Simple searches

Hi Jones, there are several ways to do this. If you just want a list, click here. If you want a process, keep reading.

1. Bible Search
To find the parables of Jesus in your Bible, I would start with a parable and right-click it to see what kind of tagging it has. I notice that one of the tags is Literary Typing: Parable and when I search for it, it generates the search literaryTyping:Parable. This is too broad, so I want to make it literaryTyping:Parable IN speaker:Jesus

2. Bible Browser

Go to the tools menu and open the Bible browser. On the left hand side there are tons of filters. One of them is "parables." Click that. Then, under that, is "Speaker." Click that and then click "Jesus." This does the same thing as the search, except on the top right you can click "verse" and change it to "pericope" to get each parable as its own result. You can see the results here.

3. Factbook
Open the facebook and type "Parables of Jesus." This will pull up your top dictionaries with articles on the parables of Jesus and you can skim these to find lists. Furhter down under "Books from your library" you probably have whole books with lists of the parables. The results will vary based on your library.

4. Logos 10 Book Search
Go to search and click books. But above the search box, where it says Your Books - All Text - All Passages, click "All Text" and change it to "Heading Text." This way you will not find every time that someone is describing a parable, but only sections about them. Then for your search, try Jesus AND parable AND list. That gives a great result for me from Easley and Cox's harmony of the gospels. If that doesn't work, get rid of the word "list." You will have to sort through some more results this way, but it will give you a starting place.

5. Logos Pro Smart Search
If you are a subscriber, this is easy. Do a smart books search for List of Jesus's Parables.This took me to several good results, but one was the Faithlife Study Bible, where I found the table I linked you to at the beginning.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1309581#Comment_1309581

Thank you so much for taking the time to write such an extensive reply. The methods involved were very helpful. The first method immediately gave me all the passages where Jesus is telling a parable which is a good start. Unfortunately my setup does not include the Bible Browser. The Factbook and Logos 10 Book Search both produce a large number of hits that would take quite some time to filter - Google is still much easier. The final option is one that is not available to me, but produced exactly what I was looking for. Thank you so much.

Armin

I have had logos for many years, using it mainly to read the bible and look at commentaries. I never cease to be frustrated, however, that the simplest things don't seem to be easy to do. For example, if I want a list of the parables of Jesus I can find those with Google in a couple of second; in logos I have spent quite while and cannot find a simple way to access such a list. Logos is very powerful, but I can't do this very simple thing. I am sure there is such a list in one of my 5,000 resources. Could someone tell me how to get such a list. thanks

The usability of Logos has been my major complaint for years. Search is just one of the challenges. Inconsistencies with the user interface is another common problem. I have reported specific cases of inconsistencies here on the forum but have not noticed any resulting changes. It does not appear to be a priority for FL. None of the 6 (?) people for whom I purchased Logos as a gift, use it any more. Why? Logos is too complicated. For many things, Google is much better. And now, POE.com or ChatGPT are also available.

The fuzzy search feature and the recent usage of AI have made a big difference for searches. But the GUI issues remain. So why do I still invest in Logos? Because we move a lot internationally and I cannot take a physical library with me. And with Mark joining Logos a few years back, I am hopeful that things will at some point improve.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1309586#Comment_1309586

Yes, it is very frustrating. I have used Logos casually since LLS 2.1, but have found it so unhelpful with simple tasks that I have not been well motivated to learn how to do the more complex ones. I have spent thousands on Logos over the years and yet still I am expected to subscribe for even basic functionality.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1309590#Comment_1309590

My frustration got the better of me last evening. Please accept my apologies. Having followed through some of the things I learned from Justin Gatlin's post, I have now been able to do, for the first time, some of the basic searches I have struggled with up to now. Thank you again for your help.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1309590#Comment_1309590

Yes, it is very frustrating. I have used Logos casually since LLS 2.1, but have found it so unhelpful with simple tasks that I have not been well motivated to learn how to do the more complex ones. I have spent thousands on Logos over the years and yet still I am expected to subscribe for even basic functionality.

We've all been frustrated with Logos at times. But your post count shows me part of your particular frustration - if you ask on the forums, someone will always take the time to show you a way to get what you want ... or tell you Logos can't do it. Trying to find functions on your own when you haven't learned enough to see the patterns of where to look is frustrating to everyone. Keep coming back to the forums and ask, ask, ask. There is no such thing as a stupid question. So bring that post count up and be comfortable with at least what you see as simple tasks.

Mark

I can find those with Google in a couple of second; in logos I have spent quite while

I use logos extensively and can confirm that I often go to google to search for things quickly because it often is quicker on google than in Logos. Often I go to google to find information or resources available in Logos. Sometimes I search for something and find a journal link to the subject I am searching and I then look it up in Logos. While I am sure if I learn the many strings to do a search, I would find things quickly in Logos, I just cannot always remember those strings. Google ends up being faster.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1309740#Comment_1309740

Libronix Research (re-search?), Logos, and Faithlife (whoops, Logos?), has always been reluctant to simplify the Bible search. Mark must be exhausted (on vacation). I'd think, with 'Bible' software, common requests would be quickly embedded. Bible books in selected canon order (like on Sunday morning).

No offence to Justin, but he was quickly into Logos esoterica, to do the simple. I was curious to see what 'Factbook' did. I can see why esoterica had to step in.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1309756#Comment_1309756

into Logos esoterica

Huh? when did the no-brainer method of Bible Browser become esoteric? Girl, you've swaddled your Logos so tight it can't grow. Somehow female feet in China comes to mind ...

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1309852#Comment_1309852

Let's not confuse me (neurals, genetic algorithms, and robot dogs that tear up our driveway) with the broad expanse of potentially new Logosians. And I have noticed the new frequency of 'find an example, and right-click it', as ease of use. That's esoterica. Or find a tool that recognizes a reference (recent thread). That's esoterica.

Besides, on my Verbum, it says my Bible Browser is currently unavailable. I like the total uselessness of the helpful message. Smiling. Maybe tomorrow, it will become available.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1309858#Comment_1309858

And I have noticed the new frequency of 'find an example, and right-click it', as ease of use. That's esoterica. Or find a tool that recognizes a reference (recent thread). That's esoterica.

I didn't call it easy. I was just trying to give some methods to solve the problem. For me, right-clicking an example and seeing what tagging is there is much easier than trying to memorize all the different settings that Logos uses. I gave the first two examples first because I would rather search in the biblical text than look at secondary resources first.
I was also disappointed that Factbook didn't immediately pull up the list from the FSB, though.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1309962#Comment_1309962

Yes, I was in reference to the post title, and the difficulty in spreading the Logos 'gospel' over the years (very similar to selling encyclopedias ... my first job!). What new people might see as an obvious Bible software question, in Logos, is an answer only for the driven.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1309965#Comment_1309965

This morning I loaded up the factbook and searched for "The Trinity" as "Systematic Theology". (likewise "The Trinity in the New T", "The Trinity n the Old T","The Trinity and Scripture") Not one single hit! Doing book search in the 'heading' on "The Trinity" gave me 352 hits, referencing a number of Systematic theologies. Why such inconsistency. Why did the factbook not produce anything? (My library, excluding Perseus, is 3643 resources) Likewise a Factbook search on "Ephesians 6:10-20" didn't give a singe key article.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1309979#Comment_1309979

That sounds like a bug. I get a lot when I open the Trinity (systematic theology) and also Trinity (preaching theme).

Christian Alexander

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1310059#Comment_1310059

I can confirm Jones and Justin. I do think this is a bug. I think it is due to the tagging in the facet of Trinity.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1310104#Comment_1310104

Good to know that, thank you

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1309581#Comment_1309581

I came to the forum to ask about 'searching' and this was the top post. I hope it's OK to chime in here while it's a hot topic!

I have a commentary open. I want to search for instances of a word in that commentary. I click the magnifying glass in that commentary's menu bar (not the magnifying glass on the main menu bar...). For the life of me, I can't figure out how to search just that open commentary. It doesn't even show up as an option when I click "All Passages"; there are a number of options, but not "this resource".

Logos search has baffled me for years, and I often go to BibleGateway for quick searches. There's something very backwards about that... I appreciate Logos—it's a great tool; but quite blunt where it could be razor sharp.

Anyway, if there's a way to search in an open resource, I'd love to hear about it! Thanks.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1310115#Comment_1310115

I have a commentary open. I want to search for instances of a word in that commentary. I click the magnifying glass in that commentary's menu bar (not the magnifying glass on the main menu bar...). For the life of me, I can't figure out how to search just that open commentary. It doesn't even show up as an option when I click "All Passages"; there are a number of options, but not "this resource".

Having clicked the magnifying glass you now have an Inline Search box open - you can enter a word or phrase in that box and Logos will just search the open book (and filter the book to just show search results (with optional context around it)

This is outlined in more detail at https://support.logos.com/hc/en-us/articles/360016524471-Inline-Search

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1310115#Comment_1310115

It doesn't even show up as an option when I click "All Passages"; there are a number of options, but not "this resource".

Adding on another option to Graham's: In the main search window, don't click "All Passages" but rather "Your Books." Then you can search a specific book, all of your open books, a collection you made, a dynamic collection (like author:Calvin), etc.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1310118#Comment_1310118

Thanks Graham. While that works, it was not clear to me at all that searching "All Text" in "All Passages" would only search the commentary that is open:

Don't believe everything you see, I guess... :-/

Paul

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1310121#Comment_1310121

Hi Justin,

I don't actually have an option for "Your Books" when I click "All Passages". And "Your Books" doesn't appear anywhere else on the search bar:

I'm not sure where you're finding that.

Paul

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1310126#Comment_1310126

Glad it worked Paul

And the Inline Search - which is what is involved with that magnifying glass icon - is designed to just search within the current book

To search more widely in your library you need to use the search icon on the toolbar.

The All Passages option allows you to constrain the search to part of the book - such as, for example, the section on John 1 (or whatever section boundaries the particular book exposes)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1310127#Comment_1310127

Hi Justin,

I don't actually have an option for "Your Books" when I click "All Passages". And "Your Books" doesn't appear anywhere else on the search bar:

I'm not sure where you're finding that.

Paul

Justin is referring to using the more general search tool accessible from the program, not resource, toolbar.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1310129#Comment_1310129

Justin is referring to using the more general search tool accessible from the program, not resource, toolbar.

Yes, sorry, I should have been more clear. As a mulligan: "In addition to Graham's instructions on how to use inline search, you can search a single book or collection of books from the main search window."

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1309979#Comment_1309979

In retrospect, perhaps this is because I do not have the full Logos 10 feature set.

xnman

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1310171#Comment_1310171

When I first came to Logos, one of my major complaints was the Search. I remember well, there were some on Logos that argued with me that I just hadn't used it enough and that I needed to learn. I didn't say it but that is "Hogwash!"

Search has gotten better, no doubt. But Search is still one of the most complicated functions of Logos. Sure people will eventually learn, but a lot will give up in disgust and go to Google or some other source to do their searching.

I see people still having to learn "hieroglyphics" to write out some searches. To me that is "old time school" in today's world. It's time for Search to get with today and become a simple useful tool.

But that's one man's opinion.

I'm me, and I approve this message. [8-|]

Matt Hamrick

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1310198#Comment_1310198

I will never understand why search is so complicated when there are templates to use. When you use a template pay attention to the search it creates so you learn to search yourself. Over time you will learn how to search so make some key collections and search those and frequently do bible searches.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1310201#Comment_1310201

That's definitely one approach, Matt. I guess I'm approaching it from the other end—lower the bar, remove the barricades, make it less daunting for those who don't even know where to go to find templates (?). Not sure why one should have to find a template—let alone even know that they were available—to do a meaningful search... It's just not how I'm used to "searching".

For those who care: All I wanted was a way to search a single, open resource—not a collection, or anything that would (to my mind) require a template. In the commentary I was reading, there was a hyperlink in a footnote that referred to more information on 'hesed'. The hyperlink erroneously pointed to a different section from the one where the additional information was to be found (it pointed to a chapter introduction rather than the book introduction; I flagged this with the "Report typo" tool). So all I wanted to do was search the commentary for 'hesed' and find that information. Clicking the magnifying glass in the commentary's menu bar did not appear to be what was going to help, given the parameters "All Text in All Passages" (see screenshot above)—I was afraid I was going to launch a search of how many thousands of resources in my 'library', and then have to sift through them to find 'hits' in the commentary I was interested in. I didn't even want to launch such a search, because of the time / computing resources it would consume. And there were no suitable options visible in either dropdown; something as simple as "This Resource" in the "All Passages" dropdown would have solved it, for me. In short, what I was presented with as a search tool actually totally put me off of using it... That's design as a barricade, in my opinion. Draw the user in; don't keep them out. Logos search presents enough of a barrier to keep me out, for the most part. :-( Not sure if anyone from Faithlife reads stuff like this, but I sometimes wonder if it would even matter; the search tools have been intentionally designed in a certain way, and I can't imagine them changing them and risking alienating those who, for example, know where to find and how to use search templates.

Matt Hamrick

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1310223#Comment_1310223

I seldom search my entire library because that's 35,000 resources. So I search key collections I have made. And I do Bible searches too. I am not at my desktop computer to show you but if you open a search panel you can find the templates on the upper left three bar menu. Click that and you will see the templates. Most of my searches are from the Bible and if you do multiple searches multiple search panels open so click on the panel menu of the search and click send Searches here.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1310226#Comment_1310226

I guess this makes my previous point quite well—right aways there's a difference between clicking on the magnifying glass in a resource's panel and clicking on the magnifying glass on the top panel. So which "search panel" is it...? You're referring to the one at the top (as I discovered), but why is 'search' not search?! I have to learn different practises for different search options because not all the options are available in both... "Simple searches" (the title of this thread) are not, in Logos. You've got to hold your tongue just right, so to speak, and if you're not..., well, that's why I posted in the first place—I found myself quite stuck. :-(

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1310236#Comment_1310236

I guess this makes my previous point quite well—right aways there's a difference between clicking on the magnifying glass in a resource's panel and clicking on the magnifying glass on the top panel. So which "search panel" is it.

You might find the information at https://support.logos.com/hc/en-us/articles/360039621591-Introduction-to-Search helpful

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1310223#Comment_1310223

So all I wanted to do was search the commentary for 'hesed' and find that information

And you were on exactly the right lines. If you had entered hesed in the search box you opened Logos would have filtered the commentary to just show where those words appeared

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1310236#Comment_1310236

You've got to hold your tongue just right, so to speak, and if you're not..., well, that's why I posted in the first place—I found myself quite stuck. :-(

It's clear to me, your Dad failed on tongue-holding training (joking). Mine spent untold hours explaining .... back in the days you repaired things.

I'm just waiting for the subscription-engine to rev up to full power this fall. "No .. All Search, but maybe Book Search." Or "All Bible Text but not All Bibles Text". Or you don't own that feature. Or you don't subscribe to that feature. Or ... well, your internet is off, or maybe you logged in wrong. Or ...

That tongue is going need holding just right!

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1310198#Comment_1310198

I see people still having to learn "hieroglyphics" to write out some searches. To me that is "old time school" in today's world. It's time for Search to get with today and become a simple useful tool.

Like you, I agree that Logos search has got better and I am really impressed with the way they are using AI technology to support more natural language queries. But, for some really accurate results, I really struggle to envisage being able to do this without some form of "parameterised search".

Take, for example, the question as to where in the New Testament God appears as the subject of a verb where Jesus is the object.

Google's Gemini recognised this was a complex question:

A straight Google search didn't really help

A Logos Smart Search highlighted some useful information but didn't answer the question

while a Clause Search gave a very precise answer.

The latter gives me much more confidence in including this type of information in a sermon as I know exactly the basis on which I am asking the question and how it will be answered (while I need to recognise this is dependent on Logos tagging).

I find this type of insight really helpful and is one of the reasons I personally think it is worth understanding how to conduct more of these precise searches.

Doc B

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1310241#Comment_1310241

I'm just waiting for the subscription-engine to rev up to full power this fall. "No .. All Search, but maybe Book Search." Or "All Bible Text but not All Bibles Text". Or you don't own that feature. Or you don't subscribe to that feature. Or ... well, your internet is off, or maybe you logged in wrong. Or ...

That tongue is going need holding just right!

LOL, me too.

I just find it mildly amusing (if not ironic) that when someone posts about the difficulty of simple searches in Logos, quite a few well-meaning folks reply with workable solutions, and while helpful at getting answers, these solutions *always* prove the OP's initial premise that searches are too complicated. FWIW.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1310129#Comment_1310129

Hi Justin,

I don't actually have an option for "Your Books" when I click "All Passages". And "Your Books" doesn't appear anywhere else on the search bar:

I'm not sure where you're finding that.

Paul

Justin is referring to using the more general search tool accessible from the program, not resource, toolbar.

That's interesting. My in-resource search has a drop-down for choosing books, Bibles, or morphs (Feb 24 edition of Verbum). Did they remove the choice?

That's one reason I stopped updating ... I figured quite a bit would disappear before Fall.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1310254#Comment_1310254

That's interesting. My in-resource search has a drop-down for choosing books, Bibles, or morphs (Feb 24 edition of Verbum). Did they remove the choice?

No it's still there

To get those options may require a certain feature set level and it is possible Paul hasn't purchased yet (but that's only speculation)

Andrew Batishko

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1310254#Comment_1310254

That's interesting. My in-resource search has a drop-down for choosing books, Bibles, or morphs (Feb 24 edition of Verbum). Did they remove the choice?

The available options are different in different books. If you aren't in a Bible and aren't in a book with Morphology tagging, then there's only one option, and in that case the selector is hidden because it just takes up room and serves no purpose.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1310264#Comment_1310264

Thank you, Andrew.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1310201#Comment_1310201

I will never understand why search is so complicated when there are templates to use.

Not reflecting on your points, Matt.

But this AM I clicked on the search templates icon, and then clicked on one. It popped me to window #2 to display the template. I tried it again, and this time, window #3. Getting the hang of it, I tried it again (seeing a pattern). And indeed, it jumped to window #4. But! Closing the popup, returns to the originating window (#1).

I'm trying to guess what coding could generate that pattern.

Added: Graham, thank you ... I missed seeing your answer.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1310479#Comment_1310479

I'm trying to guess what coding could generate that pattern.

Hmmm ... I would try 2 shots dark roasted arriba, preferrable freshly roasted or 4 Chinese sized teacups of kukicha tea brewed at 176 degrees F. followed by ...

Clicking on use template link, open template panel on the left.
Clicking on a template name, opens an input popup to use that template.
Cancel deletes input popup; search moves the search argument into the (original) search panel and runs the search ...

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1310504#Comment_1310504

Yes, you could. Jump three hoops. Skip over 2 river rocks. And describe what didn't happen. But not a problem ... just add to the buggy Logos software list. [:D]

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1310520#Comment_1310520

just add to the buggy Logos software list.

My problem is that I need to understand what you are seeing to report it as a bug ... and I do consider design bugs to make "working as designed" a hollow excuse. I am starting to think, based on your posts, that there are a number of bugs related to missing expected data ...