Bibles

This section describes the use of the various converters built into OpenLP for managing and importing Bibles from other formats.

Bible Import Wizard

If you are using an earlier version of OpenLP or, come from another software package, you may be able to convert your existing database to work in OpenLP 2.0. To access the Bible Importer File ‣ Import ‣ Bible. You may also enter the Bible Importer by clicking the Import Icon.

Click on the Import Bibles icon to start the Bible import wizard.

You will see the Bible Importer window, click Next.

After clicking Next you can select from the various types of software that OpenLP will convert Bibles from. Click on the file folder icon to choose the file(s) of the Bible database you want to import. See the sections below for more information on the different formats that OpenLP will import. Click Next to continue.

After selecting your file(s), you’ll be asked to fill in the details of the Bible you are importing. Remember to check what information you need to display for your Bible’s translation, as some of them have strict rules around the copyright notice. Click Next to continue.

Note: You can use one blank space using the space bar in the copyright field to continue if you do not have or need copyright information.

After entering the license details, OpenLP will start to import your Bible. It may take some time to import your Bible so please be patient.

When the import has finished click Finish and you should be ready to use your Bible in OpenLP.

Importing OSIS Bibles

Importing OSIS files is very simple. Select OSIS as your import source, select your OSIS Bible file and continue the import process.

About OSIS Formatted Bibles

The OSIS XML standard was designed to provide a common format for distribution of electronic Bibles. More information can be found out at the Bible Technologies website.

If you have any software installed that is part of the Sword Project it can be easily converted.

You can use the commands below convert Bibles from that software to OSIS format.

The following commands are used in all platforms and the commands are case sensitive across all platforms. To convert a Bible using the command prompt in Windows or a terminal in Linux or macOS you would type:

mod2osis biblename > biblename.osis

For example: if I wanted to convert a King James Version Bible I would type something similar to this:

mod2osis KJV > kjv.osis

You may also wish to dictate a file location for the conversion to place the osis file for example:

mod2osis KJV > /home/user/bibles/kjv.osis

Importing OpenSong Bibles

Converting from OpenSong you will need to locate your Bibles database. In the later versions of OpenSong you are asked to define the location of this. The songs will be located in a folder named Bibles. This folder should contain files with all your Bibles in them without a file extension. (file.xmms). When you have located this folder you will need to select the Bible from the folder.

You may also import downloaded Bibles from OpenSongs webpage (scroll down to find bibles). The process is the same, except you will need to extract the Bible from a zip file. This is usually done by right clicking on the downloaded file and select Extract or Extract Here. Note that some of the bibles on OpenSongs webpage are actually in the Zefania format, which OpenLP can also import, see Importing Zefania Bibles.

After selecting the OpenSong Bibles you want to import, follow the rest of the import process. When the import has finished you should be ready to use your OpenSong Bibles.

Importing Web Download Bibles

OpenLP provides a Web Download method to import Bibles when you do not have a locally installed Bible available. The Web Download method registers the Bible in OpenLP like the other Bibles only it downloads the verses as you need them.

Warning

This import requires an internet connection when installing and when searching for verses and is not meant to be used as your sole source for Bibles, but rather as another option.

To use the web download feature select web download from the import wizard.

First click Download bible list to download a list of available bibles.

This will take a few moments depending on your internet connection and load on the servers.

When the download is complete you can select from 3 different sources to download from: Crosswalk, BibleServer and BibleGateway. From each source there are many Bible translations available, so there is a good chance that you will find what you need.

You can also select a proxy server if needed from the Proxy Server tab. Your network administrator will know if this is necessary. In most cases this will not be needed.

After selecting your download location and the Bible you wish to use, click Next to continue the import process. When your import is completed you should now be ready to use the web Bible.

Importing CSV formatted Bibles

If you have a Bible in .csv format OpenLP can import it. If you wish to create a bible in the CSV format yourself the format is documented in the OpenLP API documentation.

CSV Bibles will consist of two files a books file and a verse file. Select CSV from the list of Bible types to import.

You are now ready to select your .csv files. You will need to select both your books and verse file location.

After you have selected the file locations you can continue with the import process. Once it is complete you should be ready to use your imported CSV Bible.

Importing Zefania Bibles

The Zefania project has many Bibles available from their website. Find the Bible you would like to import and download the file. The downloaded file is a zip-file from which the Bible must be extracted. This is usually done by right clicking on the downloaded file and select Extract or Extract Here.

You can now simply select the extracted file for import and click Next to continue the import process. When your import is completed you should now be ready to use the imported Zefania Bible.

Edit Bible Data

Some information about a Bible can be edited. What can be edited is dependent on the type of bible.

Select the Bible you want to edit then select the Bible Edit icon to edit the Bible informtion.

On the Meta Data tab you can update the Bible Version name, Copyright information and the Permissions for the Bible.

You can also select the Book Name Language. Choosing Global Settings, the defualt setting, will display the Book Names of the Bible in the Language set by the Operating System Language. You can change this setting by using the dropdown to select a different option.

When you have made your changes you can select the Save button to save your changes, select the Cancel button to discard your changes or select the Custom Book Names tab to continue editing.

Selecting the Custom Book Names tab will allow you to update the book names that will be displayed.

Warning

Please note that when using a Web Bible you can not change the book names.

When you have made your changes you can select the Save button to save your changes, select the Cancel button to discard your changes or select the Meta Data tab to continue editing.

Delete a Bible

You can remove a Bible from OpenLP.

Danger

The only recovery from deleting a Bible is to reimport the Bible using the Wizard or copy the files from a Backup of the Data directory.

Select the Bible version on either the Quick or the Advanced tab and click on the Delete icon to delete a Bible. You will be asked to confirm you want to delete the Bible. Click on Yes to delete the Bible or click No to cancel.

Preview Bible Verses

To Preview the selected verses in the left Preview panes, select the Send to Preview icon.

Send Scriptures to Live Display

To Preview the selected verses in the right Live panes, select the Send to Live icon.

Add Scriptures to Service

Adding scriptures to a service can be done by selecting a group of verses or by moving one verse at a time.

To add Bible verses you can click on a verse, hold and drag your selection from the Library over to the Service Manager or, after selecting the verse or group of verses you want to use, click the Add to Service icon. This will add your scriptures at the bottom of the Service.

Locking Search Results

Selecting the Lock icon locks and unlocks the search results.

This feature can be used to combine multiple search results into one group of scriptures. To use this feature, do a search for the first gorup of verses, then select the Lock icon and then search to your second group of verses. The second group of verses will be added to the first group of verses. You can continue to add more search results or select the Lock icon again to unlock the results and return the search results to be replaced with each search.

Quick Search

The quick search tab provides a simple search capability that can search for scripture text or a scripture referance. Use the dropdown in the Find: data entry box to choose the type of search.

Select your primary Bible by selecting it in the Version dropdown.

Select a second Bible to search using the Second dropdown or leave it blank if you are not using a second Bible.

Select your desired layout style using the Layout style dropdown.

Enter your search text, Pressing the Enter or selecting the Search button activates the search.

When using the scripture referance search, the referance needs to be in one of a few formats. You can see all the formats available by typing a book name and pressing the Enter.

A common format is “Bookname Chapter:verse - verse” (Gen 1:1-12)

Advanced Search

The advance search tab provides another search process that can search for scripture text using dropdowns to set the search criteria.

To start your search, select your primary Bible by selecting it in the Version dropdown.

Select a second Bible to search using the Second dropdown or leave it blank if you are not using a second Bible.

Select your desired layout style using the Layout style dropdown.

Select the book of the Bible to search using the Book dropdown.

Select the starting Chapter of the book using Chapter dropdown to the right of From:

Select the starting Verse of the chapter using the Verse dropdown to the right of From:

Select the ending Chapter of the book using Chapter dropdown to the right of To:

Select the ending Verse of the chapter using the Verse dropdown to the right of To:

Selecting the Search button activates the search.