Accordance vs theWord and Other Questions

[why1942]

So, I'm growing weary of the limitations of theWord, though I must say it is a really good program and has served me well over the last several years. But, it does lack some features that I would really like to take advantage of. But, because of the price of Accordance, I have some questions before I take the plunge.

 

1. Can you do a "research" search on all modules including imported "user tools?" I would be importing them from PDFs or HTML, which seemed to work better. Right now in theWord I can search my entire library with a book search or all bible translations with a bible search. 

 

2. Can you link "user tools" with bible texts? There seems to be talk about this possibility in the future but not yet? Not sure if it's been implemented, is coming in the future, or will not be coming in the future? Specifically, I would like to import pdf commentaries I have and have them automatically track to the scripture references in the bible. I know this can be done in user notes, but, from what I understand, there is no import for this, just copy and paste. Plus I read user notes doesn't work as well as user tools. I'm assuming they cannot open in their own zones?

 

3. Can you convert user notes to user tools or user notes to commentary modules?

4. I'm seeing in the forums there are some persistent issues with search, specifically with user modules. Example would be searching for "dog" and the search results highlight "cat." Does this happen often? Just trying to determine how usable user tool imports are since I can't actually test drive it before laying down an obscene amount of cash.

5. When importing a pdf into user tools, does it create an entire new copy and store it within accordance (meaning I could delete or move the original) or does it just link to the original outside of accordance?

6. Has anyone used theWord previously and switched to Accordance? If so, what were your experiences? Glad you switched? Anything you miss? Regrets? What features of accordance have really helped your study and research? 

 

Thanks for any answers in advance.
What are the main advantages over free programs like TheWord Bible Software?

[Joel Brown]

Hi why1942, and thanks for checking out Accordance.

 

The first thing I would encourage you to do is download Accordance Lite - it is somewhat feature limited, but it is totally free, and gives you an introduction into a lot of how Accordance works and its power.  To answer your specific questions:

 

1. Yes, research includes all (or a subset) of modules, including imported texts and User Tools.

 

2. User Tools do not currently tie to Bibles like a commentary. You can place many links within them, search them, and amplify to them (i.e. search a tool for a word in another resource directly), but they will not scroll side-by-side a text.  User Notes, however, do work very well (not sure what you mean 'not as well'), and can be imported from a folder.  If you set up a folder with Book folders and with .rtf files for verses, this can all be improved into a User Note.  If you ever used BibleWorks, this mimics their notes structure.  User Notes can definitely be in their own zone, are searchable, can tie, etc, they just do not import from pdfs.

 

3. No, all of these file formats are pretty distinct.

 

4. Almost all of these reported issues have been fixed in the upcoming free update to 13.0.5.  However, even if the issue is present, the search works, is just a few words off.  It's not giving random results, just slightly misaligned results.  However, I do want to question the notion of it being "obscene" cash!  Accordance Lite is free.  The full Accordance program is only $59 and fully supports every feature in the program.  Past that, all you are paying for are resources or books to add to your library.  Program updates are also similarly priced, and often only come every few years, with loads of free updates in between.

 

5. The import is a brand new copy, with no requirement of the original pdf being maintained.

 

6. Can't answer here, as I am not a user of theWord, sorry!

 

 

I can't speak to specific advantages of Accordance over theWord, as I haven't used theWord, but in general, this would be my response:

 

1) Accordance supports full-time staffed programmers.  Free, ad-supported, or donation based programs generally won't get nearly that amount of development time.  This often means faster bug fixes, newer features, more capable features, etc.

 

2) Accordance is a very mature program, under constant development since 1992 (28 years!).  It is extremely capable in the areas of biblical study and research.

 

3) Accordance supports a massive number of features, so much so that most users don't use even a fraction of them - they just use the ones relevant to their work.  I suggest a read through the Feature Tour to get an overview as to some of the capabilities.  Off the top of my head, our Root Searching, Interlinear, Flex Search, Stacks and Papers, Maps, Analytics, cross-textual comparison, Key Numbers/Strong's Numbers, Highlighting, and Research are all world-class.  What you need is really dependent on what you use.  Many scholars and professors I work with never touch the "user" stuff like Notes, Tools, Highlighting, or Import.  Many other users I know never get into the "heavier" stuff like roots, construct searches, or analytics.  It just depends on what you use.

 

4) Accordance is considered a premiere program, used by many of the top biblical scholars, professors, and teachers.  Despite this, we've maintained the user interface in such a way that is also loved by countless casual users, students, pastors, sunday school teachers, and more.  It is a very powerful, rich program, that works quickly, intuitively, and effectively to assist in biblical study.

 

5) Accordance is cross-platform.  Any books you buy are (at no additional cost) available on all other platforms: Mac, Windows, iOS, Android.  The mobile apps are free, while the purchase of the full desktop app applies to both Mac and Windows.

 

 

I hope this helps!  Feel free to ask any other questions you have.  If there are any other prior TheWord users, I'd love to hear their feedback as well.

[why1942]

Hi why1942, and thanks for checking out Accordance.

 

The first thing I would encourage you to do is download Accordance Lite - it is somewhat feature limited, but it is totally free, and gives you an introduction into a lot of how Accordance works and its power.  To answer your specific questions:

 

1. Yes, research includes all (or a subset) of modules, including imported texts and User Tools.

 

2. User Tools do not currently tie to Bibles like a commentary. You can place many links within them, search them, and amplify to them (i.e. search a tool for a word in another resource directly), but they will not scroll side-by-side a text.  User Notes, however, do work very well (not sure what you mean 'not as well'), and can be imported from a folder.  If you set up a folder with Book folders and with .rtf files for verses, this can all be improved into a User Note.  If you ever used BibleWorks, this mimics their notes structure.  User Notes can definitely be in their own zone, are searchable, can tie, etc, they just do not import from pdfs.

 

3. No, all of these file formats are pretty distinct.

 

4. Almost all of these reported issues have been fixed in the upcoming free update to 13.0.5.  However, even if the issue is present, the search works, is just a few words off.  It's not giving random results, just slightly misaligned results.  However, I do want to question the notion of it being "obscene" cash!  Accordance Lite is free.  The full Accordance program is only $59 and fully supports every feature in the program.  Past that, all you are paying for are resources or books to add to your library.  Program updates are also similarly priced, and often only come every few years, with loads of free updates in between.

 

5. The import is a brand new copy, with no requirement of the original pdf being maintained.

 

6. Can't answer here, as I am not a user of theWord, sorry!

 

 

I can't speak to specific advantages of Accordance over theWord, as I haven't used theWord, but in general, this would be my response:

 

1) Accordance supports full-time staffed programmers.  Free, ad-supported, or donation based programs generally won't get nearly that amount of development time.  This often means faster bug fixes, newer features, more capable features, etc.

 

2) Accordance is a very mature program, under constant development since 1992 (28 years!).  It is extremely capable in the areas of biblical study and research.

 

3) Accordance supports a massive number of features, so much so that most users don't use even a fraction of them - they just use the ones relevant to their work.  I suggest a read through the Feature Tour to get an overview as to some of the capabilities.  Off the top of my head, our Root Searching, Interlinear, Flex Search, Stacks and Papers, Maps, Analytics, cross-textual comparison, Key Numbers/Strong's Numbers, Highlighting, and Research are all world-class.  What you need is really dependent on what you use.  Many scholars and professors I work with never touch the "user" stuff like Notes, Tools, Highlighting, or Import.  Many other users I know never get into the "heavier" stuff like roots, construct searches, or analytics.  It just depends on what you use.

 

4) Accordance is considered a premiere program, used by many of the top biblical scholars, professors, and teachers.  Despite this, we've maintained the user interface in such a way that is also loved by countless casual users, students, pastors, sunday school teachers, and more.  It is a very powerful, rich program, that works quickly, intuitively, and effectively to assist in biblical study.

 

5) Accordance is cross-platform.  Any books you buy are (at no additional cost) available on all other platforms: Mac, Windows, iOS, Android.  The mobile apps are free, while the purchase of the full desktop app applies to both Mac and Windows.

 

 

I hope this helps!  Feel free to ask any other questions you have.  If there are any other prior TheWord users, I'd love to hear their feedback as well.

 

 

Thanks very much for your response and answers to my questions. Good news on several items.

 

First off, I downloaded the limited version but it would not run adequately on my system (not enough hard drive space). So I ordered a new laptop and I'm waiting for it to be delivered hopefully today if Fed Ex can get their act together (should have been delivered yesterday) [update since starting this response - laptop was delivered and I'm using the Lite version now].

 

Excellent news on the universal searching for all modules. This is, of course, really important when you have more research tools and books than you can possibly read in two lifetimes. Just having the option to do searches through the Church Fathers is a huge benefit. I especially like the idea that you can save subsets for future searches of just those titles.

 

Disappointing that User Tools do not tie to bibles, but after playing with the User Notes, it seems to work like I hoped. I'm surprised ties don't work on User Tools. The option is there, it's just grayed out. Is it coming in future updates?

 

Good to hear the issues with search have been fixed, are being fixed, will be fixed, etc. My hope was, with it being a paid program, there would be active development and effective support.

 

You said, "However, I do want to question the notion of it being "obscene" cash!  Accordance Lite is free.  The full Accordance program is only $59 and fully supports every feature in the program. Past that, all you are paying for are resources or books to add to your library.  Program updates are also similarly priced, and often only come every few years, with loads of free updates in between."

This is wildly relative. I imagine I'm not the only one to suffer from sticker shock having come from a free program that offers the majority of resources (albeit older) for free. I just have a hard time not only justifying $1800 for a commentary set or $600 for a set of Greek Texts, but $36,000 for all the tools available. Likewise, when I compare two packages, I save hundreds of dollars buying a lower package and adding on titles as I need. But, I get it. It's economics. Accordance has to stay in business.

 

One suggestion I would offer: maybe put some of the older commentary sets (Lange, Cambridge Greek New Testament for Schools, Meyer's Critical and Exegetical NT, etc) as modules for a low cost (or even free) to ease people into the transition. I know if this had been available when I started looking at Accordance last week it would have been a lot easier for me to switch. I spent a lot of extra time reworking my research process just so I can save money and keep commentaries out of the software. Yes, Accordance might lose a little money in the short term with those older titles, but I think you would gain more through good will in the long-term. But, I'm not running a business, so....

 

Excellent news concerning the imported copies so I can delete the originals (or, at least put them on my external drive for safe keeping).

 

Concerning theWord. I am noticing there are not many people using theWord software overall, or, at least, there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of transfer between the two. I guess that doesn't surprise me since they are different camps with different needs. I wouldn't be switching if I hadn't grown out of theWord's features and functionality limitations.

 

 

 

2) Accordance is a very mature program, under constant development since 1992 (28 years!).  It is extremely capable in the areas of biblical study and research.

 

I'll be happy to try my best to put it through its paces!

 

 

 

3) Accordance supports a massive number of features, so much so that most users don't use even a fraction of them - they just use the ones relevant to their work.

 

I'm hoping this is true. I like to mine for gold and get my money's worth. I see the tutorials and help files are easy to access and very searchable. That will help tremendously. One other thing I like so far is there appears to be a great deal of video content online covering the features for Accordance. This was somewhat lacking for previous software packages I've used (all free).

 

Thanks again for the answers. I'm now underway in my testing of the lite version and, unless I find some major limiter, I will most likely upgrade to the Starter tomorrow.