A Minority Opinion

I hate the Factbook. I know I am a minority in this opinion. Please make it possible to disable this feature. It pops up at the most annoying times for me. If I want information, I prefer to choose where I look for it.

I suspect most people disagree with me. But I hate the Factbook! I do not want to take it away from those who love it. Just give me an option to hide or disable it. That should not be so hard to do.

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DMB

I don't think you're a minority.

But that said, I never see it. I tried clicking its icon once. I don't use the Go box?

Maybe I'm just lucky.

MJ. Smith

That should not be so hard to do.

Actually it could be as Factbook is integrated into several features - Context Menu, Search and Visual Filter (tool bar) being the most obvious. Fortunately, it does not popup unless you actually request it. Obvious options but I'll ask anyway

Have you turned off the Factbook visual filter (arrow to the right of the Factbook icon)?
Have you consistently not requested Factbook so that it falls lower in the hierarchy for the Go/Command Box?
Do you keep the Factbook section of the search panel closes?
Where specifically is it still popping up for you?

Kiyah

I don't like the fact that they've clogged up the Go Box with it, I wish they'd remove it from there (or give us the option). I never wanted a Factbook button bolted onto my toolbar that I can't remove either, but alas we seem to have lost that battle. I keep the visual filter turned off the vast majority of the time.

When I want to open the Factbook I use the aforementioned button as needed (occasionally I'll get there from the context as well). I don't "start my study with the Factbook" the way Faithlife wants to force us to. I start my study with the Bible and let that study take me where I need to go, which sometimes takes me to the Factbook. I like the Factbook itself when I need it, and don't use it when I don't need it.

You may "hate" it because of the way they've tried to center the Factbook instead of the Bible. Faithlife needs to let us study in the way that works best for each of us and stop trying to funnel us into studying one way. Faithlife's motto is to "use technology to equip the Church to grow in the light of the Bible," not "grow in the light of the Factbook" or "grow in the light of the Logos Store" or anything else they've tried to foist upon us lately.

Okay, semi-rant complete. Carry on.

Levi Durfey

I suspect most people disagree with me. But I hate the Factbook! I do not want to take it away from those who love it. Just give me an option to hide or disable it. That should not be so hard to do.

Agree! Just let me hide it from the toolbar. I'd be happy with the Factbook then. [:D]

MJ. Smith

Just let me hide it from the toolbar. I'd be happy with the Factbook then.

That is a reasonable request worth adding to the feedback site.

Kiyah

Just let me hide it from the toolbar. I'd be happy with the Factbook then.

That is a reasonable request worth adding to the feedback site.

Here are two feedback ideas already created that people can vote for:

Moveable Toolbar Buttons

Make Toolbar Completely Customizable and User-Controlled

Levi Durfey

Here are two feedback ideas already created that people can vote for:

Moveable Toolbar Buttons

Make Toolbar Completely Customizable and User-Controlled

Thanks Kiyah, I voted!

xnman

I hate the Factbook. I know I am a minority in this opinion. Please make it possible to disable this feature. It pops up at the most annoying times for me. If I want information, I prefer to choose where I look for it.

I suspect most people disagree with me. But I hate the Factbook! I do not want to take it away from those who love it. Just give me an option to hide or disable it. That should not be so hard to do.

You are not in the minority!!! I hate Factbook and I call it a "Make Work Interruptus" in that I have to stop what I am doing and close the blooming thing all the stinking time!!!

I pray this will change soooon!!

MJ. Smith

I pray this will change soooon!!

In the long run, I would expect Logos to cut back on double maintenance by dropping the topical guides - topical, theological, counseling, topical sermon starter - in favor of presenting the material only through Factbook. In terms of the cost of maintenace costs across multiple platforms, it seems like a no brainer. In fact, perhaps I should propose it on feedback to free up resources for the projects I consider essential. [A] BTW I am not a heavy user of Factbook.

Bradley Grainger (Logos)

I hate Factbook and I call it a "Make Work Interruptus" in that I have to stop what I am doing and close the blooming thing all the stinking time!!!

It shouldn't be opening all the time if you don't want it to.

In resource panels, there is a Factbook icon next to the Visual Filters icon on the toolbar. There is a drop-down arrow next to it which will let you disable the Factbook visual filter in all resources. Does this help it stop opening all the time, so that you don't have to close it all the time?

If not, can you provide some more detail on what you're doing that is causing it to open (unwantedly) all the time?

Morgan

Maybe I'm in the actual minority (based on this thread at least) and love the Factbook.

I don't see the problems most others seem to have. I never use the Go Box, so it never is mistakenly opened from there. I have the visual filter turned off so it doesn't interrupt study but I do love that I can turn it on to see which parts of the text might lead to more interesting study. I've never had Factbook open except for when I wanted it to.

I especially love the big picture overview it gives of bible books and people. Gathering all my dictionaries/encyclopedias in one place is incredibly useful as well.

I would like to see how MJ's idea of integrating it with the various other guides would look, but for now it does everything I want it to.

Jerry Bush

Although it needs refining, I love Factbook. But I agree that if you don't want or use something, the option to hide should be there.

I would extend that to the entire tools menu. There are tools that I will never use (Canvas, for instance) and I wish I could de-clutter the menu.

DMB

In the long run, I would expect Logos to cut back on double maintenance by dropping the topical guides - topical, theological, counseling, topical sermon starter

I'd probably do the exact opposite, since there's likely little maintenance (callable routines, etc).

The long-term for Logos is a highly customizable interface per denomination, if there's any major hope to sell past pastors and enthusiasts. The present 'factbook' is anything but ... just a stack of callable tools and 'been there', by other software platforms ad finitum. Imagine a more visual and inviting approach to Bible study.

GaoLu

I seldom use the Factbook. Almost never click the icon at the top (maybe 2-3 times ever). I rarely if ever accidently open it when I don't want it.

But when I do want it, because I am stuck and need fresh ideas, I find it an unequaled idea bank using resources that I have.

Disabling Factbook by unchecking should fix most of what you dislike.

xnman

I hate Factbook and I call it a "Make Work Interruptus" in that I have to stop what I am doing and close the blooming thing all the stinking time!!!

It shouldn't be opening all the time if you don't want it to.

In resource panels, there is a Factbook icon next to the Visual Filters icon on the toolbar. There is a drop-down arrow next to it which will let you disable the Factbook visual filter in all resources. Does this help it stop opening all the time, so that you don't have to close it all the time?

If not, can you provide some more detail on what you're doing that is causing it to open (unwantedly) all the time?

Thanks Bradley.... I love it that FL/Logos responds to the forums as often as you guys do... Many kudos for that!!

AS to Factbook.... I do have all my "Factbook" icon next to "Visual Filters" completely unchecked and also clicked on "Do not show in any resource"....

Yet when I type something in the Go box.... BOOM... up jumps the devil "Factbook".... wish it wasn't so.... but it is.... Lately I learned the trick of typing in a verse and pressing "Ctrl + Enter" and going to the verse.... that is a work around... but it definitely helps me for looking for verses...

I just wish I could turn Factbook off altogether... just my 2 cents.... [8-|]

Thanks for listening.

SineNomine

In the long run, I would expect Logos to cut back on double maintenance by dropping the topical guides - topical, theological, counseling, topical sermon starter - in favor of presenting the material only through Factbook. In terms of the cost of maintenace costs across multiple platforms, it seems like a no brainer. In fact, perhaps I should propose it on feedback to free up resources for the projects I consider essential.

Sometimes your satire is terrifying.

MJ. Smith

The present 'factbook' is anything but ... just a stack of callable tools and 'been there', by other software platforms ad finitum. Imagine a more visual and inviting approach to Bible study.

Whereas I would also love a more visual approach perhaps modeled after some of the data mining and network/graph (in mathematical sense) tools. So we are clearly not far apart. The section data of the guides and of the Factbook are nearly identical but I have surmised that the technology behind the Factbook is newer and more flexible. Too bad we haven't been offered a job at FL as the elder states(wo)men of design to get them on the right track.

Mike Childs

Thanks MJ.

Perhaps you just helped me. No, I have not turned off Factbook visual filter. I will do so. Perhaps that will fix the problem.

I have never requested Factbook, but it often pops up. If I want to check some information about a person or place, and I double click on the item in the text, and Factbook pops up. I want to choose the source of my information from resources that I know and trust.