Logos 8 Notes/Highlights/Notebooks confusion

I have used Logos for years (version 4), but have used the notes feature so little you could say I don't use it. Every version, I try - but I just can't do it.

Sure, I know how to make a note, and now a notebook. I can highlight, etc.

What I've always struggled with is the usability of notes taken, for me they are just random bits here and there - no real organization.

Can you help me wrap my brain around this? I've watched videos, know the basics of the function - the usability of notes is my hurdle.

A Question to Illustrate (just an illustration): Can Notebooks or Notes be nested? like ...

1 Peter Notebook

--Outline

--Paragraph Summaries

--Key Words

--Suffer

--Holy

--Observations

--And So On

See, this is how my brain works, how I organize my thinking. Can Logos 8 organize in the same way? Or how do I need to change my thinking?

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Doc B

Can you help me wrap my brain around this?

If you'll sing, "Moon River" for me, I'll be glad to help.

Just kidding...I don't really understand it either. But I wanted to tag this thread so it will appear in My Posts and I thought this would be a clever way to do it. I'm sure you've never heard that tease (on your name) before, have you? [:D]

Graham Criddle

See, this is how my brain works, how I organize my thinking. Can Logos 8 organize in the same way? Or how do I need to change my thinking?

Notes in Logos can't be organised in that way - though it is something that has been discussed by other users.

Favorites can be structured in that way and might help with what you are trying to do. Some context at https://wiki.logos.com/Favorites

Whyndell Grizzard

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1013155#Comment_1013155

Andy I can't help with Notes- have not used them in years- L8 only made it worse- I see notes as nothing more than storing Highlights, Workflow is ok, but you can't save them with the resources in it- you have to save it as a layout then drag it to a folder in Favorites I posted a screen shot of what I'm doing.

I use Word doc's and One note to create notes, linking L8 resources into both as I go.

It is actually working the way Notes should work.

Mark Barnes

Can Notebooks or Notes be nested? like ...

1 Peter Notebook

--Outline

--Paragraph Summaries

--Key Words

--Suffer

--Holy

--Observations

--And So On

My recommendation would be to have a 1 Peter Notebook, and then immediately create a note for "Table of Contents". Then add all your other notes, and link to those from the Table of Contents.

Sorting your notebook by "Date Created" show allow you to find your ToC fairly easily next time. If alphabetical sorting is added in the future, you could make the first line "!Table of Contents" in order to get it to show at the top.

Andy Williams

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1013217#Comment_1013217

I use OneNote as well, though I don't link L8 resources. I do like being able to organize my notes how I wish.

Bill Cook

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1013313#Comment_1013313

And, I am beginning to think One Note is the way to go. The new Notes is WAY WAY WAY too complicated. I was one of the ones clamoring for a robust Notes system. FL delivered. And, now I am going through a penance stage.

Bill Cook

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1013143#Comment_1013143

Can you help me wrap my brain around this?

If you'll sing, "Moon River" for me, I'll be glad to help.

Just kidding...I don't really understand it either. But I wanted to tag this thread so it will appear in My Posts and I thought this would be a clever way to do it. I'm sure you've never heard that tease (on your name) before, have you?

Doc B - you crack me up![:)]

Mark Barnes

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1013318#Comment_1013318

The new Notes is WAY WAY WAY too complicated.

There's lots about the new Notes that needs to be improved, but one thing it isn't and that's complicated. If anything, it's too simple.

David Thomas

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1013313#Comment_1013313

Wyndell shows how FAVORITES can be nested to organize according to user preference. I think it makes good sense to be able to drag a shortcut to a "notebook" into the nested structure of Favorites. Am I wrong?

Bill Cook

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1013331#Comment_1013331

The new Notes is WAY WAY WAY too complicated.

There's lots about the new Notes that needs to be improved, but one thing it isn't and that's complicated. If anything, it's too simple.

Perhaps I am struggling to grasp the paradigm of the New Notes.

Whyndell Grizzard

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1013331#Comment_1013331

The new Notes is WAY WAY WAY too complicated.

There's lots about the new Notes that needs to be improved, but one thing it isn't and that's complicated. If anything, it's too simple.

I guess complicated is probably not the best way to describe it- messy, to much hoopla, etc. It is not practical.

I use favorites to help organize, one note and words to keep information- Word doc's I turn into PBB's and nest them within the notebook for the study- it works for teaching, study, preaching, just all round information to share. No fuss, no muss, no way to lose your way- by the way most of the Workflow's will even make this task easier- but NOTES, NO WAY!!!

Whyndell Grizzard

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1013143#Comment_1013143

Can you help me wrap my brain around this?

If you'll sing, "Moon River" for me, I'll be glad to help.

Just kidding...I don't really understand it either. But I wanted to tag this thread so it will appear in My Posts and I thought this would be a clever way to do it. I'm sure you've never heard that tease (on your name) before, have you?

Just or Doc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_jgIezosVA

Andy Williams

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1013331#Comment_1013331

There's lots about the new Notes that needs to be improved, but one thing it isn't and that's complicated. If anything, it's too simple.

Well, simple doesn't mean intuitive, nor does it mean usable, nor effective. This has been my problem with Notes I cant figure out how to make Notes these things. So I'll look to 3rd party solutions as suggested. Either way, my study will get done, my notes saved somehow.

And BTW, I'd be very wealthy if I had a dollar for every time I've been asked to sing Moon River, or how the Osmonds are doing. If you'd like to make a donation, I'm sure I could figure out a way to receive it. ;-)

Mark Barnes

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1013515#Comment_1013515

Well, simple doesn't mean intuitive, nor does it mean usable, nor effective. This has been my problem with Notes I cant figure out how to make Notes these things. So I'll look to 3rd party solutions as suggested. Either way, my study will get done, my notes saved somehow.

Roughly speaking, I think this is where we've come from, where we are and where we're going:

Where we've come from: Some power users arm-wrestled the old notes system into an effective system for them. But most users didn't bother with the arm-wrestling, and just worked around the old notes limitations and learned to live with just the basics.
Where we are: In a state of flux. For most users, the new system doesn't require the arm-wrestling the old system did, which means (for them) it's both a simplification and an improvement — and more intuitive too. Although even for these users, some of is still to be added is a problem. But for those who had their notes 'just so', in some cases the new system can't be made to do what the old system could be made to do, and that's a major issue for them. The state of flux also means its difficult to build a new workflow, because some things might change soon.
Where we're going: Forwards, not backwards. Notes will continue to develop, but the basic framework is here to stay. The best thing for those affected, is to look at the "Missing Functionality" section, and try and re-design your workflow in the light of that section.

My own view is that if someone considers the new Notes tool complicated or unintuitive it's probably a sign that they're looking at the new tool through the lens of the old tool. That's understandable, of course, but I think we'll get the most out of the new tool if we can look at it with fresh eyes.

Whyndell Grizzard

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1013620#Comment_1013620

Mark -

notes is a mess, I will continue to use One Note ad Word- those who like go for it, for me it is the worst they ever done.

Bill Cook

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1013620#Comment_1013620

My own view is that if someone considers the new Notes tool complicated or unintuitive it's probably a sign that they're looking at the new tool through the lens of the old tool. That's understandable, of course, but I think we'll get the most out of the new tool if we can look at it with fresh eyes.

That is what I would like to do - that is, look at it through new eyes. But, I don't know where to start.

Bill Cook

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1013661#Comment_1013661

So, the notes I had made previously that were migrated to the New Notes if a highlighted section of text seems to have become an Anchor in the New Notes.

It does not seem possible unless I am missing it to search for the highlighted text. Is that correct?

NB.Mick

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1013746#Comment_1013746

It does not seem possible unless I am missing it to search for the highlighted text. Is that correct?

Yes. This is # 6 of the upcoming features at https://www.logos.com/faq/notes

Paul Dirks

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1013633#Comment_1013633

Count me as one person for whom the new Notes is an incredible blessing. I am probably a moderate user of Notes and the filtering and taxonomies behind that allow me to read books and highlight or note-take almost as easily and simply as I would with text, trusting I'll be able to find it later. The new notes was alone worth the 400$ I spent to upgrade.

Simon’s Brother

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1013633#Comment_1013633

I have say I’m not impressed with the new notes tool either, it’s a hodge podge that is clearly not ready but as usual FL take the goodwill of their customers for granted and release incomplete buggy software to them and their marketing hypes it up to be what it is not. For me OneNote is going to be used as my main note taking tool and Logos just used for highlights while reading.

Mark -

notes is a mess, I will continue to use One Note ad Word- those who like go for it, for me it is the worst they ever done.

Doc B

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1013620#Comment_1013620

Where we've come from: Some power users arm-wrestled the old notes system into an effective system for them. But most users didn't bother with the arm-wrestling, and just worked around the old notes limitations and learned to live with just the basics.

Where we are: In a state of flux. For most users, the new system doesn't require the arm-wrestling the old system did, which means (for them) it's both a simplification and an improvement — and more intuitive too. Although even for these users, some of is still to be added is a problem. But for those who had their notes 'just so', in some cases the new system can't be made to do what the old system could be made to do, and that's a major issue for them. The state of flux also means its difficult to build a new workflow, because some things might change soon.

Where we're going: Forwards, not backwards. Notes will continue to develop, but the basic framework is here to stay. The best thing for those affected, is to look at the "Missing Functionality" section, and try and re-design your workflow in the light of that section.

I don't doubt this is the intent. However, because of past experience, I'll be waiting to dive in to the new notes system, and I have no idea how long that'll take.

I don't question FL's planning or integrity. (I've always said their biggest problem is their marketing people are much better than their programmers...tongue-in-cheek but with some irony as well.) What I do question is, why release such a not-ready-for-prime-time product? It is unfortunate that we have to wait for all the features to actually work as intended. If the wait is as long as some of the L4-L7 stuff, we are in a bind. I hope that's not the case.

I will give credit to FL for listening...the old Notes tool worked as intended but the intentions were woefully short of the kind of functionality one expects from a software package in its price range. Moving forward, as Mark says, is great and I'm going to be as patient as possible while they flesh this thing out.

FL, just please keep your marketing people at bay until the programmers can do their thing. It'll save you a lot of grief from loyal customers (and maybe programmers as well).

John Connell

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1014052#Comment_1014052

I wonder if someone did a demographic study of notes users vs notes non-users (those who "get notes" and those who don't) if there would be an age correlation.

This whole idea of faceted browsing/searching is just gobbledegook to a senior citizen raised on pen and paper. I am used to paragraphs and outlines in a document with a title. Notes seems to be a collection of different colored sticky notes left stuck around on the walls with a secret code allowing you to find them one at a time.

But, having said that, nobody is making me use them.

Whyndell Grizzard

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1013913#Comment_1013913

I have say I’m not impressed with the new notes tool either, it’s a hodge podge that is clearly not ready but as usual FL take the goodwill of their customers for granted and release incomplete buggy software to them and their marketing hypes it up to be what it is not. For me OneNote is going to be used as my main note taking tool and Logos just used for highlights while reading.

Mark -

notes is a mess, I will continue to use One Note ad Word- those who like go for it, for me it is the worst they ever done.

This is what I have been doing for 2 years now- notes was just for storing highlight- doesn't look mush different now. Just using One Note and Word have organized over 500 notebooks with notes on 31 books of the Bible. I use 3 monitors which makes it great for Verbum, L8 and Word open with notes linked to L7 (now L8). By the way this type of use is what I always wanted from Notes, and I'm still waiting.

PetahChristian

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1014110#Comment_1014110

I wonder if someone did a demographic study of notes users vs notes non-users (those who "get notes" and those who don't) if there would be an age correlation.

Interesting question. It's certainly easier for us to learn new things when we are young, but I wouldn't want age to deter me from gradually learning and adopting new approaches.

This whole idea of faceted browsing/searching is just gobbledegook to a senior citizen raised on pen and paper. I am used to paragraphs and outlines in a document with a title. Notes seems to be a collection of different colored sticky notes left stuck around on the walls with a secret code allowing you to find them one at a time.

I think that notes has changed in a potentially very useful way (and it's great to see facets also appearing elsewhere, such as library and docs). I can't say that I use notes facets much at all (likely to my detriment), but I'd like to understand how to (re)organize my notes to take better advantage of new capabilities like facets.

But, having said that, nobody is making me use them.

I think that L8 notes are an improvement over L7 notes (even if there are some issues left to implement).

But even with something as "simple" as notes, there's still a learning curve. Every time I think I grasp how I think I can use them, I come to realize that there's probably a better or more powerful way.

I guess the more I use new notes, the more I become more comfortable with the new system, yet the more I realize I don't understand yet about how to best utilize new notes.

Whyndell Grizzard

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1014132#Comment_1014132

Petah-

let me know when you do- web conference for lessons.

Richard Dillon

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1014140#Comment_1014140

2 questions:

1) In version 7 and before I purposely used the fact that highlighting also put the text in a notes document in one step How do I do that in version 8?

2) How do you apply the new note functionality to old note files?

Thank you

Cynthia in Florida

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1026369#Comment_1026369

Count me in as someone who just doesn’t get notes. I tried. I really did. If someone is willing to explain to me how you use word or onenote outside of logos to store your notes, I’d Appreciate that.

Graham Criddle

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1026369#Comment_1026369

1) In version 7 and before I purposely used the fact that highlighting also put the text in a notes document in one step How do I do that in version 8?

In version 7, you did this by assigning a note document to a highlighting palette

You can do the same thing in Logos 8 for notebooks

But while this can be useful in some scenarios it is important to know that Logos 8 associates the resource information with the highlight. So you can easily find highlights within a resource without worrying about notebooks.

Below I've selected the NIV resource and it shows all notes and highlights made against that resource. If I further selected "highlight" from the "Type" facet it would only display highlights

This has certainly reduced my use of highlight-specific notebooks.

2) How do you apply the new note functionality to old note files?

Please expand / clarify what you mean by this

Graham

Mike Binks

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1014132#Comment_1014132

I wonder if someone did a demographic study of notes users vs notes non-users (those who "get notes" and those who don't) if there would be an age correlation.

Interesting question. It's certainly easier for us to learn new things when we are young, but I wouldn't want age to deter me from gradually learning and adopting new approaches.

There is nothing new under the sun.

Reuben Helmuth

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1026431#Comment_1026431

There is nothing new under the sun.

😂🤣😂

David A Egolf

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1026405#Comment_1026405

Count me in as someone who just doesn’t get notes. I tried. I really did. If someone is willing to explain to me how you use word or onenote outside of logos to store your notes, I’d Appreciate that.

Cynthia,

I think that Graham is pointing out that notes is evolving and it may be too early to throw in the towel. Just consider that notes stored off the reservation will not be searched as your personal content with a Logos search. That alone, has made me willing to wait a few months.

BTW: I am a heavy user of OneNote notebooks and have even set up collaborative sharing of notebooks at work. I tend to take Sunday School and class notes in OneNote. But I wouldn't want to have my Logos research in a OneNote notebook just for the searching issue. Searching in OneNote is "hokey" and not nearly as powerful as Logos searches.

Anthony Dowden

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1026675#Comment_1026675

I am 70+ years old and like many others do find new things hard to grasp.

However, I am determined to get to grips with notes as I think using anything outside of Logos for is never going to be as good as keeping within the software.

To that end I have been through all the links I could find and have searched the internet for everything I could find on the new notes system. I set aside a few days just to watch and read them all. After about three days I was able to then determine how I would make use of the system.

i have added loads of notes and, aside from the ’known‘ issues (which are noted and being worked on) I am finding the system really easy to use.

Stick with it if you can - when you get that ’lighbulb’ moment you will be so glad that you did.

Blessings to all my fellow Bible Studiers.

Reuben Helmuth

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1026802#Comment_1026802

Stick with it if you can - when you get that ’lighbulb’ moment you will be so glad that you did.

👍🏽

John Connell

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1013219#Comment_1013219

My recommendation would be to have a 1 Peter Notebook, and then immediately create a note for "Table of Contents". Then add all your other notes, and link to those from the Table of Contents.

I like this idea Mark. Could each item in a table of contents link to another Notebook or will it only work linking to a Note? How do you do the linking?

-john

Pieter J.

Can Notebooks or Notes be nested? like ...

1 Peter Notebook

--Outline

--Paragraph Summaries

--Key Words

--Suffer

--Holy

--Observations

--And So On

I know this is years too late. Hope you found a solution in the last few years. If not, consider the following explanation (https://community.logos.com/forums/p/198490/1150563.aspx#1150563)