User Notes Editor Improvement

[KevinPurcell]

I've used Accordance sparingly for a number of years, but recently decided to jump in and make it my primary tool coming from Logos. There's a lot to like. Takes some getting used to. However ...

 

1. The way Notes must open a new window to edit it is very annoying. I want to open a user note box integrated into the current workspace and type into it and have it change with the verse so that if for example James 4:1 is the current verse in my Bible, the note box has James 4:1 open and I can type directly into it without it opening a new window. That's a big weakness to me.

 

2. The notes editor should recognize Bible references and automatically create a link like most modern Bible software does today.

 

3, Why ask me to update? It should automatically save. I'm used to notes saving without having to do anything which is what I'd prefer. However, if I can't have that, at least don't bother to ask me when I close the note window or change focus from one verse to another (if I get #1 above). Just automatically save it.

Edited May 12, 2016 by Kevin Purcell

[Joel Brown]

Kevin, let me respond to some of your points here:

 

1) I completely understand where you are coming from.  Aside from some technical reasons, there are many interface issues with this.  Consider the current Edit Window, it has many different buttons and capabilities (Fonts, Autolink, insert picture, keyboard entry, etc.).  Trying to cram all of that into a potentially small workspace pane creates many issues, and many ambiguities.  If I am clicking on a reference, do I want to type within the reference or open its verses?

 

Remember, we do have ways to make this easier.  You can just click in the workspace and start typing to open the edit window - no need to type Ctrl+U first.  Afterwards, a simple Ctrl+S Ctrl+W combo will close the window.

 

2) Perhaps you have a reference that you do not want to be linked (we have had multiple users with this case), or something that looks like a reference but isn't ("I planned to mark 1 of the passages."  We provide the autolink button (looks like a gear and a chain in the top right) to do this for you, but we do not force it upon our users.

 

3) The notes will automatically save if you navigate away using the blue arrows at the bottom, to either the next note or next verse.  In general, we don't like to automatically save, as many times users may end up changing their mind and not wanting to save changes.  MS Word and Pages allow a revert of changes, so why shouldn't we?

 

I hope this helps!

[KevinPurcell]

Let me reply.
1. Really? I can't imagine this being too cramped. If you look at all of the other major Bible software programs the Accordance notes editor is spartan by comparison. The toolbar and editor area will fit just fine on all but the tiniest of computer screens. (800x600 might be an issue.) See below. It would work okay at that incredibly low resolution.
 
Screen Shot 2016-05-12 at 11.16.59 AM by Kevin Purcell, on Flickr
 
2. That's fine. Make it a user preference I can turn on or off. You already have the capability to recognize the references automatically. Make a preference to turn auto linking on for every note.
 
3. If I have to actively do something, then you cannot call it "automatically" saving. It's not at all automatic. This is a feature the majority of Bible software user notes tools include.
 
I was surprised Accordance was behind in these areas. I hope you can catch up soon as I really do want to begin using Accordance primarily.

Edited May 12, 2016 by Kevin Purcell

[LylePhillips]

I am finding that making edits to a User Tool, I have to hit Cmd-S after each edit to be assured that the change is savable. If I make several edits, I ofter get a blank error message that does not identify the offending error and thus lose all of the changes.

[farcas]

I've used Accordance sparingly for a number of years, but recently decided to jump in and make it my primary tool coming from Logos. There's a lot to like. Takes some getting used to. However ...

 

1. The way Notes must open a new window to edit it is very annoying. I want to open a user note box integrated into the current workspace and type into it and have it change with the verse so that if for example James 4:1 is the current verse in my Bible, the note box has James 4:1 open and I can type directly into it without it opening a new window. That's a big weakness to me.

 

2. The notes editor should recognize Bible references and automatically create a link like most modern Bible software does today.

 

3, Why ask me to update? It should automatically save. I'm used to notes saving without having to do anything which is what I'd prefer. However, if I can't have that, at least don't bother to ask me when I close the note window or change focus from one verse to another (if I get #1 above). Just automatically save it.

 

 

Preferences, Preferences, Preferences...

 

1. Preferences - "Check here to open notes window within a tab rather than its own window". Fixed .

 

2. Preferences - auto link or not auto link - fixed

I'd also love to see that when you put a link in there is an automatic note created to like the two. For example, Matt 2:15 // Hos 11:1 "Out of Egypt I called my son". If I make a note on Matt 2:15 I'd like it to create a link/note to the other.

It would also be nice to take notes on words within a reference that automatically pulls the text into the note (something Logos does but not great).

 

3. Auto save - I think should be the default, but who knows maybe someone doesn't want to save a note they just made - make it a preference...

 

 

While not my post, I'm laying this out because at present I don't use notes because of some these limitations. Other limitations in crude its mishandling of RTL. Having used, though not often, Logos notes, I can say the handling of RTL and these other features are taken care. Its the rest of the program that doesn't do it for me.

 

 

Thanks!