Instaverse AGAIN

Hugh DeLong
Hugh DeLong Member Posts: 85 ✭✭
edited November 2024 in English Forum

Now that Logos has acquired Wordsearch, I am afraid of what happens to my ability to use Instaverse. Having used it now for many many years, it will really impact my work flow when I upgrade computers. To make it work with all the various translations - I have to first install the latest version of WordSearch - and update the library to include all the translations I have purchased - and THEN I can install Instaverse and get is working with Word. If I can not reinstall WordSearch and get it authorized - no more Instaverse. WHY has no one ever created a similar program to work with Logos????  We have asked - many times - many posts. 

Comments

  • DMB
    DMB Member Posts: 14,482 ✭✭✭✭

    That's an interesting functionality.

    For anyone curious, the use-pattern in the link below is interesting, for WS users at the time (not sure WHAT happened to Windows 8!):

    https://www.shouldiremoveit.com/InstaVerse-53506-program.aspx 

    "If myth is ideology in narrative form, then scholarship is myth with footnotes." B. Lincolm 1999.

  • Mike Binks
    Mike Binks MVP Posts: 7,459

    If I can not reinstall WordSearch and get it authorized - no more Instaverse. WHY has no one ever created a similar program to work with Logos????  We have asked - many times - many posts. 

    Hi Hugh

    I had a look at the internet but didn't really get a picture of how this program worked.

    Does it pop up with the verse if you hover over a bible reference in...

    • a pages or word document
    • a pdf
    • a kindle book
    • an excel or numbers sheet
    • rtf documnet

    tootle pip

    Mike

    Now tagging post-apocalyptic fiction as current affairs. Latest Logos, MacOS, iOS and iPadOS

  • Hugh DeLong
    Hugh DeLong Member Posts: 85 ✭✭

    Mike - I use it connection with Word - and in Word if you hover over a reference, it does popup (open) a small new window with the text displayed. However, I have never found that particularly useful for my purpose. Rather, when writing it really has proven almost indispensable. You type in the reference, leave the cursor at the end of the reference, press your hotkey (which you have chosen and setup), and it automatically inserts the text of the verse into your document - using whatever formatting that you are currently using. It is so much quicker than trying to switch windows, highlight, cut, switch windows back, paste...   and whatever translations you have (had?) in Wordsearch are available. 

    In addition, you can specify lots of 'paste' options: reference style (bold, italics, before the text, after the text, paragraph style or each verse on its own line, etc.) 

    It just seems to me like someone with computer coding experience could replicate this but use Logos as the source for the references. Why Wordsearch quite working on it is beyond me - perhaps it had achieved its purpose so well they didn't want to ruin it by making it try to do too many other things! 

  • Kenneth Neighoff
    Kenneth Neighoff Member Posts: 2,639 ✭✭✭
  • Mike Binks
    Mike Binks MVP Posts: 7,459

    ou type in the reference, leave the cursor at the end of the reference, press your hotkey (which you have chosen and setup), and it automatically inserts the text of the verse into your document - using whatever formatting that you are currently using.

    Arghh

    I remember fondly...

    Why Wordsearch quite working on it is beyond me

    Probably for the same reason that Faithlife did?

    We haven't had a clamour for its return for some years.

    tootle pip

    Mike

    Now tagging post-apocalyptic fiction as current affairs. Latest Logos, MacOS, iOS and iPadOS

  • Roy
    Roy Member Posts: 965 ✭✭

    Have you looked at Smart Tags (aka Actions) ?

    https://wiki.logos.com/Smart_Tags 

  • Nathan Parker
    Nathan Parker Member Posts: 814 ✭✭✭

    For websites, Logos has Faithlife RefTagger, but it has to be enabled by the web developer.

    Dr. Nathan Parker

  • Hugh DeLong
    Hugh DeLong Member Posts: 20 ✭✭

    Yes - I have used both the smarttags and re RefTagger - but nothing has the simplicity, ease, and quickness as does Instaverse. 

    At least Wordsearch website (for know) is functioning and I was able to install Wordsearch and thus get INstaverse to work on my new computer. I am just fearful that a year from now that will be shutdown and then it won't install on any new computer systems I get. 

    My guess is that most people never tried it so they do not know what they are missing :-) Thus, there is no 'big clammor' for it. 

  • MJ. Smith
    MJ. Smith MVP Posts: 55,165

    My guess is that most people never tried it so they do not know what they are missing :-) Thus, there is no 'big clammor' for it. 

    Or, like myself, it does not meet an actual need. I can see how it would be useful for many people but that does not include myself.

    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."

  • Levi Durfey
    Levi Durfey Member Posts: 2,218 ✭✭✭

    I remember fondly...

    Why Wordsearch quite working on it is beyond me

    Probably for the same reason that Faithlife did?

    We haven't had a clamour for its return for some years.

    I don't understand, Mike. Are you saying that "replace with passage" doesn't work? Because it works fine for me.

  • Mike Binks
    Mike Binks MVP Posts: 7,459

    Livi

    Thank you for chipping in.

    For me, you are (almost) right!

    'Replace with Passage' is indeed working from the Services menu.

    What is not working (for me) is the Keyboard Shortcut which is set to Cmd+Shift+E.

    Have you any idea why this might be?

    If we can get this solved perhaps it might go some way to comforting Hugh in his loss!

    tootle pip

    Mike

    Now tagging post-apocalyptic fiction as current affairs. Latest Logos, MacOS, iOS and iPadOS

  • Levi Durfey
    Levi Durfey Member Posts: 2,218 ✭✭✭

    What is not working (for me) is the Keyboard Shortcut which is set to Cmd+Shift+E

    I changed the shortcut years ago--CMD+SHIFT+E conflicted with something for me. Can't remember what now!

    I use CTRL+OPT+CMD+/

  • Levi Durfey
    Levi Durfey Member Posts: 2,218 ✭✭✭

    What is not working (for me) is the Keyboard Shortcut which is set to Cmd+Shift+E.

    I changed back to SHIFT+CMD+E and tested--it works in Textedit but not in Pages--there's some sort of conflict there.
  • Mike Binks
    Mike Binks MVP Posts: 7,459

    I use CTRL+OPT+CMD+/

    So do I (as of just now) and you are right.

    Thank you again. I only use the facility sparingly but when I need it it does come in handy.

    tootle pip

    Mike

    Now tagging post-apocalyptic fiction as current affairs. Latest Logos, MacOS, iOS and iPadOS

  • Mike Binks
    Mike Binks MVP Posts: 7,459

    Yes - I have used both the smarttags and re RefTagger - but nothing has the simplicity, ease, and quickness as does Instaverse. 

    You may well be right Hugh but perhaps changing the Keyboard shortcut to Cmd+Option+Ctl+E for 'Replace with Passage' in the Services menu as Livi has suggested might help a little.

    tootle pip

    Mike

    Now tagging post-apocalyptic fiction as current affairs. Latest Logos, MacOS, iOS and iPadOS

  • Hugh DeLong
    Hugh DeLong Member Posts: 20 ✭✭

    OK - I reinstalled Office 365, this time with the 32bit version. In the  add-ins window, it shows Logos Bible Software (L4SmrTg.dll) as an active application.

    So - walk me thru using this (or point me to a URL)...  :-)   Old dog trying to learn new tricks and see if you all have been any comfort to me  :-)

  • Hugh DeLong
    Hugh DeLong Member Posts: 20 ✭✭

    When I right-click on the reference, and click on 'additional actions' - the only option I have is Options. I have already Enabled additional actions, and the box for Logos Bible Software (Bible references) is checked.

    I do I actually activate this action?  

    thanks

  • Mike Binks
    Mike Binks MVP Posts: 7,459

    OK - I reinstalled Office 365, this time with the 32bit version. In the  add-ins window, it shows Logos Bible Software (L4SmrTg.dll) as an active application.

    Make sure that 'Replace with Passage' is ticked in System Preferences-Keyboard-Shortcuts and that the shortcut is changed to Cmd+Opt+Ctl+E

    Open a word document and type a reference (1), select the reference (2) and apply the shortcut (3).

    Voila!

    tootle pip

    Mike

    Now tagging post-apocalyptic fiction as current affairs. Latest Logos, MacOS, iOS and iPadOS

  • Hugh DeLong
    Hugh DeLong Member Posts: 20 ✭✭

    I have it working accept for knowing how to set up the keyboard shortcut on Win10. Anyone one share the secret? :-)

  • MWW
    MWW Member Posts: 429 ✭✭

    You may well be right Hugh but perhaps changing the Keyboard shortcut to Cmd+Option+Ctl+E for 'Replace with Passage' in the Services menu as Livi has suggested might help a little.

    To make life easy I changed it to Ctl+. using 2 keys is much quicker and easier than using 4 keys.

  • Mike Binks
    Mike Binks MVP Posts: 7,459

    and on a win10 PC?

    How quaint - you might have said.

    No idea.

    tootle pip

    Mike

    Now tagging post-apocalyptic fiction as current affairs. Latest Logos, MacOS, iOS and iPadOS

  • (‾◡◝)
    (‾◡◝) Member Posts: 928 ✭✭✭

    The beauty of InstaVerse wasn't, IMO, the ability to paste a reference in to a document - it was its ability to pop-up a scripture text in a preferred translation as you read virtually any webpage. 

    From the developer:

    "InstaVerse recognizes scripture abbreviations like "Jn 3:16" in web pages and email documents, and if you point at an abbreviation with your mouse, it pops up the Bible text for that reference."

    IOW, as you read along in any webpage and you come to a biblical reference, say, "John 3:16",  instead of having to open another program, or website, or search engine to find out what the text of "John 3:16" says, you simply hover the cursor over the reference and up pops a window with the text in it. No coding required as in RefTagger - just any plain biblical reference.

    Simple, easy-peasy, uncomplicated, worked like a champ.  Began to break down when Windows 8 came along (or was it 64 bit Windows? who knows?). 

    HERE are three screenshots that give an idea of how it worked (click on the screenshot icon(s) to open them up for viewing).

    Point is that WS just gave up on a fantastically useful little utility - is anybody at FL/Logos listening?

    Instead of Artificial Intelligence, I prefer to continue to rely on Divine Intelligence instructing my Natural Dullness (Ps 32:8, John 16:13a)

  • Timothy Beining
    Timothy Beining Member Posts: 186 ✭✭

    Actually JRS they gave up 2. Instaverse and Lesson Maker. I also hope Faithlife is listening.

  • Stephen David Parkin
    Stephen David Parkin Member Posts: 10 ✭✭

    I would agree. Instaverse was my most used button. A brilliant option,

  • Jason
    Jason Member Posts: 1

    Two Years ago I spent over a week trying to find something that replaced instaVerse in that you could put your cursor at the end of a verse and press a command and it would automatically paste the scriptures.  

    I reached out to customer support at Faithlife / Logos  and was essentially told if I recall correctly that they would consider updating or re-releasing. 

    My Pastor still uses Windows XP Just for InstaVerse.   

    I'm on a Mac and have been looking for something similar without having to load a large program just for this functionality.   

    The closest I've come to on Mac is Alfred with the PowerPack purchase and the ESV script found here: https://www.alfredforum.com/topic/9663-esv-online-bible/    This lets me hit Control Space and type in ESV and the passage or passages and it'll copy the verses to my clipboard.  You can also go into the settings for Alfred and Workflows and double click on the clipboard action within the ESV workflow and set it to paste so you'd just put your cursor where you want it and hit Control Spacebar and type ESV and the verse and it'll automatically paste it wherever you are.

    Still hoping InstaVerse comes back however and becomes cross platform.

  • MJ. Smith
    MJ. Smith MVP Posts: 55,165

    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."

  • xnman
    xnman Member Posts: 2,956 ✭✭✭

    I know I'm late to the party so to speak... but... InstaVerse is not something I used much at all... I tried it out and did use it a time or two... here and there... but not regularly. And if I remember right, many used it like I did (not much). 

    On the other hand..... ZipScript... I use it all the time, even today. I will truly be feel the pain if ZipScript stops working. I use it in many things in Logos, MS Word, Excel, Emails and just about any place  whereby I want to enter a biblical passage.

    I pray FaithLife will see fit to make ZipScript work with Logos Bibles or just the NKJV!!! [;)]

    xn = Christan man=man -- Acts 11:26 "....and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch".

    Barney Fife is my hero! He only uses an abacus with 14 rows!