More Comments on Handouts

I've searched a read a few of the comments concerning the Handouts module. It's clear that the customer is expecting more than what is being delivered. This is a tremendous tool but it is so underpowered it is pathetic. I just did a handout today for Sunday School tomorrow. Here are my beefs:

1. Default font: Why does it default to A770-DECO (Add Blank Item)?

2. No verse numbering

3. Can't change font size (except in Add Blank Item)

4. No print preview

5. No font preview. Am I supposed to remember what each font looks like? The drop-down should give you a preview

6. No spell check

7. Can't save with a different name.

8. Can't change colors

9. Can't change title.

10. It's slow.

That's just what I see and I'm sure there is more. Thanks.

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TCBlack

David, I doubt anyone has been more vocal on handouts than I have. Thanks for your list. While a part of me wants to agree that it is "so underpowered it's pathetic" I have to conceded that you and I are asking for more than it was designed for. The design goal is for a quick and dirty always ready to print item. Well it is that.

1. Default font: Why does it default to A770-DECO (Add Blank Item)?

I'd wager that alphabetically speaking that font is the first in your list of available fonts. mind is Abyssinca SIL.

2. No verse numbering

I was actually grateful for this one. usually I want nothing but text. Handouts in general are for reading and marking so for me lack of V#'s is a positive. To each his own.

3. Can't change font size (except in Add Blank Item)

that's where we get into the quick and dirty and always ready thing.

4. No print preview

Huh? Have you seen the right hand side of the handout screen? It is a print preview.

5. No font preview. Am I supposed to remember what each font looks like? The drop-down should give you a preview

Nice feature request. Some word processors do this, not all. It's a good idea. [y]

6. No spell check

Hmm... Another good idea.

7. Can't save with a different name.

Look above the print preview, you'll see the name of the handout in the top left corner, click the tiny pencil and rename it.

8. Can't change colors

Colors of....?

9. Can't change title.

The title is the same as the name in #7. Change it there.

10. It's slow.

Yeah. Optimizations are needed, that's for sure. Remember that slow is relative to your machine in many instances. My machine is growing older so I've attributed some of that to age, but then handouts is certainly slower than other L4 features.

Check out the handouts link in my sig for more handout rant. :-)

Handouts: fix them by never autofilling and forcefilling.

David Peddicord

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/54188#Comment_54188

Thanks for the tips.

1. Then under "Program Settings" what actually is the "default font"? It says "This font will be used as default in all resources". So which font is it? Or are you to be a mind reader and realise that I am supposed to set the default. No other package works that way.

2.. verse #. Understood, but you should have the choice (very basic)

4. Calling that a print preview is a stretch.

7. Changing the title (BTW, I didn't see that tiny "pencil". Thanks) is not the same as saving with a different name.

8. Colors of the schemes, the author, title, etc. How about changing font colors.

10. Dual core chip with 4 gigs of RAM. It's still sloooow.

Thanks so much for the tips.

Logos, are you listening?

TCBlack

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/54199#Comment_54199

1. Then under "Program Settings" what actually is the "default font"? It says "This font will be used as default in all resources". So which font is it?

I believe it's called Athelas. There are lots of posts on the forum about it. It's actually quite an attractive font.

Technically the handout is not a resource, it's a documents. Subtle difference, but it's enough. Beyond that you should know that Athelas is not available on your system unless you buy the font. Logos is licensed to use it to display, not to for us to use though. :-\

4. Calling that a print preview is a stretch.

I don't follow. It prints just like that. Thus = print preview.

7. Changing the title (BTW, I didn't see that tiny "pencil". Thanks) is not the same as saving with a different name.

Um, yes it is. Check the files menu and you'll see whatever you called it listed there.

Friedrich

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/54235#Comment_54235

i am reading this with interest, but I have to confess, after spouting initial enthusiasm for handouts--thinking they would be a way to "build a bible study" (Babs, for short . . . ) I quickly got confounded by it and haven't opened it since the first week or so of L4.

TCBlack

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/54247#Comment_54247

Daniel,

What are the issues that are keeping you at bay from using Handouts?

I know that Logos is listening, and I believe as we raise these concerns they will revisit them, though probably after some of the missing stuff is in.

David Peddicord

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/54235#Comment_54235

Print preview uses your default or selected printer driver (generally, I'm sure there are exceptions) as the layout can change depending on the printer selected. This is not "print preview".

Changing the name (title)every time you want to save a different version of the same document is not acceptable. In fact I think its dumb. Do you change the title of a document you create in Word everytime you make a change to the content? No. xxxx1.doc xxxx2.doc etc.
To do it as you suggest would mean changing the title of the same document as I make content changes, then go and change the title again when I'm finally done and ready to print.

Whoever programmed this particular feature seems to have designed it for a kid in Jr. High Elementary School and not for an adult who shelled out over $1,000.00 for the program. In fact, a lot of L4 reminds me of that.

There's more content control in this forum than in L4.

Friedrich

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/54264#Comment_54264

Daniel,

What are the issues that are keeping you at bay from using Handouts?

I know that Logos is listening, and I believe as we raise these concerns they will revisit them, though probably after some of the missing stuff is in.

it's been a while Tom, I will have to revisit handouts. At the time just a general feeling of "I don't seem to be able to add all content I would like to build a bible study" and "this is not very intuitive and a little clunky". I realize that is too general to help Logos refine it.

Friedrich

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/54321#Comment_54321

Print preview uses your default or selected printer driver (generally, I'm sure there are exceptions) as the layout can change depending on the printer selected. This is not "print preview".

Changing the name (title)every time you want to save a different version of the same document is not acceptable. In fact I think its dumb. Do you change the title of a document you create in Word everytime you make a change to the content? No. xxxx1.doc xxxx2.doc etc.
To do it as you suggest would mean changing the title of the same document as I make content changes, then go and change the title again when I'm finally done and ready to print.

Whoever programmed this particular feature seems to have designed it for a kid in Jr. High Elementary School and not for an adult who shelled out over $1,000.00 for the program. In fact, a lot of L4 reminds me of that.

There's more content control in this forum than in L4.

Can't say I agree that "a lot of L4" seems designed for Elem. kids. Wow, what a slam. I have had my share of frustrations, but I find L4 to be very powerful . . . even as many bugs are worked out. And for that matter, I am glad they released it earlier--even with some functionality issues--than had they waited till Feb or whenever. I have dropped my L3 use to zero. That being said, you made some good points about features that need added/changed and seem incomplete or not thought out in a way that seems (or is) intuitive to us. But still . . . most of L4????????? Sorry, I don't follow.

David Peddicord

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/54347#Comment_54347

LOL! Sorry, I should have been more specific. I was talking about content and program controls, or lack thereof. Not the actual content. L4 compared to L3 is like L4 has "parental controls" on what goes on under the hood and how you can tune it.

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/54264#Comment_54264

What are the issues that are keeping you at bay from using Handouts?

While I'm not Daniel, I bet even money you can guess why I don't use them ... I want to cover all the readings of the lectionary not a single passage.

TCBlack

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/54321#Comment_54321

Print preview uses your default or selected printer driver

A distinction I completely ignored. [8-)]

Note to self: WYSIWYG is not Print preview.....

Changing the name (title)every time you want to save a different version of the same document is not acceptable. In fact I think its dumb. Do you change the title of a document you create in Word everytime you make a change to the content? No. xxxx1.doc xxxx2.doc etc.
To do it as you suggest would mean changing the title of the same document as I make content changes, then go and change the title again when I'm finally done and ready to print.

Um... Are you asking for versioning? I use word processors fairly well and I still don't use versioning very often - though I do use it. If I create multiple similar documents they all have different names, unless I decide I no longer need doc1, I'll just overwrite it then.

Do you change the title of a document you create in Word everytime you make a change to the content?

No. And you don't have to here either. Change the name, edit it all you want and you're golden. Open it two days or years later and edit again and close it, it's saved. No problem.

It's late and I'm tired, I'm struggling really hard to understand what you mean by this....