TIP: Text Comparison Tool Displays Indices & Involved Resorces

I'd assume almost no one needs this tip! Just me.

Over the years, I used Libby to see which resources used a specific index. Of course, in the Logos4+ series, you can click on a resource's reference box and see the choices. But that's catch-as-catch-can.

It turns out, typing a number into the Text Comparison tool brings up all (maybe some) of the index choices (except Bibles, since per Help, Text Comparison is for Bibles).

And choosing one, automatically groups the participants for you, placing them in the 'resources' slot (and dumping any Bibles you have listed). But simply typing in a Bible reference, brings back your Bibles group. How convenient?

The is quite useful for the KTU series.

On the downside, this might be an accidental, unsupported feature? Help says TC is for Bibles.

The only reason I noticed it, was that normally in Bible reference boxes, a number means change the verse (2 numbers = chapter and verse). But not in system tools, it turns out.

Extra Credit Tip:

The Text Comparison tools shows the indices that can be compared (multiple resources). To see the full list, type into a CitedBy tool, as an example.

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Comments

Beloved Amodeo

Denise, I'd care a little more if I understood what I was looking at. Instance, 1Ki 17 NRSV, NIV11, NET2, ESV. As you can see I typed 3 into the reference box and got the following popup. What am I looking at? And BTW what is KTU series? Thanks!

DMB

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1212850#Comment_1212850

Beloved, those are a list of indices in Logos. For example, if you selected Apostolic Constitutions, and you had the indexed resources, it would do a text comparison of AC, Logos automatically placing the matching resources, in the grouped resources slot (instead of Bibles).

KTU is an index for ancient texts (eg Ugarit Data Bank, etc). An alternative index for ancient texts is CTA.

Below is Apostolic Traditions (from my library). Regarding resource groups that TC groups, for a given reference you may have to re-order the group. For example, using the Nag Hammadi index, it groups 3 resources, but the first is Gospel of Thomas; moving the Nag Hammadi Library first, allows the normal comparison.

Beloved Amodeo

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1212857#Comment_1212857

After reading your explanation I have a vague understanding of the issue under discussion. Do the index or indices refer to the book, chapter and verse that was previously entered or something else? And if something else then what is it?

There is a typo worda should be words or word. I can't tell which applies.

DMB

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1212858#Comment_1212858

Well, first, I just stumbled into it, and it looks like Libby's index list.

Typing in a number directs it to scan its indices for any that have that number. Some indices use roman numerals, so, typing in 'III' brings up indices that are roman, and have 'III'.

What seems nifty, is, at selection, it shows which resources qualify (typing in 1.3 for the KTU index, shows which resources match). The same can be done, for an indexed resource, clicking on the Parallels icon, to see the matching choices. The difference (with this tip), is you can see the indices list, and thense, affected resources.

You're wondering why you'd want this, right? Chances are, you don't, unless a special situation.

For me, purchasing, which resources have 'that' index? Logos.com doesn't tell you. Sort of guesswork.

And in my library, which can be compared?

Finally, serandipity ... just noticing Logos has an author indexed ... nifty for planning library growth.

DMB

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1212858#Comment_1212858

Do the index or indices refer to the book, chapter and verse that was previously entered or something else? And if something else then what is it?

Forgot your question. From what I can see, the software has two approaches ... Bible references, and general indices. It seems to remember your Bible grouping, but also index groupings. So, you can go back and forth.

As you type in a '3' for example, that can't be a Bible book, so it searches the indices for which have '3'. But oddly, typing in a 1 only, is similar ... not a Bible book, so must be an index (the popup you found). For larger numbers, it seems to cross over into Biblical Psalms, etc.

Hope this isn't confusing?

Beloved Amodeo

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1212861#Comment_1212861

Forgot your question. From what I can see, the software has two approaches ... Bible references, and general indices. It seems to remember your Bible grouping, but also index groupings. So, you can go back and forth.

Things are decidedly more clear. The popup is a collection of material?? on Biblical references and general indices and is library-dependent.

DMB

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1212891#Comment_1212891

Things are decidedly more clear. The popup is a collection of material?? on Biblical references and general indices and is library-dependent.

Again, I'm not the expert. But it's basically like this:

- Imagine it's 1970 ... before Logos and digital books. But in scholarly journals, references are made to oft-quoted authors and collections of writings. To reduce confusion of exactly what's being referred to, they created special indexes (in addition to page numbers for a work). Sometimes an oft-quoted author got more than one index. A good example is Josephus. You refer to Josephus in 2 ways ... much depends on your audience.

- When Libronix and early Logos came along, they were foresighted, and often included these earlier indices in their new digital books. And if you clicked on 'Info', you could see which ones they included. Libronix also had another panel, which listed them all ... you could quickly see what was available (the old scholarly indices).

- In the Libronix implementation, where multiple indices were available for a resource (eg Josephus), you could click and select which one you wanted (or page number).

- When Logos appeared, they wanted to simplify and automate this whole process for the user. They eliminated the confused Libronix panels, and instead, introduced the 'parallel' icon on the resource's display. So, in a Josephus resource, as an example, if you click on the reference box, you can see the index choices ... and if you click on the 'Parallels' icon, you can see what other resources also use that index (if any). Plus, the Info button lists out the available indices for that resource.

- What wasn't included in Logos4+ was a panel to show a list of all the indices in Logos ... that's what you're looking at in your popup. It's those scholarly references that the Faithlife (old Logos) added for technical reference.

Normally most people don't need it. Josephus people know their Josephus indices. Church Fathers people know their Church Fathers indices. And so on. But if you're eclectic (me), I DO want to see them all ... to see what's available.

The confusion arises in Bible references (not your popup), vs 'secular' references (your popup). Apparently, the software in the Logos4+ design, keeps them separate. So, in the Text Comparison design, you can do either one ... the system keeps track of the associated resources for each automatically.

I'm not sure whether the full list (popup) is library dependent (haven't checked). The smaller list for Text Comparison is library-dependent ... searches your library for correct matches.

Beloved Amodeo

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1212899#Comment_1212899

Crystal, thanks Denise! Now I have to decide how I will make use of this knowledge.