The Lutheran Service Builder Interface
From LSB Documentation
Now that you've configured your installation of Lutheran Service Builder for use, let's take a brief look at the interface you'll be using to construct your services. We'll show you the Home screen and outline your basic options, show you an example screen from a service in the planning process, and tell you what to expect while you're using Builder.
We'll also take a look at the menus that are available to you at all times, to give you insight into the different commands you can use to both navigate within Builder and to make selections or export data.
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The Home Screen
When you start Lutheran Service Builder, the first display you will normally see is called the Home screen. It looks like this:
From top to bottom, the screen contains:
- The Title Bar, with the name of the application and minimize/maximize/close buttons;
- The Menu Bar, with named menus you can use to find commands;
- The Tool Bar, containing icons for actions you can perform and the Search box; and
- The Work Area, which changes to display different information depending on your current task within Builder.
On the Home Screen, you are presented with the following options:
- Home actions are the most common tasks you will be performing when using Lutheran Service Builder and act as the "gateways" to other functions. They are:
- The Calendar task, where you can see your services on a calendar grid and both create and edit services;
- The Statistics task, which allows you to generate graphs and charts as a visual representation of hymn and resource usage over time; and
- My Worship Resources, where you can create, delete, and edit custom worship resources and orders of worship to augment the content included with Lutheran Service Builder.
- Two lists of services, one displaying services you've recently opened and one displaying upcoming services chronologically.
- A button for changing the screen you see when you start Lutheran Service Builder.
- A button for changing the currently selected Location.
A Planning Example
When you perform different functions in Lutheran Service Builder, the interface will reconfigure itself in order to display you different information and give you different tools and resources. For example, compare the screen above from the Home task to the one here showing the selection of a hymn in a service:
Note that a few additional sets of buttons have been added to the Tool Bar, and the Work Area has been completely altered to show you more information. Lutheran Service Builder only shows you the controls you need at any given time, and it reconfigures itself dynamically to give you the best options available. We'll cover the different buttons and controls in later articles. For now, let's take a look at the menus and describe their functions and commands.
The Menu Bar
The Menu Bar contains commands useful to the operation of Lutheran Service Builder. They are grouped into four main menus.
The File Menu
The File menu contains commands that are used to manipulate content and to bring content in and out of Builder as needed.
- The Import… command will allow you to add resources to your Lutheran Service Builder collection that have been exported by other installation of Lutheran Service Builder.
- The Export… command will take the currently selected service or element and export it to a file that can be imported by other installations of Lutheran Service Builder.
- The Save command instructs Builder to force a save operation of all changes you have made since the last time you opened the program. (Builder normally auto-saves at regular intervals to prevent a loss of work.)
- The Exit command performs the same function as the Close button in the upper-right of the window; it saves your work in progress and closes the program.
The Edit Menu
The Edit menu contains commands that give you the ability to select text and/or images, move text into and out of Builder, and to set preferences for both your services and the program as a whole.
- Undo moves one step back in your editing history. These changes are tracked as long as you remain within an editing interface or a step. If the command is not available, it is disabled in this menu.
- Redo moves one step forward in your editing history.
- Cut removes the selected text from any appropriate editing box and places it on the Clipboard for pasting into another area of Builder or even another application.
- Copy performs the same action as Cut, but the text you have selected is not removed from the active editing box.
- Paste will paste the current contents of the Clipboard into the currently active editing box. The content on the Clipboard may not have tables or advanced formatting.
- Select All selects the entire contents of the currently selected editing box, just as if you had dragged your mouse over the whole thing.
- Stylesheets… opens the Stylesheet dialog, which allows you to alter the text, font, and text size settings for your services.
- Slide templates… opens the Slide Templates dialog, which allows you to alter the master slide templates used to display presentations, including font size, font face, and basic layout options.
- Preferences… opens the Preferences dialog, with choices and controls that alter the way Builder is presented or the way it behaves by default.
The Tools Menu
The Tools menu contains a handful of "helpers" that give you access to less-frequently-used commands within Builder.
- Renew annual subscriptions… instructs Builder to display the Activation Wizard again, to retrieve new expiration information from the Internet or to display a screen for entering new unlock codes. If you are being instructed by Lutheran Service Builder to renew your subscriptions, please make sure your subscription fee has been paid, and run this command. If you are still experiencing messages of expiration, you will need to contact support.
- Check for updates… will load the CPH Software Updater in the background, which will then connect to the master servers at Concordia Publishing House to determine if your Builder installation is out-of-date. This check can be scheduled to run automatically in the Preferences dialog. We recommend you run this check at least once every month.
- Backup data… will allow you to make a "copy" of your user-entered information, including services, custom elements, and other information. This copy is stored locally on your hard disk and can be restored in the event of a data corruption or other loss.
- Restore data… will search a specific folder on your computer for saved copies of your user database. You will be asked which dated backup you would like to restore. If you restore a backup, you will lose any and all changes made to Builder since that date.
The Help Menu
The Help menu contains commands that are used for finding assistance with Lutheran Service Builder and gathering information about your installation that can be useful to support technicians who are assisting you.
- Online help is a web-enabled link that will open your default Web browser and open the Help page for Lutheran Service Builder. From there, you can reach resources like this manual and Frequently Asked Questions.
- News opens the Lutheran Service Builder blog, where the developers and support technicians for Lutheran Service Builder post information regarding changes to Builder, files for download, and other useful resources.
- Submit a support request opens your Web browser to a contact form where you can easily submit ideas and problems you are experiencing with your Builder installation. This form sends an email to Builder support personnel, who will get back to you as soon as possible.
- Re-import data from Lutheran Service Builder 1 is an option that is only included for those users who may have had trouble importing their original Builder data. If you are not experiencing issues, you do not need to perform this function.
- Check for updates… runs the CPH Software Updater, exactly as in the Tools menu.
- About Lutheran Service Builder displays a screen with information regarding your Builder installation, including your customer number, your subscription expiration dates, and other information useful for you and useful for support technicians when assisting you over the phone or email.
Exploring the Menus in More Detail
For more information on the various commands and options in the menus of Lutheran Service Builder, please refer to the manual pages for those functions and services.
