David Cox's How to Use e-Sword FIn

 Overview  

First of all, go to Craig White's e-Sword pages and download e-Sword FIn. While you are at, download e-Sword MEd also, and see my how to page on that here.

http://www.craigwhite.net/e-Sword_Utilities.asp

If you want a direct link to the downloads, click on these and save to your hard drive.
http://www.craigwhite.net/craignew/e-Sword/Utilities/MEd.zip
http://www.craigwhite.net/craignew/e-Sword/Utilities/FIn.zip

 Introduction

Let's start by saying that this is a great utility, but you cannot use it while e-Sword is open. e-Sword locks the current TOP file that is being displayed and being locked will not allow FIn to open and search it. A minor problem but irritating none-the-less. Let's also say that this is a utility, a great one for what it does, but one that fills the gap where e-Sword fell on its face (searching within Topics). I do not think Rick Meyers ever though the Topic function was going to be more than a half page of sermons notes that somebody jots down while studying. But in reality it has become way more than that, and it can even be seen as being out of control. If you have more than 100 topic files, finding stuff is next to impossible.

 The Opening Screen

This image is the screen you should see.

The cursor should be in the first block at the top row.

Type in a search word or phrase. Let's type in "Messiah".

Now press enter or click the folder icon next the last of the first row.

Moving around the Interface

First of all the drop down box [Exact|Any|All]. This is for limiting-expanding your search. Exact phrase, any of the search words, or all of the search words any order.

The next section is a listing of all the Topic files with the search word, followed by a double greater than sign >> and then the chapter title where the word occurs.

In the bottom box is a contextual snatch out of the actual topic file, and here you will see the word highlighted. Click on the black binoculars (top row, rightmost icon) for go to the next occurrence.

That is about it.