Logos Software Instructions
These databases can only be accessed from workstations within the Divinity Library.
This set of instructions covers the following databases within the Logos Library System:
- Anchor Bible Dictionary
- Early Church Fathers
- Essential IVP Reference Collection
- Hebrew & Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament
- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
- Theological Dictionary of the New Testament
- Vatican Council II
Introduction
These titles all link to the same database of information, the Logos Library System. It contains key Christian documents and Biblical reference works.
Navigation
On opening the program, you will notice two internal windows.
The one on the right is where the texts will appear, so it would be advisable to maximize it. The one on the left is where you are to select a text to read. You will notice that the full titles are not visible, and there is no horizontal scrollbar. To see the full titles, click and drag on the right hand border of this window to expand it. After you have selected a text, you will need to shrink this window again to view the text.
Should you accidentally close the left-hand window, click on the second button from the left on the button bar (the button next to the print button), and the window will reappear. (When holding your mouse pointer over the button, the words "Library Browser" will appear.)
To return to a previous point in the text, click the Backtrack button (curved black arrow in the second group from the left on the button bar.)
Selecting a Text
Each book icon represents a library. Find the library containing the desired text, and click on the book icon. The contents of that library will be shown.
If there are subcategories, you will see yellow plus signs next to each group heading. Click the plus signs to expand the group. (The plus sign will then change to a minus sign and can be clicked again to contract the group. Similarly, you can re-click the book icon to contract the whole library, making your navigation easier.)
When you find the text you want, double click it and it will appear in the right-hand window.
Searching
If you wish to search for a particular word within the text you are reading, select "Edit-Search" from the pull-down menus or select the magnifying glass icon from the button bar. A search window will appear. Type in the word and click the "Search" button at the bottom of the window. (There are several advanced search options, such as specifying a verse range, which you may modify if you wish.)
A window will pop up displaying your search results.
Double click on one of them to see the context for the word you've searched (the searched-for word will be highlighted in blue).
The search results will remain behind this window, so if you close it, you will return to the results and can view the next one.
Be careful when searching if more than one window is open. You can limit your search to the Active Book, All Open Books, etc.
If you wish to search for Greek words in resources that have them (e.g., Hebrew & Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament), you will need to select "Greek" as the search language (by clicking the Greek button in the search window), after which you must type the search word in Greek. Generally, you will use the English letters corresponding to the correct Greek sound (e.g., n = nu). However, there are a few exceptions: q = theta, w = omega, c = ksi, y = psi, f = phi, j = smooth breathing, shift-j = rough breathing, ; = grave accent, ' = circumflex accent, v = acute accent, / = iota subscript. It is not necessary to use diacritical marks in searching, but using them can help narrow your search further. (An alphabetical word list is available under the "Word List" tab in the advanced search.)
Follow the same procedure when searching for Hebrew words. Irregular keyboard mapping is as follows: q = qaf, w = vav, [ = ayin, a = aleph, f = tet , j = chet, v = shin, c = sin, x = tsadek. Searching with vowels is possible, but as it is not necessary, the mapping is not listed here. The letters will be entered right-to-left--it is not necessary to type them in reverse order. (An alphabetical word list is available under the "Word List" tab in the advanced search.)
Printing
If you are working with a scripture passage . . .
From within the work you are reading, choose the Print icon or File > Print. A print window will appear. Look at the "Print Range" information on the left-hand side of the print window. If you are reading a bible, click in the text box next to "Range:" and type the desired verses (e.g., "Ex 2:4-Ex 4:6").
If you are working with other text (such as the Anchor Bible Dictionary) . . .
From within the work you are reading, choose the Print icon or File > Print. A print window will appear. The Print Range will be set to "Selected Articles." You can print multiple articles by choosing the "Select" button in the "Print Range" section of the print dialog box.
In the resulting "Range Selection" window, select articles from the "Available Items" side of the window and click the "Add" button to move them to the "Selected Items" window.
Choose the "OK" button on the "Range Selection" window to save your selections, and choose the "OK" button on the "Print" window to print your selections.
How to Cite
For bibliographic information, select "Help-About" from the pull-down menus at the top of the screen. Click the "Copyrights" tab to see info about each book. For further information, click the green "Card" link next to the book entries. The information provided will need to be formatted in the appropriate citation style (e.g., Chicago, Turabian, etc.).
Questions? Let us know.
This document was created by Rob Teitelbaum and Julie Owen for the Vanderbilt University Divinity Library on October 31, 1999. Last updated: January 21, 2009.