Using Elements
From LSB Documentation
Elements are the basic building blocks of both Services and Liturgies in Lutheran Service Builder. This article will show you the various options available when using Elements, how to alter, add, and delete them, and give examples as to how they can be used when planning Services.
Contents |
Elements as Building Blocks
Elements are used to construct Services and Liturgies. When you create a new Service using an existing Liturgy, that Service will be automatically pre-loaded with a collection of Elements arranged in a specific order. This order can be changed as desired by moving, deleting, or adding Elements from the collection of resources available to you in Lutheran Service Builder.
Elements contain specially formatted content for use within a service. You can preview this content to make sure the Elements you are using are the ones you want. You can also replace Elements with similar ones to introduce new material or use equivalents.
Previewing an Element
First, let's see what it looks like when we take a look at what's inside an Element. Remember that we're still using Divine Service, Setting Three for all of our examples.
Find and click on the Kyrie to select it.
You'll notice that the screen changes to accommodate our choice. The list of Elements in the center has changed, and a preview of the Element we've selected has appeared to the right. Let's take a look at the preview first (we'll come back to the center display a little later).
By default, Lutheran Service Builder shows you the text of the Element you have selected, along with any responsory icons associated with it (those are the P, C, etc. icons used in Lutheran Service Book).
You can change the preview of the Element to display its text, its melody or (for select liturgical Elements only) its setting by clicking the appropriate tab above the preview area itself.
If you wish, you can also click on the Notes tab to display a text entry area where you can store personal notes regarding the Element in question for future reference. These notes are accessible to you in future Services.
Replacing an Element with a Suggested Element
When you click on an Element to select it, the default display in the center of the screen changes to indicate to you other Elements that are "suggestions", that is, they are identified specifically within Builder's collection of resources as likely replacements for the selected Element.
To see an example of this, let's make sure we have the Kyrie selected in the outline to the left. Now, let's take a look at the Suggestions offered in the center.
Since we have a Kyrie selected, the Suggestions will include hymns that are specifically marked as substitutes for the Kyrie, as well as versions of the same liturgical Element that exist within other services. You can preview any of the Elements by clicking on them, and you can substitute any of these for the version currently in your service.
To do so, you perform a drag-and-drop. Click and hold on the version you would rather use within your service. Then, drag it over until it is "on top of" the Kyrie that is currently part of the existing service. When you release, you will notice that the Element title that is in parentheses will change to indicate your choice.
That's all that is required to substitute one Element for another in Lutheran Service Builder.
Searching for a Replacement
If you'd rather find something else and have a good idea what that might be, you can perform a search on the entire Lutheran Service Builder collection. Click on the Search tab above the center display.
This will permit you to use the Search interface to find a suitable replacement Element (see the article Searching for Worship Resources to learn how). Once you have searched, replace the Element by using a drag-and-drop, just as detailed above.
Writing Your Own Replacement
You can also elect to replace an Element with one you have previously created on your own using My Worship Resources, or create a new one while you are working with the current Service. To do so, click on the tab labeled Write my own.
The display in the center will change to show you a list of available custom Elements. As with the previous operations, you can drag-and-drop the Elements to replace portions of the current Service.
To begin working on a new custom Element, simply click on the New button that will appear in the Toolbar. The Editor will appear and you can create a new Element that then can be dragged over to replace another. (For more information on creating custom Elements, please see Creating and Managing Custom Worship Resources.
Inserting an Additional Element
There will be occasions on which you may want to add Elements beyond those that are already within the Service. You can easily add an Element anywhere you like within the service.
To begin doing so, click on the Insert button in the Toolbar. The center display will change to show you a list of Elements that are common to most Services, along with a selection of pre-configured Elements that may or may not exist in the included Liturgies. We have attempted to anticipate your needs with this list.
To search for an Element within the Lutheran Service Builder collection, click on the Search tab and then utilize the included search interface.
To browse through the Liturgies and find a specific Element that is included in Lutheran Service Builder, click on the Browse tab. You will be asked to select the Liturgy from which you would like to "pull" the Element. You can even include large sections of services within other services by dragging Headings or groups of elements.
When you see the Element you wish to add to your Service, simply click on it to select it. Its preview will appear to the right. When you are certain you have found the desired Element, click and hold, then drag it over to your service. As with moving Elements from one place to another within a Service, you will see a "ghost" of the Element title and an insertion triangle as you drag the Element across your Service outline.
Find the place where you would like to insert the Element, then release the mouse button to place it within your Service. The Element has been added to your service and is ready to go. From there, you can make additional changes to it or even replace it with a suggested equivalent if you want.
Deleting an Element
Just as Elements can be added to a service, they can be deleted from a Service without very much trouble. To delete an Element, simply click on the Element to select it in the service outline.
Then, click on the Delete button in the Toolbar.
You will be asked to confirm your action to delete the Element. Remember that if you delete a Heading or an Element that contains sub-Elements, those will also be deleted.
