Logos 8 v 7 - Whats missing?

DominicM
DominicM Member Posts: 2,995 ✭✭✭
edited November 2024 in English Forum

Hearing mixed reports about folks losing functionality and having their workflow upset by upgrading to 8, so if you have, what features/options are missing/not implemented yet?

Never Deprive Anyone of Hope.. It Might Be ALL They Have

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Comments

  • Willy Arnold
    Willy Arnold Member Posts: 97 ✭✭

    The notes feature is missing quite a bit.  If you are a heavy notes user, as I am, this can be quite unsettling at first. However:

    1. You can switch back to the old notes system within L8.
    2. They plan to eventually add most of the features from L7.
    3. They tell you specifically what is missing and what they are working on here:

    Logos Notes

  • Graham Owen
    Graham Owen Member Posts: 254

    I have not seen a definitive list yet I'm hoping someone at Faithlife will publish one soon.

    Notes has been mentioned.

    The new home page is a radical redesign and is incomplete. The knock on here is that some of the items that you may be used to finding there have moved or are not available in the form you may be expecting.

    There have been some changes in behaviour that might catch you out depending on the way that you use Logos.

    • Opening a reading plan from the new home page closes the current layout and opens a new Faithlife defined layout
    • Opening the Library from the Icon in the Toolbar no longer switches to an open Library view if you have one. 

    From a general UI perspective things have been moved around, the new structure seems reasonably logical but seems to require more scrolling. Program Settings for example took me a while to find.

    Help is in serious need of the promised update being delivered.

    Feedback seems to suggest that Preferred/Default Bible is gone as a concept and has been merged into Prioritisation. I think in reality this has been the case for some time and that under the covers the Preferred Bible selection paced your selection at the top of the Prioritisation list.

    There are other quirks that I keep finding some of which are irritating because I need to change how I do things others are more annoying and I'm hoping that in these cases we'll be given some configuration options to adjust the behaviour.

    I have not seen a commitment from Faithlife but a lot of posts here promise that the issues that have been accepted as needing an update will be fixed in 8.1. It's quite possible that the beta testers have these fixes already so know what is in 8.1.

    Feedback from Verbum/Liturgical users seems to indicate that if that is your background a lot more is missing.

  • Willy Arnold
    Willy Arnold Member Posts: 97 ✭✭
    • Search examples are gone but have been replaced by templates.  I wish they could have kept both. 
    • Also, after downloading updates, L7 used to tell me what was added / updated.  Unless I'm missing something, I don't see that anymore.  I would like to know what was updated. 
    • The look and feel / user interface is also a bit different.  Some like it, some don't. 

  • MJ. Smith
    MJ. Smith MVP Posts: 53,772

    Search examples are gone but have been replaced by templates.  I wish they could have kept both

    I agree because one could click on the example and then use it as a pseudo-template. But if they get the new templates built quickly . . .

    Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."

  • Graham Owen
    Graham Owen Member Posts: 254

    Search examples are gone but have been replaced by templates.  I wish they could have kept both. 

    Also, after downloading updates, L7 used to tell me what was added / updated.  Unless I'm missing something, I don't see that anymore.  I would like to know what was updated. 

    You can see this now in the Library view, Open the Sidebar (three line icon just below the library Icon top left) then there are some filters last one being added.

    Personally I see this as an example of the type of UI change that needs to be included in a quick guide document for Logos 7 users, the sidebar is a great feature but I would not describe the access or content as intuitive.

  • Bradley Grainger (Logos)
    Bradley Grainger (Logos) Administrator, Logos Employee Posts: 11,993

    Feedback seems to suggest that Preferred/Default Bible is gone as a concept and has been merged into Prioritisation. I think in reality this has been the case for some time and that under the covers the Preferred Bible selection paced your selection at the top of the Prioritisation list.

    There never really was such a concept as "Preferred Bible". The home page tool (which is not on the Logos 8 home page) was a helper that just presented a Bible picker then modified your prioritisation list behind-the-scenes. (Your second sentence is exactly right.)

    We understand that using the "Preferred Bible" home page tool was a lot easier than learning all the ins and outs of prioritisation, but we saw this primarily as an onboarding tool (that may come back in a different format in a future release) and not a "feature" of the software that would be frequently used to change the preferred Bible.

  • MJ. Smith
    MJ. Smith MVP Posts: 53,772

    but we saw this primarily as an onboarding tool (that may come back in a different format in a future release) and not a "feature" of the software that would be frequently used to change the preferred Bible.

    While I agree with you, I suspect that Faithlife may be greatly underestimating the number of people who switch Bibles frequently ... or will once you get just a tad more lectionary support. Most faith formation directors I know carry a 4 or 8 translation Bible - and switch between the Bible used for liturgy and their personal favorite Bible for study on a regular basis.

    Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."

  • Ken Shawver
    Ken Shawver Member Posts: 516 ✭✭

    While I agree that it was a nice "feature", if a user learns the prioritization feature they can easily prioritize their - say - 5 favorite translations and access them on the file while in the software. I don't think this ability has changed, has it? ( I have only spent a few hours in Logos 8 since I downloaded it and let it index :)).

    In Christ,

    Ken

    Lenovo Yoga 7 15ITL5 Touch Screen; 11th Gen Intel i7 2.8Ghz; 12Gb RAM; 500Gb SDD;WIN 11

    http://wiki.logos.com/

  • SineNomine
    SineNomine Member Posts: 7,043 ✭✭✭

    MJ. Smith said:

    but we saw this primarily as an onboarding tool (that may come back in a different format in a future release) and not a "feature" of the software that would be frequently used to change the preferred Bible.

    While I agree with you, I suspect that Faithlife may be greatly underestimating the number of people who switch Bibles frequently ... or will once you get just a tad more lectionary support. Most faith formation directors I know carry a 4 or 8 translation Bible - and switch between the Bible used for liturgy and their personal favorite Bible for study on a regular basis.

    I switch which translation(s) I'm reading frequently, but I don't change their prioritization very often.

    “The trouble is that everyone talks about reforming others and no one thinks about reforming himself.” St. Peter of Alcántara

  • Matthew
    Matthew Member Posts: 941

    The home page tool (which is not on the Logos 8 home page) was a helper that just presented a Bible picker then modified your prioritisation list behind-the-scenes.

    Bradley, not only would I like to see it brought back, but I wish it would be expanded to other areas. For example, I wish there was a "commentary picker" tool where I could easily pick my top five commentaries for each individual book of the Bible and have Logos modify the prioritization list behind the scenes. Maybe in Logos 8.5?

  • GaoLu
    GaoLu Member Posts: 3,496 ✭✭✭

    Search examples are gone but have been replaced by templates.  I wish they could have kept both. 

    1. Let's keep praying about this.

    2.  My habit would be to quite often change preferred / prioritized Bible.  A quick way to do so would be ever so useful.

  • Bradley Grainger (Logos)
    Bradley Grainger (Logos) Administrator, Logos Employee Posts: 11,993

    GaoLu said:

    2.  My habit would be to quite often change preferred / prioritized Bible.  A quick way to do so would be ever so useful.

    Can you explain why this is a common "habit" for you? Knowing how you want to use the software may help us design better features for a future release.

  • David Taylor, Jr.
    David Taylor, Jr. Member Posts: 4,377 ✭✭✭

    GaoLu said:

    Search examples are gone but have been replaced by templates.  I wish they could have kept both. 

    1. Let's keep praying about this.

    2.  My habit would be to quite often change preferred / prioritized Bible.  A quick way to do so would be ever so useful.

    You can easily achieve this with prioritization and keystrokes. The left and right arrow keys quickly toggle through your prioritized translations thus eliminating the need to change the preferred Bible (which would take more time).

  • MJ. Smith
    MJ. Smith MVP Posts: 53,772

    The left and right arrow keys quickly toggle through your prioritized translations thus eliminating the need to change the preferred Bible (which would take more time).

    Yes ... and no ... prioritization has a direct effect on your available canon.

    Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."

  • Mark Barnes
    Mark Barnes Member Posts: 15,432 ✭✭✭

    GaoLu said:

    2.  My habit would be to quite often change preferred / prioritized Bible.  A quick way to do so would be ever so useful.

    Can you explain why this is a common "habit" for you? Knowing how you want to use the software may help us design better features for a future release.

    I would like to do this easily. I would if there was a “set preferred bible to xxx“ command I could put on my shortcuts bar. I want to do so because I use a different Bible in church/academic/devotional contexts. I currently “set target”, which is OK, bit doesn’t change hovertext or CBV etc.

    This is my personal Faithlife account. On 1 March 2022, I started working for Faithlife, and have a new 'official' user account. Posts on this account shouldn't be taken as official Faithlife views!

  • Simon’s Brother
    Simon’s Brother Member Posts: 6,820 ✭✭✭

    We understand that using the "Preferred Bible" home page tool was a lot easier than learning all the ins and outs of prioritisation, but we saw this primarily as an onboarding tool

    Bradley FL has missed the point.  You say you have made changes in Logos 8 to make it easier for new users and they you removed one of the features that actually made it easier for new users. You should have used this idea and created a prioritization tool that allowed a user to select a data type and then the top 5 resources they wanted to prioritize. Not unlike we used to be able to do with Libronix but only much more user friendly. It could have even been created as a workflow type document for a new user setting up their system.  And as MJ pointed about there are many users of Logos software that use it in a variety of ways and some would use this to change their preferred Bible at times other than initial setup.  FL has missed a real opportunity here while complicating things by removing other features form the home page that also allow a user quick access like the Recently updated resources, release notes and link to user account to name three things.

  • John Goodman
    John Goodman Member Posts: 1,707 ✭✭✭

    Matthew said:

    I wish there was a "commentary picker" tool where I could easily pick my top five commentaries for each individual book of the Bible and have Logos modify the prioritization list behind the scenes. Maybe in Logos 8.5?

    [Y][Y][Y]

    I keep meaning to do this but have never taken the time... perhaps the tool could even suggest a scheme based on bestcommentaries.com though I wouldn't agree with all their choices it might be a good start?

    גַּם־חֹשֶׁךְ֮ לֹֽא־יַחְשִׁ֪יךְ מִ֫מֶּ֥ךָ וְ֭לַיְלָה כַּיּ֣וֹם יָאִ֑יר כַּ֝חֲשֵׁיכָ֗ה כָּאוֹרָֽה

  • MJ. Smith
    MJ. Smith MVP Posts: 53,772

    a scheme based on bestcommentaries.com though I wouldn't agree with all their choices it might be a good start?

    Only for a portion of the customer base [;)]

    Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."

  • Matthew
    Matthew Member Posts: 941

    Can you explain why this is a common "habit" for you? Knowing how you want to use the software may help us design better features for a future release.

    For my own personal study I prefer Bible A. One congregation I attend prefers that reading and teaching be done from Bible B. Another congregation I visit prefers that Bible C is used. When I go to a nursing home, they prefer Bible D. It isn't a matter of just using the arrow keys to toggle which Bible I have open. I need to actually change my prioritized Bible for so I see the text of whatever Bible I am working with when using Power Lookup or moving my mouse over a Bible reference to make the text appear.

  • Matthew
    Matthew Member Posts: 941

    MJ. Smith said:

    Only for a portion of the customer base Wink

    Would the suggestion I made in this thread work for the entire customer base, or are there ways you would recommend it be modified?

  • Bradley Grainger (Logos)
    Bradley Grainger (Logos) Administrator, Logos Employee Posts: 11,993

    I want to do so because I use a different Bible in church/academic/devotional contexts.

    Matthew said:

    For my own personal study I prefer Bible A. One congregation I attend prefers that reading and teaching be done from Bible B. Another congregation I visit prefers that Bible C is used. When I go to a nursing home, they prefer Bible D.

    Do you find that you're changing just your preferred Bible, or would there be other prioritised resources you'd want to change at the same time (e.g., a different top commentary set, top lexicon, etc.)? That is, is changing preferred Bible sufficient, or would you like to switch in a whole new set of prioritised resources?

  • Mike Binks
    Mike Binks MVP Posts: 7,438

    That is, is changing preferred Bible sufficient, or would you like to switch in a whole new set of prioritised resources?

    Hijacking the thread (partially sorry)  [;)]

    As a journeyman preacher I, like a similar poster in this thread, have to contend with congregations with differing translation preferences.

    When I prepare a service it would be nice to have a simple switch that allowed me to change the preferred bible in both Logos and Proclaim to that of the congregation.

    I don't need any other resources switched because no matter what they choose I rely on my own preference for preparation and then make allowances where necessary to accommodate the actual bible they will be reading.

    tootle pip

    Mike

    How to get logs and post them.(now tagging post-apocalyptic fiction as current affairs) Latest Logos, MacOS, iOS and iPadOS

  • Michael S.
    Michael S. Member Posts: 674

    That is, is changing preferred Bible sufficient, or would you like to switch in a whole new set of prioritised resources?

    It would be nice to have a "walk me through my prioritization" guide, so there it walks us through like the Bible Study walks us through that step by step.  

    Step 1- Pick your top 5 Bibles in order from most preferred to least.  And it populates a list of your current Bibles to choose in order.  When you click the first one, it moves it over to the Top 5 Box which is beside the list.

    Step 2- Pick your top 5 Commentaries for: 1. Genesis, 2. Exodus, 3. Leviticus...etc.

    Step 3- Pick your top 5 Bible Dictionaries in order of highest preferred to least.

    Step 4- Pick your top 5 Encyclopedias...

    etc...

  • GaoLu
    GaoLu Member Posts: 3,496 ✭✭✭

    GaoLu said:

    2.  My habit would be to quite often change preferred / prioritized Bible.  A quick way to do so would be ever so useful.

    Can you explain why this is a common "habit" for you? Knowing how you want to use the software may help us design better features for a future release.

    Sorry to be late back to the table, but we have some world-time difference.  

    My habit is preparing lessons, sermons, classes in a variety of Asian languages and to a wide range of audiences.  I often work with translators and walk through this or that language for a series. I have to consider what translation my audience uses and its background TR-based (as many Asian language Bibles are--and locals feel deeply about whatever they have)  or newer eclectic texts.  Sometimes I have to go back and forth and must be able to explain variances. I have to know what their Bible says and on what Gk text it is based-so I don't wander off quoting something, leaving my translator and congregation bewildered at my heresy. 

    KJV is what I cut my teeth on and memorized most from. It is genetic.  It is still home-base.  Other times, however,  I use wordings from the NKJV because the English wordings are clear and yet fairly true to the TR so I don't get too far afield from a TR-based Asian language. Other times I lean way off into the NIV or NLT for ways to say things for translators with varying English proficiency.  I like NASB and ESV and LEB to keep my words closer to par since my Greek is weak and my Hebrew almost nil.  Then I have other-language  Bibles in Logos or as PB's that I use.  Each takes its turn being my most favored version of the day.

    This is getting long and dry.  To cut to the chase, I spend time working in one Bible and want everything working in that Bible (see Mark Barnes and Mike Binks above).  Then I switch next week, sometimes the next day, to another Bible and do the same there.  My case might be extreme and not a good sales pitch for the Logos population at large, but that is my case and the explanation for my odd habits.  Workarounds work fine too, but it never hurts to ask for an idea I think might be personally beneficial!   

  • Graham Owen
    Graham Owen Member Posts: 254

    That is, is changing preferred Bible sufficient, or would you like to switch in a whole new set of prioritised resources?

    It would be nice to have a "walk me through my prioritization" guide, so there it walks us through like the Bible Study walks us through that step by step. 

    What would be really useful, especially for new/inexperienced users, would be a set of questions about tradition and preferences. I think an approach like this would work for most resources types except of course Bible translations.

    Main issue that I see would be avoiding language in the qualifying questions that might be perceived as negative i.e. Conservative vs Liberal. Some options could be based on a ranking so for tradition I would probably rank Pentecostal as 1 an Methodist as 2 because of the holiness tradition which in part formed the character of the tradition I'm part of. For other questions I think a sliding scale would work so for example I like a healthy mix of new and old publications whereas others might be happier with more older works. 

    Odd as it seems to those of us who have embraced the wealth of material available in Logos and know how to curate for ourselves many I have spoken to over the years are intimidated by this and would love a way of creating a "safe zone". Never really thought about this before but prioritisation seems like a way of addressing this concern.

  • Mark Barnes
    Mark Barnes Member Posts: 15,432 ✭✭✭

    @Graham,

    Default prioritisation is already different for Verbum and Logos, so the principle is already there.

    This is my personal Faithlife account. On 1 March 2022, I started working for Faithlife, and have a new 'official' user account. Posts on this account shouldn't be taken as official Faithlife views!

  • Graham Owen
    Graham Owen Member Posts: 254

    @Graham,

    Default prioritisation is already different for Verbum and Logos, so the principle is already there.

    So the next logical step, which sounds like it might be easy to implement, could be the ability to switch based on Tradition and Package Level.

    Personally I think I'll always prefer decide for myself but a quick start for Prioritisation would probably help sell the idea and encourage users to dig deeper. If a list of possible Prioritisation Sets could be built from the library contents that would be really quite neat and switching between sets would very quickly demonstrate the benefits.

    Was just looking to see if there's an option so Save and Restore Prioritisation settings, can't see anything but that would be a great feature as well and potentially useful when trying to study aspects of theology from different perspectives assuming that your library is diverse enough of course.

  • Michael S.
    Michael S. Member Posts: 674

    Mark, when I upgrade, will I have to redo my prioritization, or is it kept from the way I have it set now in L7?

  • Graham Criddle
    Graham Criddle MVP Posts: 32,758

    Mark, when I upgrade, will I have to redo my prioritization, or is it kept from the way I have it set now in L7?

    L7 prioritisation will be maintained after doing the L8 upgrade.

  • Richard Wardman
    Richard Wardman Member Posts: 1,358 ✭✭✭

    Mark, when I upgrade, will I have to redo my prioritization, or is it kept from the way I have it set now in L7?

    I'm not Mark, but your prioritisation will be preserved!