Can someone point me in the direction of a good layout for doing exegetical work?
I'm sure some people will answer you here on this thread, but in the meantime while you're waiting, here's a wiki page with links to several past forum threads where people posted recommended layouts. You might find some good suggestions in those.
https://wiki.logos.com/Layouts_useful_to_Users
Thank you for the info. I'm going to look at it all this coming week.
Hi Jonathan,
I generally like my layouts as follows: 3 columns with the guides and tools on the left; biblical texts center and resources on the right.
My exegetical layout consists of:
left side: A Custom Exegetical Guide, Information Window, Search
Center Top: English RI
Center Bottom: Greek Text, Lexham Discourse GNT, Opentext visual, English compare text, Greek compare text.
Right side: Lexicons for Greek, LXX and Hebrew
My layout will automatically switch to Hebrew or LXX exegesis by using the Series function in my library, so I have lexicons on the right for all three studies. These are really just place holders so the resources I open will open in that pane. Screenshots below.
For instruction on creating a custom exegetical guide review this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jy9taS_QdRI
The collections that I find helpful in addition Grammars that I added to my custom guide are Grammar and Language Commentaries and Exegetical and Hermeneutical resources. You can either develop your own collections or find them here: https://faithlife.com
Type collections in the search box, select a group, join it and then click on documents. Post back if you need more help.
I keep my notes outside Logos, but you could easily add a note file to the layout. Hope this gives you some ideas. You can add technical commentaries to the custom guide if you wish, but I like to refer to them after my initial work.
Reading Free Book => https://www.logos.com/zondervan-free-book-2015 provided reminder about reverse interlinear deceptiveness. Personally like visual filter highlighting of Greek morphological and Louw-Nida tagging in English, Greek, and Spanish resources so am Thankful for reverse interlinear tagging. Wiki has => https://wiki.logos.com/Extended_Tips_for_Highlighting_and_Visual_Filters#Examples_of_visual_filters
Exegetical layout variation is placing English and Greek so each has their own context while out of easy peripheral vision reach:
Sympathetic highlighting shows corresponding lemma in other resources: e.g selecting σπουδὴν in NA27 w/ Apparatus highlights effort in Lexham English Bible. In Top middle, can have NA27 w/Apparatus so can consider textual variants, which is linked to other resources for scrolling.
An option in Bottom Middle is commentaries. Thankful can rearrange as desired.
For Text Comparison, can use a collection:
Keep Smiling [:)]
John's answers are always educational and practical. He could easily get a 'night job' as a Logos trainer and make the big bucks (like Graham). And KSFJ is the expert on automated resource highlighting.
Since many will pass through here for possible value, I would add some additional thoughts:
- The layout really reflects your familiarity with the resources. If you have your favorite authors, and a preferred workflow, then your base layout should reflect that. Then you 'add' resources day-to-day to concentrate on a specific area, type of theology, etc. I think that's the way George works. That's also the way I work.
- Layouts can take advantage of some of the peculiarities of Logos:
> If you use the right-click menu a lot (as I do), by keeping a tool panel open in your layout, Logos will add the next one in the next tab. So for example, I keep a search panel open for my day-to-day searches. But when I use a right-click search, Logos puts it right next to my other searches. Very handy also for word studies, etc. I always know where Logos will put things. No surprises.
> The layout approach from Logos4 onwards, allows you to drag panel 'borders' up/down and right/left, 'smashing up' whatever is in the way. This comes in handy, by keeping a vertical series of lexicon panels by language ... in my case, hebrew, greek, aramaic/syriac/arabic and english/coptic. Whenever I'm working the OT, I simply grab the border of the hebrew group down all the way (which quishes up all the other lexicon panels automatically). Later when in the greek I simply move the border up, squishing up the hebrew. Very efficient. And I order lexicons in a language by the period it addresses, left to right.
> A lot of people worry about large layouts. But keep in mind, the pressure on the CPU is for what you're looking at (visually available). So linking 10 lexicons together is not significant if only 1 is visible. I keep almost 120 resources open on 4 windows with little impact on my CPU (a 2011 lenovo). The key is to watch what is visibly linked ... resources, guides, highlighting tools, etc. for maintaining a snappy workspace. And why so many open? Because I'm a visual person ... I want to know where every books is, while I'm working ... just like on a desktop.
> John notes the importance of how you structure your library. But I'll add the principle, always prioritize the most specific resources ahead of the most general, within a language. Logos looks downward through your priorities until it gets a 'hit'. So for lexicons, and depending on your interests, the most unsual lexicon goes first in priority, while analytical lexicons go last. Thus, even with an untagged resource, you can right-click a work and get an answer.
> And take advantage of Logos' unusual ability to customize your library, the reason being that you can operate with a 'thin' layout and then quickly get extra books from your library (I keep the library open always in the first window). Tags allow quickly grouping in the library (collections demand filtering). Sorts can easily be changed by re-titling your resources (I've re-titled most of my reference books). That way, even with a basic layout, you can quickly find what you're needing. And short titles improve the read-ability of your tabs in your layout.
John Fidel,
When you say you keep notes outside of Logos, I assume you mean on something like Word or Pages?
Also, would you mind sharing how you sort your custom exegetical guide?
Thanks!
And, if you don't mind, what rule do you use for sorting your exegetical works into a collection for your guide? I haven't been very successful and learning the whole rules thing yet..
Jonathan,
My notes are in Word. Logos notes and highlighting are good features, just not how I choose to track my thoughts.
I actually have my entire library tagged and then just use the tags to build collections. It was a one time, time consuming task, but now easily maintained. Sorry can't just provide you a formula, but they are readily available.
Have you clicked on the link for faith life I provided and looked at the collections that are already available? Attached is a pdf that explains in more detail with images and links. It also explains the custom guides I have set up. I know it requires some time, but it is worth it.
If that does not answer your questions, post back.
Denise, thanks for your comments and additions as they are very helpful.
8662.0385.Creating%20the%20Most%20useful%20Collections.pdf
Hi John,
Thank you for this layout and the collection information. The layout is awesome. I set it up in less than 30 mins (with collections) and I am loving it. I have several workspaces for Bible Study and sermon prep, but this layout is great!
Glad to be of help. God bless.
