Getting Started with Logos
Updated for Logos 10
This Wiki offers a step by step tutorial to becoming familiar with Logos.
It will help you customise your Bible Study together with Tips from experienced users.
Page Content
Installation, Indexing & Updates
Wiki: Installation and Indexing FAQ
Video: Installing
Logos is resource intensive and really benefits from an SSD drive as well as a fast processor and adequate memory (8+ GB).
After installing the Logos application, sign-in with your Logos account and choose an appropriate Library size dependent on the amount of disk space you have. Logos then downloads your library content, followed by indexing; which can take several hours.
Updates to the software and updated/new resources will be automatically downloaded by default, but you can change Automatically Start Downloads to NO in Tools > Program Settings. You cannot know what is being downloaded, but you will get a summary after it has completed.
Software updates are announced in the “Logos Desktop...” forum in a thread that is pinned to the top. You will also have access to the Release Notes in the forum, and via a Notification in the App.
Also, you can find which resources have been updated in Library by sorting the “Last Updated” column. Alternatively, use the Filter sidebar to get access to Last Updated and Added.
Tip: Wait for indexing to finish before using Logos, as Searching will not function and other features will be sluggish.
Tip: Many free resources are available (Logos does not charge your credit card).
First Steps
Wiki: User Wiki Table of Contents
The above wiki will list all Logos features with Support articles, but if you start by learning a few features, and at your own pace push yourself to learn others, you will master Logos. As with any new programs it takes time to learn and gain an in-depth understanding.
So below are some suggested places to start.
Tip: Highlight some bible verses and press F7 for a pop-up comparison with your Top 5 Bibles.
The Fn key may need to be pressed with F7 on Mac.
Tip: You can remove/add sections in Guides, so customised Guides may not be necessary.
Tip: You can collapse Guide sections to improve speed and/or presentation.
Tip: Use Settings in the Word by Word section of a custom Exegetical Guide to restrict the output for faster scrolling
if your passage is a bible Chapter. Optionally, use the Word by Word Bible Reference Guide from the Guide Menu when you want
a detailed report for several verses or chapters.
Tip: Windows Control key is equivalent to Command key on Mac.
You will learn as you go. It can take some time, but keep at it! Stop and try items in videos so you see how they work.
More Learning Logos options below.
Home Page
Wiki: Home Page Basics
The Home page is a place where you can initiate your studies via QuickStart Layouts and Readings in the Dashboard.
The Explore section can provide information about your Library, Faithlife products and provide access to blogs and messages.
Tip: Use Layouts to retain your preferences for different studies.
Layouts
Wiki: Layouts (incl. QuickStart Layouts), Linking Resources
Video: Layouts,
After you become more comfortable with Logos you will want to create your own Layouts. A layout will contain your resources and tools in the main Logos window. To open Logos to your Layout rather than the Home Page you will need to make an appropriate layout choice. The next time that you open Logos you will be taken to your layout.
You will probably want to create named Layouts for various studies. To do this you will open & arrange resources and tools, then save the Layout with a specific name. You can open a saved layout out by clicking on the Layout button, then in the drop down menu find your named layout on the right and click on it.
If you have a preferred Layout, you can add it to the shortcuts bar which will allow you to open that layout with a single mouse click.
Tip: Start with pre-defined QuickStart layouts for your study.
Tip: Save layouts for later use.
Tip: You can link resources so that when one scrolls the other scrolls, change where hyperlinks open, change the text size in one or all resources, use reading view or floating windows to maximise your reading experience.
Tip: After naming (or updating) layout, you can use the Close All command (or keyboard shortcut: Cmd+Option+W on Mac; Ctrl+Shift+W on PC) to close all panels.
Library & Prioritizing
Wiki: Library and Prioritizing with Basic and Advanced prioritization.
Video: Library, Prioritize Resources
Your Library will show you information (metadata) about each resource that enables you to categorise or tag them, and filter Library content according to your needs.
Tip: Prioritize your devotional resource(s) to show on Home Page in all Logos apps.
Tip: For New Testament, Louw-Nida resources offer semantic domain (contextual usage) insights – a Greek word can have one Strong’s number and many Louw-Nida numbers.
Favorites
Wiki: Favorites, Bookmarks
Video: Favorites and Bookmarks
You can create favorites, re-order them, delete and rename them, and organise them into a hierarchy of folders. Favorites can include web links and files. Bookmarks are a limited way to store favorites using the keyboard.
Tip: If you open Library and drag a book into a folder under Favorites, it can open that book to the Scripture that is displayed in the active window at the time you click on it.
Tip: Favorites can open resources or tools into a floating window.
Highlighting + Visual Filters
Wiki: Highlighting, Visual Filter, Finding Highlighted Text
Video: Highlighting, Visual Filters.
Tip: You can save a Search as a Visual Filter with custom highlighting for your resource. Visual Filters can be switched off in the Resource Toolbar (as can Highlighting).
Tip: You can highlight as you read, and you can undo it after right-clicking some of the text and selecting Delete Notes and Highlights in the Context menu.
Cited By
Wiki: Cited By
Video: Cited By
The Cited By tool searches your Logos Library for reference(s) to your Scripture Passage.
Tip: Cited By can be customized using collections and saved in layouts.
Wiki: Information
Video: Information tool
Click a word to get a wealth of information about it, especially from a reverse interlinear bible.
Tip: Other References gives you an overview of the searches you can conduct for that word, or its containing phrase/sentence.
Personal Books
Wiki: Personal Books
Video: Personal Books
You can build your own books in Logos from a docx file.
Tip: many document formats can be converted to docx
Learning Logos
Wiki: Visual Table of Contents, Table of Contents shows all Logos menus plus screen shots, tutorials, and examples.
Video: Logos Training has many links, including Sentence Diagramming, Sermon Preparation, and Syntax Search.
Becoming proficient with Logos features and capabilities takes months of use – practice and perseverance produces powerful results. It is an iterative process. Try using Logos features and capabilities, then can come back and improve initial attempts.
Tip: watch videos, pause, switch to Logos, try to do what video shows, switch back to video and play.
Tip: Logos Forums have many friendly discussions about using Logos Bible Software – good place to ask questions. The Wiki Using the Forum has usage tips, including searching.
Morris Proctor is the officially authorized Logos trainer: a 2 or 3 days hands-on Camp Logos is recommended, worthwhile and effective.
You can also purchase Camp Logos training items plus learning videos.
John Fallahee offers Independent training for purchase (not affiliated with Logos.com).