Frequently Asked Questions
Questions that are regularly asked about JWL Helper
Download apps by Jehovah's Witnesses, including JW Broadcasting, JW Event, JW Library, and many more. JW Library is a Metro app meaning that it does have a simplified interface. This is a good thing in most cases as for most users you just simply load the app and use it the way you need. The rub comes when you want to do slightly more advanced things such as change the media folder in JW Library. JW Library is compatible with the following Apple devices. IPad 2 and newer (running iOS 9.0 or later) iPhone 4 and newer (running iOS 9.0 or later) iPod touch 5th generation (running iOS 9.0 or later).
Q. Is this intended to replace JW Library?
Absolutely not. In fact, JWL Helper requires JW Library to be installed and runs alongside it as a companion application.
Q. How is JW Library different from SOUNDBOX?
The excellent SOUNDBOX program has been (and doubtless still is being) used in many hundreds of Kingdom Halls for displaying media at meetings. The author has explained the reasons as to why support is being discontinued in December 2018.
So how is JWL Helper different from SOUNDBOX?
- SOUNDBOX works independently from JW Library. It uses external feeds provided by curators to download the media required for meetings, which means it’s reliant on external factors to work correctly.
- JWL Helper on the other hand works with JW Library. It doesn’t download any media, nor is it reliant on any third parties. All media is downloaded and managed by JW Library… JWL Helper just assists with displaying it.
JWL Helper simply provides a more accessible and easy-to-use interface for displaying media from JW Library, as well as offering the ability to show external images and videos.
Q. Why not just use JW Library on its own?
There’s no reason at all. There are a few advantages of using JWL Helper alongside JW Library though :-
[1] It offers a simpler and more accessible user interface for casting the JW Library media
[2] It can display external user images and videos
[3] It can play background music snippets before/after meetings
Q. Can we use both JW Library and JWL Helper to cast media at the same time?
You can’t cast media from both applications simultaneously, since they will be fighting over the media monitor.
There are two ways to use JWL Helper alongside JW Library :-
OPTION 1
- Turn off “Play video on second display” in JW Library on the Settings screen.
(This allows JWL Helper to have full access to the media display.) - Set the Windows Wallpaper (Start -> Settings -> Personalisation -> Background) to show the year text logo on the media display.
OPTION 2
If you wish to keep “Play video on second display” in JW Library switched on, so that it can display the year text logo (and optionally show media) then that’s fine too – JWL Helper is aware of how JW Library works and will cooperate with JW Library‘s media screen, the same way that SOUNDBOX has a “JWL compatibility mode”.
With option 2 however, please be aware that JW Library is a “Windows 10 App” which opens a separate “media window” which is visible on the Windows taskbar. If the operator (accidentally or otherwise) interacts with this “media window”, then the window parenting / focus / z-ordering can become a bit tempemental and you might find that that the JW Library background year text window disappears. In this case, you’ll need to either (a) restart JW Library or (b) manually bring the JWL media window to front via the taskbar.
Q. Is there anything we should consider if moving from SOUNDBOX to JW Library + JWL Helper?
If you are considering switching from SOUNDBOX to JW Library + JWL Helper then there are some features offered by SOUNDBOX which JWL Helper does not offer, specifically :-
- Timing – we recommend using OnlyT.
- Recording – we recommend OnlyR. If you stream meetings with Live Kingdom Hall, they have the option to record meetings too.
Q. Why are there 'MISSING PUBLICATIONS' in JWL Helper?
Most likely because the required publications or media haven’t been downloaded in JW Library.
- Run JW Library
- Click the Meetings button (on the left hand side)
- Click the Show Media button (top right, 3rd button along)
- Check if any of the media has the “cloud” icon, and if so click to download
Also bear in mind that you need to download any referenced publications. For example, at the moment we’re studying “Jesus-The Way, the Truth, the Life (jy)” at our mid-week meetings. To show media from that publication, it will need to be downloaded in JW Library.
Once you have downloaded the missing media, click the RELOAD button in JWL Helper (bottom left, 3rd button along).
Q. What about support for other languages?
At present, the main JWL Helper interface is only available in English, however you can load media for different languages. To do this…
- In the SETTINGS file, under the [Settings] section, edit the Language=E line and set it to your language symbol.
- Note 1: if you updated from a previous version, the Language=E setting won’t be present, so simply type it in under the [Settings] section and then save the settings file.
- Note 2: You will need to click the RELOAD ALL DATA button (bottom left, 3rd along) after saving the settings file to load the new language files.
If there is sufficient interest (along with the offer of help with translation!) then it might be possible to translate the interface to offer different language versions in future.
Please feel free to contact us if you’d like to discuss this further.
Q. Are there plans to write a version for Apple MAC?
No. JWL Helper is only available as a Windows application.
Q. What about the Dec 2017 letter recommending JW Library?
The letter “recommends” that JW Library be used as the media player.
JWL Helper in no way usurps or replaces JW Library, in fact it requiresJW Library and runs alongside it as a companion application.
It is noteworthy that JW Library is (at present) unable to display external images or video files. If a public speaker wishes to display his own images as visual aids for example, then there is no choice but to use another program. JWL Helper handles this.
In summary, the purpose of JWL Helper is to assist JW Library by providing an accessible and easy-to-use interface for displaying media from JW Library, as well as adding the ability to show external images / videos.
Of course, it’s up to each congregation to decide what’s best in their case.
Q. What about the JW Library License Agreement / Terms of Use?
That’s a good question, which is addressed in this forum post.
Jw Library Mac App Store Downloads
Q. Can I make a donation towards the development costs?
Jw App For Mac
Thank you… that’s very kind, but not necessary. As an alternative, please feel free to make a donation here 🙂