Where Logos Fits In My PKM and Research Study System

Donovan R. Palmer

Since December we have had a couple of threads on here, related to the interoperability of Logos with an overall Personal Knowledge Management or Research Study System.

Below is a general workflow of how my apps work together. I work a lot exclusively in Logos, but I also export clippings manually for processing with other sources of information. This is why it would be nice if Logos interacted with a platform like Readwise - and as such, there is a feedback item here:

https://feedback.logos.com/boards/logos-desktop-app/posts/send-highlights-to-readwise

I also use the deep L4 linking a lot in my system to tie notes from Logos to other things I am researching. Videos, podcasts, webpages and journal articles - stuff that will never be published in Logos. Sadly, these links are one directional, rather than bi-directional. (Logos is a bit of a walled garden in this respect)

I would love to learn how others use Logos in this sort of way.  I know there is a strong Zotero following on here and it would be interesting to see what works well for you.

Bruce Dunning

Donovan R. Palmer said:

the interoperability of Logos

Thanks for expanding my vocabulary. I've never heard of that word before and had to look it up.

For those who may be like me here is a definition - The ability of computer systems or software to exchange and make use of information. "interoperability between devices made by different manufacturers"

My use of computer software pales in comparison to your complicated system.

xnman

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1288183#Comment_1288183

I appreciate Donovan R. Palmer for showing his workflow. With all respect to Mr. Palmer, I'll suggest a couple of thoughts along this line:

1. I would like Logos to have all the things (functions) in it so I don't have to have all the other software just to do what I want. I know that's thinking that many don't share. But it just seems simpler to me.

2. I'm just a simple man. With all the software packages that I could use, I would get lost as to where I put this or that and spend time hunting it.  In my system, I have about 4 gig of PDF files and documents that I've gathered over the years. I use Copernick, or AnyText, or Ultra Search or one like the, to just search all those files to find what I'm looking for. Then once I've found it, I put a link into Logos Favorites so I can find it easier again.

3. I know Logos is not a "cure all" within itself. But by working around it and solving the problems that Logos does not fulfill, instead of banding together to get Logos to solved it within Logos, is (I think) just letting Logos get by without being all it can be. 

I mean no disrespect to anyone. I think what Mr. Palmer did was great and should be a great help to a lot of people. 

Donovan R. Palmer

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1288192#Comment_1288192

Push on to the next thread if this is of no interest to you.  This is a follow up geek out post.

In my use case, my current studies do not strictly stay within the Logos ecosystem. Many users will be able to use what is available in Logos or bring what they need into it to use it exclusively, but others will find it constraining. I find myself in the latter category, so I have been busting up my study silos. ReadWise Reader has been a huge driver in this. (A similar concept is those on here that use Zotero)

If someone has a similar use case to mine and is on the Mac platform, a new thing I have recently added that further integrates Logos into all of my other research is that I have indexed with DevonThink the folder in which I keep all my Logos Personal Book Word files in. This allows my study 'outputs' based in Logos to not only show up in Logos, but show up in searches in relation to materials that I am collecting and curating on other platforms. Again, this collected information and research is based on Christian materials, which have just been released or will never be in the Logos ecosystem.

Definitely disregard if this is of no interest to you. On the other hand, if you are a Bible nerd that likes to roam, we have cool tools to imagine and craft new ways to do research and studies.

Paul

Thank you for linking to this in another thread. I missed this post from February, but my setup is very similar to yours. Obsidian is my repository for all notes. I also use DEVONthink for storing all articles & illustrations. Readwise is essential for reviewing highlights.

I hope that Logos genuinely will reconsider their intentional removal of L4 links from the current beta. In addition to restoring this linking system, I hope that continue to develop & improve their ability to link. It would be great to see Logos listed as an app in Apple Shortcuts and have the ability to export Logos highlights to Readwise.

Ryan White

Completely agree, Logos should be able to sync highlights to Readwise.

What I end up doing is filtering highlights once I’m finished reading a book, then selecting the print option and sending to a Word file, then copying and pasting into my Obsidian and Notion vaults

DMB

I've never expected Logos to be truly 'interoperable'. The primary reasons are (1) interoperable to who?, (2) desktop or all platforms?, and (3) burdensome regular maintenance to keep the whole thing in the air? Indeed, every time I see a suggestion for connecting an app, I think of all the earlier suggestions for different apps. Mindmaps quickly come to mind.

Instead, I use Logos as my research assistant to my own Bible software. And within my own software, I support interoperability to apps I use (where possible). And I keep a lot of operability inside my app … supporting PDFs, imagery along with analytics, and so forth. But, if I were Logos-centric, the one thing I'd want is PDF-reading/searching … a common sharing format both directions.

However, since most are Logos-centric, the export, macro, and copy functions on Logos to external use doesn't get air-time as much as they should. That's how I got Logos at the start … it could export to my own software. No one else could, then or now.

DMB

I'm just the opposite … I use Logos (and Accordance) as my research assistants to my own Bible software. Logos, especially has a lot of good features for sending desired info. Then, on my own software I use both in-app operability (the usual PDFs, imagery, text, etc), along with linkage to desired apps.

I think the difference, is I do a lot of analytics on the text. And the analytics are probably not compatible with Logos' theological orientation.