Worst search ever

Michael E. Freeman
Michael E. Freeman Member Posts: 7 ✭✭
edited November 2024 in English Forum

Admittedly, I am far from an expert on the finer points of the Logos search feature.  I often have the problem of narrowing down my search results to a manageable number focused on the information I am really looking for.  However, for the last several days, in preparation for a lesson I am teaching on Matthew 6, I tried searching my fairly extensive Logos library for resources, especially other than study Bible notes and commentaries, that might have some reference to the passage I am to teach.  When I did a basic search: Description; Title; Topic in All Resources for Matthew 6, only two results were found: two photos from the Faithlife Study Bible.

I repeated the search for Matthew.  This time 90 results were found, but in only 8 resources.  I have more than 8 Bibles and commentaries that should have contained references to Matthew.  Only one commentary was among the 8 resources found, and it only produced two results.

I tried the search once more using "Sermon on the Mount" as my search criterion.  The results were similarly disappointing.  I don't recall the exact numbers for the results, but they were very small in comparison to what I had expected, and not very helpful for my study.

I have been a Logos user for about 20 years - all the way back to version 1 (I think that I still have my original floppies somewhere).  I have never encountered this type of problem when performing a search.  Is this a bug in the software?  Is it just a problem with my particular installation?  What do I need to do to improve my search results?  TIA

Comments

  • HJ. van der Wal
    HJ. van der Wal Member Posts: 1,804 ✭✭✭

     When I did a basic search: Description; Title; Topic in All Resources for Matthew 6

    You should search "All Text in All Resources".

  • Michael E. Freeman
    Michael E. Freeman Member Posts: 7 ✭✭

    Yes, I remember that, now that you mention it.  I did not see that as an option, but typed it in.  It worked.  Thank you!

  • NB.Mick
    NB.Mick MVP Posts: 16,328

    I tried searching my fairly extensive Logos library for resources, especially other than study Bible notes and commentaries, that might have some reference to the passage I am to teach.  When I did a basic search: Description; Title; Topic in All Resources for Matthew 6, only two results were found: two photos from the Faithlife Study Bible.

    Hm. I'm not sure whether what you typed in as search or an indexing issue is at hand. 

    Going from the examples supplied, the syntax to search for a bible reference is to put it into brackets made from the smaller than/greater than signs,
    like <Mt 6> - when I restrict this in my library to the type:monograph books, I get a multitude of hits:

    EDIT: description, title and topic are typical taggings applied to pictures (as you found). If you don't want to use All Text, Heading Text and especially Large Text are the search fields that may help and get my result count down to 187 results in 67 resources

    Have joy in the Lord! Smile

  • HJ. van der Wal
    HJ. van der Wal Member Posts: 1,804 ✭✭✭

    I did not see that as an option, but typed it in.  It worked.  Thank you!

    Shalom Michael!

    I'm glad it worked.

    And welcome to the forums!

  • Dave Hooton
    Dave Hooton MVP Posts: 36,339

    I tried the search once more using "Sermon on the Mount" as my search criterion.

    For a topic like this try Topic Guide or Factbook - which don't require quotes, or angle brackets around the words. Start by typing Sermon and you should get some suggestions, including the one you want! Sometimes you have to type more than one word.

    Dave
    ===

    Windows 11 & Android 13

  • However, for the last several days, in preparation for a lesson I am teaching on Matthew 6, I tried searching my fairly extensive Logos library for resources, especially other than study Bible notes and commentaries ...

    Created a collection with rule:

    Language:English -Type:(Bible,"Bible Commentary","Bible Notes")

    Searched for reference to pray within Matthew 6 reference:

    pray WITHIN {Milestone <Bible Mt 6>}

    Keep Smiling [:)]

  • George Somsel
    George Somsel Member Posts: 10,150 ✭✭✭

    Hmmm, I did a search on "all text" in "all resources" and all I got was a measly 59,280 hits.  [:P]

    george
    gfsomsel

    יְמֵי־שְׁנוֹתֵינוּ בָהֶם שִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה וְאִם בִּגְבוּרֹת שְׁמוֹנִים שָׁנָה וְרָהְבָּם עָמָל וָאָוֶן

  • Jack Caviness
    Jack Caviness MVP Posts: 13,636

    Hmmm, I did a search on "all text" in "all resources" and all I got was a measly 59,280 hits.  Stick out tongue

    That should be a sign that you have not purchased enough resources—Perhaps another interlinear or two [;)]