To display:

Database > Public Talks > Manage

Manage Public Talks menu button

This window allows you to view, update, and maintain all public talk outlines, along with congregation‑specific history and speaker information.

Manage Public Talks windowPublic TalksOutline dateHas multimediaTalk UpdatesCountLast givenTalk never givenNotesExclude talkExclude fromTalk HistorySpeakers who give this talkCategoryCategory FilterAdditional Filters

The main window is divided into several functional areas. You can click elements in the screenshot to highlight their descriptions.

Public Talks List

This list displays all available public talk outlines. Selecting a talk shows its details, history, and speakers.

Each outline displays:

  • Talk number and theme
  • Outline date (bottom left)
  • Category (bottom right)
  • Has multimedia indicator (bottom left)

Category Filter

The Category Filter appears above the Public Talks list and allows you to quickly narrow the list by outline category.

  • When no category is selected, all talks are displayed.
  • When you click a specific category, only talks belonging to that category are shown.
  • The filter applies instantly and does not affect any of your congregation‑specific data (Count, Notes, Last Given, etc.).

Use this filter to quickly locate talks within a particular category, such as Family/Youth, Christian Living, Prophecy, or any other category defined in the database.

Additional Filters
The filter button above the talk list opens the Additional Filters menu.

These toggle‑based filters let you refine the list further (e.g., Has Media, Booked, Never Given, Unassigned).

Full details are documented in the dedicated topic: Additional Filters

Advanced Filters

The filter menu also includes an Advanced option.

When enabled, an extra panel is enabled above the list, allowing precise filtering based on:

  • Filter type (Date, Number, or Text)
  • Operator (such as Equals, Contains, Before, Between, etc.)
  • Value to filter against

Advanced Filters work alongside the Category Filter and Additional Filters, allowing very fine‑grained combinations.

Full details are documented in the dedicated topic: Advanced Filters

How Filters Work Together

All filters are applied at the same time:

For example, you can combine:

  • Category Filter
  • Additional Filters
  • Advanced Filters

The talk list updates instantly as you adjust any of theme.

Double-click Behaviour

Double‑clicking a talk in the list will:

  • Add a new update for that talk, or
  • Edit the existing update for that talk
    (depending on whether an update already exists)

This is equivalent to choosing Add Update for This Talk… or Edit Update for This Talk… from the Talk Updates menu button.

Talk Updates Menu Button

The Talk Updates button provides access to all update‑related actions for the selected outline.

Menu options include:

  • Add Update for This Talk…
    Create a new update entry for the selected outline.
  • Edit Update for This Talk…
    Enabled when an update already exists.
  • Remove Update for This Talk…
    Remove the existing update entry.
  • Send Pending Updates…
    Submit all pending updates you have created.
  • Clear Pending Updates
    Remove all pending updates without sending.

These options replace the older “Submit Update” button. The workflow is now more flexible and supports multiple pending updates before submission.

For full details about creating or editing a talk update, see the dedicated help topic:

Manage Talk Update 

Closing the Window With Unsaved Talk Updates

If you attempt to close the Manage Public Talks window while you still have pending talk updates, a confirmation dialog will appear. This prevents accidental loss of work.

The dialog presents three choices:

  • Send Updates and Close
    Immediately sends all pending updates and then closes the window.
  • Keep Editing (Don’t Close)
    Returns you to the window so you can continue reviewing or modifying your updates.
  • Close Without Sending
    Closes the window and discards all pending updates.

Use this prompt to ensure you don’t unintentionally lose changes you intended to submit.

Outline Information

Displayed at the bottom of the window:

  • Outline date
    The official issue date (e.g., “September 2015”).
    Read‑only.
  • Category
    The outline’s category from the S‑99a document.
    Read‑only.
  • Has multimedia
    Indicates whether the outline includes official images or videos.
    Read‑only.

If you notice an official change, please use Talk Updates > Add Update for This Talk… to notify us.

Category Filter

When nothing is selected, all talks are displayed. When a specific filter is clicked, only talks within that category are shown

Details Panel

This information is stored locally in a secondary database and can be edited as needed.

Count

How many times this talk has been given in your congregation.

Notes

Use this field for any congregation‑specific notes (e.g., “Excluded per announcement sheet, March 2024”).

Last given

Select the date the talk was last given.

You may use the dropdown arrow or adjust the date fields manually.

Talk never given

When checked:

  • The date field is disabled
  • The date is automatically set to 01‑01‑1900
  • The talk is treated as “never given” in date‑ordered reports

The software refreshes Count and Last given automatically at startup, provided your Assignment History database is up‑to‑date.

The following information is stored in a secondary database within the user application data folder. You can update this information as needed.

Availability

Exclude from

Specify the date from which the talk should be excluded.

Exclude talk

Temporarily removes the talk from selection lists when managing talk exchanges.

Talk History

Shows all dates when the talk was given in your congregation, including:

  • Date
  • Speaker
  • Congregation

This list is populated from your Assignment History database.

Speakers List

Shows all speakers who give this talk, including:

  • Speaker name
  • Congregation

Report Viewer (View → Report Viewer)

The Report Viewer is a powerful tool that allows you to select from a variety of reports for printing or saving as PDF. Here’s what you can do with it:

  • Select Reports: When you open the Report Viewer, you’ll find a list of available reports. Choose the one that suits your needs — whether it’s congregation statistics, public talk summaries, or other relevant information.
  • Custom Templates: In version 24.0.0, several custom templates were moved from the Meeting Editor to the Report Viewer. These templates provide flexibility in formatting and content. You can tailor them to your specific requirements.
  • Field Service Group Template: Additionally, a brand-new template was added specifically for displaying Field Service Group information. This template ensures that group details are presented in a visually appealing report format.
  • Field Ministry Assignments Template: Another new template allows you to display Field Ministry arrangements in a clear, visually appealing report format.

Feel free to explore the reports and templates available in the Report Viewer.

Search (Find)

Use Find to search by number, text, or date within the public talk database.

Supported fields:

  • Number: Talk number, Count
  • Text: Theme, Notes
  • Date: Outline, Last given, Exclude from

Find Next (or F3) continues the search and wraps around automatically.