Speed searching topics

I have not found this information either already posted or in the manual, but perhaps I just missed it and one of you would be kind enough to tell me where it is.

I will use a search I was doing to illustrate what I am looking for. I wanted to find entries that discuss Jesus' purpose(s). As soon as it regards the Lord Jesus, we know what happens: it may be under Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ, Jesus-Christ. Then you add the word "purpose" in there, the possibilities multiply: Purposes, Jesus'; Jesus, purposes of; Purposes of Jesus; Jesus, the purposes of; Christ, purposes, etc, etc, etc.

What I am looking for is a way to formulate topic searches (operators, wildcards, etc) in order to find all topic headings that have "Jesus" and "purpose" in them. I fiddled with the basic search and the graphical query with no success. Or perhaps, the existing functionalities do not provide us with the power to do this? If so, then I would turn the question into a suggestion (as a functionality to add in future releases).

Here is something that would be really, really, really cool: imagine speed search usable with topic headings!

Along the same line, I don't know whether the topics.logos.com project is still underway. If so, an idea would be (once the list has been completed) to have it as a permanent, searchable, websites that users can use to identify relevant topic headings. For instance, I could search "purpose" and quickly skim through the entries to see if any refer to the Lord Jesus, Christ, etc.

But hopefully, the answer is already here. Comments?

Blessings,

Francis

Find more posts tagged with

Comments

Robert Pavich

Well,

wouldn't just a full library search like "Jesus'" within 5 words purpose accomplish the same thing?

Any place that Jesus' purpose appeared would be a hit....you'd have to dig through them but nothing's perfect.

Jesus' within 4 words mission wojuld be another one.

Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/16267#Comment_16267

No, Robert, this is not it. I tried it and the topic() operator does not work with the "within x words" operator. This being said, even if it had worked, it would have been such an imperfect method that I still think that speed searching would be a great and much better alternative. Perhaps along the other buttons in the speed searching window, there could be one to switch to topic search mode. Seeing that speed search produces results as one types and without respect for word order, it would be a great way to try different words or formulation when looking for topic headings.

Blessings,

Francis

Dave Hooton

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/16323#Comment_16323

This being said, even if it had worked, it would have been such an imperfect method that I still think that speed searching would be a great and much better alternative.

The topic() operator HAS TO WORK WITH THE LIMITATIONS OF THE RESOURCES. An article may claim to be a topic for "purpose", but the article discusses Agreement.

The Topic() operator itself is imperfect because it will not find a word anywhere in the topic as it works from the start of the text. And you can only use a wild card at the end of the term. You can't specify "purpose" with "Jesus" unless you guess a term like "purpose of Jesus", and then you'll miss the topic "purposes of Jesus". Other possibilities are "Jesus, purposes of"!

The speed search proposal is great provided "Topic" is made as flexible as a normal search mode eg. Jesus AND purpose*

Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/18388#Comment_18388

Good point, Dave and thanks for your feedback. I am surprised that there has not been greater interest in this suggestion.

Blessings,

Francis