heading that have Christian or Ethics followed by one (or more of these words):  internet,games,media,movies,social,television (in title, article, chapter)

([field heading,largetext] Christian,Ethics) BEFORE 88 WORDS ([field heading,largetext,surface] internet,games,media,movies,social,television)

Keep Smiling [:)]

Armin

Dwayne Justice said:

Hello. I have long had an issue of how to search for scripture references or books in my library when either (a) I don't know exact verbiage or (b) the topic I want to search for isn't really considered a "topic" in Logos. For example. Just today, I had to use Google to help me find the scriptures I was looking for. I didn't have exact verbiage memorized in order to use the "search bible" function. So, in Google, I just typed "what are some biblical references that talk about being in the world but not of the world?" BAM! instantaneous results that led me to multiple passages. Is there a way to do a similar search within Logos? Another example is my paper project for my Christian Ethics class. I want to do my paper on the level Christians should or shouldn't get involved with media, i.e social media, television, movies, video games, etc. How do I perform a search in logos that doesn't just show me all of the media components I own, and/or bring back a million un-related results? Thank you.

Hi Dwayne,

I have the same challenges as you do:

https://community.logos.com/forums/t/143686.aspx

https://community.logos.com/forums/t/144131.aspx

My approach is: Use Google for those searches where I am not quite sure what the search terms should look like. Then use the Google results in Logos to find references in my Logos library. Logos searches only work for me if I can use the right-click menu.

But I am hopeful that one day Logos will be able to make searching more intuitive.

Armin 

Dwayne Justice

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/907141#Comment_907141

Thanks, Smiles. Could you please explain, or direct me to a lesson/video that explains how you came up with the wording for your search parameters and what they mean? Thank you.

Dave Hooton

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/907210#Comment_907210

Dwayne Justice said:

Could you please explain, or direct me to a lesson/video that explains how you came up with the wording for your search parameters and what they mean?

([field heading,largetext] Christian,Ethics) BEFORE 88 WORDS ([field heading,largetext,surface] internet,games,media,movies,social,television)

The wiki article https://wiki.logos.com/Search_Fields_List will explain the syntax and the field names i.e look for "Christian" or "Ethics" in the fields "heading text" and "large text" followed by a gap of 1 to 88 Words which must contain the other words in the fields "heading text", "large text" and "surface text".

Dwayne Justice

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/907295#Comment_907295

Thanks.

Dwayne Justice

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/907379#Comment_907379

Thank you all for your replies. I believe I have found a reasonable mostly-solution for the Bible verse finder I was referring to. Logos has what is called a "fuzzy bible search." I'm sure you are all familiar with it, but just in case someone who has been wondering the same thing comes across this post, I will explain what it is. Like me, if you were trying to find a verse or verses based on minimal information, instead of trying to do a search under "Bible," throw the words you do know, or think you know, into the "Basic" and "Search Everything" search fields. You will notice that when the results populate, the top drop down is titled, "Fuzzy Bible Search." I was able to figure this out from the following video: 

https://fast.wistia.net/embed/iframe/fqdliojm4w?popover=true