Problem: Trying to open a hidden book doesn't provide helpful information

Someone posted a link to this book on the forums:

https://www.logos.com/product/600/the-prophecy-knowledge-handbook

I first checked to see if I had it in Logos by typing prophecy knowledge handbook into my Library. Nothing found. So I thought I might want to buy it, clicked on the above link, and was taken to the page which said I already had it:

"Hmm..." methinks. So I try to open it by clicking on the "Open in Logos" button.

It opens in the web app, which tells me that it needs to be opened within the application.

So I click "Open link".

It opens up a tab in Logos which says "You don't have a license to view this resource."

That is false. I do have a license. If I click the "Visit Logos.com" link, it takes me to the page that shows that I already own the book. Head-scratching moment here.

Since I happen to know about hidden books, it finally occurs to me to check my list of hidden books in Program Settings, and sure enough, it is listed there. I must have hidden it at some point in an overzealous effort to hide what I thought were useless resources.

But what about the poor user who has never heard of hidden books? This experience would be VERY puzzling to them. It seems quite contradictory to show them owning the book on the website but then to say "You don't have a license to view this resource."

Instead you should say "You own this resource but it is currently hidden. Would you like to unhide it?"

Be like Clippy. Be helpful. Smile

I've also put this suggestion on FeedBear and would kindly request that you vote for it:

https://feedback.faithlife.com/boards/logos-desktop-app/posts/give-user-helpful-information-if-they-try-to-open-a-hidden-book

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Comments

JT (alabama24)

But what about the poor user who has never heard of hidden books?

In the case that you describe, the person <should> know about hidden books (because she hid a book!), but your point is well taken. A similar situation is when a user has a personal book and has either 1) not uploaded the compiled file OR 2) not compiled the file on that installation. In that case, the same warning appears. This is particularly frustrating when it is a "personal" book! [:s]

Timothy Beining

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1142128#Comment_1142128

In the case that you describe, the person <should> know about hidden books (because she hid a book!),

JT, I beg to differ just a bit with the above quote. Just because someone can hide a book does not necessarily mean they know where to find the book or how to unhide it. Years ago I was one of those people who only knew half the story so to speak.

Tim

Timothy Beining

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1142131#Comment_1142131

Good post Rosie! Got my vote.

Tim

Rosie Perera

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1142131#Comment_1142131

In the case that you describe, the person <should> know about hidden books (because she hid a book!),

JT, I beg to differ just a bit with the above quote. Just because someone can hide a book does not necessarily mean they know where to find the book or how to unhide it. Years ago I was one of those people who only knew half the story so to speak.

I know how to hide books and how to unhide them, and yet I didn't remember specifically having hidden that one. It's more of a reference book, and even when the author comes from a theological position that I find unhelpful (dispensationalism), I wouldn't generally hide a reference book by them. So it took thinking outside the box for me to figure maybe I had hidden this book that it said I didn't own the license to. Bingo. That was it. But not everyone, even those familiar with hiding books, would figure that out.

Timothy Beining

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1142134#Comment_1142134

I know how to hide books and how to unhide them, and yet I didn't remember specifically having hidden that one. It's more of a reference book, and even when the author comes from a theological position that I find unhelpful (dispensationalism), I wouldn't generally hide a reference book by them. So it took thinking outside the box for me to figure maybe I had hidden this book that it said I didn't own the license to. Bingo. That was it. But not everyone, even those familiar with hiding books, would figure that out.

Rosie, I was in no way assuming that you didn't know how to unhide the book and I fully understand the content of your post.

What I saw in JT's post was to me an assumption that if someone (not you Rosie in particular) knew how to hide a book should know how to recover said book. Everyone on the planet knows a lot of half-things if you will, and in a lot of cases it is just fine. In this case for me it wasn't enough to only know half the story.

Good example is this: You want to hang a picture. You need a hammer and a nail. You want to pound said nail in the wall. You only need to know which end of the hammer head to use to pound the nail. Your concern is not with pulling the nail back out so you really don't need to know at that time what the other end of the hammer head is for. You my never need to pull a nail at all so it is not essential information to know how to do this. Indeed it could be helpful information down the road to have an idea what the other end of the hammer head is for should you ever decide you do want to pull a nail.

Edited

JT (alabama24)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1142136#Comment_1142136

What I saw in JT's post was to me an assumption that if someone (not you Rosie in particular) knew how to hide a book did not necessarily know how to recover said book.

That's not what I meant, and I understand and agree with Rosie's main point.

Rosie Perera

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1142136#Comment_1142136

Rosie, I was in no way assuming that you didn't know how to unhide the book and I fully understand the content of your post.

What I saw in JT's post was to me an assumption that if someone (not you Rosie in particular) knew how to hide a book should know how to recover said book. Everyone on the planet knows a lot of half-things if you will, and in a lot of cases it is just fine. In this case for me it wasn't enough to only know half the story.

Yeah, I knew that. Sorry, I didn't mean to contradict you. In responding to your post I was merely adding more info to my original. Not intending it to be a refutation of your experience or to imply that I thought you were critiquing me.

Timothy Beining

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1142137#Comment_1142137

Calm down JT, I'm not trying to pick a fight.[:D]

Timothy Beining

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1142137#Comment_1142137

That's not what I meant, and I understand and agree with Rosie's main point.

I know that.

I personally have found that it is not a good thing to assume anything anymore.

Everyone knows how to pound keys on their keyboard or tap a screen. But that doesn't necessarily mean they know fully what they are doing when they do said key pounding or tapping.

Timothy Beining

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1142140#Comment_1142140

Yeah, I knew that. Sorry, I didn't mean to contradict you. In responding to your post I was merely adding more info to my original. Not intending it to be a refutation of your experience or to imply that I thought you were critiquing me.

Rosie, I just did not want a misunderstanding. No need to apologize.

JT (alabama24)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1142146#Comment_1142146

No worries, just clarifying. [Y]

xnman

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1142150#Comment_1142150

I was playing around and hid a book. Took me quite a while to unhide that book. I agree with Rosie. Great suggestion.