Passage Guide Search offline?

Thornell - First, welcome to the forums!

Thornell said:

I am new to the forums and was wandering if Logos has developed a way for us to perform passage study while offline.

It depends upon what you mean by "passage study." The "passage guide" uses the logos servers to perform searches. A Logos search is quite complex. In Logos 4, it requires an "index," which allows you to perform the searches offline. To perform something similar on the mobile device offline would require all books to be downloaded and indexed as well. 

You can search your books, however, while offline. The most recently used books will be listed as options. If there is another book you want to search, simply open the book and it will appear in the "recent" list.

Again, to answer your question, "passage guide" searches must be performed online. Simple searches of books can be performed offline.

Thornell said:

I guess what I am asking is why is there not a feature that allows "indexing" of downloaded files to the iPad's hard drive so that I can use the software on the moble device in the same manner I use it on my lap top.

Right now the answer is simple: your iPad isn't as powerful, which is why complex searches are performed on the Logos servers. I don't know if this will become localized or not. My guess is "yes," but it will be a while yet. A post by Bob which is off topic but related can be found HERE.

A solution that might come sooner is the ability to search ALL downloaded resources while offline, or the ability to search collections.

Perhaps you can explain a bit more about how you use the passage guide? What information are you looking for when you use it?

Kenneth Morris said:

Why not just let it use the prior PG so I can use it again later when no longer connected?

I assume that this is a memory issue with your device. Apps don't normally "shut down" but go into hibernation. As long as your device keeps the Passage Guide in its memory, it will be available. When you start using other apps, or for some reason the device needs to release the memory, you will lose the PG. I could be wrong about that, but I think I am right. At the very least, it fits with the description of your experience.

Similarly, non downloaded books also work. If you have a book open, Logos will have some of the book in memory. As long as the iPad doesn't dump it, you will have access to part of that book.

If I am right, there isn't anything Logos can do about it… it is related to how iOS handles memory. Your experience, Kenneth, does give a partial solution to someone. [:)]

Thornell said:

I guess I do not understand how competing software already has the ability to do this and logos doesn't.

I am not aware of other software which provides what Logos does in the passage guide. Does the "other" software you mention have a passage guide that:

1. Provides links to your commentaries, in the order that you have prioritized them?
2. Provide a list of cross references?
3. Provide a list of parallel passages & harmonies?
4. Provide literary typing for the passage?
5. Provide media resources which relate to the passage?
6. Provide a list of topics based upon the passage?
7. Provide a list of "interesting words"?

Thornell said:

after I have performed my exegetical study a passage, I perform a passge guide study and check trusted sources to see what they have said on the passage. After I know what the passage says in the orginial lanuage, then I see what additional insight God may have given to others who have written commentaries.

It sounds like you are not asking about original language work offline, but rather, you want access to your commentaries. This, of course, is something you can still do with logos offline… you just may not be able to do it from the "Passage Guide." You can open the commentaries of your choice from the library and turn to the passage you are studying.

Thornell said:

I am not trashing a product that I have already invested thousands in, I simply desire more functionality of the product with my I pad.

I didn't think that you were… I am just intending a friendly conversation and trying to understand you better. [:)] I think we can all agree that the app would be much more useful, to those like yourself without steady internet, to have these features offline. In addition to the Passage Guide, there are many more who long for word studies offline.

I wasn't trying to badger you, but you implied that another software "already does" offline, what you are wanting Logos to do. My understanding is different than yours, and if I am mistaken, I would like to be better informed. Does the other company do those same things that I mentioned in my last post?

One final suggestion/thought. If I am understanding your need correctly, your greatest concern is being able to pull up commentaries quickly while you are studying a passage. Is that your primary concern? Have you tried split screen and linking your panels? With this method, if you were in a passage (Hebrews 11, for example), and had the panels linked, you can open up your copy of the BECNT on Hebrews, and it would open to the right passage. As long as you activate the second panel, the new commentary will always open to the right passage. Just an idea until PG are available offline. [:)]