Personal Books on multiple computers

I have Logos 5 installed on my church computer, and my personal computer, both are Windows PCs. I compiled a Personal Book on my personal computer, and I was going to compile the same book separately on my church computer. When I went to do that, I found out that the metadata for personal books gets synced, but the actual book data doesn't. So what happens is that the Personal Book on my church computer is pointing to the file on my home computer, which it obviously isn't going to see because of the differences in directory naming.

The problem is that if I were to edit the personal book to point to the same file on my church computer, then it would sync the metadata and not work with my home computer because it would be pointing to the file on my church computer, and not my home computer. So I'm having a hard time figuring out how to get the same Personal Book to work on multiple computers. It really seems logical that if you can't sync the entire book, you shouldn't sync the metadata for the book either. The whole point of syncing is to have things be the same on multiple devices. But this just isn't working.

I know that's not going to get fixed because of my post, but does anyone know of a way to at least get this working on multiple computers?

Find more posts tagged with

Comments

Mark Barnes

I know that's not going to get fixed because of my post, but does anyone know of a way to at least get this working on multiple computers?

The only way to do it currently is to copy the .docx file onto the second computer. Ideally create a folder for it that has exactly the same name as the folder you use on the other computer. Then re-build the personal book on the second computer.

If you can't use the exact same folder name, then Logos will display a yellow triangle, indicating it can't find the file. In this case, right-click on the file and delete it, then Add the new file back in and build the book.

Having the metadata sync is better than nothing, because at least you don't have to re-key all the metadata on the second computer. But of course, ideally, it should sync the whole file. As I understand it, there are significant technical challenges with syncing PBs, particularly with regard to scale (PB's can consume a lot of bandwidth).

GaoLu

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/535367#Comment_535367

You don't actually have to rebuild the PBB on the second computer do you? If the Folder name is the same (Directory structure apparently does not have to be identical) then Logos will recognize the PBB.

But does the index work properly? In other words, does the book necessarily have to be rebuilt for the index to work on the second computer?

Mark Barnes

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/535387#Comment_535387

You don't actually have to rebuild the PBB on the second computer do you? If the Folder name is the same (Directory structure apparently does not have to be identical) then Logos will recognize the PBB.

If you copy the docx file over, you do have to rebuild it. Building the PB converts the docx file into an LBSPBB file. Without that LBSPBB file, you even be able to view the PB in Logos. If you don't want to re-compile the book, the alternative is to copy the LBSPBB file to the new computer, and use the SCAN command to get it into Logos.

JDC

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/535367#Comment_535367

I know that's not going to get fixed because of my post, but does anyone know of a way to at least get this working on multiple computers?

The only way to do it currently is to copy the .docx file onto the second computer. Ideally create a folder for it that has exactly the same name as the folder you use on the other computer. Then re-build the personal book on the second computer.

If you can't use the exact same folder name, then Logos will display a yellow triangle, indicating it can't find the file. In this case, right-click on the file and delete it, then Add the new file back in and build the book.

Having the metadata sync is better than nothing, because at least you don't have to re-key all the metadata on the second computer. But of course, ideally, it should sync the whole file. As I understand it, there are significant technical challenges with syncing PBs, particularly with regard to scale (PB's can consume a lot of bandwidth).

Well, it's like I said. If I do that, it will change the directory path in the metadata to the church computer, and it will no longer work on my home computer. It's impossible to make the exact same path because the user names are set up differently. But you mentioned copying the file and running the scan command. I couldn't figure out where the files are, and I have no idea where the scan command is. Could you help me with that, please?

JDC

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/535367#Comment_535367

Sorry for the double post.

Mark Barnes

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/535407#Comment_535407

Well, it's like I said. If I do that, it will change the directory path in the metadata to the church computer, and it will no longer work on my home computer.

Changing the path won't stop you being able to access a previously compiled PB. It will only stop you being able to compile it again.

But you mentioned copying the file and running the scan command. I couldn't figure out where the files are, and I have no idea where the scan command is. Could you help me with that, please?

On your first computer, go to %localappdata% (just type that into the search field on the Start menu. Then navigate through the following folders: Logos5 (or it might be Logos4), then Data, then a random foldername (e.g. 1lbojls4.d0n). then ResourceManager then Resources, and copy all the *.LBSPBB files into a temporary folder on the second computer (e.g. c:\pbs). Note that if you previously had Logos 4 installed, then the folder name might be Logos4 instead of Logos5.

Then, on the second computer type scan c:\pbs into the command box and press Enter. Then restart Logos. When you restart, it should recognise the PBs and begin to index them.

JT (alabama24)

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/535407#Comment_535407

Well, it's like I said. If I do that, it will change the directory path in the metadata to the church computer, and it will no longer work on my home computer. It's impossible to make the exact same path because the user names are set up differently.

I wonder if you are confused about the location of the .docx file in the PBB tool VS. the metadata in an already compiled personal book...

The method Mark described will allow you to create and edit personal books on ONE computer, but access them on multiple ones. On my Mac, I set up Dropbox to sync the .docx files, which allows me to edit the .docx files on either computer.

JDC

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/535428#Comment_535428

Well, it's like I said. If I do that, it will change the directory path in the metadata to the church computer, and it will no longer work on my home computer.

Changing the path won't stop you being able to access a previously compiled PB. It will only stop you being able to compile it again.

Wow. What was I thinking? [:)]

That's a great point that I can't believe I didn't think of. I guess I was just scared to try it and mess something up. So any time I need to recompile, I just change the path on each computer one at a time and recompile it. Cool. That's definitely easier than copying the file over and scanning it.

Thank you very much for all of your help.

Laura Otto

Hi, I would try "DropBox". What I would do is store the original ".docx" file on drop box and leave it there. Each time you log in to which ever computer you goto drop box and grab you original file.

I have a person I help and she has a like problem. I keep the Master or Original file on drop box and create an Alias and place it on each desktop. Bingo you now have the same file on each computer that shares one master.

It just works,

Jim

Beloved Amodeo

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/535663#Comment_535663

I keep the Master or Original file on drop box and create an Alias and place it on each desktop.

Doesn't this make for a messy (not trying to be unkind) desktop. Why not put the compiled file in Dropbox where both computers and even other devices have access? What I have not figured out is where the compiled file is located. Mark's post likely holds the key so my efforts will continue down this path. But, any suggestions from you would be appreciated.

Bruce Dunning

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/549688#Comment_549688

What I have not figured out is where the compiled file is located.

I believe this is the path - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Logos4\Data\{random string}\ResourceManager\Resources

Beloved Amodeo

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/549748#Comment_549748

[Y] See Mark's post above

Hank Groman

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/549759#Comment_549759

Here is a good solution for anyone using OneDrive on multiple windows PCs.

High level
On each computer, map a Drive Letter to the SharePoint location of the files. That way wherever you open the personal book, the reference will be the same.

Note
The 1st time you try to open the book on a new computer you will need to build it. And of course, each time you modify the underlying word doc you will need to build it again.

Requirements
- sign into the same onedrive account on each computer
- put your word docs into your preferred folder one onedrive, click in the file location and note the full location of the file. E.G. "S:\OneDrive - Last Apple\Documents\@Word Docx for Logos Personal Books"
- via Windows Explorer Right-click the folder and Select "Always Keep on this Device"

High-Level Steps
Create a bat file to create the mapped drive letter
Modify the bat file to map to the location of your sharepoint folder
Place the bat file in your startup folder so that it runs at startup and maps the drive

I did this on three different systems and tested successfully.

Steps.
1. Create your text file via notepad and save with a .bat extension instead of txt
2. Simply paste the following into your file - replacing the location with the one you noted above

subst L: “S:\OneDrive - Last Apple\Documents\@Word Docx for Logos Personal Books”

Note - yes, that's it. Simply replace what is in between the quotes.
3. Save, close, locate and copy the file
4. Open a Run dialogue with windows key "Run".
5. Type shell:startup (opens your startup folder)
6. Paste the bat file you just copied in step 3
7. Double click the file while you are there and note that the mapped drive appears in explorer
8. In Logos, open your Personal Book and modify it to use the document in the new drive letter's location, rebuild and sync logos.
9. Repeat these steps on your 2nd system

Note that I made the drive letter L (logos). You can change to whatever you want.

As a reference here are the configurations for the three computers I setup

====Laptop====
subst L: “S:\OneDrive - Last Apple\Documents\@Word Docx for Logos Personal Books”

====Garage====
subst L: "D:\OneDrive - Last Apple\Documents\@Word Docx for Logos Personal Books"

====Office====
subst L: "C:\Users\HankGroman\OneDrive - Last Apple\Documents\@Word Docx for Logos Personal Books"

If you get stuck and need help feel free to reach out to me at hank @ Last Apple . com