Bible Software by Bob Anderson (part 2)
Yesterday we posted the first part of a piece sent in by Bob Anderson touching on the issue of PDA Bible software that can work with a desktop counterpart. Here in part two, we take a look at some of the programs out there and what they can and cannot do. Read part 1 to get a taste of where this piece picks up.
Laridian MyBible
User created note files in Laridian MyBible is stored in a file named MyBibleTextNotes-mBib.PRC. Each time the user does a HotSync, the contents of this file (in the handheld) are automatically backed up to a backup folder on the PC. Those using MyBible on a Palm-OS based device must remember that the Palm-OS backup function will only backup files in main memory. Therefore, if the user is storing this file on an extended memory card it will not get backed up during the HotSync.
Here’s the critical information: since Laridian user note files are stored as .PRC files, this information can only be backed up/restored. The .PRC file itself cannot be viewed directly, or modified in any way, except through the application itself. (As mentioned above, there is a partial workaround that will let you transfer this information to your PC, but it is limited – see section on workarounds near the conclusion of this article.)
Read MMM's Review of Laridian's MyBible.
Olive Tree BibleReader
By default, user created study notes in Olive Tree BibleReader is stored in a file named note_BibleReader.PDB. As with Laridian’s MyBible, this file is not directly viewable or modifiable in a PC application. But significantly, Olive Tree has recently developed a PC application called “Desktop Assistant” that serves as an interface and will let the user to view this note file on your PC once you have done a HotSync! The DA (as I will call it) requires an additional $7.00 investment, but it is well worth the investment, as we will see.
Once the user has installed and configured DA for their particular handheld device, then launching the application brings up a list of all user created note files stored on the PC since the last HotSync, as the following screenshot shows:
DA allows the user to view and edit the contents of these note files, even adding new notes on various verses – and you are doing this from the PC! – and then these changes can be saved and even transferred back, so that the (now updated) files will be visible on the handheld, once a final HotSync has been done.
And as if this were not enough, DA allows the exporting of note files to a text (.txt) or web page (.html) format. This will allow us to easily transfer this information to the PC application. In my judgment, the availability of DA for the user of Olive Tree BibleReader is a major advantage, and could be a factor in deciding which handheld Bible application to use on your handheld. Without the capability to transfer information, your handheld Bible notes will probably remain only on your handheld. That means that if you are looking for a specific note, you now have to check two sources: your handheld as well as your PC – not very efficient.
We now need to consider how PC Bible software stores notes you create. We will consider Libronix (Logos), WORDsearch 7, and e-Sword, three very popular Bible software applications.
Read MMM's look at Olive Tree BibleReader.
Libronix (Logos) Digital Library System
So far, we have looked at the handheld-side of the equation; now we will consider the PC-side. How do PC Bible applications store user created notes?
Libronix allows the user to create unlimited note files with personalized filenames. Each of these filenames has the file extension .lbxnot. These files, however, are in a format that cannot be opened for viewing or modifying outside of LDLS itself.
How will we transfer information from our handheld to Libronix? First, create a placeholder (blank) note within LDLS and then use DA to transfer the information via its export function. (I will cover this in more detail later.)
WORDsearch7
WORDsearch 7 stores note files in .html format, the same format used for storing Internet web pages. These pages can be viewed in a web browser (like Internet Explorer, Firefox, etc.) or even from some applications (such as Microsoft Word).
Once again, DA will come to our rescue: we can export our handheld notes into .html format, and these can be linked directly to WORDsearch 7.
Read MMM's review of a previous version of WORDSearch.
E-Sword
E-Sword is one of the best PC Bible software applications available today, and it is distributed as freeware! That’s right, there is no cost for downloading the software (although it is operated as a ministry and needs our support), and many Bible translations and study resources are available.
As with Libronix, the note files (called study notes in this application) are stored in a format that must be read within the application itself. The file is named study.not. As with Libronix, you must first create a blank, “placeholder” note within the application and then transfer the handheld information to this note.
Read Trailblazin' Ministries review of E-Sword.
Stay tuned to part 3 conclusion and look at one more piece of software that actually does connect with the PDA. Be sure to place any questions to Bob or the MMM team in the comments.
Edit: addition of E-Sword Review from Trailblazin Ministries.
Laridian MyBible
User created note files in Laridian MyBible is stored in a file named MyBibleTextNotes-mBib.PRC. Each time the user does a HotSync, the contents of this file (in the handheld) are automatically backed up to a backup folder on the PC. Those using MyBible on a Palm-OS based device must remember that the Palm-OS backup function will only backup files in main memory. Therefore, if the user is storing this file on an extended memory card it will not get backed up during the HotSync.
Here’s the critical information: since Laridian user note files are stored as .PRC files, this information can only be backed up/restored. The .PRC file itself cannot be viewed directly, or modified in any way, except through the application itself. (As mentioned above, there is a partial workaround that will let you transfer this information to your PC, but it is limited – see section on workarounds near the conclusion of this article.)
Read MMM's Review of Laridian's MyBible.
Olive Tree BibleReader
By default, user created study notes in Olive Tree BibleReader is stored in a file named note_BibleReader.PDB. As with Laridian’s MyBible, this file is not directly viewable or modifiable in a PC application. But significantly, Olive Tree has recently developed a PC application called “Desktop Assistant” that serves as an interface and will let the user to view this note file on your PC once you have done a HotSync! The DA (as I will call it) requires an additional $7.00 investment, but it is well worth the investment, as we will see.
Once the user has installed and configured DA for their particular handheld device, then launching the application brings up a list of all user created note files stored on the PC since the last HotSync, as the following screenshot shows:
DA allows the user to view and edit the contents of these note files, even adding new notes on various verses – and you are doing this from the PC! – and then these changes can be saved and even transferred back, so that the (now updated) files will be visible on the handheld, once a final HotSync has been done.
And as if this were not enough, DA allows the exporting of note files to a text (.txt) or web page (.html) format. This will allow us to easily transfer this information to the PC application. In my judgment, the availability of DA for the user of Olive Tree BibleReader is a major advantage, and could be a factor in deciding which handheld Bible application to use on your handheld. Without the capability to transfer information, your handheld Bible notes will probably remain only on your handheld. That means that if you are looking for a specific note, you now have to check two sources: your handheld as well as your PC – not very efficient.
We now need to consider how PC Bible software stores notes you create. We will consider Libronix (Logos), WORDsearch 7, and e-Sword, three very popular Bible software applications.
Read MMM's look at Olive Tree BibleReader.
Libronix (Logos) Digital Library System
So far, we have looked at the handheld-side of the equation; now we will consider the PC-side. How do PC Bible applications store user created notes?
Libronix allows the user to create unlimited note files with personalized filenames. Each of these filenames has the file extension .lbxnot. These files, however, are in a format that cannot be opened for viewing or modifying outside of LDLS itself.
How will we transfer information from our handheld to Libronix? First, create a placeholder (blank) note within LDLS and then use DA to transfer the information via its export function. (I will cover this in more detail later.)
WORDsearch7
WORDsearch 7 stores note files in .html format, the same format used for storing Internet web pages. These pages can be viewed in a web browser (like Internet Explorer, Firefox, etc.) or even from some applications (such as Microsoft Word).
Once again, DA will come to our rescue: we can export our handheld notes into .html format, and these can be linked directly to WORDsearch 7.
Read MMM's review of a previous version of WORDSearch.
E-Sword
E-Sword is one of the best PC Bible software applications available today, and it is distributed as freeware! That’s right, there is no cost for downloading the software (although it is operated as a ministry and needs our support), and many Bible translations and study resources are available.
As with Libronix, the note files (called study notes in this application) are stored in a format that must be read within the application itself. The file is named study.not. As with Libronix, you must first create a blank, “placeholder” note within the application and then transfer the handheld information to this note.
Read Trailblazin' Ministries review of E-Sword.
Stay tuned to part 3 conclusion and look at one more piece of software that actually does connect with the PDA. Be sure to place any questions to Bob or the MMM team in the comments.
Edit: addition of E-Sword Review from Trailblazin Ministries.
posted by Antoine @ 12/19/2006 11:38:00 PM
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