Workflows too unwieldy

Francis
Francis Member Posts: 4,024 ✭✭✭
edited November 2024 in English Forum

I have not used workflows a whole lot until now. I am a bit frustrated by the constraint of having to work with pre-set categories (e.g., preaching theme, lemma, etc). It would be fine if one had the choice to coin his/her own but to be constrained to use those already provided in Logos is too much of a limitation.

For instance, I was looking at making a custom topical sermon workflow. Unless I don't know how to use it (and that is well possible), I see that I am constrained to use either "preaching theme" or "topic" as the type of workflow. But the topics I am working with are more precise than those present in the list of logos topics. So, right from the start, I can't use this. 

Any solution or work around? If not, something that needs work on.

Comments

  • MJ. Smith
    MJ. Smith MVP Posts: 55,539

    My solution works well: know that as a Catholic your categories, major themes, and use of multiple scriptures doesn't fit into the Logos model ... not even close. So Logos doesn't know that the three Platonic goods (truth, beauty, goodness) are fundamental to a discussion of God ...choose a topic with some overlap - this takes some creativity for beauty - then push, squeeze, deform, mutilate,cajole, bribe, squint ...- until you've manage to find the pieces that truly belong to your topic. The first time or two it may be a bit annoying but keep at it ... it becomes an interesting challenge - better than any crossword or jigsaw puzzles. You develop a real sense of pride in the creativity you applied, the interesting rabbit holes you found, new piece of trivia to regal clergy friends with ...

    I swear this really does work.

    Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."

  • Friedrich
    Friedrich MVP Posts: 4,772

    Francis said:

    I have not used workflows a whole lot until now. I am a bit frustrated by the constraint of having to work with pre-set categories (e.g., preaching theme, lemma, etc). It would be fine if one had the choice to coin his/her own but to be constrained to use those already provided in Logos is too much of a limitation.

    For instance, I was looking at making a custom topical sermon workflow. Unless I don't know how to use it (and that is well possible), I see that I am constrained to use either "preaching theme" or "topic" as the type of workflow. But the topics I am working with are more precise than those present in the list of logos topics. So, right from the start, I can't use this. 

    Any solution or work around? If not, something that needs work on.

    Francis, I'm not a great help on this, I'm only starting to use them. (I used the Lectio Divina and found it quite helpful). It does look like now you can only work within their limits. If it is not possible to alter it, I am still curious what you mean by your topics are "too precise?" Perhaps describing what you want to do could generate other solutions from those who use them more frequently, or perhaps you could turn it into a UserVoice suggestion for a future build.  (or even get MJ on your side! [:D])

    I like Apples.  Especially Honeycrisp.

  • Friedrich
    Friedrich MVP Posts: 4,772

    MJ. Smith said:

    My solution works well: know that as a Catholic your categories, major themes, and use of multiple scriptures doesn't fit into the Logos model ... not even close. So Logos doesn't know that the three Platonic goods (truth, beauty, goodness) are fundamental to a discussion of God ...choose a topic with some overlap - this takes some creativity for beauty - then push, squeeze, deform, mutilate,cajole, bribe, squint ...- until you've manage to find the pieces that truly belong to your topic. The first time or two it may be a bit annoying but keep at it ... it becomes an interesting challenge - better than any crossword or jigsaw puzzles. You develop a real sense of pride in the creativity you applied, the interesting rabbit holes you found, new piece of trivia to regal clergy friends with ...

    I swear this really does work.

    I soooo appreciate you, MJ, and also wish I had known you'd posted whilst I was typing.  

    I like Apples.  Especially Honeycrisp.

  • Francis
    Francis Member Posts: 4,024 ✭✭✭

    Friedrich said:

    I am still curious what you mean by your topics are "too precise?"

    For instance, I am preparing a sermon on the theme of adorning the Gospel in the Pastorals. "Gospel" "Witnessing" and other partially intersecting themes available from the preaching themes or topics just don't cut it. 

    Since I have not been able to use the workflows for what I wanted, I am not even sure of what it produces: does one's work (like filling in the answers to questions) get saved as a study? What I want really is a way to work through and save my sermon preparation which is a different from saving the sermon itself. The sermon tool is good for the latter but as far as I can see, is not adapted for the former. Hence I thought a custom workflow could do the trick.

  • Francis
    Francis Member Posts: 4,024 ✭✭✭

    MJ. Smith said:

    The first time or two it may be a bit annoying but keep at it ... it becomes an interesting challenge - better than any crossword or jigsaw puzzles. You develop a real sense of pride in the creativity you applied, the interesting rabbit holes you found, new piece of trivia to regal clergy friends with ...

    I swear this really does work.

    My first reaction is pragmatic: I don't want to waste time trying to fit square pegs in round holes. But perhaps, if you don't mind, an example of what you've done could help me evaluate whether your suggestion would work for me (and in any case, thanks for the suggestion).