Can I have a standard layout template that other layous are based upon?

Right now I have a study layout that I've saved copies of so that each copy depends a particular focus. For example I have one for a sermon in Matthew 5, another for the current passage in a week-night Bible study, another for a study in James etc. As I set a study aside, I update it's layout so I can come back to where I left off in all the resources.

Now, if I learn something new about Logos 4 and improve my layout, I want all these Bible study layouts to look the same, so I have to go and tweak each one individually.

Is there a better way? Can I have, say a master "Bible Study" template where I can tweak the layout and then have what Logos calls "layouts" based upon that template? Even if that's not directly possible, is there some other way to accomplish what I want?

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Kevin Becker

I don't know of any way to do what you want to do. It's an intriguing idea but I'm not certain how you could go about programming this type of functionality.

Perhaps what would be helpful to some would be a layout template... Bibles go here, commentaries here, this tool over there and then that template could be triggered from the Go box on the home page... EDIT: I see that you used the word template in your title. If I could create a template I probably would actually use the Go box , as is I don't like the default template so I'm left with building each from scratch.

MJ. Smith

Can I have, say a master "Bible Study" template where I can tweak the layout and then have what Logos calls "layouts" based upon that template?

a good suggestion for http://logos.uservoice.com/forums/42823-logos-bible-software-4

Rosie Perera

There isn't any way of having master layout templates like what you described, but that might be a suggestion you'd want to propose in the Suggestions forum.

However, I'm wondering whether you are using Link Sets to keep your resources scrolling in tandem. If you did that, then you'd be able to accomplish what you want with just one Layout. When you want to return to your study on Matthew 5, you open your layout and type Ctrl+G then Matt 5, and you're back where you were. Or if you wanted to return to working on James, you'd type in James. It wouldn't necessarily get you back to precisely the verse you had worked your way up to, but you won't be far off: if you scroll to that verse in the Bible window, your other linked resources would scroll to it too.

The point of a Layout isn't really to save the location you were working on, it's to save the arrangement of tabs and the relationships/links between the tools, and the display settings (whether the Interlinear pane is turned on, the Table of Contents pane, etc.). You can jump so easily to any verse that the layout is more like a master template of its own, and then you type Scripture references into it to make it display info about any location.

I can see why you might want to do it the way you're proposing, though, so do go ahead and make that suggestion in the Suggestions forum.

Jim

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/112088#Comment_112088

The point of a Layout isn't really to save the location you were working on, it's to save the arrangement of tabs and the relationships/links between the tools,

I quite agree that's what Logos designed. But I want to save a "layout" that allows me to get back to the exact place I was in that study without remembering which verse I left off in.

Logos 3 had a similar hole in thinking. You could create as many custom layouts as you wanted which was a great idea. Unfortunately the layouts (called workspaces) included the arrangement and content of toolbars instead of making that part common to all workspaces. So if I decided that I preferred a different set or icons, tools or toolbars, I had to go to every workspace and change them one by one so all my workspaces matched or took advantage of some new idea I had. That was novel for awhile, but eventually led to me using only a very few workspaces.

I think the L4 layout setup is better than L3 by far, but still overlooks this idea of having some part, or all, of the workspace/layout be based upon a master template.

Back to your comments. In some studies I have a resource open that is not synced to particular verse. For example I might have one panel that contains a dictionary/encyclopedia as well as some background or overview type book(s) that I am reading/scanning without using them as a versified commentaries. In another panel I might have an unlinked Greek grammar that I'm looking at from time to time that loosely connects with where I'm at in that study. I'd like to have my layout come up exactly where I left off in all my resources for that study.

Then again I may decide that I'd like to add a new resource or an alter the arrangement of panels and have that affect all my Bible study layouts. That's where the template idea comes in handy. The template would include a common set of resources, their locations and the arrangement and size of panels, but individual layouts could add to or subtract from that template.

As far as being possible, it's possible to do this manually, so why not in a program? (I spent a lot of years as a programmer.) I can manually create a "master" layout, invoke it, change it and save it under a new name to create a snapshot of a workspace. The problem with the current design is that if I change the master it has no affect on any derived layouts because they have no linkage. I would think that what I'm suggesting is actually very possible, though I don't presume to know how long it might take to implement.

Michael G. Halpern

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/112722#Comment_112722

A few screenshots would be really cool to look at if you wouldn't mind (when we are talking about layouts especially). I've seen several people inquire as to layouts and flow of study, so some examples might give us all some great ideas to work from. Thank you.

Edit: Spelling correction.

Jack Caviness

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/112722#Comment_112722

The point of a Layout isn't really to save the location you were working on, it's to save the arrangement of tabs and the relationships/links between the tools,

I quite agree that's what Logos designed. But I want to save a "layout" that allows me to get back to the exact place I was in that study without remembering which verse I left off in.

I agree with Jim on this one. I also would like to see templates for layouts.

Robert Pavich

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/112798#Comment_112798

Hey! that is a great idea!

1.) Master template on which all others are based

2.) Master template that replaces the default in the "Go" bar...

I'm with you....this would make the "Go" bar acually usable!

Floyd Johnson

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/113126#Comment_113126

Hey! that is a great idea!

1.) Master template on which all others are based

2.) Master template that replaces the default in the "Go" bar...

I'm with you....this would make the "Go" bar acually usable!

I agree - but why only one master layout. Why not allow any layout to be saved as a TEMPLATE - then any active layout would need to be tied to a TEMPLATE, either the default shipped with LOGOS or a named TEMPLATE created by the user.

Robert Pavich

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/113147#Comment_113147

I agree - but why only one master layout. Why not allow any layout to be saved as a TEMPLATE - then any active layout would need to be tied to a TEMPLATE, either the default shipped with LOGOS or a named TEMPLATE created by the user.

That's what i meant...you just said it more clearly!

Damian McGrath

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/113126#Comment_113126

Hey! that is a great idea!

1.) Master template on which all others are based

2.) Master template that replaces the default in the "Go" bar...

I'm with you....this would make the "Go" bar acually usable!

I wonder how many people use the GO Bar... I would love to be able to set a layout which is suitable for my purposes...>

spitzerpl

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/113169#Comment_113169

I wonder how many people use the GO Bar... I would love to be able to set a layout which is suitable for my purposes...>

FWIW I use the Go bar all the time. I love it...one of my favorite L4 features. Well, it's probably in the list of 50 favorite features but....

My favorite uses are opening my favorite Bible to a passage, Closing all windows (I know there's a shortcut now but for some reason ALT + D CA Enter has stuck), Beta wishing updates, opening layouts. opening resources.

Rosie Perera

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/113175#Comment_113175

I wonder how many people use the GO Bar... I would love to be able to set a layout which is suitable for my purposes...>

FWIW I use the Go bar all the time. I love it...one of my favorite L4 features. Well, it's probably in the list of 50 favorite features but....

My favorite uses are opening my favorite Bible to a passage, Closing all windows (I know there's a shortcut now but for some reason ALT + D CA Enter has stuck), Beta wishing updates, opening layouts. opening resources.

I think Robert and Damian were both referring to the "GO Bar" on the Home page, which is somewhat limited in functionality because it always/only brings up a default layout to do a passage study on. It can't do those things you're talking about. You seem to be referring to the command bar (that's where ALT + D will take your focus), which is indeed a very useful thing!

Robert Pavich

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/113273#Comment_113273

Rosie,

Yes, I meant the GO! bar on the home page...i'd use it if every resource I had didn't have to open at once!

Rosie Perera

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/113349#Comment_113349

Yes, I meant the GO! bar on the home page...i'd use it if every resource I had didn't have to open at once!

The only thing I ever use the Go Bar on the home page for is finding a passage by Pericope name, because the reference box at the top of a Bible doesn't show them.

Jack Caviness

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/113147#Comment_113147

I agree - but why only one master layout. Why not allow any layout to be saved as a TEMPLATE - then any active layout would need to be tied to a TEMPLATE, either the default shipped with LOGOS or a named TEMPLATE created by the user.

Thank you for being so clear. That is what I had in mind when I used the plural "templates", but I did not state it clearly enough.