TIP - Setting up and using Floating Windows for extended study

John Fidel
John Fidel MVP Posts: 3,387
edited November 20 in English Forum

I have been reviewing and reworking some of my layouts. My layouts are generally set up as templates, which means I use the standard layout and then enter my pericope or topic that I am studying. Some of the more specialized template layouts are for MT/LXX studies, Pericope Analysis using the text flow feature in the Sentence Diagramming tool and OT use in the NT studies.

Recently I have been using a simple layout for studying the bible and then run across a verse that I wanted to extend my study by using one of the above layouts. Then I was thinking, what if I could open a floating window (I have only one monitor, but you can more it to a second monitor if you have one) that did the same thing except I did not need to leave my current layout.

Here are the steps to set this up so you can, with a few tweaks, have these type of layouts available on demand to add to your current layout as a floating window.

For our example I am going to use my OT/NT Layout which looks like this:

It uses Logos Now Multiview, but you could simply link multiple windows instead. The hebrew and greek texts are set so all links are sent to those resources. When I click on an OT verse it opens the LHB and a NT verse the UBS 5. It also has the Commentary on the NT use of the OT and a harmony of the OT/NT,

To set this up for use as a floating window I go to tools and open favorites. I created a new folder called "Floating tools", and then a sub folder called "OT in the NT Support" as shown below:

I then dragged each resource from that I want included in the floating window from the layout. You can see I dragged the LHB+, UBS 5+, Commentary of the NT use of the OT, and the OT/NT harmony.

Now close all windows and open your default bible to Mark 1.2-3 along with perhaps the PG. You notice that it is two OT verses being used.  You now want to bring up your OT/NT floating window to go with your current layout. Here is how:

Here is the basic layout:

Open favorites and right mouse click on the OT in the NT Support folder and click on open all in a floating window:

You will get a floating window with each resource open in a separate tab:

Now move the resources where you want them and select send hyperlinks here on the LHB and UBS 5:

You now have a floating window to compliment your layout. You can link those windows you want to your default bible if you will be moving around and even save the layout for future use.

I hope this gives you some ideas for expanding your layouts, especially if you are on a single screen or laptop.

If you want to see the other two floating tools I use, let me know. If you have some of your own or some ideas for some, please post them.

Comments

  • Rodney Phillips
    Rodney Phillips Member Posts: 656

    Thank you for this.  I would love to see your other two floating tools.

    Always looking for layout ideas..

  • James Taylor
    James Taylor Member Posts: 1,408 ✭✭✭

    Great idea thanks!

    Logos 10  | Dell Inspiron 7373 | Windows 11 Pro 64, i7, 16GB, SSD | iPhone 13 Pro Max

  • GaoLu
    GaoLu Member Posts: 3,484 ✭✭✭

    Thanks!

    Please do share you other floating window ideas.  

  • MJ. Smith
    MJ. Smith MVP Posts: 53,407

    John, I really appreciate your chipping in on providing hints. There are so many ways of using Logos that we really need multiple voices.

    Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."

  • Robert M. Warren
    Robert M. Warren Member Posts: 2,452 ✭✭✭

    Thanks.  I hadn't thought of that and it seems so obvious now.

    macOS (Logos Pro - Beta) | Android 13 (Logos Stable)

    Smile

  • John Fidel
    John Fidel MVP Posts: 3,387

    Thank you for this.  I would love to see your other two floating tools.

    Always looking for layout ideas..

    Here one of the other layouts and then floating window favorites folders with some notes about what you need to tweak after you open as a floating window to make it work similar to a layout.

    Note: the diagram is just started and not my end result that will be captioned on the left similar to the proportional outlined using my own terminology.

    Here is the Text Flow Layout:

    Here are the individual tabs on the right: ESV, OpenText Visual Graph, HDNT, LEB with propositional outlines filter and the LDGNT. I open a new or continue using the Sentence Diagram set for Text Flow, importing the pericope from the ESV. I then do a first draft of my sentence flow; open the visual graph and tweak the diagram, then open some of the discourse resources and finally compare my end product to the LEB with propositional outlines.

    This helps me slow down my reading of the texts. Some times I am studying and want to add this layout as a floating window to the layout I am working in.

    Now that you see what I include, you can decide what works best for you.

    Move each of the tabs from the layout to your new favorites folder, so it should look similar to this:

    Right click and open all in a floating window:

    Move the sentence diagram to the left:

    Now you can open a new sentence diagram easiest by clicking on the + sign to the right of the sentence diagram that opened; change verses; link the resources to the right etc. You can then save this as a layout if you wish.

    Let me know if you have any questions.

    I really recommend this kind of work to help slow down and think in reading the text. You can open the proposed outline visual filter, but the work is what helps me. I always like to check my work against some of the other resources. There are also some Lexham Greek texts in outline form if you prefer to work either syntacticly or grammarically.

  • John Fidel
    John Fidel MVP Posts: 3,387
    MJ. Smith said:

    John, I really appreciate your chipping in on providing hints. There are so many ways of using Logos that we really need multiple voices.

    Glad to pitch in. Not always sure if what I am demonstrating is of interest, but I will keep throwing ideas out in the event it helps someone.
  • Bruce Dunning
    Bruce Dunning MVP Posts: 11,143

    Glad to pitch in. Not always sure if what I am demonstrating is of interest, but I will keep throwing ideas out in the event it helps someone.

    John, this is an excellent thread. It caused me to set up something similar and play with it. Thanks.

    Using adventure and community to challenge young people to continually say "yes" to God

  • John Fidel
    John Fidel MVP Posts: 3,387

    Here is my third floating window. I will not go into the details of setting it up, since I have already demonstrated the process. It is for MT/LXX studies. It is only 3 windows, but with MultiView and corresponding words (Logos NOW) I am able to have the ESV+LHB+LXX+LES; below is the Concise Hebrew Lexicon+TLOT; and last is the Greek English Lexicon of the Septuagint+ Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the septuagint. I really like the two LXX lexicons.

    I use it with a more standard layout that has the guides, bible text, info window and text comparisons as my main layout.

    However I can easily call it up during any study. HINT: size the floating window so the info window still shows.

    That's all I have on floating windows. Let me know if you come up with others.