How do you use it? Logos Layouts

Jason Stone (Logos)

Organizing your study workspace is crucial. Logos’ ‘Layouts’ let you arrange your tools and resources efficiently, so everything you need is just a click away. How do you set up your layouts for optimal study and do you have any favorites that you'd like to share with the community?

P.S. Share a screenshot of your favorite layout to inspire others!

Learn more about Logos Layouts here →

DMB

Well, layouts come up quite frequently. Just observing, it seems the key to layouts is flexibility. Each Logosian does his/her work as needed … the layout needs to respond appropriately. And Logos4 began that flexibility … great design.

I use Logos as my research assistant; it's not my main Bible study app. So, as a user, I want it to quickly display info I want, with no muss, no fuss. I use 6 windows; below is my 'Hebrew' window, for illustration.

Francis

I use saved layouts a lot to save different studies. Sometimes it is studies I am actively working on at the present. Other times, it is studies that I have to put on the backburner for now. Either case, I use saved layouts to keep the latest of the combination of resources I need, where I need them on the app desktop, with the sync sets I want and at the appropriate resource locations. I update each layout when I revisit and progress in the corresponding studies.

I also find convenient the standard tile layouts next to the search field in the layouts menu. It's a quick way to operate a change in tab placements or sizes if needed temporarily. I then use the layout history to revert to the previous arrangement (or the last saved update) when done.

Lastly, the layout history is useful for short-term recovery of a layout one has forgotten to save.

At present, I don't use really quickstart layouts. But perhaps I will someday if and when I have time to see if it would help my workflows to customize them. Not sure about that.

Lew Worthington

As @DMB mentioned, flexibility is key. I currently have 11 layouts. I always start Logos with no layout loaded. Of these 11 layouts, I have one all-purpose layout that I have pared down to 4 windows. (I used to have more.) The main window is divided into 4 sections, moving clockwise starting at the top left corner: English Bible versions; Original language versions; Text critical stuff; Lexicons. When employing various layouts, I almost always take advantage of multiple book display as I do here with the text critical quadrant.

The other 4 windows in this layout (I won't fill the page with them all) are: One with commentaries and monographs on one side and notes (I just started playing with this) on the other half; one with grammars and a few search templates ready to rock; and one with the library with no filters set.

I also have 10 other saved layouts, each of which is tailored to a specific purpose. Some represent specific topics I'm studying; some represent more advanced searching Logos offers that I don't seem to instinctively understand; some are focused on Homeric and Attic reading and other languages. Layouts is such a key feature for me that I cannot imagine studying without it.

DMB

I know Jason's just wanting layout use, but if I had a Libronix-wish, it would be to pop a layout panel out for examination, and pop right back into the layout. That's my only Logos4 disappointment. I do wonder who did the initial design … survived years of 'more stuff' quite well. Smart person.