Revision as of 13:17, 3 March 2009

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 beleow 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:

• ABS - AlKitab Bible Study based on JSword, uses Java 5+
• BD - BibleDesktop based on JSword, uses Java 1.4.2+
• BT - BibleTime uses cross-platform Qt toolkit
• BPB - BPBible uses wxPython
• FB - FireBible based on JSword, runs in FireFox as an extension
• MS - MacSword
• SPW - The SWORD Project for Windows
• SB - SwordBible
• Xiph - Xiphos (formerly GnomeSword)

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

1. ↑ Not Win9x
2. ↑ version 1.3.x
3. ↑ version 1.4.x
4. ↑ BSD, Solaris
5. ↑ 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.
6. ↑ PortableApps.com edition for Windows only. Leaves no trace on host computer.
7. ↑ 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.
8. ↑ Leaves traces on host computer.
9. ↑ 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

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} exportable as a SWORD module

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

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} via plugins
2. ↑ has a installer for locally available zipped modules
3. ↑ The application allows the user to supply the unlock key. The user does not have to manually edit the module's conf file.
4. ↑ After repository refresh

Locked Modules (via GUI) - The application allows the user to supply the unlock key. The user does not have to manually edit the module's conf file.
Multiple Repositories - The application has an integrated module installer that allows installation from more than one SWORD module repository.
Archiving/Hiding - The application can remove and safely store currently non required modules or otherwise remove them from sight, keeping them available for future use.
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).
New Content Available Immediately - Modules that are downloaded with the application's module installer are immediately available for use.

Image Module Support

1. ↑ All full-featured SWORD applications should already have support for these types.
2. ↑ from 1.5.12 upwards

Windowing and Text Display

• RtoL & Complex Scripts - Indicates problems in an application's rendering of complex scripts, provided an adequate font is installed. Complex scripts may include Indic and other Brahmic scripts such as Myanmar, Tamil, & Devanagri, as well as scripts that require contextual shaping such as Arabic, and scripts that require rendering in non-left-to-right order such as Arabic, Hebrew, Syriac, & Mongolian.
• Ruby Layout - A not-yet-released SWORD 1.5.12 feature. Used for Japanese texts.
• Other - Distinctives regarding how the application presents the modules.

Search and Dictionary

Bookmarking, Tagging, Listing and Notes

Localization

Other

1. ↑ only per module default font