Open Bible Stories Repositories Guide

Introduction

This guide covers how to handle Open Bible Stories (OBS) repositories in Door43. These repositories contain Bible overview stories in Markdown format, designed to provide a comprehensive Bible narrative in 50 interconnected stories.

Repository Types Covered:

• Open Bible Stories: 50-story Bible overview
• OBS Translation Notes: Story-specific translation guidance
• OBS Translation Words Links: Word links for OBS content

Repository Characteristics

Open Bible Stories Repositories

Examples: en_obs, en_obs-tn, en_obs-twl

Key Characteristics:

• Subject: "Open Bible Stories" (or OBS variants)
• Container type: "bundle" (for main OBS) or "help" (for support resources)
• Content: Markdown files with story content
• Format: Markdown or TSV (for support resources)
• Organization: 50 numbered stories
• Scope: Complete Bible narrative overview

How to Identify Open Bible Stories Repositories

Step 1: Check Repository Name Pattern

• Look for "obs" in repository name
• Main OBS: {lang}_obs
• OBS support: {lang}_obs-{type} (like en_obs-tn)

Step 2: Check the Manifest Subject

• Look for dublin_core.subject field in manifest.yaml
• Should contain "Open Bible Stories" or "OBS"

Step 3: Verify Content Structure

• Main OBS: Look for numbered Markdown files (01.md, 02.md, etc.)
• OBS support: Look for TSV files with story-based organization

Manifest Structure

Main Open Bible Stories Manifest

dublin_core:
  identifier: 'obs'                    # Resource identifier
  language:
    identifier: 'en'                   # Language code
    direction: 'ltr'                   # Text direction
  subject: 'Open Bible Stories'        # Resource type
  type: 'bundle'                      # Complete story collection
  version: '84'                       # Resource version
  relation:                           # Dependencies
    - 'en/obs-tn'                     # OBS Translation Notes
    - 'en/obs-twl'                    # OBS Translation Words Links

projects:                             # Story files
  - identifier: '01'                  # Story number
    title: 'The Creation'             # Story title
    path: './content/01.md'          # Markdown file path
    sort: 1                          # Display order
    categories: ['bible-overview']   # Content category

OBS Support Resource Manifest

dublin_core:
  identifier: 'obs-tn'                # Resource identifier
  language:
    identifier: 'en'                   # Language code
    direction: 'ltr'                   # Text direction
  subject: 'OBS Translation Notes'     # Resource type
  type: 'help'                        # Help/guidance resource
  version: '84'                       # Resource version
  relation:                           # Dependencies
    - 'en/obs'                        # Main OBS content
    - 'en/ta'                         # Translation Academy

projects:                             # TSV files for stories
  - identifier: '01'                  # Story number
    title: 'The Creation'             # Story title
    path: './tn_01.tsv'              # TSV file path
    sort: 1                          # Display order
    categories: ['obs-notes']        # Content category

File Structure Patterns

Main Open Bible Stories Structure

en_obs/
├── 📄 manifest.yaml                 # Resource Container manifest
├── 📄 LICENSE.md                    # License file
├── 📁 content/                      # Story content directory
│   ├── 📄 01.md                     # Story 1: The Creation
│   ├── 📄 02.md                     # Story 2: Sin Enters the World
│   ├── 📄 03.md                     # Story 3: The Flood
│   ├── ...                          # Stories 4-49
│   └── 📄 50.md                     # Story 50: Jesus Returns
└── 📁 images/                       # Story images (optional)
    ├── 📄 obs-en-01-01.jpg         # Story 1, frame 1 image
    └── ...                          # More story images

OBS Translation Notes Structure

en_obs-tn/
├── 📄 manifest.yaml                 # Resource Container manifest
├── 📄 LICENSE.md                    # License file
├── 📄 tn_01.tsv                     # Story 1 notes
├── 📄 tn_02.tsv                     # Story 2 notes
├── ...                              # All 50 stories
└── 📄 tn_50.tsv                     # Story 50 notes

Content Analysis

Open Bible Stories Content Structure

Story Markdown Format:

# 01. The Creation

![OBS Image](https://cdn.door43.org/obs/jpg/360px/obs-en-01-01.jpg)

In the beginning, God created the universe. He created the earth, but it was empty and dark. God's Spirit was there over the water.

![OBS Image](https://cdn.door43.org/obs/jpg/360px/obs-en-01-02.jpg)

Then God said, "Let there be light!" And there was light. God saw that the light was good and called it "day." He separated it from the darkness, which he called "night." God created the light on the first day of creation.

---

_A Bible story from: Genesis 1:1-13_

Key Features:

• Story structure: Multiple frames per story
• Images: Each frame has associated image
• Narrative format: Simplified Bible narrative
• Source references: Bible passages at end
• Frame organization: Stories divided into frames/scenes

OBS Translation Notes Content

TSV Format (similar to Bible TN but story-focused):

Reference	ID	Tags	SupportReference	Quote	Occurrence	Note
01:01	abc1	culture	rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names	God	1	This is the name of the one true God who created and rules over everything.
01:02	abc2	grammar	rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor	God's Spirit was there	1	This means God's Spirit was present and active.

How to Process Open Bible Stories Repositories

Step 1: Identify OBS Repository Type

Check Repository Characteristics:

• Look for "obs" in repository name
• Check manifest subject for "Open Bible Stories"
• Determine if it's main content or support resource

Step 2: Process Story Structure

For Main OBS Repository:

• Extract story list from projects array
• Note story titles and file paths
• Check for content directory organization

Expected Story Count: 50 stories (01-50) Story Themes: Creation to New Heaven/Earth chronologically

Step 3: Process Story Content

For Each Story File:

• Download Markdown content
• Parse story structure (title, frames, images)
• Extract frame content and image references
• Note source Bible references

Step 4: Handle Story Images

Image Processing:

• Extract image URLs from story content
• Note image naming patterns (obs-{lang}-{story}-{frame}.jpg)
• Handle image availability and fallbacks

Step 5: Process Support Resources

For OBS Translation Notes:

• Process TSV files similar to Bible Translation Notes
• Note story-specific references instead of verse references

For OBS Translation Words Links:

• Process TSV files similar to Bible TWL
• Handle story-frame references instead of verse references

Story Content Characteristics

Story Structure Analysis

50 Stories Total:

1. Creation Stories (01-03): Creation, Fall, Flood
2. Patriarch Stories (04-08): Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph
3. Exodus Stories (09-13): Moses, Exodus, Law, Wilderness
4. Conquest Stories (14-15): Joshua, Judges
5. Kingdom Stories (16-18): David, Solomon, Divided Kingdom
6. Exile Stories (19-20): Exile and Return
7. Jesus Stories (21-31): Birth, Ministry, Death, Resurrection
8. Church Stories (32-43): Early Church, Paul's Ministry
9. End Times Stories (44-50): Second Coming, New Creation

Frame Structure Analysis

Frames per Story: 3-15 frames typically Content per Frame: 50-200 words Images per Frame: 1 image per frame Total Frames: ~365 frames across all stories

Application Integration

How to Display Open Bible Stories in Preview Apps

Step 1: Organize by Story Sequence

• Present all 50 stories in chronological order
• Show story titles and themes clearly
• Enable sequential navigation through stories

Step 2: Handle Story Content

• Display story frames in sequence
• Show associated images for each frame
• Render markdown content appropriately

Step 3: Enable Story Navigation

• Provide story-to-story navigation
• Enable frame-by-frame progression within stories
• Show progress through complete story sequence

Step 4: Connect Support Resources

• Link to OBS Translation Notes for story guidance
• Connect to OBS Translation Words Links for term definitions
• Enable cross-navigation between main content and support

How to Use Open Bible Stories in Editing Apps

Step 1: Set Up Story Access

• Configure access to all 50 story files
• Set up markdown parsing for story content
• Handle image references and display

Step 2: Enable Story-Based Editing

• Allow frame-by-frame editing within stories
• Maintain story structure and image associations
• Support story sequence navigation

Step 3: Integrate Support Resources

• Show relevant OBS Translation Notes for current story
• Enable access to OBS Translation Words Links
• Provide contextual guidance during story translation

Step 4: Handle Story Relationships

• Maintain connections between related stories
• Show Bible source references for each story
• Enable navigation from stories to full Bible passages

Best Practices

1. Story Structure Handling

• Maintain frame organization within stories
• Handle image references and availability
• Preserve story sequence and relationships

2. Content Processing

• Parse markdown content appropriately
• Handle image URLs and fallbacks
• Process Bible source references

3. Support Resource Integration

• Connect OBS-TN and OBS-TWL to main OBS content
• Enable story-based cross-referencing
• Maintain consistency with Bible-based resources

4. User Experience

• Present stories as cohesive narrative
• Enable both sequential and random access
• Support different reading/study modes

Differences from Bible Repositories

Common Issues and Solutions

Issue 1: Image Handling

Problem: Stories reference many images that may not be locally available Solution: Implement image caching and fallback strategies

Issue 2: Story-Bible Mapping

Problem: Connecting story content to specific Bible passages Solution: Use source references and create story-to-Bible index

Issue 3: Frame Navigation

Problem: Stories have internal frame structure different from verses Solution: Build frame-aware navigation and reference system

This guide is based on analysis of Door43 Open Bible Stories repositories and should be used alongside the main Door43 API Developer Guide.