Version 7 > Scripture slides
6/24/2013 1:09:49 AM
This has to be possible, but I haven't yet worked it out. How do I make scripture slides with multiple verses on each slide, auto fit for font size? So far I get them from the scripture control panel, highlight 3 or 4 verses and select verses, one slide. Its trial and error to get it right. I then can't get a sequence of slides in the media control panel, as they are all individual elements in the program. What am I missing?
6/24/2013 1:13:52 PM
Alister,
I think you have two different scenarios here so I will address both - if I misunderstood please clarify...
Your first question, "How do I make scripture slides with multiple verses on each slide, auto fit for font size? So far I get them from the scripture control panel, highlight 3 or 4 verses and select verses, one slide." , should be pretty straight forward. If you take a look at your global display properties and make sure that under the Scripture Text > Font tab the shrink to fit and stretch to fit should be checked. This assumes that you do not care what the font size is but that you want to see all the text (not running off the page) and you want it to fill the screen.
Your second question, "I then can't get a sequence of slides in the media control panel, as they are all individual elements in the program. What am I missing? ", seems to indicate you are looking for all of these element to appear in the media control panel at the same time. If I understand what you have described this won't work because the media control panel will only see the next slide, not the next element.
Here is what I propose that you do:
Use the SlideShow Builder to create a slideshow that has several slides, each containing several verse references. To get you started, the easiest way to do this is to create a new blank slide show and add slides using the Create New Slide drop menu selecting "Scripture Slide". From here you can select your 3-4 verses. Continue this until you have your selections made and save it as one slide show. Once this is added to the program, I think you will see what you were expecting from the Media Control Panel.
If you need further assistance on this there are training videos and the Support Team can help as well.
I think you have two different scenarios here so I will address both - if I misunderstood please clarify...
Your first question, "How do I make scripture slides with multiple verses on each slide, auto fit for font size? So far I get them from the scripture control panel, highlight 3 or 4 verses and select verses, one slide." , should be pretty straight forward. If you take a look at your global display properties and make sure that under the Scripture Text > Font tab the shrink to fit and stretch to fit should be checked. This assumes that you do not care what the font size is but that you want to see all the text (not running off the page) and you want it to fill the screen.
Your second question, "I then can't get a sequence of slides in the media control panel, as they are all individual elements in the program. What am I missing? ", seems to indicate you are looking for all of these element to appear in the media control panel at the same time. If I understand what you have described this won't work because the media control panel will only see the next slide, not the next element.
Here is what I propose that you do:
Use the SlideShow Builder to create a slideshow that has several slides, each containing several verse references. To get you started, the easiest way to do this is to create a new blank slide show and add slides using the Create New Slide drop menu selecting "Scripture Slide". From here you can select your 3-4 verses. Continue this until you have your selections made and save it as one slide show. Once this is added to the program, I think you will see what you were expecting from the Media Control Panel.
If you need further assistance on this there are training videos and the Support Team can help as well.
6/25/2013 11:47:49 AM
As I understand this, you don't like how SSP resolves the problem of "too much text for the screen."
First let me say that the way I resolve this for scripture is that, whenever I am displaying more than about 4 or 5 verses, I display a single verse per slide.
It is an interesting issue though, it exists for songs too. There are primarily 2 ways for the system to automatically resolve this issue:
1. Make the text smaller until it fits (SSP does this).
2. Automatically put in page breaks when you run out of screen (another program I have used did this).
The SSP solution is much much better than the other program I used; the results are pretty good, 1 or 2 verses end up with a smaller font, but the song looks pretty good overall and it is extremely quick and easy for for the operator to get good results up on the screen.
The other program I used would automatically insert page breaks when it got to the end of page: at really awkward places, sometimes creating an additional slide with just one line or even one word. What was interesting though, is that the results were consistently so bad, that I had no choice but to go in and insert page breaks at appropriate places (something SSP allows and refers to as Page-by-page in songs.) that I ended up with slides that were more aesthetically pleasing because I broke up long verses into 2 or 3 slides. It took a lot longer, but the results were a little better. Since using that program, and returning to SSP, I always take the extra time to visit my songs and insert page breaks in long verses so that I am never displaying more than about 4 lines of text on the screen in a song. I always found it ironic that I ended up with better slides because the other program was so bad that I had to format the screen manually, which ultimately gave the best results. Because SSP did a pretty good job, I never even considered taking that extra step until I leaned (out of necessity) that the slides could look a little better.
So: that said (that I like SSP's solution much better for songs, especially considering that I have the option to insert my own page breaks) - I can see how, when displaying scripture, the other solution might be preferable. That is, if I were to select, lets say 10 verses from the bible, and I am using an 18pnt font, it would be nice if SSP had the option to display the verses at a constant 18pnt, inserting line feeds and page breaks automatically, where ever needed. Right now there are 2 automatic options in SSP: all 10 verses on a single slide which gets drawn with a tiny font, or create 10 slides with a single verse. Using the other solution, you might end up with 3 slides automatically created.
So, if that is what you want (e.g., 3 slides for 10 verses) I would set the automatic re-size to off, I would put the entire passage I needed into MS word (or something) using the font I ultimately wanted, and then create individual slides and copy/paste the text into the slide until I ran out of room; then create the next slide and repeat until I had the entire passage. But I am too lazy for that, I go with 1 verse per slide.
First let me say that the way I resolve this for scripture is that, whenever I am displaying more than about 4 or 5 verses, I display a single verse per slide.
It is an interesting issue though, it exists for songs too. There are primarily 2 ways for the system to automatically resolve this issue:
1. Make the text smaller until it fits (SSP does this).
2. Automatically put in page breaks when you run out of screen (another program I have used did this).
The SSP solution is much much better than the other program I used; the results are pretty good, 1 or 2 verses end up with a smaller font, but the song looks pretty good overall and it is extremely quick and easy for for the operator to get good results up on the screen.
The other program I used would automatically insert page breaks when it got to the end of page: at really awkward places, sometimes creating an additional slide with just one line or even one word. What was interesting though, is that the results were consistently so bad, that I had no choice but to go in and insert page breaks at appropriate places (something SSP allows and refers to as Page-by-page in songs.) that I ended up with slides that were more aesthetically pleasing because I broke up long verses into 2 or 3 slides. It took a lot longer, but the results were a little better. Since using that program, and returning to SSP, I always take the extra time to visit my songs and insert page breaks in long verses so that I am never displaying more than about 4 lines of text on the screen in a song. I always found it ironic that I ended up with better slides because the other program was so bad that I had to format the screen manually, which ultimately gave the best results. Because SSP did a pretty good job, I never even considered taking that extra step until I leaned (out of necessity) that the slides could look a little better.
So: that said (that I like SSP's solution much better for songs, especially considering that I have the option to insert my own page breaks) - I can see how, when displaying scripture, the other solution might be preferable. That is, if I were to select, lets say 10 verses from the bible, and I am using an 18pnt font, it would be nice if SSP had the option to display the verses at a constant 18pnt, inserting line feeds and page breaks automatically, where ever needed. Right now there are 2 automatic options in SSP: all 10 verses on a single slide which gets drawn with a tiny font, or create 10 slides with a single verse. Using the other solution, you might end up with 3 slides automatically created.
So, if that is what you want (e.g., 3 slides for 10 verses) I would set the automatic re-size to off, I would put the entire passage I needed into MS word (or something) using the font I ultimately wanted, and then create individual slides and copy/paste the text into the slide until I ran out of room; then create the next slide and repeat until I had the entire passage. But I am too lazy for that, I go with 1 verse per slide.
6/25/2013 1:51:41 PM
I create slides, but I use Slideshow Builder's "Insert scripture text" function, unless it's a version I don't have in SSP.
6/26/2013 6:50:16 PM
If I am using a translation I don't have a license for, but I do have an Online-Bible license for, I copy the text from BibleGateway and insert (CTRL+N) the whole text into one slide. I then scroll back to the top (CTRL+HOME) to see how many verses fit in the text box. I cut what doesn't fit and paste that into a new slide. I then repeat that until no more slides are needed. I would use the Online Bible plugin, but I couldn't get Online-Bible to play nice with WIN764.
6/27/2013 1:11:50 AM
My problem was that I could only get one verse per slide, regardless of how many I highlighted. I think I have worked that out, so will try Gary's solution for the next part.
6/27/2013 6:06:51 AM
I'd like to be able to select a bible range eg Acts 1:1 - 1:20 and let ssp automatically work out how many verses per slide...
Currently we add the first verse then edit the scripture reference and manually work out it, which can be prone to human error.
Currently we add the first verse then edit the scripture reference and manually work out it, which can be prone to human error.
6/27/2013 7:52:31 AM
I could be way off base on this, but I've always thought that 3-4 lines of text on the screen is about all that people in the audience can take at one time. The screen is not like a newspaper in that regard. This means that most often song stanzas have to be paged and scripture presented only one or two verses at a time. Since one scripture verse at a time can be so easily projected, I do that exclusively as the pastor reads and comments. When projection something like a responsive reading, I use SSB and make sure to have the leaders scripture first on the slide followed by the congregation's response. I make sure that the position of the text and the font size are identical from slide to slide and that the leader and response text are different - bold, italic, or color. Most of the time we use NIV and we have SSP license for it. In times when I need another translation, I use QuickVerse to copy and paste. In the past SSP supported QV, but, alas, all good things come to an end.
6/27/2013 8:25:25 AM
I'm with Dick on this one. The experts I've read say a good rule of thumb is a maximum of 7 lines with 7 words per line. But I like to use a lot less.
I tend to only put key phrases that the pastor will be emphasizing with the reference so that people who want more can look it up.
But if you put the whole text up there, you quite often get the "ping pong" effect where people are shifting thier focus between the screen and the speaker and retention/comprehension goes down.
It does depend on the speaking style of the pastor. I worked with a pastor once (or twice) who would go through the passage a verse at a time and parse it out, really soak in that passage. In that case, it actually worked real well doing a verse at a time, even with long verses, because they were up on the screen for so long and he kept referring back to them.
But in general, I use the "dot dot dot" method and only put the key phrase on the screen and let the folks listen to the pastor present the rest, with that key thought in front of them.
I'm just careful to inlude the reference, so people can read it in context and not to take things out of context.
But it really is a stylistic choice for the church or presentation. Bible studies, for instance, would be a good time to put full passages up on the screen. And I've been to large (actually, mid-sized) churches with full time graphics professional staff that put a lot more words on the screen then I ever would. I try to take off my graphics had and sit back and worship/learn and not pick apart thier presentation. (easier said than done).
I tend to only put key phrases that the pastor will be emphasizing with the reference so that people who want more can look it up.
But if you put the whole text up there, you quite often get the "ping pong" effect where people are shifting thier focus between the screen and the speaker and retention/comprehension goes down.
It does depend on the speaking style of the pastor. I worked with a pastor once (or twice) who would go through the passage a verse at a time and parse it out, really soak in that passage. In that case, it actually worked real well doing a verse at a time, even with long verses, because they were up on the screen for so long and he kept referring back to them.
But in general, I use the "dot dot dot" method and only put the key phrase on the screen and let the folks listen to the pastor present the rest, with that key thought in front of them.
I'm just careful to inlude the reference, so people can read it in context and not to take things out of context.
But it really is a stylistic choice for the church or presentation. Bible studies, for instance, would be a good time to put full passages up on the screen. And I've been to large (actually, mid-sized) churches with full time graphics professional staff that put a lot more words on the screen then I ever would. I try to take off my graphics had and sit back and worship/learn and not pick apart thier presentation. (easier said than done).
6/27/2013 10:10:50 AM
I am with Dick on this too.. in general, about 4 lines of text on the screen at a time is the most I want to show (otherwise you loose some people while they zone out and read).
The exception, though, is when the Pastor is reading a passage from the bible; then I think putting up about 8 lines is fine -- in fact it is probably less distracting than flipping screens at every verse.
Lately our Pastors have been preaching through books of the New Testament. They have been picking passages between 10 and 30 verses. They start each message by reading that entire passage before digging into it piece by piece. It is during that time, at the beginning of the message where they are reading the entire passage word-by-word, that it would be nice to have the option to automatically create as many pages of text as needed based on the range of verses and the font size.
The exception, though, is when the Pastor is reading a passage from the bible; then I think putting up about 8 lines is fine -- in fact it is probably less distracting than flipping screens at every verse.
Lately our Pastors have been preaching through books of the New Testament. They have been picking passages between 10 and 30 verses. They start each message by reading that entire passage before digging into it piece by piece. It is during that time, at the beginning of the message where they are reading the entire passage word-by-word, that it would be nice to have the option to automatically create as many pages of text as needed based on the range of verses and the font size.
6/27/2013 11:18:58 AM
If it's a narrative, I will quite often find a picture that will set the scene, rather than put any text up at all.
But, yes, too many slides is distracting. That's why I don't put up slides that are just going to fly by.
But, yes, too many slides is distracting. That's why I don't put up slides that are just going to fly by.
6/27/2013 11:43:51 AM
We've bounced back and forth on that question too (to display scripture or not).
One camp believes that people should be following along in their own bibles and if we display it, some people will stop bringing their bibles to church.
The other camp believes we should display, because not everyone brings a bible and we don't want to miss the opportunity for those people to sea and hear the Word.
One camp believes that people should be following along in their own bibles and if we display it, some people will stop bringing their bibles to church.
The other camp believes we should display, because not everyone brings a bible and we don't want to miss the opportunity for those people to sea and hear the Word.
7/6/2013 8:51:25 AM
I guess the size of the screen, and 4:3 vs 6:10, wil make a difference. We choose an image that matches the theme of the sermon, and put the entire scripture up; as the Pastor reads it. I am in the camp that believes you should read the same version that the Pastor reads from, so that is a main focus for putting the text up on the screen. Of course, I am a bit dislexic, and read one.word.at.a.time instead of reading sentance or phrase at a time. We put the whole text up on the screen, one verse at a time, using the bullet (NULL and 0.1 tab) and fade animation. We do fill the whole screen, to avoid too many screen changes, so we have a max of 13 lines at 17 pt FONT. There is a blank screen after the text, and then the final slide displays the sermon title and the scripture reference. All of this does have to be set manually, though, so we don't use the scripture slide creator.
Of course, all of that could change next week. We have called a new Pastor (our previous Pastor died of cancer
two years ago), and he is a MAC and graphics guy. I don't think we will be in for an OS change, but I believe he does his own sermon notes with PPT. Thanks to our wonderful administration, and stubborn congress, I get to enjoy an unpaid day off on Dr. Harper's first day in the office. The good news is that I will be free to assist him in getting set in and connect to our windows P2P network. To post messages to the forums you must be signed in to a user account.