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Layouts Feature Request: leave current verse unchanged

Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2020 9:35 am
by l_d_allan
I really like and regularly use the Layouts capability. My guess is that was difficult to implement.

However, there may possibly be room for improvement, at least in the way I use Layouts.

For example, I may have a defined a Layout that applies to when I am at RMC church that primarily uses the NKJV, but also the ESV. The sermon that morning might be on 2 Cor 1:6 regarding comfort in suffering, so I would define that Layout, perhaps as RMC NKJV + ESV. As currently implemented, not only the translations, but also the verse reference is Locked to that layout. Why?

During the week, I might do a Bible Study Fellowship lesson on 1st Peter 3:15 (always be prepared if they ask) where the "home Bible" was the NIV, but they also sometimes used the AMP. I could define a BSF Layout with those Translations. Again the 1st Peter 3:15 would be part of the Layout ... which again seems less than preferred.

So far, ok.

However, next week, perhaps the sermon at RMC is from Acts 17:11 regarding Bereans being noble. I'd like to get to that verse, and then pick the RMC layout. However, in picking the RMC Layout, I not only get the translations I wanted, but the verse is also reverted back to 2nd Cor 1:6.

That seems unexpected and possibly flawed. Is there a reason why the Layout has a "sticky memory" of the verse in view when the Layout was defined?

Is this operator error on my part? Is there a way to accomplish a "floating verse" when using Layouts? I realize this isn't all that much of an inconvenience, but maybe only a "fit and finish" concern on just my part.

Sorry if my question isn't clear. If helpful, I can put together screen-captures.

Re: Layouts Feature Request: leave current verse unchanged

Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2020 11:42 am
by JG
I suppose it was not what Costas had in mind for the feature (but you would have to talk to the horse to find out for certain).
Here is some info from the help... So the action is quite clear, I think.


What is saved within the context of a layout?

A layout saves all the views and their individual settings. This includes:

• for Bible views, the current verse, current modules, selected Bibles in compare view, colors, etc
• for Book views the current topic, module, module set, etc
• for Search views the search phrase, options, etc

Re: Layouts Feature Request: leave current verse unchanged

Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2020 1:16 am
by jonathangkoehn
Greetings l_d_allan,
I do similarly because I have many various projects that I do. However, reverse these two steps "I'd like to get to that verse, and then pick the RMC layout." and it should work fine.
Pick layout then verse.
I often save my layout as I get done with sermon preparation.
In fact I have a layout for Message preparation and another one for my windows tablet which I use in preaching (I preach bilingually so it has a compare view and my notes open)
I save this layout and then I can open it on my tablet (I sync via onedrive)

Re: Layouts Feature Request: leave current verse unchanged

Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2020 8:21 am
by l_d_allan
Thanks. I can use your suggestion.

I probably switch layouts more than most.

Generally, I will follow sermons with at least 2+ different translations open ... such as the trans that is the "home Bible" for that preacher, and at least one other. Generally, if the "home Bible" is from the TR family like the NKJV, I will also have a Bible from the Westcott-Hort family, such as the ESV or NIV. I also like to have the AMP open, and sometimes a Bible oriented to children for clarification.

The issue happens when I want to see what the Strong's Number from the NASB is.

Here's something I may try ... have two instances of TW running. Away from my home desktop, I will be using a rather underpowered device like an older Atom-based MS Surface, which can be sluggish. (I got it as a discontinued close-out special several Black Friday's ago).

FWIW: I usually have a very old installation of the Berean Bible freeware (BerBible) running, but that is for oddball reasons.

Re: Layouts Feature Request: leave current verse unchanged

Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2020 3:30 pm
by l_d_allan
JG wrote:I suppose it was not what Costas had in mind for the feature (but you would have to talk to the horse to find out for certain).
Here is some info from the help... So the action is quite clear, I think.
Does TW have provision for requesting "Feature Requests"? If so, I'd hope "the horse" (a.k.a. CS) might eventually consider revising the algorithm of Layouts so the verse (and also translation) weren't bound tightly.

That would obviously be low priority compared to other higher priority improvements for future releases.

Also, the last thing I want to do is come across as less than super impressed by how capable TW has been for 20 or so years, when I first started using TW.

Sorry if the following is tl;dr
However, I try to be intentional about having an attitude that the Japanese call Kaizen ... there's always room for improvement.

Another software development approach I tried to be intentional about was given enough eyeballs, all bugs are shallow ("glitches" or "nits" in this case).

Out of curiosity, I checked which Bible translations and verses are "tightly bound" to each of the 8 predefined layouts.
• Beginner Gen 1:2 (KJV)
• Novice Gen 1:2 (KJV)
• Basic John 3:16 (KJV)
• Default Gen 1:1 (NET2)
• Common-1 Gen 1:9 (KJV)
• Common-2 Gen 1:9 (KJV)
• Advanced-1 Gen 1:16 (KJV)
• Advanced-2 Gen 1:12 (KJV)

I'm also curious "what Costas had in mind" when he coded Layouts to tightly bind the translation and verse. My experience is that he almost always has a method to his madness ;-]