Several new enhancements to our website have been rolled out recently , including the ability to preview WorshipChart pdf files. WorshipCharts include instrumental parts as well as leadsheets. To preview a WorshipChart, simply add the song to your cart and click the Preview link next to the item you are interested in.
Other improvements have been made to the WorshipMap Pro application. For those of you that like written instructions in your hand, we've created instruction manuals that you can download. We're also trying to make it easier to set up and start using the application by giving you the ability to invite folks by copying email addresses from an existing spreadsheet.
As a reminder, WorshipMap Pro comes with a 30-day free trial period. So, if you haven't subscribed, check it out and let us know what you think.
For future development, I would like to have a simpler way to start of list of worship songs in WorshipMap Pro, similar to the ease of setting up The Basic worship plan. That's usually the place I start each week and I always have to hunt to find how to start a list. So much so that I usually use the basic worship plan.
Thanks, Bruce. We are continuing to improve WorshipMap Pro to make it more user-friendly. In the meantime, make sure that you have the manual (http://www.lifewayworship.com/help/home/10#). Thanks again for your feedback.
Peace,
Jonathan
We're transitioning our worship style and LifeWayworship.com is an invaluable tool. Thank you! Suggestion - when downloading a file, it'd be helpful if instead of the current name (something like 90394_HS_H.pdf), the file would have the name of the song and part (like "A_Mighty_Fortress_FLUTE1.pdf".) Also, in itunes, the mp3's do not display the song name. It usually says, "LifeWay Worship Project" (instead of the actual song title) by artist, "LifeWay Worship Music Group" by album, "LifeWay Worship Project." It gets extremely confusing when searching for a particular song. If I have 10 songs in itunes, they all read ""LifeWay Worship Project".
Thanks for your comment and suggestion, Lem. One of the challenges with what we do is that several songs / arrangements may contain the same title. For example, at present, we have four versions of "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name." Assuming they all have a flute part, trying to keep straight which flute part goes with which version can get tricky. Multiply that for all of the orchestration parts, rhythm charts, and all of the audio files required for SongMap and it gets totally out of hand.
So, we had to use some sort of unique identifier to represent a particular version of a given song. What you're seeing here ("90394") is what we call the "song version ID." We developed it for internal purposes for database management (kind of like the Dewey Decimal System). It is not intended to mean anything to you or anyone else who uses our site, but now you can impress your friends at parties with this inside information!
The iTunes situation is a more urgent matter, because it is the way our customers manage their own library. "LifeWay Worship Project" is even less unique than the song title and re-entering this information is inconvenient. For the record, the file used to have all of the correct title information, but it's being stripped in the necessary conversion process it goes through to get from us to you. The good news is that we think we have a solution and are working diligently to fix this for future downloads. Once this is nailed down, when you import a file like 90394_FL_H.mp3 in your iTunes library, iTunes will know (and show you) the correct information.