Trying to understand Logos

Lyle Phillips

I have been an Accordance user for many years and have recently been looking at switching to Logos because the many commentaries, etc. seem to be a better fit for me. I hold to the dispensational interpretation of eschatology and it seems that Logos has more options along that line whereas Accordance seems to lean more to a Reformed view in the interpretation of Scripture. My concern is the learning curve of Logos. Accordance seems so intuitive and easy to use. Logo's approach to the desktop app is vastly difference. I have been trying to be open minded and and learn Logos, but after a month I am still struggling to understand the functionality and scheme. Does anyone share this same challenge?

Dave Hooton

I hold to the dispensational interpretation of eschatology and it seems that Logos has more options along that line whereas Accordance seems to lean more to a Reformed view in the interpretation of Scripture.

The Passage Guide has a Denomination option in the Commentaries section that could be helpful:

As you see, a number of commentaries are unclassified.

I have been trying to be open minded and and learn Logos, but after a month I am still struggling to understand the functionality and scheme.

Could you provide more information to help us understand your struggle.

Beloved Amodeo

My concern is the learning curve of Logos. Accordance seems so intuitive and easy to use. Logo's approach to the desktop app is vastly difference. I have been trying to be open minded and and learn Logos, but after a month I am still struggling to understand the functionality and scheme.

I feel you Lyle. I had to pay to gain facility with Logos. MP Seminars, Learn Logos these two allowed me to become comfortable using the software. 

The forums are useful when you get stuck. My opinion may be a bit dated. Perhaps one of the WordSearch users can comment.

DMB

 I have been trying to be open minded and and learn Logos, but after a month I am still struggling to understand the functionality and scheme. Does anyone share this same challenge?

I use both.  I think Logos is so adaptable, it can be overwhelming. For example, I can make my Logos look like an Accordance ... library on left, grouped by type of books, some modules in the middle, and an Info panel on the right. And set the info panel to act like my Accordance info panel. Not quite as snappy/efficient as Accordance.

On the other hand, I can make Logos do so much more.  I have a layout with 150 books all arranged for quick reference like I like. 4 Text Comparisons, 17 interlinears, 23 commentaries. And so on. Quite amazing.

I really think you should just take your time. Use both.  Learn, add, watch videos. No rush.  Whatever's good for you.

GaoLu

Logos is....different.  But then, it does a lot.  It's a little like flying a Piper Cub (other Bible software) compared to a 747 (Logos).  Mostly, I think, Logos puts the big important knobs up front where you can't miss them.  But Logos also does so much more than Piper Cub software.  And curious as we are, we want it to do 747-ish things with Piper Cub-ish ease.  Over many years, Logos has achieved even that--but only to an imperfect degree.  

What specificly you want to do that you are finding difficult?

Jeff Peterson

Yep. I use both — Logos principally for library resources and clause search, Accordance for the (much more intuitive) simple and morph searches. And I own way more books in Logos but buy them on each platform based on price. It’s not elegant, and I occasionally forget in which platform I own a book and have to search twice, but it seems to work.

Beloved Amodeo

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1254119#Comment_1254119

Yep. I use both — Logos principally for library resources and clause search, Accordance for the (much more intuitive) simple and morph searches.

What resources or modules do you own/recommend in Accordance to accomplish these morph searches?

Justin Gatlin

Hi Lyle, welcome to the forum!

To get started with Logos, I cannot recommend the training on LearnLogos.com highly enough. But, broadly, try clicking the logo at the top left and typing the passage you are studying into the box that appears and select the passage study layout. Then it will open an automatic layout to get you started. 

Rosie Perera

My concern is the learning curve of Logos.

Yup, it's got a steep learning curve. The user-created wiki (very thorough, though occasionally outdated) and the training videos (tutorials, webinars) provided by Faithlife and others help. There are even some in-person classes, though I think you can learn plenty on your own from the videos without attending one of those.

I would focus on getting comfortable with Library, Search (including Books Search), and Passage Guide to begin with. There are tons of other features, but you'll get overwhelmed if you try to learn them all at once.

xnman

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1254135#Comment_1254135

I came from WordSearch...  and struggled with Logos.  For a short time, I used both and mainly continued to work in WS..    One day I dropped the hammer and said, "self, WS will be no more... you gotta learn this monster."   

I started small building a simple layout to accomplish what I wanted/needed.  I also asked a lot of quesions.... 

Logos is like a lot of fancy programs including WS and Accordance. Most people, if they are honest, really don't use all the "tools" or "functions" of the program. They have the way they work, build their layouts to suit them in that work and work that way and a lot of the functions and such of the programs are rarely used if used at all. 

I find Logos that way. There are lots of things in the program that I don't use, some on purpose and some because I'm happy with what I am using. (If it works, don't fix it kind of thing.) The other functions are still there if I ever grow to need them in what I do.

I'd 2nd what Rosie said..... get used to the Search, play with it, become comfortable with it. Also work with building layouts that help you in your work with Logos. 

And by all means spend time with the many training videos Logos has.