[bt-devel] Review2 on BibleTime

[Arthur Bolstad]

Thank you.  I will try to update.  Should be interesting.  This was
indeed 1.6.5.1 .

Next project to try to update.

art

On Wed, 2009-04-01 at 22:00 +0300, Eeli Kaikkonen wrote:
> Thanks for detailed opinions. Unfortunately you seem to refer to
> BibleTime version 1.6 or older. It's basically at least 2 years old if
> we talk about features. 1.7 has been released recently and we will soon
> release 2.0. You don't tell which OS you are using so I can't point you
> to any possible binary packages. If you are a programmer you can find
> build instructions in http://devel.bibletime.info.
> 
> Some comments below.
> 
> On Wed, 1 Apr 2009, Arthur Bolstad wrote:
> 
> > Looking at the bibletime screen first time:
> >
> > 1)	Opening view:  Tool tip is useful but appears on top of another extra
> > window.  That other one should be suppressed until the tool tip window
> > is cleared.
> 
> Tooltips have been removed altogether. They were out of date and too
> few.
> 
> > 3)	How did I close the program but leave the 2 windows up?  Now I closed
> > the tool tips but the initial extra window remains?
> 
> Maybe the "initial extra window" is the Configuration dialog which is
> opened when you start BibleTime for the first time. I don't know if it's
> good or bad. Personally I don't need it at the first time.
> 
> > 4)	Apparently the window left is BibleTime.
> > 	a) The appearance is not impressive.  Starts small, I assume for small
> > screens (netbook?).  There is nothing on the right side of the
> > bookshelf.  It is not obvious that what one does is to click on a book
> > in the bookshelf in order to get one displayed on the right.  Perhaps an
> > instruction on how to use the system could appear initially on the
> > right?
> 
> An instruction is a good idea.
> 
> > 	b)  Once a book is clicked, I see no way to clear the right side again.
> 
> The subwindows (display windows) can be closed with close (X) buttons.
> If there's only one display window, the button is just below the upper
> right corner of the main window.
> 
> > 	c)  The "MAG" box on the lower left is a total mystery.
> 
> In 1.7 upwards it has some explaining text. If you hover with mouse over
> text which has some data - crossreferences, Strong's numbers etc. - the
> Mag will show the data.
> 
> > 5) On a small window, I would rather that the Bookshelf be separate
> > window rather than take up precious screen space.
> 
> The Bookshelf, Bookmarks and Mag windows can be closed with "View" menu.
> In 2.0alpha3 they can be moved quite freely or even opened in separate
> window.
> 
> > 	a)  The names of the Bibles appear in abbreviations, which is good but
> > often unclear.  Mouseover could give the full title that is abbreviated.
> > This would not need to be translated (probably should not).
> 
> I agree, but the names come from the SWORD library. Mouseover should
> already give information, at least in newer versions.
> 
> > 	b)  Are all these downloaded as part of a standard install (I realize
> > that my install was not necessarily standard)?  Does the bookshelf
> > show/imply that there are more possibly deployed?
> 
> Works (texts, modules) should be installed with Bookshelf Manager (in
> Settings menu).
> 
> > 	c)  I found the name of the bible being used in the window title.  I
> > would expect it just above the actual display window.
> 
> Me too, but it requires some coding, possibly quite much.
> 
> > 5)  Icons above the text:
> > 	a)  Somehow the mouseover gets lost in the window text.  Needs a
> > stronger visibility.  Not at all clear initially what those icons are
> > for.
> > 	b)  What is initial icon (little bible) for?  Mouseover give the
> > Abbreviation of the present text source. Clicking gives a choice,
> > apparently of Bibles.
> 
> The icons have tooltips shown on mouseover, at least in newer versions.
> 
> > 	c)  Changing the choice on the left to books (choosing the first
> > "Concord") opens a new window. This was unexpected.  I expected it to
> > change the text being displayed on the right.  Don't mind the option of
> > 2 windows, but prefer to choose that option before it is given.
> 
> This is how BibleTime works. It may not be the most simple way of
> working, but if you use it couple of time, you will get used to it.
> 
> > 6)  The 2nd icon (bible) mouseover says "no work selected"  doesn't tell
> > me what this icon is about.  Apparently it is for choosing another
> > parallel window (good idea).  Say that in the mouseover: "Choose a text
> > for a 2nd window".
> 
> They have tooltips, at least in newer versions.
> 
> > 	a)  This will only open another Bible.  Why do we have it though, if
> > the Bookshelf will open another window and that for any selection, not
> > just another bible?
> 
> You can use different windows for different kinds of works. Parallel
> view in one window is meant only for the same type of work. That's how
> it's designed.
> 
> > 8)	Display Options Icon seems obvious and usef.
> > 	a)  Limited choices.  Shouldn't "redletter" be an option, maybe only if
> > the bible has that option built in.
> 
> It is an option, depending on the work.
> 
> > 10)	Didn't understand how to use the chapter changes and verse changes
> > arrows.  Could there be an appropriate mouseover on them?
> 
> This may be quite different in the latest versions.
> 
> > 11)	In the Book (Concord) display window there are 2 blank choices menu
> > boxes (?).  What are they?  Why are they forcing the menu to be so
> > broad?
> 
> > 12)	Just discovered that the order of windows is based on the order of
> > choice from the bookshelf.  Is there a menu item to switch the order?
> 
> You can reorder the windows manually. You can change the layout mode
> from the Window menu.
> 
> > 14)	I selected H.. from the choose new book icon.  Nothing happened
> > initially (as it loaded the book).  Be good idea to put a msg in the
> > selection window that says "loading" or some such.
> 
> True. We have some problems with speed when loading some works.
> 
> >
> 
>   Yours,
> 	Eeli Kaikkonen (Mr.), Oulu, Finland
> 	e-mail: eekaikko at mailx.studentx.oulux.fix (with no x)
> 
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