Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!ub!uhura.cc.rochester.edu!mcli@joker.optics.rochester.edu
From: mcli@joker (Maurice Ling)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Bible Concordance Program
Keywords: Great program!
Message-ID: <10994@ur-cc.UUCP>
Date: 11 Dec 90 13:31:17 GMT
Sender: news@uhura.cc.rochester.edu
Reply-To: mcli@joker (Maurice Ling)
Organization: The Institute of Optics, University of Rochester
Lines: 77

Hi everyone,

I'd like to just tell everyone about a program I found at the
panarthea archive earlier this year.  I have wanted to post something
about it, but never had time to write a formal review.  This is more
or less an informal review.

The program is called the Spiritware Concordance program.  It is a
Freeware program written and supported by a church in Seattle,
Washington (the Fifteenth Avenue Bible Church, I think).  They call
the software they write "Spiritware".  Good name, huh?

The Spiritware Concordance program comes free with the King James
Version of the Bible, since the KJV text is in the public domain.  The
New International Version is also available.  They get it directly
from the Zondervan publishers, and it is *not* in the public domain.
So you have to buy it.  

Time doesn't allow me to go too deep into describing the program
features, but I will highlight the features that I think are the most
useful:

- selective searches of the books of the Bible.
	-you can limit your search to one book, or any books.

- you can search using wild cards.
	-for instance, bapt+ would search for baptism, baptist, baptize, etc.

- exclusive or inclusive searches.
	-verses with [word1] and [word2], or [word1] or [word2], plus
	 combinations of and's and or's.

- exporting of Biblical text to file, or printer.

- a notepad to take notes on.

- footnotes (for NIV version)

- the words you are looking for are bold faced.

- you get three windows, one for inputting the words you want to
  search for, one which lists the verses that contain the search
  words, and one that contains the actual text.  Moving down the list
  of verses, the text window goes to the appropriate verse, and it's
  context.

- Other features include bookmarks, going to a specific reference or
  book, etc.

This program is really superb and is fairly fast.  I don't have any
time comparisons, though.  It's excellant for those who want to study
the Bible or lead Bible Studies.

The program runs on any ST computer with any drive configuration.  A
hard drive is recommended but not required.  Each version of the Bible
is about 2.5 megs, and comes on 4 disks.

If you register your program, you get impeccable support from FABC.
They send you a manual for the program, and any future updates for
free.  I forget the registration fee, but It's something like $15.00
or something.  Since I've registered in June, I've received the manual
and one update, which was updated again because of a small bug.  Inf
fact, you don't even need to ask them to send you the update.  If
there's an update, they send it to you right away.  

I believe that they are working on a Greek version of the Bible also.
If you're interested, I can post the address of FABC and send the
program to atari.archive.  

-Maurice



* ** * ** * ** * ** * ** * ** * ** * ** * ** * ** * ** * ** * ** * ** * **
BITNET  :  MCLI_SS@UORDBV                       \/
UUCP    :  ...rochester!uhura!mcli             >--< ======================
Internet:  mcli@joker.optics.rochester.edu      /\