Shorten Logos program name in Menu Bar?

Timothy Shrimpton
Timothy Shrimpton Member Posts: 103 ✭✭
edited November 2024 in English Forum

Hi all!

Got my Mac last week and am loving it.  Still a lot to learn, but it's going well.  And man, does Logos FLY on a Solid State Drive!

Just a quick question.  I have the 13" MacBook Pro, so screen real estate (both in size and resolution) are very precious when I'm not at my office on my big external monitor.  Is there a way I can shorted Logos' name in the menu bar?  "Logos 4" or something like that would be a much nicer, more concise title than "Logos Bible Software 4"

Thanks!

Comments

  • "Logos 4" or something like that would be a much nicer, more concise title than "Logos Bible Software 4"

    [Y] or "Logos 4 Mac"

    Keep Smiling [:)]

  • Timothy Shrimpton
    Timothy Shrimpton Member Posts: 103 ✭✭

    Is there no way for the end-user to do this at all?  I'm not above editing configuration files, etc.  Unless, of course, that name in the menu bar is hardcoded and compiled into the program.

  • Andy
    Andy Member Posts: 2,282 ✭✭✭

    Hi all!

    Got my Mac last week and am loving it.  Still a lot to learn, but it's going well.  And man, does Logos FLY on a Solid State Drive!

    Just a quick question.  I have the 13" MacBook Pro, so screen real estate (both in size and resolution) are very precious when I'm not at my office on my big external monitor.  Is there a way I can shorted Logos' name in the menu bar?  "Logos 4" or something like that would be a much nicer, more concise title than "Logos Bible Software 4"

    Thanks!

    Hi Timothy,

    I am not sure I can help you accomplish what you are attempting, but I read your post and just wanted to add that I too bought my first Mac (and MBA) last week and am similarly delighted. I have a power PC and, as improbable as it seems, the MBA runs Logos faster.

    I was wondering if you had played around with virtual desktops yet (which can be added via Mission Control)? I discovered that I can pull multiple floating windows from L4 into these virtual desktops allowing me to navigate more easily (I guess it mimics a multi-monitor set up).

    I am really glad that you are pleased with your purchase and hope someone can assist you with your query.

    Andy

  • Andy
    Andy Member Posts: 2,282 ✭✭✭

    Actually, Timothy, I spoke to soon.

    Right click (via a two-finger click) on the Logos icon on your ribbon then select 'Options' and 'View in Finder'.

    Then, from the Finder, perform another right click (via a two-fingered click) on the Logos icon and select 'Get Info'. This should bring up the following menu,

    image

    If you expand the drop down menu entitled, 'Name & Extension', it allows you to rename the app.

    However, a word of warning, I too am new to Mac and cannot guarantee that this will not effect the running of the app. I would ensure that you are backed up on time machine. Worst case scenario, you would need to uninstall and then reinstall.

    A more experience Mac User will no doubt advise if this is dangerous or unwise.

    Andy

  • Mike Binks
    Mike Binks MVP Posts: 7,459

    A more experience Mac User will no doubt advise if this is dangerous or unwise.

    Renaming an app makes it a different app.

    No more updates automatic or otherwise or (cause I haven't tested it) if they are fetched a new installation with the original name and all the confusion that ensues.

    tootle pip

    Mike

    Now tagging post-apocalyptic fiction as current affairs. Latest Logos, MacOS, iOS and iPadOS

  • fgh
    fgh Member Posts: 8,948 ✭✭✭

    I too am new to Mac and cannot guarantee that this will not effect the running of the app. I would ensure that you are backed up on time machine. Worst case scenario, you would need to uninstall and then reinstall.

    A more experience Mac User will no doubt advise if this is dangerous or unwise.

    I rename stuff all the time. I do it directly in the Finder window, by clicking on the name twice (not a double-click; two slow single-clicks). I have, however, never noticed whether that affects the menu bar, so I made some experiments and found:

    1. If you try to change the name of a running app, you get a warning -- so that's probably not a good idea.
    2. Some programs don't seem to allow name changes (e g iTunes).
    3. A change of name in Finder doesn't seem to change the name on the menu bar -- thus no help for your problem.

    As 1 and 2 show, Macs usually won't let you do anything that's dangerous. Unfortunately, that goes for everything except Logos. L4Mac isn't (in my opinion) a Mac program, it's a Windows program that [sort of] runs on Mac. So what's true for Mac isn't necessarily true for L4Mac. But, generally, if you can do it, it's safe (as long as you don't start meddling with Terminal or the like, which would be hard to do by mistake).

    Mac Pro (late 2013) OS 12.6.2

  • fgh
    fgh Member Posts: 8,948 ✭✭✭

    Renaming an app makes it a different app.

    No more updates automatic or otherwise

    Another thing I've never noticed, and will have to check out.

    Mac Pro (late 2013) OS 12.6.2

  • A more experience Mac User will no doubt advise if this is dangerous or unwise.

    Renaming an app makes it a different app.

    No more updates automatic or otherwise or (cause I haven't tested it) if they are fetched a new installation with the original name and all the confusion that ensues.

    Observation: if rename Logos Bible Software 4.app, then Logos 4 Indexer cannot find files to launch, which may be fixable by changing a number of symbolic links inside application bundle plus changing working directory in com.logos.LogosIndexer.plist within your LaunchAgents folder.  Personally learned renaming application bundle does not change menu bar.  Text string "Logos Bible Software 4.app" is inside compiled Logos Bible Software 4 application so appears user modification of menu bar text is not viable.

    Keep Smiling [:)]

  • Andy
    Andy Member Posts: 2,282 ✭✭✭

    " rel="nofollow">Keep Smiling 4 Jesus :) said:

    Observation: if rename Logos Bible Software 4.app, then Logos 4 Indexer cannot find files to launch...

    Dear Mike, FGH and KS4J,

    Thank you for your timely and welcomed intervention. Timothy, I understand from this that my suggestion is a very bad idea.

    Apologies for unintentionally trying to sabotage your shiny new MBA [:$].

    Andy

  • Thank you for your timely and welcomed intervention. Timothy, I understand from this that my suggestion is a very bad idea.

    Appreciate suggestion, which provided impetus to look inside Logos Bible Software 4 application bundle to investigate viability of suggestion.  Appears Logos should modify their application bundle to not allow application renaming.


    Is there no way for the end-user to do this at all?  I'm not above editing configuration files, etc.  Unless, of course, that name in the menu bar is hardcoded and compiled into the program.

    Looking inside application bundle found hardcoded menu bar text that has been compiled into localized versions for English, Spanish, and Swedish user interfaces.

    Keep Smiling [:)]

  • JT (alabama24)
    JT (alabama24) MVP Posts: 36,523

    The plain truth is that is should just say "Logos 4". Even adding "Mac" is still too long and unnecessary. 

    macOS, iOS & iPadOS |Logs| Install
    Choose Truth Over Tribe | Become a Joyful Outsider!

  • alabama24 said:

    The plain truth is that is should just say "Logos 4". Even adding "Mac" is still too long and unnecessary. 

    [Y] Concur, would like to see "Logos 4" (or just "Logos") instead of "Logos Bible Software 4" in Mac Menu Bar.

    Many Mac applications have one word in Menu Bar for the application name (with About ... in menu list below that name).

    Keep Smiling [:)]

  • Andy
    Andy Member Posts: 2,282 ✭✭✭

    alabama24 said:

    The plain truth is that is should just say "Logos 4". Even adding "Mac" is still too long and unnecessary. 

    In all honesty, I hadn't thought about it until Timothy mentioned it. But now he has, I tend to agree. Suddenly the sprawling tag does appear inelegant to the eye.

     

  • JT (alabama24)
    JT (alabama24) MVP Posts: 36,523

    I have thought about it before, but in the grand scheme of things, it wasn't worth my time. The OP was concerned about screen space, which could be a real problem. It is one of those small things that reminds me that L4 is less Mac than I would want. [:P]

    macOS, iOS & iPadOS |Logs| Install
    Choose Truth Over Tribe | Become a Joyful Outsider!

  • Milford Charles Murray
    Milford Charles Murray Member Posts: 5,004 ✭✭✭

    Peace and Joy in the Lord, Alabama!                  *smile*

                           Will you be watching U.S.A. College Football on the Telly this evening???   If so, I wonder for whom you will be cheering?         *smile*

                                                                                                                 Psalm 130:3  Psalm 130:4

                               

    Philippians 4:  4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand..........

  • JT (alabama24)
    JT (alabama24) MVP Posts: 36,523

    I wonder for whom you will be cheering?

    I can neither confirm nor deny my whereabouts or goings-on this evening between 8 PM and Midnight tonight. [:D]

    (On the 6th day, God made the Tigers. On the 3rd day, he made the Tide.)

    macOS, iOS & iPadOS |Logs| Install
    Choose Truth Over Tribe | Become a Joyful Outsider!

  • fgh
    fgh Member Posts: 8,948 ✭✭✭

    fgh said:

    Renaming an app makes it a different app.

    No more updates automatic or otherwise

    Another thing I've never noticed, and will have to check out.

    I did. No problem getting updates.

    Mac Pro (late 2013) OS 12.6.2

  • Jack Caviness
    Jack Caviness MVP Posts: 13,599

    fgh said:

    fgh said:

    Renaming an app makes it a different app.

    No more updates automatic or otherwise

    Another thing I've never noticed, and will have to check out.

    I did. No problem getting updates.

    How did you change the name? 

  • JT (alabama24)
    JT (alabama24) MVP Posts: 36,523

    How did you change the name? 

    I assume under the app's info panel (See the "Name & Extension" section). NOTE: I have never done this. I would be very careful not to change the extension! 

    image

    macOS, iOS & iPadOS |Logs| Install
    Choose Truth Over Tribe | Become a Joyful Outsider!

  • Jack Caviness
    Jack Caviness MVP Posts: 13,599

    alabama24 said:

    How did you change the name? 

    I assume under the app's info panel (See the "Name & Extension" section). NOTE: I have never done this. I would be very careful not to change the extension! 

    I asked because she also could have changed it from the Finder. Just curious. On my desktop, name length is no problem, but it could be on the MBP.

  • JT (alabama24)
    JT (alabama24) MVP Posts: 36,523

    Jack - 

    fgh said:

    A change of name in Finder doesn't seem to change the name on the menu bar -- thus no help for your problem.

    [:(]

    macOS, iOS & iPadOS |Logs| Install
    Choose Truth Over Tribe | Become a Joyful Outsider!

  • JT (alabama24)
    JT (alabama24) MVP Posts: 36,523

    I asked because she also could have changed it from the Finder.

    I just checked and both methods work the same. That is to say, if you change the name in the finder, that is the same as changing the name under more info.

    macOS, iOS & iPadOS |Logs| Install
    Choose Truth Over Tribe | Become a Joyful Outsider!

  • Andy
    Andy Member Posts: 2,282 ✭✭✭

    alabama24 said:

    I asked because she also could have changed it from the Finder.

    I just checked and both methods work the same. That is to say, if you change the name in the finder, that is the same as changing the name under more info.

    Apologies if this is a stupid suggestion (and it might be), but is there anyway of using an alias to achieve this? I presume that aliases are the Mac equivalent of shortcuts? I presume they can be renamed without effecting the programme?

    Andy

  • Apologies if this is a stupid suggestion (and it might be), but is there anyway of using an alias to achieve this? I presume that aliases are the Mac equivalent of shortcuts? I presume they can be renamed without effecting the programme?

    An alias (Mac OS X) is similar to a shortcut (Windows) as a way to link to a program.  Can double click on an alias (Mac) or shortcut (Windows) to open a program.  The alias name can be changed without affecting the programme.  The program name in the menu bar is not affected by alias name (nor by name in Finder).  Inside the application bundle is a compiled menu bar interface.  Hence changing the program name in the menu bar can be done by Logos developers.

    Keep Smiling [:)]

  • JT (alabama24)
    JT (alabama24) MVP Posts: 36,523

    is there anyway of using an alias to achieve this? I presume that aliases are the Mac equivalent of shortcuts? I presume they can be renamed without effecting the programme?

    I am not sure, but I am also not sure what it would accomplish. If the purpose is to change the name of the application on the menu bar, and if changing the name of the actual application doesn't do it, I can't imagine that an alias would do so. Does that make sense? 

    My guess is that the "menu bar" name is somewhere inside of the app itself. You would have to really get inside the program to make the change (as you would with any user interface to the software).

    macOS, iOS & iPadOS |Logs| Install
    Choose Truth Over Tribe | Become a Joyful Outsider!

  • Andy
    Andy Member Posts: 2,282 ✭✭✭

    alabama24 said:

    I am not sure, but I am also not sure what it would accomplish. If the purpose is to change the name of the application on the menu bar, and if changing the name of the actual application doesn't do it, I can't imagine that an alias would do so. Does that make sense? 

    Actually, I have just tried it and you are quite right. It fixes the issues with the pop-up programme name on the ribbon and in launch control, but doesn't effect the menu bar (as it is basically just a short cut).

    I need to think before I type!

    Ho and hum.

  • JT (alabama24)
    JT (alabama24) MVP Posts: 36,523

    I need to think before I type!

    I think that you think more than I think before I think to type. I think. [:P]

    macOS, iOS & iPadOS |Logs| Install
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  • Andy
    Andy Member Posts: 2,282 ✭✭✭

    alabama24 said:

    I think that you think more than I think before I think to type. I think. Stick out tongue

    [:D]

  • Jack Caviness
    Jack Caviness MVP Posts: 13,599

    alabama24 said:

    My guess is that the "menu bar" name is somewhere inside of the app itself.

    The icon seen in the Applications folder is not the actual application. In reality, it is a folder containing the application and related files. Right-click on the icon and select "Show Package Contents" to see the real thing.  This may not be a good place to experiment, however.

    Just looked: The application itself is an Unix Executable File, but—again—I would not mess with it, or its name without more information.

  • alabama24 said:

    My guess is that the "menu bar" name is somewhere inside of the app itself.

    The icon seen in the Applications folder is not the actual application. In reality, it is a folder containing the application and related files. Right-click on the icon and select "Show Package Contents" to see the real thing.  This may not be a good place to experiment, however.

    Just looked: The application itself is an Unix Executable File, but—again—I would not mess with it, or its name without more information.

    Digging bit more into application bundle can find compiled Menu Bar interfaces, which are not easy to edit.

    Keep Smiling [:)]

  • Jack Caviness
    Jack Caviness MVP Posts: 13,599

    " rel="nofollow">Keep Smiling 4 Jesus :) said:

    Digging bit more into application bundle can find compiled Menu Bar interfaces, which are not easy to edit.

    I did not go that far. Can that accomplish the purpose stated in this thread, or do we need to continue to persuade Logos to take pity on those with smaller screens?

  • fgh
    fgh Member Posts: 8,948 ✭✭✭

    How did you change the name? 

    As stated in a post above.

    Mac Pro (late 2013) OS 12.6.2

  • Jack Caviness
    Jack Caviness MVP Posts: 13,599

    fgh said:

    How did you change the name? 

    As stated in a post above.

    Alabama gave me this bit of information a few posts back. I would make excuses for my ignorance, but can't think of any good ones. Can you help? (Give me some good excuses, that is) [:D]

  • " rel="nofollow">Keep Smiling 4 Jesus :) said:

    Digging bit more into application bundle can find compiled Menu Bar interfaces, which are not easy to edit.

    I did not go that far. Can that accomplish the purpose stated in this thread, or do we need to continue to persuade Logos to take pity on those with smaller screens?

    Suggest persuading Logos developers to take pity on those with smaller screens.

    Wonder about ordering pizza for delivery ? [pi]

    Keep Smiling [:)]