Free worship software that will display on laptop?

[athelas1001]

I've been looking into a free worship presentation software for our house church. Does anyone know of a free presentation software that will run on a Windows 7 platform AND that will let me display the songs on my laptop monitor? (One of the 2 homes we meet in doesn't have a TV and we don't have any other way to project the songs.)

I've been considering ZionWorx, Openlp, OpenSong and PowerSong. I know the 1st 2 will run on Win 7 but can't find anything to indicate that any of these will display songs on my laptop.

I'd appreciate any input on this.

[faperrigo]

Try Easislides. It's free--but simple. UI is similar to EasyWorship.

[Dan Rector]

If I understand what you're asking, you only have the laptop screen to display from and not a second screen. I don't know the specifics for each of these programs your mentioned, but in general most worship software is designed to have dual screen capability - one for control and one to be displayed to the audience. That's not to say that some might not support a single monitor mode, but its probably not a major feature. Have you considered using Powerpoint or if cost is an issue (if you don't already have it) then Open Office Impress, both of which would work in a single monitor display environment. Otherwise download them and try them out - your only cost will be time spent.

[[Admin] osborn4]

I wonder, with a one screen setup, if you'd be just as well off with Powerpoint of OpenOffice Impress?

If the group is small enough to all look at a laptop screen, I would consider just printing out lyric sheets, rather than try to display lyrics w/o a control screen.

[alongtin]

Screen Monkey will allow you to chose to display to a primary or secondary monitor fullscreen, although I've never used it to display to the primary monitor.

[athelas1001]

Thanks everyone! I'll take a look at Easislides and Screen Monkey, but I'm beginning to think I may have to go with PowerPoint -- which I do have, but it's cumbersome to use compared to software designed specifically for worship song presentation. (Yes, Dan, you're correct in your understanding: I only have the laptop screen to display from and not a second screen.)

Lyric sheets will be a last resort, since we don't plan songs in advance. We have a lot of songs, and those who attend would have to deal with a very large binder (2", at least) as well as look for a song when they're trying to sing and worship. Also, I don't want to have to make that many copies of the songs. That said, I'll use lyric sheets if we have to....

[Dan Rector]

If you're leaning towards Powerpoint then there is a couple of different ways to go.

1. Keep all your songs in different files, do and Insert->Slides from Files or keep the directory open and double click - each one opening a new window in Powerpoint (the latter will require that you save them with backgrounds otherwise you will get the default you saved it with. Insert will adopt the current background

2. Keep all of your songs in one big file use Find to search for the song you need

3. There are also other things you can "add-on" to bring some of the worship software benefits to Powerpoint. Powerworship comes to mind, but then you start to move away from being more dynamic

I guess it depends on how much time you want to take between deciding on a song and presenting it on the screen.

[[Admin] osborn4]

I recently picked up a 20" monitor for $100. Something like that would give you a bigger viewing area than the laptop screen, and let you use the laptop screen as your control screen. And the person running the slides wouldn't have to be in the way of the people trying to read the lyrics.

Not free, but something to possibly consider.

[Dan Rector]

Or you may be able to score a free monitor (CRT) when someone upgrades by watching Craigslist or Freecycle.

[daleeper]

Opensong will let you project on a single screen when you select it to.

I believe you can download all of those programs at no cost, download them and try them out.

[DGetting]

Or look into a used projector. We picked up a working Toshiba for ~$200.

[athelas1001]

Our house church has decided to meet much of the time at my place, where I have been able to get the songs to display on my TV. That helps a lot and frees me up to use one of the software that works best with dual monitors. In the meantime, I will try to score a free/cheap used monitor for the home that doesn't have a TV or monitor.

I looked at 8 different free software and believe I will go with OpenLP, mainly because I was able to get the songs from EasyWorship imported into it. I actually preferred the way OpenSong let me navigate songs, but I couldn't import the EW songs into it, even using the import utility provided.

So, thanks for the input -- it was very helpful!