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Using Microsoft Word to Make Modules


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#1 Josh Bond

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Posted 14 November 2011 - 12:41 AM

I know we live in an era when it's "cool" to hate Microsoft. Or maybe "trendy" is a better word. But after all the Microsoft monopoly "sass", I'm yet to find a better word processor than Microsoft Word 2010. It's what I use to write the e-Sword User's Guide. And having used more powerful tools over the years for technical documentation, like Adobe Pagemaker and Framemaker, I'm yet to see a tool that is as flexible, powerful, and easy to use as Word 2010.

I abuse it quite frequently by conducting regular expression searches on files 10, 20, 50, 100+ megabytes in size, which it handles flawlessly when I've had other word processors crash. I know there's text editors that can do this too, but Word's nerfed regular expressions are easy to use.

I've done easy searches and operations (less than 3 seconds) in Word that other word processors need "macros" for. And when I do need a macro, writing one (or finding one on the Internet) is easy (because everyone uses Word). When you have to create or edit a macro, like the one I posted here a few days ago that converts footnotes to in-line citations, that's also easy thanks to the Macro Editor. If I need roman numerals converted to arabic numerals, there's a macro for that too (courtesty of David Cox).

This is how I make a lot of Topics modules. I make them in Microsoft Word. For those of you who don't understand--the left side of the screen will be the chapters in a Topic module. The ÷ sign will be used to recognize each new section when the module is made. It's a placeholder that says: this is the start of a new section.

Look at the screenshot below (my actual screensize is larger--I reduced the size of Word to make a smaller graphic).

Attached File  word_topics2.png   269.42K   521 downloads

Notice the Navigation pane on the left side of the screen. Isn't that handy? I have a birds eye view of my topics, almost like I'm reading them in e-Sword. I can track my topic numbering (no wondering what the last topic number was). I can track my topic indents for nested topics. I can click any topic and go directly to it--no scrolling up and down or searching for a topic. I can rearrange topics (if need be) by dragging the item up or down in the Navigation Pane. Each time I add a new section with a ÷ sign, that section appears in my navigation pane.

Now look at the right side of the screen. That's my clipboard manager. When I want to insert a new ÷section and a return for an extra line, I just click a previous section name, and it insert's the text where my cursors is. Then I can adjust the section name as necessary. The clipboard history is very handy--to be able to copy anything I've copied previouisly with a click--right there in Word.

When I'm all done in Word, then I take the text into Tooltip (another word processor) for tooltipping and module generation. That requires maybe 3 clicks--in other words, it's easy.

For those of you who think making e-Sword modules is brain surgery--it isn't. If you can use a word processor and point / click a mouse, then you can make an e-Sword module. For topics files, It's as easy as my screenshot makes it look!

Josh

#2 patchworkid

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Posted 14 November 2011 - 07:12 AM

very good
i like to work from Word then to T3 myself. i use word 2007 not 2010 is there much of a difference?

thanks
Merismos the Scriptures with Patchworkid's Study Bible Set<p>http://www.biblesupp...tudy-bible-set/, MySword -http://www.biblesupp...tudy-bible-set/

#3 DSaw

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Posted 14 November 2011 - 07:25 AM

HI Josh
Thanks for the post I have used word 2003 since it was released and didn't know about that navigation feature in 2003 its called "document map"

Over the years using word esp 2003 I have often thought that word would make a good bible study program in itself

May God change our hearts to what the truth is

2Ti_2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Rom_9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

2Ti 2:24-25  And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 
 

 

 


#4 Josh Bond

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Posted 14 November 2011 - 10:12 AM

I've used 2003 but not 2007. 2003 would choke on very large (abusive sized) documents. I think the reason 2010 works well for me is 2010 is 64 bit and my computer runs 64 bit Windows. I can't compare 2007 to 2010. But 2010 is much more "polished" than 2003. I recall maybe three or four dozen things like the table of contents management is much easier. Collaborative editing is much improved. Format recognition (when you start a numbered or bulleted list) is better. The way text wraps around images is improved. Lot's of little things.

I fought the 2010 menu system pretty hard at first. It differed from 2003's. Then after some usage, I realized the menu system is very logically organized. Old habits, hard to break...you know that routine.

#5 DSaw

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Posted 14 November 2011 - 10:18 AM

I've used 2003 but not 2007. 2003 would choke on very large (abusive sized) documents.


mine had a hard time with large files to but a memory increase to 4 gigs helped that

May God change our hearts to what the truth is

2Ti_2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Rom_9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

2Ti 2:24-25  And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 
 

 

 


#6 BaptizedBeliever

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Posted 14 November 2011 - 10:37 AM

I am trying to work on a Bible in Word 2010. Any suggestions?

#7 Josh Bond

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Posted 14 November 2011 - 11:31 AM

I don't know if there would be any advantage to making it in MS Word or just using tooltip itself.

Tooltip has 2 syntax styles.

Style 1:

÷[Genesis]
1:1 In the beginning
1:2 And the earth...
50:12 So Joseph dies

[Exodus]
1:1 Now these are the names
[Revelation]
1:1 The revelation of Jesus Christ

Style 2:


÷gen 1:1 In the beginning...
gen 1:2 And the earth...
gen 50:12 So Joseph...

exo 1:1 Now these are the names...
rev 22:21 Amen.

#8 patchworkid

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Posted 14 November 2011 - 03:06 PM

hi what about if the verses is in a paragraph and you want each verse as a single line (line break) how do you go about that?
Merismos the Scriptures with Patchworkid's Study Bible Set<p>http://www.biblesupp...tudy-bible-set/, MySword -http://www.biblesupp...tudy-bible-set/

#9 Josh Bond

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Posted 14 November 2011 - 03:24 PM

e-Sword doesn't support paragraphs in Bibles, as far as I know...? The lack of paragraphs and the lack of a publicly available footnote system really limits how some Bibles will display (there is a footnote system for Bibles, but e-Sword only activates that feature if the module is encrypted/official).

#10 patchworkid

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Posted 14 November 2011 - 03:29 PM

sorry but you did not answer my question

how do i get office word to reformat verses as single lines (line break) not paragraph form

like using wild card or something

thanks again
Merismos the Scriptures with Patchworkid's Study Bible Set<p>http://www.biblesupp...tudy-bible-set/, MySword -http://www.biblesupp...tudy-bible-set/




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