As your journal has more entries added over time, and grows in size, there are a number of tools which you can use to access older readings for reference and editing. You may also want to add comments to older readings as the situation they relate to unfolds.
Navigating
Each time you open the I Ching Journal, your latest reading is displayed in the Readings form. To navigate to the reading which you entered prior to that, use the PREVIOUS READING button at the top of the screen. This takes you back one record. To go back to your very first journal reading, click the FIRST READING button at the top left of the screen. To navigate forwards through your readings, just click the NEXT READING to go forward one record at a time, or click LATEST READING to go to the last reading in the journal.
Each reading that has been entered in the journal is automatically allocated a unique reference number, which you can see displayed between the middle navigation buttons at the top of the screen. This gives each of your readings a unique identification number which may be useful when searching for past readings.
Above - The Navigation Buttons and the Reading Reference. The last two buttons on the right open the ENTER QUESTION and SEARCH forms.
Searching
To search for a past reading, begin by clicking the SEARCH BUTTON at the top of the main Reading’s screen. This opens the pop up search form which gives you a choice of search methods to find your reading.
Search by Reference Number
The first tab enables you to search for your reading by its reference number (see above). Enter the reference number directly into the text box and click search. Your past reading will then be displayed on screen directly.
If you do not know the reference number, you can click the drop down list button where you will see a list of all your readings with their reference numbers, dates, and questions asked. Just select the reading you are interested in, and then click SEARCH below to bring the record up on screen.
If you have version 3.5 of this software, there is also a READING'S INDEX button which brings up a list of all readings when pressed. (Download 3.5 Update)
Search by Keywords
Search by Keywords enables you to enter a keyword or phrase from the THOUGHTS and BACKGROUND notes that you entered for a particular reading (unfortunately text within the DEVELOPMENTS TAB is not searched). In addition to this (or as an alternative to this) you may also enter a Chinese or pinyin keyword from the Hexagram Text of the I Ching.
Then just click the SEARCH button at the bottom of the form, and any readings contain this keyword (and/or which have a hexagram containing the specified Chinese character or pinyin) will be listed in a report.
Each item in the list will have a link to its entry in the main Reading’s screen of the journal. Just click the link to bring up the reading on screen.
NB you may also restrict the search results by adding a FROM date and a TO date on the pop up form. Any readings matching your search criteria WITHIN this date range will be displayed.
In addition to this you may also specify which hexagrams relating to a reading are included in the search results. A STANDARD SEARCH includes reading’s Primary and Relating hexagrams; a BASIC SEARCH includes reading’s matching a Primary Hexagarm only; and an ADVANCED SEARCH includes the full range of hexagrams in the reading ie primary, relating, hexagrams of context, patterns of change, and steps of change.
Above - The KEYWORDS TAB of the SEARCH FORM.
*** IMPORTANT: When using keywords as a search criteria, please enter a single word in the READING KEYWORD and/or the ZHOUYI KEYWORD text boxes . Alternatively you may enter a phrase, but this must be worded exactly how it is written in the text of your Reading or the Hexagram Statement. For example if you wanted to bring a list of all your readings associated with any hexagram containing the phrase "advantage crossing great stream" enter the following characters as the Zhouyi Keyword: "利涉大川" (without the quotation marks, of course). Also be careful not to enter a space where there is not one in the transcription (the transcription looks like this 同人 于野。亨。利涉大川。利君子貞。). The Yijing Dao site has a full transcription that you could use to copy and past short phrases into the Zhouyi Keyword box. For single characters you can copy and past from the Translation Key in the I Ching Reading's Journal software. Please also be aware that only the Hexagram Statement is searched - not individual lines or anything from the wings. ***
Search by Question
Search by Question enables you to find a reading with a CONSULTATION QUESTION containing a particular keyword. You can also restrict the search results by date range if you wish. This feature is useful if you remember asking a question about a particular subject around a certain period, but cannot remember the exact details. It just helps you find the reading that you remember but cannot yet find. When you click the SEARCH button at the bottom of the form a list of search results is displayed in a report. Just click on the QUESTION LINK to display the reading on the main READING’S SCREEN.
Search by Hexagram
Search by Hexagram enables you to search for any reading which has a specified hexagram associated with it. It is a good way to gain a deeper understanding of what the hexagrams and their changing lines indicate, by looking back at previous instances of their occurrence in your journal.
The STANDARD SEARCH includes the primary and relating hexagrams in the search results, while the ADVANCED SEARCH includes the full range of hexagrams. If you are just interested in a reading’s primary hexagram or one of its changing lines, select the BASIC SEARCH.
Search results may also be restricted by keyword. For example, it is possible to list all readings which have the hexagram 24, with line 2 changing associated with it, AND contain a particular keyword somewhere in the reading’s BACKGROUND NOTES and THOUGHTS.
Search by Trigram -
Search by Trigram enables you to list all your readings that have a hexagram containing a specified trigram, in a specified position. For example, you may list all readings which have hexagrams containing the Dui trigram in the upper position. You also have the option of limiting this list by DATE RANGE and READING KEYWORD. This is something which you can experiment with, and use as you will.
Search by Change Pattern (New with v3.4 and v3.8) -
Search by Change Pattern enables you to list all readings with particular changing lines. These are specified by clicking the relevant check boxes on the search form. Searches may be EXCLUSIVE, which lists' readings' with lines explicitly specified, or INCLUSIVE, which lists' readings' including those specified. For example, if you do an INCLUSIVE search specifying Line Two as the criteria, your results will list any reading with Line Two and any other changing line. An EXCLUSIVE search, on the other hand, would list readings with Line Two but no other changing line. You may also narrow down your search results by entering a DATE RANGE on the search form. This, too, is something that you might like to experiment with.
With Version 3.8, you can now specify a hexagram, along with changing lines. To use the feature just select the hexagram from the new drop down list (see screenshot below).
Viewing Previous Experience of a Hexagram or Line (New with v3.6) -
In addition to the search features mentioned above, it is also possible from version 3.6 to view your personal experience with any particular hexagram or line from the HEXAGRAM or LINE forms. Just select the READINGS TAB from either of these two forms. This will display a list of previous instances where the hexagram or line occurred in your readings. There is also an option of viewing the information as a full page report, and whether to view all hexagrams of context.
Hexagram Form (below)
Line Form (below)
Adding Comments on Readings
As a situation relating to one of your readings unfolds, you can add comments detailing the nature of any changes which have taken place.
Select the COMMENTS tab in the lower box of the main READING’S SCREEN.
Click the NEW COMMENT button on the right hand side of the box.
A pop up form will then open where you can add your comment with a date.
If you had made previous comments for a particular reading, they will be listed in the box. Just click the link to display the full comment in the pop up form.
Above - The DEVELOPMENTS TAB of the READINGS BOX.
Below- The COMMENTS FORM opens when you click the NEW COMMENTS button, or click the date link in the DEVELOPMENTS TAB.
Deleting
If you wish to delete any reading, comment, or a translation entry for whatever reason, click the ENABLE DELETE box, and then click the DELETE button. You will be asked to confirm that you want to go ahead with the delete. If you do, just click YES.
Above - The Delete Button on the MAIN READING'S SCREEN.
Adding Translations
As you are probably aware, this software comes with Legge Translation of the Hexagram Text, Line Text, and Great Image. There is, of course, more to the I Ching than this ie all the wings. There are also many other translations to choose from. So in addition to building your own journal of reading’s, this software also enables you to enter alternative translations for the main parts of the I Ching mentioned above, and all the other wings with relate directly to a particular hexagram. It’s a bit like building your own personal I Ching Library.
To add a translation for Hexagram Text, follow the procedure below:
Click the READ HEXAGRAM button in the hexagram box of the main READING’S SCREEN.
Click the large rectangular ENTER NEW TRANSLATION button below the lower translation box.
When the pop up HEXAGRAM TRANSLATION form opens, enter all the sections that are of interest to you. Please make sure you enter the translators name by selecting it from the drop down list at the top of the form. Please also make sure that you enter the translation of the hexagram title. The form will not close without this information.
Click the CLOSE FORM button to return to the HEXAGRAM TEXT form. You will see the translation that you have just added at the bottom of the hexagram translation list.
Above - The TRANSLATION BOX and ENTER NEW TRANSLATION BUTTON.
Above - The HEXAGRAM TRANSLATION FORM.
To add a translation for any of the Hexagrams changing line’s:
Click the READ HEXAGRAM button in the hexagram box of the main Reading’s form.
Click the relevant changing line button to the right of the hexagram diagram.
When the LINE TEXT pop up form opens, click the ADD NEW LINE TRANSLATION button.
The LINE TRANSLATION form will then open. Enter the translators name and the translation of line text. You may also choose to add the LITTLE IMAGE (XIAO XIANG) from the wings which relates to this line.
Click the CLOSE FORM button to return to the LINE TRANSLATION form where you will see your new translation listed in the right hand box.
Translated titles
Once you have entered different translations for the hexagrams, you may wish to select the default hexagram title translation to be used on your main READING’S SCREEN. On the right hand side of your Consultation Question and Date you will see a small drop down box entitles HEXAGRAM TRANSLATION TITLE USED. Click the box and select the translator’s name who you wish to use. The translated title will then appear alongside its Pinyin title in the HEXAGRAMS BOX.
NB Even if you do not enter the full translation for each of the hexagrams, you can still enter the translated hexagram titles so that they may be used in the main READING’S SCREEN in this way.
Above - The HEXAGRAM TITLE TRANSLATION from the MAIN READINGS SCREEN.
Adding & Editing a Translator’s Name
When you add a new translation you will also need to enter the translators name in a separate form so that it will appear in the drop down list of translators throughout the software. This can be done from the HEXAGRAM TRANSLATION FORM or the LINE TRANSLATION FORM. The procedure is the same on both.
Once you have opened the HEXAGRAM TRANSLATION FORM or LINE TRANSLATION FORM you will notice there is a button entitled ADD AND EDIT TRANSLATOR LIST on the right hand side of the TRANSLATOR drop down box. Click this button to bring up the EDIT TRANSLATOR LIST pop up form.
There is a list of translators in datasheet format. To add a new translator, just click the blank row at the bottom and type in the name. To edit a name click the row and type over the exiting entry. To delete a name click the blue box on the immediate left of the row and hit the delete button on your computer keyboard.
Above - Add, Edit, or Delete a TRANSLATOR'S NAME from this form.
Software Updates and News
The I Ching Readings Journal is updated on a regular basis. Updates are free improvements to your journal software. Details of new Updates, and instructions for downloading, can be found in the Updates and News section of this website.
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