New Notes Tool Coming Soon!

We’re excited to announce that we’re putting the finishing touches on our brand new notes system. All your notes and highlights are now ready to use in the new system, which automatically organizes everything in one place. Finding your notes and highlights is easier than ever. We’ve also made significant improvements to the performance of notes, especially for users who do a lot of note taking and highlighting.

This new system is coming soon to the Logos desktop and mobile apps, but you can take it for a test drive right now on the Logos web app.

This is your real, live data, not test data; so please be careful. Don’t delete anything you don’t want to lose. Changes you make in the current notes system on desktop and mobile will automatically show up in the new system, but not the other way around.

Look for an announcement soon about the new note system’s general availability. In the meantime, we wanted to give you the chance to start getting familiar with the all-new Logos Notes, so you’re well prepared for the transition.

Here’s what one tester said:

“I love the new notes system—it is faster, allows quickly finding and organizing your notes, and is all around more powerful.”

Check it out, and let us know what you think.

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Comments

Wild Eagle

Looks like Logos 8 is ready [;)]

Kiyah

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1002205#Comment_1002205

Looks like Logos 8 is ready

Most likely. And...it means Logos is doing it again...They're teasing a feature that will likely only be available to the general public if they pay extra money (i.e. upgrade to Logos 8). So people are going to think they will have "generic availability" to the Notes feature and then find out they have to pay for an upgrade to get access to it in the Desktop app.

Meanwhile, they could just release Logos 8 and then show the new Notes tool as one of the new features of Logos 8. Then everyone's expectations would be properly set. But they can't help themselves, they must create confusion and unnecessary misunderstanding. Grab some popcorn folks...

Phil Gons (Logos)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1002296#Comment_1002296

The new notes system is a significant change from the old system. Our motivation for early communication is to give people as much time and advanced notice as possible to get acquainted with the new system and how it works. We don't want them to accidentally switch to the new system before they're comfortable with it and ready for the change. Our goal is to help customers navigate the change. There's no trickier intended at all.

Kiyah

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1002302#Comment_1002302

I wasn't accusing you guys of deliberate trickery, just a tendency toward fuzziness of communication which causes a misalignment of expectations. But if the new Note tool is being released to the desktop app with Logos 8 (which was my understanding that this was the plan from what I've seen in the forums, maybe I misunderstood), then this early communication has the potential to cause confusion. That's all I'm saying.

David Taylor, Jr.

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1002304#Comment_1002304

The beta has been available in L7 for quite some time...

danwdoo

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1002302#Comment_1002302

Are there any videos to show it in action? That would really help us be ready (and hopefully excited) for what is coming

Phil Gons (Logos)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1002304#Comment_1002304

I wasn't accusing you guys of deliberate trickery, just a tendency toward fuzziness of communication which causes a misalignment of expectations. But if the new Note tool is being released to the desktop app with Logos 8 (which was my understanding that this was the plan from what I've seen in the forums, maybe I misunderstood), then this early communication has the potential to cause confusion. That's all I'm saying.

There is additional communication coming soon, which should clearly lay out the issues and options. The goal of this early communication was just to get people who aren't yet familiar with it to check it out, and so far it seems to have been successful.

We'll keep working to be as clear as we can.

Phil Gons (Logos)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1002357#Comment_1002357

Are there any videos to show it in action? That would really help us be ready (and hopefully excited) for what is coming

Coming very soon. But feel free to play around with it on the web app in the mean time.

mike

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1002359#Comment_1002359

Phil,

We don't need to have L8 released with the perfect upgraded Note. We know that's impossible.

That's why God created Logos v.8.1, v.8.2, v.8.3, and so on...

What some of us need is just new Base Packages...they're long overdue.

We want them those PORTFOLIOS!!

Please.. Let it be done on Monday morning! I will be the first one hitting F5 repeatedly at 6am. [}]

Into Grace

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1002296#Comment_1002296

Looks like Logos 8 is ready

Most likely. And...it means Logos is doing it again...They're teasing a feature that will likely only be available to the general public if they pay extra money (i.e. upgrade to Logos 8). So people are going to think they will have "generic availability" to the Notes feature and then find out they have to pay for an upgrade to get access to it in the Desktop app.

Meanwhile, they could just release Logos 8 and then show the new Notes tool as one of the new features of Logos 8. Then everyone's expectations would be properly set. But they can't help themselves, they must create confusion and unnecessary misunderstanding. Grab some popcorn folks...

Kiyah, you addressed my concern perfectly. I received a teaser email yesterday from Logos with the subject: "Update on the notes tool in Logos" that didn't communicate that this will be (likely) a premium feature. Logos has a history of not being transparent with surprises up their sleeve. I'm not opposed to Logos charging for upgraded notes. Logos incurred a lot of expenses creating this upgrade and they need to be properly compensated to stay in business.

Wild Eagle

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1002415#Comment_1002415

Faithlife never charged for the upgrades like notes. Premium features which Faithlife charged was always around built in resouces such as datasets, interlinears, graphics, and etc. The free version of Logos engine might come later but it’s just marketing tool. Based on the L7 beta, updated L7 will have new notes as well.

Kiyah

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1002415#Comment_1002415

Looks like Logos 8 is ready

Most likely. And...it means Logos is doing it again...They're teasing a feature that will likely only be available to the general public if they pay extra money (i.e. upgrade to Logos 8). So people are going to think they will have "generic availability" to the Notes feature and then find out they have to pay for an upgrade to get access to it in the Desktop app.

Meanwhile, they could just release Logos 8 and then show the new Notes tool as one of the new features of Logos 8. Then everyone's expectations would be properly set. But they can't help themselves, they must create confusion and unnecessary misunderstanding. Grab some popcorn folks...

Kiyah, you addressed my concern perfectly. I received a teaser email yesterday from Logos with the subject: "Update on the notes tool in Logos" that didn't communicate that this will be (likely) a premium feature. Logos has a history of not being transparent with surprises up their sleeve. I'm not opposed to Logos charging for upgraded notes. Logos incurred a lot of expenses creating this upgrade and they need to be properly compensated to stay in business.

Exactly. I have no problem with the totally revamped Notes system that they've worked so long and hard on being released as a part of Logos 8. My issue is them teasing the Note tool as if it's going to be available on desktop for everyone, knowing that they're going to only make it available on desktop with Logos 8 or Faithlife Connect (unless that's not the plan, but all signs are pointing to that being the case). If they're releasing Logos 8 soon, which seems to be the case since the About page in Logos already has links pointing you to upgrade to Logos 8, why not just wait and announce the Notes tool with the new software release? It seems they want to use the Notes tool as a hook to get people interested in Logos 8, which is fine as long as you don't give people the impression they'll get it as a normal update and then they realize that actually they have to pay for Logos 8 to get it. Just be clear and transparent is all I'm saying. But hey maybe I'm wrong and the Notes tool will be available for everyone as an update rather than an upgrade...

Kiyah

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1002420#Comment_1002420

Faithlife never charged for the upgrades like notes. Premium features which Faithlife charged was always around built in resouces such as datasets, interlinears, graphics, and etc. The free version of Logos engine might come later but it’s just marketing tool. Based on the L7 beta, updated L7 will have new notes as well.

Good point. If they make it a part of the Logos free engine (I guess it's called Logos Basic now) then everything is fine. Let's hope that's what they decide to do. Otherwise the announcement is misleading.

Michael G Parry-Thomas

How does it work regarding highlighting, do I need to set up a notebook called highlighting ,than anything gets highlighted goes into that notebook

Would like to know how you manage highlighting and markups using the new Notes

Steve. Kilgore

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1002435#Comment_1002435

I'm a heavy user of the current notes and highlighting system. And I think I like where this is going with the new one. I've been comparing the existing system, waiting for the systems to work the same on desktop and mobile. The connection to mobile has keep me from jumping in too deep. Waiting for the "user's manual."

Suggestion
Would be nice to have a sort by reference not just by date created or modified. (I know I can select "Bible book: x" and "Notebook: x" and get there. But this is cumbersome when working topically.)

Concern
I have created a custom highlighting palette. The names of the highlights show up--but not "look," i.e. the color or symbol. (see image) Which makes using it difficult or cumbersome. And I can't tell if under the new system my highlighting palette will disappear.

As compared to...

In the previous format, notes and highlights could be associated with the same highlighting palette. Which was the only way I could make it work between desktop and mobile. Which means I have a large number of highlights and notes in one palette. Making it slow to load, particularly on the mobile app. While the new systems seems improve on the functionality. I'm hopeful there will be some "best practices" identified, which was not the case with the current system. What is the best way to set up "notebooks" and will it be accessible on the mobile app?

Phil Gons (Logos)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1002415#Comment_1002415

Kiyah, you addressed my concern perfectly. I received a teaser email yesterday from Logos with the subject: "Update on the notes tool in Logos" that didn't communicate that this will be (likely) a premium feature. Logos has a history of not being transparent with surprises up their sleeve. I'm not opposed to Logos charging for upgraded notes. Logos incurred a lot of expenses creating this upgrade and they need to be properly compensated to stay in business.

The new Notes tool will be freely available for desktop, web, and mobile in early 2019.

Phil Gons (Logos)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1002423#Comment_1002423

why not just wait and announce the Notes tool with the new software release?

I tried to explain this above. My primary concern is that when the next version comes out, someone might upgrade without noticing that it includes a completely new notes system. Perhaps a pastor is working on a sermon for Sunday, boots up Logos, and then can't find any of their notes. That could be a pretty unsettling experience. I want to avoid that kind of surprise by getting as many people as possible to (1) understand that we have a new note system and (2) start learning how it works and how it's different from the old one.

I'm not trying to do a bait and switch here. I'm trying to walk the fine line of giving advanced notice without pre-maturely announcing the next release.

The new notes system will be available in the near future for upgraders and available in early 2019 for free for everyone else.

Does that help?

Phil Gons (Logos)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1002460#Comment_1002460

Would be nice to have a sort by reference not just by date created or modified.

Agreed. Coming soon.

I have created a custom highlighting palette. The names of the highlights show up--but not "look," i.e. the color or symbol. (see image) Which makes using it difficult or cumbersome. And I can't tell if under the new system my highlighting palette will disappear.

I think it's just a limitation on the web app for now. Desktop should still work the way you expect it to. I'll look into this.

In the previous format, notes and highlights could be associated with the same highlighting palette. Which was the only way I could make it work between desktop and mobile. Which means I have a large number of highlights and notes in one palette. Making it slow to load, particularly on the mobile app.

Solving this was a major goal of the project. We now sync each individual note, which is significantly faster than syncing a note document with thousands of notes and highlights in it.

While the new systems seems improve on the functionality. I'm hopeful there will be some "best practices" identified, which was not the case with the current system. What is the best way to set up "notebooks" and will it be accessible on the mobile app?

I've shared some preliminary suggestions on how to think about and use notebooks.

The new system will work seamlessly across desktop, web, and mobile.

Myke Harbuck

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1002475#Comment_1002475

I'm not trying to do a bait and switch here. I'm trying to walk the fine line of giving advanced notice without pre-maturely announcing the next release.

The new notes system will be available in the near future for upgraders and available in early 2019 for free for everyone else.

Phil, I don't think you could be any more transparent or honest than you are here. Thanks for communicating this so well so many times, both here and in the FL group(s).

scooter

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1002491#Comment_1002491

I have created a custom highlighting palette. The names of the highlights show up--but not "look," i.e. the color or symbol. (see image) Which makes using it difficult or cumbersome. And I can't tell if under the new system my highlighting palette will disappear.

I think it's just a limitation on the web app for now. Desktop should still work the way you expect it to. I'll look into this.

In L3, I created many custom colours that I dare not lose.

I cannot recreate them in L7 [+ I assume not in L8]. To redo, I would need that entire spectrum one could click on to make a truly custom colour. My two most used highlights come from this custom-custom creation, + must not be lost.

Thank you, Phil, for looking into this issue.

Reuben Helmuth

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1002435#Comment_1002435

Hi

How does it work regarding highlighting, do I need to set up a notebook called highlighting ,than anything gets highlighted goes into that notebook

Would like to know how you manage highlighting and markups using the new Notes

This post should get you started: https://faithlife.com/posts/1567200

Michael G Parry-Thomas

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1002514#Comment_1002514

Thank you [:)]

Kiyah

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1002472#Comment_1002472

Kiyah, you addressed my concern perfectly. I received a teaser email yesterday from Logos with the subject: "Update on the notes tool in Logos" that didn't communicate that this will be (likely) a premium feature. Logos has a history of not being transparent with surprises up their sleeve. I'm not opposed to Logos charging for upgraded notes. Logos incurred a lot of expenses creating this upgrade and they need to be properly compensated to stay in business.

The new Notes tool will be freely available for desktop, web, and mobile in early 2019.

Thanks for the additional info Phil.

Kiyah

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1002506#Comment_1002506

I'm not trying to do a bait and switch here. I'm trying to walk the fine line of giving advanced notice without pre-maturely announcing the next release.

The new notes system will be available in the near future for upgraders and available in early 2019 for free for everyone else.

Phil, I don't think you could be any more transparent or honest than you are here. Thanks for communicating this so well so many times, both here and in the FL group(s).

I wasn't accusing anyone of being dishonest. But the key sentence here that maybe should have been included in the announcement for clarity is, "The new notes system will be available in the near future for upgraders and available in early 2019 for free for everyone else." That tells everyone what they need to know without giving an exact date of the next software release. "The near future" is not telling us anything we don't already know.

Phil Gons (Logos)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1002579#Comment_1002579

But the key sentence here that maybe should have been included in the announcement for clarity is, "The new notes system will be available in the near future for upgraders and available in early 2019 for free for everyone else." That tells everyone what they need to know without giving an exact date of the next software release. "The near future" is not telling us anything we don't already know.

I appreciate your perspective. As I said, I was trying to walk a fine line. Perhaps I could have said more, but I was trying to avoid saying too much, leading to lots of calls from customers asking us when it's coming. Regardless, we'll make the details really clear very soon.

Willy Arnold

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1002581#Comment_1002581

I can't seem to find the "compact" view anymore. Is it gone?

Graham Criddle

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1004300#Comment_1004300

I can't seem to find the "compact" view anymore. Is it gone?

It didn't make it into the initial release but should be returning - see "Missing Functionality" section at https://www.logos.com/faq/notes

Willy Arnold

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1004303#Comment_1004303

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. I'm the guy that Phil was worried about, who upgraded to Logos 8 and got a big surprise! It was a bit unsettling at first, but once I found out I can switch back to the old notes until they work all the bugs out I calmed down a bit. I am very thankful they left the old system for those of us who are slow to change! They know their customers well.

Steve. Kilgore

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1002491#Comment_1002491

Phil,

The issue of the "look" of highlights and notes is not being visible is still an issue.

On the left, what it should look like. In the middle what looks like. Which is not how the videos or other examples show.

Mark Barnes

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1007511#Comment_1007511

On the left, what it should look like. In the middle what looks like. Which is not how the videos or other examples show.

I agree it's an issue. It's fine if you use the provided markup, but it doesn't display when you use custom palettes.

It's not listed on "Upcoming features", but I would certainly hope that the "grey man" icon could be replaced by something that more closely matched the custom palette.

Reuben Helmuth

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1007518#Comment_1007518

It's fine if you use the provided markup, but it doesn't display when you use custom palettes.

One exception (if it still holds) is that if you duplicate a stock palette and leave the names intact, it will display accordingly.

Richard Kingston

Are there plans to enable notes in the web version to sync to the desktop version?

Graham Criddle

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1009651#Comment_1009651

Are there plans to enable notes in the web version to sync to the desktop version?

They should already sync to the desktop if you are using the new Notes Tool. (I've just tested it and it works for me)

If you are not seeing this, please start a new thread in this forum and explain what you are seeing.

Houseonarock

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1002358#Comment_1002358

Bells and whistles may impress most here but functionality is what's important. This note system has messed up my workflow. Also many unforeseen consequences. Like duplicate note icons in resources. confusing note searches etc. Why would you ship a note system that cannot sort properly? Yes yes, I know it's coming soon. What was the big rush? How yes we have to justify the cost of version 8.

David Paul

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1002509#Comment_1002509

In L3, I created many custom colours that I dare not lose.

Yet another feature of L3 that subsequent versions have fumbled. Don't hold your breath waiting for it to reappear. Simple, highly useful features of L3 seem to be singled out for banishment for the very good reason of "just because". Spend tens of thousands of dollars on Logos? Won't change a thing.