Insert/replace Scripture reference in Word on a Mac no longer working

Donnie Gullion
Donnie Gullion Member Posts: 22 ✭✭
edited November 2024 in English Forum

Hello,

Running Big Sur and have had no problem typing a reference and (Shift, Command, E) and the passage is inserted in Word.  About Dec 16 Word had an update and this feature no longer works.  Everything seems correct as far as settings go, but I have to restore to the previous version of Word to get this function back. At some point that will not be a good or viable solution.

Is anyone else running into this, and if so, have you found a resolution?

Thanks!

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Comments

  • Jonathan Bradley
    Jonathan Bradley Member Posts: 1,155 ✭✭✭

    Can you link the instructions to set this up, even though it's not working? I'd like to tinker with it some, unless someone else has a fix for it first. 

    Thanks! 

    Pastor, Mt. Leonard Baptist Church, SBC

  • MWW
    MWW Member Posts: 429 ✭✭

    Is anyone else running into this, and if so, have you found a resolution?

    Yes, it is a frustration, but no I haven't found a resolution. I use Replace with Passage everyday but it currently is broken. There is a post in the desktop beta forum addressing this topic. Faithlife is aware of the problem.

    https://community.logos.com/forums/p/197053/1141327.aspx#1141327 

  • Donnie Gullion
    Donnie Gullion Member Posts: 22 ✭✭

    Jonathan, if by setup you mean the settings used to get to work previously: It's been a while, but know in Services and then Services Preferences, then under the shortcut tab, the "replace with passage (Logos)" must be checked.  That was all I recall having to do initially. I think!

    Thanks for your interest!

  • Donnie Gullion
    Donnie Gullion Member Posts: 22 ✭✭

    Yes, for me it's a must have.  If you restore the prior to mid Dec version of Word from Time Machine it will work just fine.  I am assuming of course that this is just a Logos, Mac and Word issue.

    When I talked to support about this problem they didn't have any information other than to post here to see if others had ideas.

    Thanks!

  • Jonathan Bradley
    Jonathan Bradley Member Posts: 1,155 ✭✭✭

    I learn something new every day! I hope this gets resolved, as it is something I will use greatly in the future! 

    Pastor, Mt. Leonard Baptist Church, SBC

  • Mike Binks
    Mike Binks MVP Posts: 7,459

    I don't know about Word but it seems to work ok in Pages.

    tootle pip

    Mike

    Now tagging post-apocalyptic fiction as current affairs. Latest Logos, MacOS, iOS and iPadOS

  • Jonathan Bradley
    Jonathan Bradley Member Posts: 1,155 ✭✭✭

    I don't know about Word but it seems to work ok in Pages.

    Mike, for some reason, I cannot get the keyboard shortcut to work in Pages. It works if I right click and go through the menu that way, or by going through the file menu, but even if I change the keyboard shortcut, it does not work. Any ideas as to how to fix this? 

    Thanks!

    Pastor, Mt. Leonard Baptist Church, SBC

  • Donnie Gullion
    Donnie Gullion Member Posts: 22 ✭✭

    Jonathan- I would likely find another Bible program to use if Logos didn't allow this feature.  It's a great time saver. Biblesoft had a similar function.

  • Jonathan Bradley
    Jonathan Bradley Member Posts: 1,155 ✭✭✭

    Jonathan- I would likely find another Bible program to use if Logos didn't allow this feature.  It's a great time saver. Biblesoft had a similar function.

    Now I have only been aware of this feature since today, but don’t you think leaving Logos over one small feature is a bit rash? While yes, it is nice, the many other features and tools in Logos are what makes the software so great. 

    Pastor, Mt. Leonard Baptist Church, SBC

  • Mike Binks
    Mike Binks MVP Posts: 7,459

    I cannot get the keyboard shortcut to work in Pages.

    You are correct Jonathan - I went through the menu route when I tested this.

    tootle pip

    Mike

    Now tagging post-apocalyptic fiction as current affairs. Latest Logos, MacOS, iOS and iPadOS

  • JohnB
    JohnB Member Posts: 1,085 ✭✭

    Is anyone aware if this feature is also in Logos PC?

  • Donnie Gullion
    Donnie Gullion Member Posts: 22 ✭✭

    I would keep my existing Logos and stop repaying every year or so to use any new features and just keep what I have.  No, I use it so much it's not rash at all for my purposes.  It's such a massive time saver and I don't like have to go copy and then paste.  I likely use that as much as any feature in Logos, so for me it's a must.  I've had that feature for over 20 years in a software program and I'll go where needed to get it back.  I would really hate to move backwards 25 years in terms of functionality.  However, I assume and hope it will get worked out with Logos and Word.  I'll hold off as long as possible of course, but at some point maintaining and older version of Word may not be a workable solution though not as dangerous on a Mac.

  • I cannot get the keyboard shortcut to work in Pages.

    You are correct Jonathan - I went through the menu route when I tested this.

    Puzzled: changing keyboard shortcuts using Services Preferences show in Notepad Menu (works using Logos 9.2 Beta 2 & Verbum 8.17 SR-2):

    Notepad is a free simple text editor (removes formatting).

    TextEdit Services also shows Text service keyboard shortcuts (they also work on macOS 11.1 Big Sur)

    Pages 10.3.5 has keyboard shortcuts already assigned:

    • command+shift+E Edit Master Pages
    • command+shift+D Show Chart Data Editor

    Services Preferences... allows Logos & Verbum keyboard shortcuts to be changed:

    Click keyboard shortcut so a box appears followed by typing desired key combination. Pages shows keyboard shortcuts that are usable:

    When keyboard shortcut appears in Pages Services menu, verified they worked with Logos 9.2 Beta 2 & Verbum 8.17 SR-2 on macOS 11.1

    LibreOffice 7.0.4.2 Writer does not show Text Services so limited to "Open Copy Bible Verses"

    Keep Smiling [:)]

  • Christopher Powell
    Christopher Powell Member Posts: 107 ✭✭

    This is correct - thanks!  

    However, this still does not work in MS Office 365's edition of Word.  It works in Pages for me but not in Word.

    Like the other person who mentioned it, this is a vital and useful aspect of Logos for me.  I hope that there is a fix/workaround soon.  I used to have another program (InstaVerse) that did this for me but it stopped being supported (and now I'm on Mac).  I'd happily pay for this functionality if there was no other way to get it via Logos.  It would reduce my dependance on having Logos open (sometimes this is my only reason for having it open).  So if someone knows another program that does this, I'd be interested to know.

  • Jonathan Bradley
    Jonathan Bradley Member Posts: 1,155 ✭✭✭

    Hey Keep Smiling,

    I tried the keyboard shortcut you have, Command-Shift-U with Apple's Pages, and it worked just fine. I tried some other combinations, but none of them worked (I don't remember which combinations I tried though). 

    So, thank you! 

    Pastor, Mt. Leonard Baptist Church, SBC

  • I tried the keyboard shortcut you have, Command-Shift-U with Apple's Pages, and it worked just fine. I tried some other combinations, but none of them worked (I don't remember which combinations I tried though). 

    Command-Shift-comma & Command-Shift-period also do not (yet) have a keyboard shortcut assignment in Pages. Thankful for menus in Pages showing keyboard shortcuts (so took while to find a few usable keyboard combinations for Logos & Verbum, which are compatible with Pages)

    Running Big Sur and have had no problem typing a reference and (Shift, Command, E) and the passage is inserted in Word.  About Dec 16 Word had an update and this feature no longer works. 

    Hypothesis is Word update implemented Command-Shift-E keyboard shortcut for Word to "Turn Change Tracking on or off"

    Keep Smiling [:)]

  • Christopher Powell
    Christopher Powell Member Posts: 107 ✭✭

    I use a different keyboard shortcut combination so, I don't think that's it, but, I really appreciate the thought!

  • Jonathan Bradley
    Jonathan Bradley Member Posts: 1,155 ✭✭✭

    " rel="nofollow">Keep Smiling 4 Jesus :) said:

    Hypothesis is Word update implemented Command-Shift-E keyboard shortcut for Word to "Turn Change Tracking on or off"

    Keep Smiling Smile

    THAT! That explains SO much. That explains all the crazy red underlining all over my sermon prep as I was making some changes tonight. I googled and figured out what was going on as to turn it off, but I never made the connection between that in the key combination. 

    Pastor, Mt. Leonard Baptist Church, SBC

  • Donnie Gullion
    Donnie Gullion Member Posts: 22 ✭✭

    That change in a MS Word shortcut doesn't sound encouraging.  One would think MS would be highly unlikely to change a shortcut on their side. Hopefully Logos will on their side--if they realize how many find that feature so valuable.  (But I wonder how many users never knew about it or used it.)  Thanks for the good piece of explanatory information!

  • That change in a MS Word shortcut doesn't sound encouraging.  One would think MS would be highly unlikely to change a shortcut on their side.

    Possibility is recent Word update stopped sending COMMAND+Shift+E to macOS services (since keyboard shortcut was handled by Word).

    Microsoft support has Keyboard shortcuts in Word (with operating system selector) that includes macOS:

    • Turn change tracking on or off. COMMAND+Shift+E

    Appears COMMAND+Shift+U and some more key combinations do not conflict with Word for Microsoft 365 on macOS

    Keep Smiling [:)]

  • Donnie Gullion
    Donnie Gullion Member Posts: 22 ✭✭

    Thanks!  When I get some time I'll update to the current Word and see if I can change shortcuts.  Assuming I understood you correctly.

  • Jonathan Bradley
    Jonathan Bradley Member Posts: 1,155 ✭✭✭

    Keep Smiling,

    So did you get it to work on Word?

    Pastor, Mt. Leonard Baptist Church, SBC

  • Keep Smiling,

    So did you get it to work on Word?

    Apologies for me not having Word 365 (free alternatives are adequate for me).

    Keep Smiling [:)]

  • Travis Ulrich
    Travis Ulrich Member Posts: 6 ✭✭

    The problem here is not a conflict in shortcut keys, it's a problem with how Microsoft Word is interacting with the OS services. To test where the problem is, I changed the Text service from "Replace with Passage" to "TextEdit Window Containing Selection" to see what is actually being passed from Word. The result of that was an error from TextEdit stating:

    Service failed. Couldn’t open the selection. There might be an internal error or a performance problem, or the source application may be providing text of invalid type in the service request. Please try the operation a second time. If that doesn’t work, copy/paste the selection into TextEdit.

    If Logos doesn't receive something it can parse as a passage reference, it doesn't do anything (I believe that's why you could never use "Replace with Passage" in when the reference is the first characters of a bulleted list), so it just appears like the Text Service isn't working in Logos. In reality, the problem is on Microsoft's side, and if they're not sending the correct payload to the service, I doubt that there's anything Logos can do to fix it (other than inform Microsoft of the problem).

    OS: 10.15.7
    Word: 16.45
    Logos: 8.17.0.0022

  • Christopher Powell
    Christopher Powell Member Posts: 107 ✭✭

    Thanks Travis - this is I believe the correct diagnosis.  I have temporarily switched to Apple's Pages where it still works.  

    Perhaps since the two companies are so geographically close together, some of the Logos developers can chat with their friends at Microsoft to help accomplish this bug fix.  Or so we can dream :-) 

  • Donnie Gullion
    Donnie Gullion Member Posts: 22 ✭✭

    The problem here is not a conflict in shortcut keys, it's a problem with how Microsoft Word is interacting with the OS services. To test where the problem is, I changed the Text service from "Replace with Passage" to "TextEdit Window Containing Selection" to see what is actually being passed from Word. The result of that was an error from TextEdit stating:

    Service failed. Couldn’t open the selection. There might be an internal error or a performance problem, or the source application may be providing text of invalid type in the service request. Please try the operation a second time. If that doesn’t work, copy/paste the selection into TextEdit.

    If Logos doesn't receive something it can parse as a passage reference, it doesn't do anything (I believe that's why you could never use "Replace with Passage" in when the reference is the first characters of a bulleted list), so it just appears like the Text Service isn't working in Logos. In reality, the problem is on Microsoft's side, and if they're not sending the correct payload to the service, I doubt that there's anything Logos can do to fix it (other than inform Microsoft of the problem).

    OS: 10.15.7
    Word: 16.45
    Logos: 8.17.0.0022

    Thanks for looking into this.  Seems as though you found the problem.  Unfortunately getting MS to "fix" for Logos that may unfix something they want seems to be hoping for a lot.  But we can and must!

    As stated before, I'm just refusing to update to the current Word version since the one I'm using does what I want.

  • Travis Ulrich
    Travis Ulrich Member Posts: 6 ✭✭

    Unfortunately getting MS to "fix" for Logos that may unfix something they want seems to be hoping for a lot.

    The upside of this issue is that this is not just broken for Logos, but for all Mac OS services that receive "text" as an input. So maybe since it's a broader issue it might make it on their radar. We can hope!

  • Ryan Jackson
    Ryan Jackson Member Posts: 12 ✭✭

    This feature is an ABSOLUTE must for me! The alternative is to take about 5 steps to do what previously took one command. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE restore this service!!!

  • Ryan Jackson
    Ryan Jackson Member Posts: 12 ✭✭

    Whereas previously I could use one simple command to insert biblical text into MS Word on my Mac, now the best I've been able to do is: 

    1. Shift+CMD+J -- This opens the "Copy Bible Verses" tool as a floating window. 

    2. Click on the text box in the CBV tool. 

    3. Type the text reference. 

    4. Click "Copy and Paste."

    5. Click back into Word.

    6, Change the formatting of the reference to match the font, size and formatting of my document. 

    Six steps in place of the previous one step. That is really really frustrating and a tremendous waste of time! It doesn't matter much if you're only doing this function infrequently, but I use it dozens of times every time I am typing a document and accessing Logos. 

    I reached out to tech support with Logos. The technician was gracious and kind, but unfortunately even after consulting with his superiors, they have decided not to deal with this issue. So, we're stuck with it unless people raise more awareness. So, do respond and let Logos know your thoughts on this if you're interested. 

    Does anyone know of any better approach than the one I've listed above--one that might help save some time? Thanks!

  • Travis Ulrich
    Travis Ulrich Member Posts: 6 ✭✭

    It certainly is frustrating. This isn't a Logos issue though, it's a Microsoft Word issue. Replace with Passage still works in all other apps. One of the Word updates in late 2020 broke Mac text services. When you run the shortcut that used to send the reference to Logos for lookup, copy, and paste, Microsoft Word isn't sending a valid text payload, so Logos has nothing to look up. See the uservoice link I pasted above, and feel free to create a separate bug report for Microsoft.

  • Ryan Jackson
    Ryan Jackson Member Posts: 12 ✭✭

    Yes and no. It is the result of MS Word making changes, but Logos would be able to deal with it as they have done in the past if there were enough user response. My understanding is that they have made the decision NOT to do so unless there is more user push back. Software changes and updates all the time. I consider this a basic function that should be worked out. 

  • Travis Ulrich
    Travis Ulrich Member Posts: 6 ✭✭

    Does anyone know of any better approach than the one I've listed above--one that might help save some time? Thanks!

    If you happen to be an Alfred user you can probably get things pretty streamlined using workflows and snippet triggers:

    https://www.alfredapp.com/help/workflows/triggers/snippet/snippet-triggers-with-dynamic-inputs/

  • Ryan Jackson
    Ryan Jackson Member Posts: 12 ✭✭

    Thank you, Travis! I haven't used Alfred, but I'm willing to try anything at this point! Thanks for your time to respond!

  • Travis Ulrich
    Travis Ulrich Member Posts: 6 ✭✭

    Yes and no. It is the result of MS Word making changes, but Logos would be able to deal with it as they have done in the past if there were enough user response.

    They might be able to put some pressure on MS to fix the issue, but NONE of the apps that are text service targets from Word are working, including default ones like "Make New Sticky Note" or "New TextEdit Window Containing Selection". Maybe there is something they could do if it's just malformed input, but if it's no input, I'm not sure what options a Logos dev would have.

  • Ryan Jackson
    Ryan Jackson Member Posts: 12 ✭✭

    Another question from the same issue. If I type a reference in Word on Mac, e.g., "John 1:14," then open the "Copy Bible Verses" tool in Logos, I tried to copy and paste the reference into the text window in the tool. It wouldn't work. What am I doing wrong? Any help appreciated!!!

  • Graham Criddle
    Graham Criddle MVP Posts: 33,253

    If I type a reference in Word on Mac, e.g., "John 1:14," then open the "Copy Bible Verses" tool in Logos, I tried to copy and paste the reference into the text window in the tool. It wouldn't work.

    I've tried that and it worked fine - please provide more details

    If you copy the string from Word can you paste it into some other app?

  • Ryan Jackson
    Ryan Jackson Member Posts: 12 ✭✭

    Thanks for your response! Yes. I can copy and paste to any other app. The paste also doesn’t work from Pages. When I try to paste into the text box in the CBV tool, it either doesn’t work or it pastes the text of the verse itself into the text box.


    I tried from Notes, and I could paste the text. I could also paste the text from Word (sometimes) if I switched to Logos and then opened the CBV and then pasted. 


    However, if I opened the CBV tool from within MS Word on Mac (CMD+Shift+J), the paste wouldn’t function. 
  • Graham Criddle
    Graham Criddle MVP Posts: 33,253

    However, if I opened the CBV tool from within MS Word on Mac (CMD+Shift+J), the paste wouldn’t function. 

    I can't even do that - open the CBV tool when in MS Word

    The Logos help has:

    Opt+Cmd+B – Global shortcut to open Copy Bible Verses tool in a floating window from any macOS application (if Logos is running).

    Shift+Cmd+J – Global shortcut to activate the Copy Bible Verses service on macOS. This service causes the Copy Bible Verses tool to open in a floating window from any macOS application (if Logos is running).

     Logos Help (Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2018).

    I'm not sure what the difference between these two is supposed to be - neither seem to do anything for me.

  • Donnie Gullion
    Donnie Gullion Member Posts: 22 ✭✭

    I was just using the old version of Word that worked for inserting Scripture.  Received the latest update for the Mac Book and it somehow updated Word to the current version that doesn't insert.  Normally I can use time machine and restore the Nov 2020 version of Word and it would work fine.  When I do that now I get error messages and word won't open.  I use this feature no telling how many times a day and losing it is troubling.  Going back like in the old days of having to go to Bible program, look up passage, copy, go back to a doc and paste seems so unhelpful. Since this seems to be on MS side a fix seems unlikely as I'm sure Logos has little to no pull.

  • MWW
    MWW Member Posts: 429 ✭✭

    These steps have worked for me.

    Good luck!

  • Donnie Gullion
    Donnie Gullion Member Posts: 22 ✭✭

    Thank you so very much!  I will try this when I stop for lunch. 

  • Donnie Gullion
    Donnie Gullion Member Posts: 22 ✭✭

    MWW said:

    These steps have worked for me.

    Good luck!

    Question: Will doing it this way not remove all my macros?  Thanks

  • Donnie Gullion
    Donnie Gullion Member Posts: 22 ✭✭

    Unfortunately this caused the same error message.  Below is the summary of it in case that means anything to someone here.

    Microsoft Error Reporting log version: 2.0

    Error Signature:
    Exception: EXC_BAD_INSTRUCTION
    ExceptionEnumString: 2
    Exception Code: 0x00000001 (0x00000001128928fe)
    Date/Time: 2021-04-29 15:38:04 +0000
    Application Name: Microsoft Word
    Application Bundle ID: com.microsoft.Word
    Application Signature: MSWD
    Application Bitness: x64
    Application Version: 16.43.0.20110804
    Crashed Module Name: mso20
    Crashed Module Version: 16.43.0.201108
    Crashed Module Offset: 0x000000000020c665
    Blame Module Name: mso20
    Blame Module Version: 16.43.0.201108
    UnsymbolicatedChecksum: 6347B607A08E8F63CAB57ACDCAEB2BE1
    Blame Module Offset: 0x000000000020c665
    StackHash: cb2f314f7496b764-dm_0x000000002378a08d
    Application LCID: 1033
    Extra app info: Reg=en Loc=0x0409
    Build Type: Release
    Crashed thread Stack Pointer: 0x_00007000024b9530
    Crashed thread: 11


    Thread 0 (0x77de):

  • James H. Schafer
    James H. Schafer Member Posts: 59 ✭✭

    Donnie,

    I gave up on the macro for Word several years ago. What I now do is the short-cut keys for Logos "Copy Bible Verses" Ctrl-Alt-B and have my cursor where I want the passage pasted.

    Choose Copy verses to Microsoft Word and select Copy and Paste.

    You have complete control as to the formatting for the passage, and your Bible version of choice.

    I have created several formatting options I use for different purposes. I also use it in my Sermon Builder (I prefer the Copy option rather than the way Builder adds scripture).

    My thoughts may not help you in any way, but God bless you. Hope you can make the Workflow seminar on Facebook that starts at 12:00n CDT.

  • Donnie Gullion
    Donnie Gullion Member Posts: 22 ✭✭

    Thank you James.  That isn't as streamlined as inserting the passage by typing the ref in Word and using Shift+Cmd+E, but it seems I might have to live with it.

    How is what you suggest different than copying a passage (Cmd+C) then pasting in Word (Cmd+V)?  I may be missing something that you do that's helpful. Possibly I'm not understanding the process of which you speak.

    Unfortunately/fortunately(!) I'm not on Facebook, so that isn't an opportunity for me. Thanks again for your help Brother!

  • MWW
    MWW Member Posts: 429 ✭✭

    I put all my macros in a template that I call SermonTemplate.dotm and store it separately on the hard drive. I also store all my keyboard shortcuts and styles on that template and not on the normal.dotm so that I don’t have to redo them each time I change or upgrade computers.

  • Donnie Gullion
    Donnie Gullion Member Posts: 22 ✭✭

    Thanks MWW.  I do that as well for Word in general.  Since that fix didn't help me for some reason, I won't be needing to restore them if it were needed.

  • MWW
    MWW Member Posts: 429 ✭✭

    Not sure if you are interested but there is another way that I automate getting scriptures into Word, but the geek factor is fairly high. It uses the Alfred App and Keyboard Maestro to automate the process.  There is an Alfred workflow by Caleb Evans called "YouVersion Suggest" which can copy a scripture to the clipboard from YouVersion.

    How it works is I type "John 3:1-6 NLT" or "John 3:1-6 CSB" and the hit a shortcut key that triggers Keyboard Maestro to select and cut the passage and then triggers the Alfred app and pastes it into Alfred which then retrieves the passage from YouVersion and places it into the clipboard and then Keyboard Maestro pastes it into my Word document. I then have Keyboard Maestro trigger a Word Macro which formats the scripture to my liking. 

    The process takes about 1 second longer than using the Logos Replace with Passage method.

     

  • James H. Schafer
    James H. Schafer Member Posts: 59 ✭✭

    Since I am working in a Word document, if I have Logos open and running, I don't have to switch to Logos to get my passage. I just (for PC) hit Ctrl-Alt-B which brings up CBV insert my passage, click Copy and Paste and I have my scripture. Don't have to go to Logos, find my passage, copy and then back to Word to paste.

    I'm not sure this is clear, but hope you can decipher what I'm saying.

    Blessings!!