slow speed

Richard DeRuiter said:

This is a known issue. It's particularly noticeable with some configurations (hardware & software). There is some beta testing going on right now for version 4.0a that addresses some speed issues. I'm not sure how much this one is addressed, since it's not been something I've seen on my machine.

In the meantime, some report better use by setting "Use Internet" to "No" (from the Tools>Program Settings menu), and/or by turning off some background tasks, especially anti-spyware, and by turning off "Tablet PC Input Service" from the Services menu of Windows (Vista/Win7). There's probably more going on, but so far the cause for these issues is not fully understood.

On my computers, none of this really helps and the beta is not much better. It improves overall program performance, but not the notes problem.

I too am getting infuriatingly slow response at times from Logos 4.  Today, I'm trying to narrow down books in the Library, so I type in some text at the command box at the top.  It takes 20s to see the text and a further 15s for the list to be filtered accordingly.  When I'm trying to right-click on a resource to prioritise it, the response is so slow that it seems that it is not working, so I click again, and a few seconds later the first click options appear and soon disappear, and so on. Then I eventually look and see that L4 is synchronising itself, as the CPU icon (which I have visible permanently) has been between 50-100% for quite some time, and it didn't all appear to be just the filtering in the floating Library pane. 

L4 takes control away from me, and do its own thing, sometimes at the most inconvenient times.  When I am in a hurry, and can least afford for slow response, I find that it decides to do something like an update, and then index.  It's slow enough at times, without having to cope with additional delays.  It would be good, if not essential, if we had the option of when to allow synchronisation.  This would allow us to do it at our convenience, and avoid additional frustration.  All other software that I know of respects the user's control and does not do updates without their agreement.  This could be either for each update, or update automatically, as it does at the minute.  If the slow response to typing etc was because I had triggered or allowed an update, I would perfectly understand that there would be a performance impact while it was doing the update.  And a popup or indication to show that it was complete would be good too.

I already have 'Send feedback' set to 'None', but it seems that I
should set 'Use internet' to 'No' now as well.  Does 'Sync now' download updates as well as sync notes etc?  If so, this would be a workaround to allow me to see if an update is available, although a notification (with details and size of update) would be better.

And everything else is lightening fast, so the computer configuration not being bleeding edge technology should not be blamed for the problem.  I too struggle with jerky scrolling, but I just live with it as an annoyance.  Yet,  I'm increasingly having to use free software for a lot of basic Bible searches, as many take about 30s to display (despite reporting only a fraction of a second to search), while I still use L4 for accessing other resources. 

L4 is a great resource, with lots of advanced features, and I applaud the team for producing such software in general.  But the slowness has contributed towards taking the buzz right out of using it for me.

Donovan R. Palmer said:

John Duffy said:

But the slowness has contributed towards taking the buzz right out of using it for me.

Just out of curiosity, can you post your system specs (i.e. OS, computer speed, etc)?

I'm running WIndows XP Pro SP3, 3Gb RAM, Core 2 Duo T5870 @ 2.0GHz, HDD 5400rpm 150GB (95GB used) recently degragged, dual onboard Intel 965 Express graphics, 17" internal and 22" external VGA monitor, Spyware Doctor running with L4 flagged as safe app (makes no diff if it is disabled).  According to the Logos website, this meets the recommended requirements for using L4.  The onboard graphics would be a problem for gaming, but I don't see how that could be the root cause of the delay in the presentation of search results on the screen, especially as all other software runs so fast.  When problems occur, almost all of the time the CPU icon (minimised) is up to between 50-100% for ages, and I hear the CPU fan working overtime, while the hard disc is occasionally flashing a lot only at the start of searches.  The only other program that is running in the background most of the time is Outlook.

I wonder if they are referencing "compatibility modes" like "Win98 mode" or are they talking about the check boxes also....?

Steve Sando said:

John, I had the exact same symptoms.  It turned out to be an issue with 'Ink Services' and Logos.  Maybe you have seen this thread.  But, I hadn't and spent a few weeks narrowing down the trouble.  Check out this procedure for turning off Ink Services:

http://community.logos.com/forums/p/5627/44200.aspx

Ink services are turned on for Tablet PCs, but also if you install a digitizing pad or who knows whatelse.  I have a tablet and have to forgo the features in order us use Logos, but it was worth it.

Thanks Steve, but I don't even have that service listed in XP Pro, so can't turn it off.

Just clicking on "Run as administrator" and turning off Tablet Input Services has made L4 a whole new animal on my machine.  It is WAY more responsive and my scroll device works on my mouse pad.  It's still not quite up to par with some other windows programs but is much better.  Thanks guys.  Again, this is a shining example of great community with L4.  I really appreciate all of you.

John,

The "ink services" for XP are found in the "regional and language options" (ie. Start=>Control Panel=>regional and language options), then click the languages tab and the then the "details" of the text services and input languages.  You will find the "ink services" located under the keyboard section.  Try removing it.

God bless! -JoeK

Typing in notes doesn't keep up for me either.

My biggest issue with typing is when I try and type a word in an ENGLISH dictionary like (Merriam-Web/ or Concise Oxford ED)  If I type a word in the ref. box for a diff. resource it isn't a prob.  But it is a major prob. for those dictionaries (10 sec+ delay)

Richard DeRuiter said:

Jeremiah Daniel Morris said:

Typing in notes doesn't keep up for me either.

My biggest issue with typing is when I try and type a word in an ENGLISH dictionary like (Merriam-Web/ or Concise Oxford ED)  If I type a word in the ref. box for a diff. resource it isn't a prob.  But it is a major prob. for those dictionaries (10 sec+ delay)

I saw some degraded performance with these resources too. It has to do with L4 populating the list of suggestions.

There is significant improvement in for me now using Beta 5. So expect improvement here when 4.0a is released some time in the next couple of weeks.

 

Actually I loaded the beta today and am currently using it.  I'm suprised you are experiencing a significant improvement for the Eng. Dict, I'm not noticing a change.  odd...

Steve Sando said:

Douglas,  I was skeptical that running as administrator would make a difference, but I tried it anyway.  Yup, it sure seems to.

I feel bad for John, and the other folks whose UI is stuck in the mud.  These performance problems have nothing to do with how much hardware - John's system should be just fine. 

The product really is great, when you can use it.  When it's running in that mode it is kinda like a dead dog - looks good on the porch, but not good for much.

I was also skeptical that turning off "ink services", which is the tablet input services in Win 7, would do any good.  Richard recommended that to me a week ago but I didn't try it.  I should have listened.  It really helped.  Last night, I spent three hours studying the first three verses of revelation.  Now, a good part of that time was spent reading resources and meditating on what I had read.  But a significant amount of that time was spent muddling through the UI.  Today, I have covered the next four verses in half that time and the UI is blazing right along.  It is like the chains have been cut off and some of the horsepower of my processor can work for me now. 

BTW, I love the dead dog analogy.

Joseph M Kreifels said:

John,

The "ink services" for XP are found in the "regional and language options" (ie. Start=>Control Panel=>regional and language options), then click the languages tab and the then the "details" of the text services and input languages.  You will find the "ink services" located under the keyboard section.  Try removing it.

God bless! -JoeK

Joseph, that works and makes scrolling much more responsive.  That's great.  Thank you for pointing me in that direction for XP. I tried to replicate a sync update while searching the library at the same time, but there was nothing to sync.  That may be fixed too, but I'm not sure.

However, the searching problem still exists.  I've disabled all realtime processes except email scanner in Spyware Doctor just in case.  For example, a search for "Saul" in 'Acts' in the 'NIV' takes 39 seconds to display (aligned) 33 results in 29 verses, while it reports that it took 0.89 sec to run the search.  Another free product takes much less than 1sec to fully display the same results, and I can open the program, enter the criteria, and get the results quicker than it takes L4 to display after hitting enter for the search.  I wish it was different, though, and that the tech guys at Logos can come up with a solution.  Here's hoping.

DouglasEStephens said:

Rosie Perera said:

I've set it to "Run as administrator" but it's a pain having to confirm the UAC elevation request each time I start it up. Fortunately I usually leave Logos running all the time so I rarely have to start it up.

Yes, I agree that is one more hassle to put up with.  But the improved performance outweighs the inconvenience of pushing a button at load time.  Hopefully, they'll get this fixed one day.  I have a lot more confidence in that happening now.

Oh yes, I agree! I don't think it's something Logos needs to fix. It's a Windows thing. Does anyone know of a way to override User Account Control for just one program that you trust (i.e., Logos) so you can run it in administrator mode without the elevation prompt and without turning off UAC altogether (which can be a security risk)?