Missing Manuals

Windows 8 is missing the Gospel Doctrine Old Testament and New Testament manuals.

Most likely that's because the current version of GL for Windows doesn't support Win8. And an older version may go to an older content library which doesn't get updated as quickly - if at all.

I had installed all of the Sunday School manuals before but they were apparently removed with the last update.

The legacy version of Gospel Library for Windows (version 2.x) hasn't seen an update since July and no further updates are planned. This version of the app uses an older content source that is no longer supported by the Church.

If I read the last post by by ToManyLetters » Sun Jan 07, 2018 1:21 am, if we are still running Windows 8.1, we can kiss Gospel Library goodbye? Is that correct?

Is this another push forced on us by Microsoft to force us into Windows 10. I would hope the Church is truly better than that.

If that is not the case, what are the options? Will the Windows 10 update run, properly, in Windows 8.1?

jbeers53 wrote: ...
Is this another push forced on us by Microsoft to force us into Windows 10. I would hope the Church is truly better than that.
...

Let us not be casting aspersions of inappropriate collusion. The January 6 post by russellhltn mentioned a very plausible reason for the lack of support for Windows 8.1. Sorry, but I don't have answers to the questions.

It's not Microsoft. It's a decision made by the all-volunteer developer team to re-write GL in a new language that wasn't compatible with Win8. I'm not sure of all the reasons, but I believe it was forward-looking to get it to run on most mobile devices. The church has shown zero interest in making GL run on a "desktop" environment. They've always been focused on the mobile devices. The only reason it runs on a desktop is because Microsoft uses the same OS for both. GL has never run on Win7.

I suspect one of the reasons that Win8 compatibility was sacrificed was that Microsoft had a long-running program of free a upgrade from Win8 to Win10. Given that Win8 was pretty universally hated, they didn't expect that many Win8 users to remain.

Actually the Church changed the platform they used to publish new content. All Gospel Library applications had to be updated to run the new content. All versions of Gospel Library on all platforms have a version of the OS that is too old for the new version of the app consuming new content. For Windows users that happens to be Windows 10.

I bought a Dell laptop from Dell less than a year ago, and it is not compatible with Windows 10. I bought it specifically for use at church as I'm the Ward Clerk. I now find that Gospel Library, that has worked well so far, will not get the new manuals for 2018. Imagine how frustrating that is. I'm a programmer by profession, and if we abandoned users of old operating systems so easily, I'd soon be out of a job.

bgille wrote:I bought a Dell laptop from Dell less than a year ago, and it is not compatible with Windows 10.

That's pretty unusual. The only machine I've seen that can't be upgraded to Win10 is a netbook I bought back before Win8. It has some kind of oddball video chip and so there's no drivers for it.

bgille wrote:I bought a Dell laptop from Dell less than a year ago, and it is not compatible with Windows 10.

My Dell laptop I purchased several years ago works just fine with Windows 10. Otherwise, you would not be seeing this post.

If you are talking about running Gospel Library on a Windows desktop, that has never worked for me. Of course, I always thought GL was intended as an app for a mobile device, and not an application or program for a desktop or laptop.

I and tens of thousands of others run Gospel Library on Windows. You should give it a try!

BowmanDH wrote:I and tens of thousands of others run Gospel Library on Windows. You should give it a try!

I have found that I never have my laptop with me when I wish to use GL. I thought it might come in handy for showing videos at Church, but I quickly discovered that I can download the videos to my phone and just plug it into the TV.

My phone is easier to hold when I teach. It plugs into my car so that I can listen as I travel. In the morning when I wake it is on my nightstand as I begin the day reading scriptures. It works well for me as I bookmark thoughts, conference quotes, and handbook excerpts for leadership meetings.

I can see where it might come in handy to copy scriptures and other quotes as I prepare talks, but I never made the switch to use GL for that purpose, even when I prepared several talks a month. I do not speak as often now, but I may consider it for future use.

But I am glad if it works for you. Stay the course.

I bought a Microsoft Surface tablet a couple of years ago specifically for church use (gospel library in particular).
What's the deal? Cannot get the 2018 GL curriculum for Old Testament class. I can get it on my phone, but the print is pretty little for old people.

I'll say here how grateful I am for a Windows GL. I upgraded from Win7 to Win10 solely to be able to use GL. I was not excited for the OS upgrade; in fact, I've customized as many settings as possible to keep it like Win7. But, wow, has it been worth it. GLWin10 is easily the best GL version, hands down.
D.G.