What L4 features need better documentation?

I would like to see screen images inside the help system. Most other programs help systems show screen or partial screen shots along with help text. This is really helpful when the help info is using terms for window or tab part and the user is unfamiliar with these terms. I like their videos, but some images in the help system would be worth a 1000 extra words.

Matt said:

There should be illustrations: *lots* of them with screenshots that have arrows and balloons with text hanging off of them explaining the various things one sees on screen.  Did I mention there should be *lots* of screenshots?

Matt, absolutely agree. In the very first week of Beta testing, I asked for annotated images of the screens to assist us in talking about the program. To me this is basic. 

Matt said:

For each feature of the program, at a minimum, there should be at least one fully worked out example that covers all major options available in detail, and for the minor, less used options, at least a link to a glossary which defines the option and how it fits into the larger construct.

Again, agreed. It should not be up to users to develop this basic documentation.

Harry Hahne said:

Syntax searches are very poorly documented and easy to make errors that produce wrong results or no results. Most options are not explained.

a big +1 on this one.

It would be great to have some documentation/videos about actually using these tools in a "real-world" scenario. I have tons of resources from the Platinum edition, but don't know how to use them effectively in a study. (ie. Word Study, BDAG, etc., etc., etc., etc.) This requires more than just a to use this tool, click here and type this explanation.

Thanks!

Bible word study > preposition use.

JohnFidel said:

Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics >

Thanks.  I don't seem to have that resource.  I would hope the help would have some information on such a complex-looking tool.  Is there a search string I could use to see if I have anything equivalent to the section of the resource you mentioned?  I searched my library for "preposition use" and got 45 hits but they mostly were "preposition used" and not applicable -- (how do you force search to find strings exactly?)  The only exact match was for the help file but that just says there is a feature called 'preposition use' and nothing about how to use it.

-ken

Layouts / Workspaces saved ON the machine.

I want to re-open to where I was before when connection is not possible as in L3.

Also please fix the text overlap

With the increased power of Logos 4, I find that my library-searching orientated use of the program leaves me using only a small potential of the features that are available.  Power-users on the other hand seem to be flying ahead using most features a lot.  They also seem to be the happiest users, while others seem to struggle to get some basic things working well.  Some of the problems are down to how the L4 works (e.g. Bibles not always opening in the pane where other Bibles are, or not being able to organise Notes, etc).  But documentation is a key issue that inhibits moving on from struggling with the basics.  Frustration with not being able to find suitable documentation can also sometimes give the impression that the program is not developed in certain areas when in fact it is.  It does not help also if the forums need to be searched, or a video watched in vain, to try to fill in knowledge gaps.

In general, the Help documentation just seems too basic, just whetting our appetite but not giving the tools to do much more the little that is shown.  But then, where there is an entry, the detail is often missing as
well e.g. how and when to use the Advanced option in Prioritisation.

I agree that a picture paints a thousand words.  Words
sometimes don't communicate the intended idea, even if they are
technically accurate, as they sometimes only make sense once the
concept  or significance of what is written is already understood. 

Also, the How-To section seems unbelieveably small for such a sophisticated program as Logos 4.  For users who don't know How To use many of the advanced features, they are offered so little help. Macro Help rather than micro Help is what I'm thinking about - when and how to use the program's features to their max.  This would help bridge the gap between the power-users and those who use it for mainly basic navigation and searching through Bibles and books.  Or does this go beyond the program Help responsibility and move into the arena of training in original language instead?  I'm not sure.  But we should not need to pay for seminars (real-life or DVD) in order to find out how to do something that should be in the Help documentation. 

I realise that this does not add to a list of items to put into the
Help documentation, but it is an overall view instead, which could be lost if all the focus was on the details of adding particular bits of Help documentation.

Generally, I'm not a fan of the existing 'minimalist' approach to the Help documentation.  But I am pleased that Logos is canvasing opinion on what users want to see changed or added.