Preparing the Text

The text of imported Bibles must be properly formatted. You can import parts of a Bible text, with certain limitations. You can also use markup code for special formatting of the text itself (such as superscript numbers for the verses).

Basic Format of the Imported TextBasic Format of the Imported Text

  • A "Bible" or Text must be compatible with a versification system in one of the Accordance Text resources in your Library. For example, you can import a non-biblical such as Josephus, the Dead Sea Scrolls, etc.
  • The text must be one of the following:
  • A plain text file (.txt) in Roman script and use only standard characters such as those in the Times New Roman font.
  • The text can also be created using a UTF8 or UTF16 encoded Unicode font. This is used for non-Western languages such as Russian or Chinese, or European languages with special characters.
  • Verse references in the text file must use standard ASCII characters, no special Unicode characters.

  • The file must be saved with Mac Roman encoding, or with Unicode UTF8 or UTF16 , not in Windows, or any other encoding. Western (Mac OSClosed Operating System Roman) is the full name of the Mac Roman encoding.

    You can set the preferences of TextEdit on OS X to save the text with Mac Roman encoding.

  • The format of each verse must be a valid Bible reference (as used in most English Bibles) followed by a space followed by the contents of the verse. Each verse is ended by a return character, except for the last verse.

  • The book name (any standard Accordance abbreviation) only needs to appear with the first verse of the book, but can be repeated.

    Remove any space between a preceding number and the book name so that, for example, 1 Sam becomes 1Sam.

Hint

To display a list of standard Accordance book names and abbreviations, do the following:

  1. Make a Bible text the activeClosed The application, window, tab, or other screen element which is currently being used; sometimes called the "front" or "frontmost" screen element tab.
  2. On the Display menu, choose List all Book Names.

You can also view a list of official book abbreviations in this Help.
  • The chapter number only needs to appear with the first verse of the chapter, but can be repeated. A colon must separate chapter and verse.
  • Thus the following formats, among others, are acceptable:

Gen. 1:1 ¶ In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Gen. 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Gen. 1:3 ¶ And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

Gen. 1:4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

Gen. 2:1 ¶ Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

Gen. 2:2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

or

Genesis 1:1 ¶ In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

3 ¶ And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

2:1 ¶ Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.