PBB Update?

Just because an official Logos PBB marketplace isn't opened up doesn't mean we couldn't still share the files. 

Bob indicated that sharing of PBB files would come later (with note files, I assume). If each PBB resource is in fact saved as a separate resource file then we should be able to share them. I suppose we'd have to download them and SCAN them in. 

I don't know if that is going to be the case, but would like to know, as it will make PBB files useful for me from the start.

That's exactly what I am hoping for. The problem would be if Logos 4 would not allow reading other than my own PBBs. It was the scenario of the v3 Private PBBs. If we can use SCANED files in our Logos 4, would that be a solution for MAC (at least at the beginning) somebody would create a conversion utility (from old PBB to the new format), working on both Windows and MAC platforms? Would Logos be able to convert StillTruth files if we pay for them doing that (let's say via Community Pricing)?

If we can use SCANED files in our Logos 4, would that be a solution for MAC (at least at the beginning) somebody would create a conversion utility (from old PBB to the new format), working on both Windows and MAC platforms?

That really would not help me. I am more interested in creating PBB than in converting older ones.

So far, no one from Logos has even acknowledged that a problem exists here, even though I have asked the questions several times.

Yes, I realize that and I am sorry for that. I think Logos should find some solution to keep the parity of the features, although it might mean not the immediate parity. It might be asking really uninformed question, but is it too costly or annoying the system or causing some other problems to have a virtual Windows system (like BootCamp) on the MAC to be able to produce the PBBs on the Windows MS Word? I realize you would have to pay for the BootCamp or similar system, for the Windows OS and for the MS Word. But is there any other way? Has Logos anything to say to the matter?

If each PBB resource is in fact saved as a separate resource file then we should be able to share them.

Mark, each PBB resource should be a separate resource file, if I read a statement that they will be just like regular L4 resources correctly.

HOWEVER, regular L4 (or even L3) resources have a license key and you can view them only if you have a license (there is an FTP server that anyone can download a boatload of L3 resources, but they will not open without a proper license)

It was not so with the v3 PBBs. The public version of PBB builder was able to create PBBs that were possible to be seen on any Libronix 3 Base Package installation. Only private PBBs were possible to be seen only on the owners Libronix installation.

However, I do not want to use Windows, and Bob has promised parity between the two platforms.

I'm hoping that parity is truly achieved. I will switch to Mac if it is.  The lack of left-to-right text in MS Word for Mac is very disturbing to me. I have been keeping up with MS Word for Windows (2010 now) and really like it. I did not know the Mac version wasn't equally as matured.

It was not so with the v3 PBBs. The public version of PBB builder was able to create PBBs that were possible to be seen on any Libronix 3 Base Package installation. Only private PBBs were possible to be seen only on the owners Libronix installation.

Right, but we are talking about L4 PBBs that function like regular L4 resources. Shareable L3 PBBs were free BY DESIGN. I don't know if the "license look-up" was disabled on them or it was unlocked by default (these are two different things).

It is possible that L4 PBBs can be "scanned in," and thus shared for free, however I seriously doubt it. At best, we can share source files and compile the same resource for ourselves, but after BETA, there could be prohibitive cost to this as well.

The thing is that you were able to read public PBBs only if you owned one of the Base Packages which came with the pbb reading key for all (but foreign private) PBBs. I don't see any reason it cannot be the same with the Logos 4 PBBs.

The thing is that you were able to read public PBBs only if you owned one of the Base Packages which came with the pbb reading key for all (but foreign private) PBBs. I don't see any reason it cannot be the same with the Logos 4 PBBs.

Bohuslav, I understand what you are saying.

These are contrasts of the 2 versions:

• L3 PBBs were designed to be free for ALL who have a base package - not true for L4 (could be private, just like L3's or could be for sale)
• L3 PBBs were designed to be installed outside of the cloud (shared via email, downloaded from a 3rd party website, ...) - not true for L4 (it can only function via cloud.  Why? I believe it is precisely because of license control)

the reason for L3 and L4 differences are fundamentally architectural.

I believe, that if a L4 PBB author sets his creation as FREE, then and only then any person with a Base Package will be able to read it. 

What I was meaning to imply in my initial post that for the purposes of Beta, LOGOS will mark newly created L4 PBBs as PRIVATE (especially since sharing is not enabled, maybe even on purpose).  In that particular case (and again, I am supposing and speculating at this point) it could not be "imported" by a scan command, because of the licensing issue.

Yes Vladimir, I think you are right, although I would like to hope there would be SCAN import made available before the final sharing and selling system is implemented.

Jack,

I know that you're not really interested in workarounds (and I must say that a function dependent on Microsoft Word for WIndows seems limited) but is there any chance that the online version of Word (office.live.com) would meet your (our) needs?

Just out of curiosity, for those who are anxiously awaiting PBB, what are you waiting for? The ability to create PBB books? Or the ability to read them? And if "read", which ones, from where

My primary interest is to read the old L3 PBBs so I can work with them as a full-citizenship resource of L4 (I have over 800 - hard to part with many of these precious gems, which is why I still have L3).  Second is to make my own for myself and third is to share mine with others.  

On a side note, I was a bit surprised (like some others mentioned above) that Logos 4 will continue a relationship with a Microsoft product.  I use and like MS products, but it's hard to maximize your software functionality when it is joined at the hip (or even just holding hands) with someone else's software.  I was hoping the user side of the L4 PBB would be something simple and universal, like a PDF file.  Inexpensive and easy to create and upload for processing (lots of word processing products can output to PDF format).  Apparently the compiler uses XML (which is good) and so the DOCX file format was chosen.  Too bad a PDF can't be submitted, passed through a XML converter/generator and then be processed.

In the mean time I'll consider copying from my most treasured L3 PBBs and pasting them into MS Word (ouch) so I can get them into L4.  I learned a long time ago that in software development any information/data need can be solved with enough time and money (Logos 4 being a great example of success), so I look forward to an easier way to get the old PBBs into L4.

It sounds like L3 PBB was used more and became a more important feature than anyone realized.  I can't imagine the time and cost dear souls of Christ spent creating all of those PBBs.  Those of us who benefited thank you for your hard work.  Hebrews 6:10.

Possibly the solution for the microsoft  problem is for logos to design their own word processor. I know many people have wanted the notes beefed up in L4, and I know it has been said that logos does not want to endeavor to make word processor product. A word processor that would handle greek, hebrew, aramaic, and latin proficiently would be excellent.  The problems is how long would that push back p.b.b

like a PDF file

PDF files are not that easy to work with.  For an example, go to any of the many web sites that converts a PDF file to a DOCX or HTML file.  Then convert a PDF file to see how well the program did the job.

I personally have not fond a good program or web site that did a good job in the conversion process.

What's going to happen to works that are already in PBB format that are available for free and also offered by Logos now like the Works of John Newton?

I can't speak for other PBB authors/compilers, but I will not compile for Logos 4 any PBBs that I created and released freely to the community for Libronix that have been subsequently offered for sale by Logos. In my case, I released PBBs of all of E.W. Hengstenberg's works but then after many months Logos compiled Hengstenberg's commentary on the Psalms and offered it for sale. So, I won't compile Hengstenberg's commentary on the Psalms going forward because I don't want to compete with Logos. I have made it a point not to compile books previously offered by Logos. As I said, this is how I view things but others may have a different view. I intend to compile all of the other 50+ PBBs I have compiled for Libronix for Logos 4 when PBB is released. I may even reach out for help in the compilation effort. [:)]