Upgrading the User Experience for Logos 5 Release

Michael Mahony
Michael Mahony Member Posts: 3 ✭✭
edited November 2024 in English Forum

I have been a Logos user and supporter for for a long time but have come to feel overwhelmed to understand what I am buying and how I can apply it to my Bible studies. I have taken Camp Logos and brought DVD;s but somehow they don;t stick with you.  I think they need to change the main menu and provide a new features option to help you understand what you;ve brought and provide you links to learn and use them...make it more convenient and easier to find and use.

I brought the Logos 5 Upgrade to Silver but don;t have an easy way to preview or list what is new in my library vs. what I already had.

My point is technology is starting to outpace the User;s ability to comprehend how to use it...Logos has done a wonderful job of providing new features that are exciting but now needs to focus more on the User interfaces to those features so they are easier to use and apply.  

Comments

  • David Taylor, Jr.
    David Taylor, Jr. Member Posts: 4,386 ✭✭✭

    It is a little late now, but before people purchase a base package it tells them on logos.com what is new to 5 and also what is new to them.

    As far as features, what are you having issues with?  How can we help?

  • Erik DiVietro
    Erik DiVietro Member Posts: 81 ✭✭

    My point is technology is starting to outpace the User;s ability to comprehend how to use it...Logos has done a wonderful job of providing new features that are exciting but now needs to focus more on the User interfaces to those features so they are easier to use and apply.  

    A great point, Michael. Logos would probably benefit from some GUI refinement, but compared to other Bible software (such as Accordance), I find Logos 5's interface to be much cleaner and simpler. Unfortunately, the trade off of having such a robust system is that it can be hard to find features. The L5 interface is not as straightforward as the old Logos 3 interface, but that is because there is just so much in the program now.

    There really is no way to see what has been added versus what you already had from inside the interface. You can see it on the website before you buy, but after that everything is integrated. (Sometimes discovering a feature is like finding an Easter egg. It is exciting when you discover that Logos does something you wanted to do but did not know was there.)

    You will find that the Documents, Guides, and Tools links across the top of your interface is enormously useful. Many of the features are embedded there and in the right-click (two-finger tap for Mac users) menus.

  • Michael Mahony
    Michael Mahony Member Posts: 3 ✭✭

    Thank you for replying and offering to help.  Let me give you an example of making a new feature more intuitive and be able to use it anywhere.

    In the passage guide I typed in Mark 2 1-12 and got all the references, commentaries, etc but I also wanted to use the Timeline feature and learn when this event happened in the bible and get any other info associated with the timeframe.  I think having a timeline feature is a major improvement to Logos 5 and feel it should be included on the left hand side of other features, i.e., cross references, commentaries, etc.  

    Instead of trying to figure out how to use the Timeline feature, I should be able to invoke it anywhere in scripture and benefit form the info.

    Logos 5 is a MAJOR upgrade and I admit, I am not a power user and I have a learning curve to over-come and have ordered Vol 1 & 2 manuals to learn more about Logos 5 but somehow I do not feel that I am alone in asking that the User interfaces be made easier to find so we can apply these powerful features when needed. 

    In closing, I am blessed by the people and staff that developed Logos 5 and only want you to continue to grow and serve others for Christ.

    Michael

  • Mike McKnelly
    Mike McKnelly Member Posts: 322 ✭✭

    Where you looking for something like this?This is a custom workspace and I created just a few minutes ago.

  • Erik DiVietro
    Erik DiVietro Member Posts: 81 ✭✭

    In the passage guide I typed in Mark 2 1-12 and got all the references, commentaries, etc but I also wanted to use the Timeline feature and learn when this event happened in the bible and get any other info associated with the timeframe.  I think having a timeline feature is a major improvement to Logos 5 and feel it should be included on the left hand side of other features, i.e., cross references, commentaries, etc.  

    Instead of trying to figure out how to use the Timeline feature, I should be able to invoke it anywhere in scripture and benefit form the info.

    I'd love to help, Mike, but I don't have Timeline. It is one of the features in L5 that require purchasing an L5 package. I am content with the content I have.

  • David Taylor, Jr.
    David Taylor, Jr. Member Posts: 4,386 ✭✭✭

    Thank you for replying and offering to help.  Let me give you an example of making a new feature more intuitive and be able to use it anywhere.

    In the passage guide I typed in Mark 2 1-12 and got all the references, commentaries, etc but I also wanted to use the Timeline feature and learn when this event happened in the bible and get any other info associated with the timeframe.  I think having a timeline feature is a major improvement to Logos 5 and feel it should be included on the left hand side of other features, i.e., cross references, commentaries, etc.  

    Instead of trying to figure out how to use the Timeline feature, I should be able to invoke it anywhere in scripture and benefit form the info.

    Logos 5 is a MAJOR upgrade and I admit, I am not a power user and I have a learning curve to over-come and have ordered Vol 1 & 2 manuals to learn more about Logos 5 but somehow I do not feel that I am alone in asking that the User interfaces be made easier to find so we can apply these powerful features when needed. 

    In closing, I am blessed by the people and staff that developed Logos 5 and only want you to continue to grow and serve others for Christ.

    Michael

    I'm not sure Timeline actually functions in the way you are looking for it to.  In the Passage Guide you do have "Biblical Events" which will list any events in your passage, but it doesn't necessarily invoke the Timeline Feature.

    However, look at the screenshot.  If you scroll down and click on the Biblical Event it will bring up a form of the timeline in Bible Facts.  When that happens then you can click on a category such as "Jesus Ministry."  Then you will see it say "Open Timeline" over on the left.  If you have anymore questions let me know.

    Also, for more info go to: http://blog.logos.com/2013/08/timeline-study-the-bible-in-context/ or https://www.logos.com/support/logos5/timeline