Introduction
This page is under development. As such it may not be helpful until it is near completion. For that reason, please don't link it on another page until then. To become complete it needs fair and balanced™ coverage of the SWORD programs.
Do feel free to edit this page to make it more complete and better organized.
The purpose of this page is to help an end user decide which SWORD program is the best for them. The first consideration is which programs are available for the user. This can be found at CrossWire's home page. Once the user has narrowed down which programs are available, the following can be used to focus on the best program.
It is recommended that each user try all the available programs. It is likely that one will resonate with the user and work best for that user.
Features Common to All SWORD Applications
For the most part all the SWORD programs have the same features.
- Use Unicode
- Released under an open source license
- powerful search syntax - wildcard, regex and often also clucene indexed searches (fuzzy and proximity searches + searches for Strong's, stemming etc) within preset and customised scopes.
- Strong's, morphological info, cross references and footnotes
- All frontends listed below are undergoing more or less active development.
- verse and block layout
- image support in all types of modules
- localisation - all frontends are designed to be readily translatable. Many are translated in various languages.
Side-by-Side Comparison of Leading SWORD Applications
Legend
To keep the lists below compact, the SWORD programs are identified by abbreviations. Here is an explanation of each of them:
A blank entry means that the feature is not present or it is unknown whether it is present.
This is a work in progress. The footnotes will be changed to be automatically numbered.
Operating Systems and Portability
Feature
|
ABS
|
BD
|
BT
|
BPB
|
FB
|
MS
|
SPW
|
SB
|
Xiph
|
Runs on Windows 95/98/NT/ME
|
|
yes |
|
no[1] |
|
no |
yes |
|
no
|
Runs on Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7
|
yes |
yes |
partial[2] |
yes |
yes |
no |
yes |
yes |
yes
|
Runs on Mac OS X 10.3+
|
|
yes |
|
no |
yes |
yes[3] |
no |
no |
no
|
Runs on Mac OS X 10.4+
|
yes |
yes |
partial[2] |
no |
yes |
yes[4] |
no |
no |
no
|
Runs on Linux
|
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
|
|
|
yes
|
Runs on other Unix
|
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
|
|
yes |
yes[5]
|
Can be installed to run from USB drive
|
no
|
yes[6]
|
no
|
yes[7]
|
yes[8]
|
yes[9]
|
yes[10]
|
no
|
no
|
- ↑ Not Win9x
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Pre-alpha
- ↑ version 1.3.x
- ↑ version 1.4.x
- ↑ BSD, Solaris
- ↑ Portable both in the sense that it can be carried in ones pocket and in the sense that it runs on Windows, Mac or Linux, requiring nothing from the host computer and leaving no trace on it.
- ↑ PortableApps.com edition for Windows only. Leaves no trace on host computer.
- ↑ Using Mozilla Firefox, Portable Edition from PortableApps.com, for Windows only, but depends on a local installation of Java. Leaves no trace on host computer. Other platforms are possible.
- ↑ Leaves traces on host computer.
- ↑ Temporarily install to a computer and then copy the "C:\Program Files\CrossWire\The SWORD Project" folder to the USB drive. Finally, uninstall it and delete install directory. Leaves no traces on host computer.
Module Support
Feature
|
ABS
|
BD
|
BT
|
BPB
|
FB
|
MS
|
SPW
|
SB
|
Xiph
|
Daily Devotions Start with Today
|
yes |
yes |
|
yes |
|
|
|
yes |
yes
|
Daily Devotions Show Friendly Dates
|
yes |
yes |
|
yes |
|
|
|
no |
no
|
Shows Testament Introductions
|
no |
no |
|
|
no |
|
|
no |
|
Shows Book Introductions
|
no |
no |
|
no |
no |
yes |
yes |
no |
yes
|
Shows Chapter Introductions
|
no |
no |
|
yes |
no |
yes |
yes |
no |
yes
|
Personal Commentary
|
no |
no |
yes |
no |
no |
yes |
yes |
no |
yes[1]
|
Journal
|
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
yes[1]
|
Right to Left Texts
|
yes |
yes |
yes |
no |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes
|
Complex Scripts
|
|
|
|
no |
|
|
partial[2] |
|
yes[3]
|
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 exportable as a SWORD module
- ↑ with Uniscribe installed
- ↑ with pango-graphit installed
Right to Left texts - Arabic, Farsi, Hebrew and other modules Right-to-Left scripts are displayed from right-to-left and correctly shaped.
Daily Devotions - While all SWORD applications support Daily Devotions modules, some open a Daily Devotion to the current day.
Introductions - Some modules contain Testament, Book and Chapter introductions. Some SWORD applications do not handle them.
User Editable Module Content - The application supports the Personal Commentary and may allow other types of module creation.
Complex Scripts - The application can display correctly Indic and derrived scripts (or other scripts of similar layout) - subject to availability of adequate fonts and standardised Unicode
Module Management
Feature
|
ABS
|
BD
|
BT
|
BPB
|
FB
|
MS
|
SPW
|
SB
|
Xiph
|
Integrated module manager
|
yes[1] |
yes |
yes |
yes[2] |
no |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes
|
Module unlocking support[3]
|
yes[1] |
yes |
yes |
yes |
no |
no |
yes |
|
yes
|
Multiple download repositories[4]
|
yes[1] |
yes |
yes |
no |
n/a |
yes |
|
|
yes
|
Local Repositories (e.g. CrossWire CD)
|
no |
no |
yes |
no |
n/a |
|
yes |
|
yes
|
Downloaded modules are available immediately without restart
|
no |
yes |
yes |
yes |
n/a |
yes[5] |
no |
|
yes
|
User is warned of internet access
|
|
yes |
yes |
no |
n/a |
|
yes |
|
yes
|
User is warned of download size
|
|
yes |
|
n/a |
n/a |
|
|
|
|
User can continue working while download is in progress
|
|
yes |
yes |
n/a |
n/a |
|
yes |
|
|
Download can be canceled
|
|
yes |
yes |
n/a |
n/a |
|
|
|
|
User is warned if module already exists.
|
|
yes |
|
no |
n/a |
|
|
|
|
User is notified of module updates
|
|
no |
yes |
no |
n/a |
|
|
|
yes
|
User is notified of new modules
|
|
no |
|
no |
n/a |
|
|
|
|
Hiding/Showing installed modules
|
no |
no |
yes |
no |
no |
no |
yes |
no |
yes
|
Modules sorted by type
|
|
yes |
yes |
yes |
|
|
yes |
|
yes
|
Modules are further sorted by language
|
|
yes |
yes |
no |
|
|
no |
|
yes
|
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 via plugins
- ↑ For locally available zipped modules
- ↑ The application allows the user to supply the unlock key. The user does not have to manually edit the module's conf file.
- ↑ Integrated installer allows download from more than one SWORD module repository.
- ↑ After repository refresh.
Indexing - The application is able to index the module for fast search. This may be automatic and not require any user interaction (e.g. clicking a "Create Search Index" button).
Image Module Support
Feature
|
ABS
|
BD
|
BT
|
BPB
|
FB
|
MS
|
SPW
|
SB
|
Xiph
|
Image Resizing
|
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
|
no |
no |
yes
|
GIF/JPG formats[1]
|
yes |
yes |
|
|
yes |
yes |
yes |
|
yes
|
PNG format
|
yes |
yes |
yes |
|
yes |
yes |
yes[2] |
|
yes
|
SVG format
|
no |
no |
|
|
yes |
yes |
no |
|
yes
|
- ↑ All full-featured SWORD applications should already have support for these types.
- ↑ from 1.5.12 upwards
Windowing and Text Display
Feature
|
ABS
|
BD
|
BT
|
BPB
|
FB
|
MS
|
SPW
|
SB
|
Xiph
|
Window Layout flexible
|
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
no |
yes |
|
|
yes
|
Un/Linkable
|
yes |
yes |
|
no |
n/a |
|
|
|
yes
|
Parallel Display
|
yes |
yes |
yes |
no |
no |
yes |
yes |
|
yes
|
Multiple texts
|
yes |
yes |
yes |
no |
yes |
yes |
|
|
yes
|
Poetry Layout
|
yes |
yes |
|
yes [1] |
yes |
|
yes[2] |
|
no
|
Ruby Layout[3]
|
no |
no |
no |
|
no |
|
|
|
no
|
Module default font[4]
|
yes |
yes |
|
no |
|
|
yes |
|
yes
|
Font settable per module
|
yes |
yes |
|
no |
|
|
no |
|
yes
|
Font settable per language
|
|
yes |
|
no |
|
|
no |
|
no
|
Transliteration
|
no |
no |
|
no |
no |
no |
yes |
no |
yes
|
- ↑ 2 level indentation
- ↑ not indented
- ↑ A not-yet-released SWORD 1.5.12 feature. Used for Japanese texts.
- ↑ Used if the font is installed
Search and Dictionary
Feature
|
ABS
|
BD
|
BT
|
BPB
|
FB
|
MS
|
SPW
|
SB
|
Xiph
|
Able to create a search index
|
|
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes[1] |
yes |
yes |
no |
yes
|
Able to delete a search index
|
|
yes |
|
|
no |
|
|
n/a |
yes
|
User can continue to use application while index is being created
|
|
yes |
|
|
n/a |
|
|
|
|
Indexed Search
|
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes[2] |
yes |
yes |
no |
yes
|
Cross Verse Proximity Search
|
yes |
yes |
|
yes[3] |
yes |
no |
no |
no |
no
|
indexed Strong, Morphology and Body search
|
yes |
yes |
|
! |
|
|
no |
yes
|
indexed CrossRef, Note and Heading search
|
yes |
yes |
|
|
|
|
no |
no |
no
|
Fuzzy search
|
yes |
yes |
|
|
yes |
no |
no |
yes |
yes
|
GenBook and Commentary search
|
|
|
|
yes |
no |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes
|
Combined module search
|
|
no |
|
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
yes[4]
|
Automatic/On-Mouse Strongs/Morphology lookup
|
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
no |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes
|
Automatic/On-Mouse Glossary lookup
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
yes |
yes |
yes
|
- ↑ automatically created searching a module first time
- ↑ requires another J-Sword installation to create indices
- ↑ allowing phrases across verse boundaries
- ↑ creation of lists of modules to be searched together
Bookmarking, Tagging, Listing and Notes
Feature
|
ABS
|
BD
|
BT
|
BPB
|
FB
|
MS
|
SPW
|
SB
|
Xiph
|
Bookmarks, Verselists or Tags
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Manual adding
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Search result adding
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Permanent
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hierarchical
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Drag and drop management
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exportable
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
User comments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Study Notes
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Session and State management
Feature
|
ABS
|
BD
|
BT
|
BPB
|
FB
|
MS
|
SPW
|
SB
|
Xiph
|
Layout stored
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interface language
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Open Modules
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Search Results
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Storing of multiple Sessions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Help System
Feature
|
ABS
|
BD
|
BT
|
BPB
|
FB
|
MS
|
SPW
|
SB
|
Xiph
|
Manual, English
|
|
yes |
yes |
|
|
|
yes |
|
yes
|
Manual, Other
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
yes[1]
|
Active links to online help
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
yes[2]
|
Tooltips
|
|
yes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
yes
|
- ↑ French
- ↑ IRC, Mailing lists
Localization
The following table lists all languages for which at least two applications are available. The remaining langauges are listed in footnotes. Only languages with at least 70% of the user interface translated are listed.
Feature
|
ABS
|
BD
|
BT [1]
|
BPB
|
FB
|
MS [2]
|
SPW [3]
|
SB
|
Xiph [4]
|
GUI RtoL Support[5]
|
|
yes |
yes |
no |
no |
yes |
no |
|
yes
|
English
|
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes |
yes
|
German, Deutsch
|
no |
yes |
yes |
no |
no |
yes |
yes |
no |
yes
|
Portuguese
|
no |
no |
yes |
no |
|
yes |
yes |
no |
yes
|
Finnish, Suomi
|
no |
no |
yes |
no |
no |
yes |
yes |
no |
yes
|
Persian
|
|
yes |
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
yes
|
Chinese, 日本語
|
|
yes |
no |
no |
no |
no |
yes |
no |
no
|
Vietnamese
|
no |
yes |
no |
yes |
no |
no |
no |
no |
no
|
Indonesian, Bahasa Indonesia
|
yes |
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
yes |
no |
no
|
French
|
no |
|
yes |
no |
no |
yes |
no |
no |
yes
|
Czech
|
no |
no |
yes |
no |
no |
no |
yes |
no |
no
|
Spanish
|
no |
no |
yes |
no |
no |
yes |
no |
no |
no
|
Polish
|
no |
no |
no |
no |
no |
yes |
yes |
no |
no
|
- ↑ Danish
- ↑ Swedish
- ↑ Africaans, Magyar, Slovenščina
- ↑ Hebrew, Dutch
- ↑ Layout flips from Left-to-Right layout to Right-to-Left based on user's locale.
Other
Feature
|
ABS
|
BD
|
BT
|
BPB
|
FB
|
MS
|
SPW
|
SB
|
Xiph
|
extramodular Bible Reading Plan
|
yes |
yes |
|
no |
no |
no |
no |
yes |
no
|
Other extramodular content
|
no |
no |
yes[1] |
yes [2] |
no |
no |
no |
yes [3] |
no
|
Read Aloud
|
no |
partial[4] |
|
no |
no |
yes |
no |
no |
yes
|
Other features not listed otherwise
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
yes[5]
|
- ↑ Bible Study HOWTO
- ↑ Gospel Harmonies, Guess the Verse game
- ↑ topical verse lists
- ↑ On MacOS 10.3+ only
- ↑ pseudo-interlinear display of Strong's/morphology