XMind

Brainstorming and Mindmapping!

Last month, the famous Internet Media – Lifehacker launched a vote campaign of the best mind mapping tool. More than 4,000 readers from different countries joined in this voting campaign. Finally, XMind won the competition as the most popular mind mapping software by a large margin. They said “it’s still extremely flexible, works great on any desktop OS, and makes it easy to organize your ideas and thoughts in a variety of different styles, diagrams, and designs”.

During the process, Lifehacker posted 3 blogs for inviting the readers to vote for the best mind mapping tool. In the first blog of “Best Mind Mapping Tool”,  readers could nominate the best mind mapping tool in their mind. In the next blog of “Five Best Mind Mapping Tools”, five best mind mapping tool were picked out according the readers’ nomination. Meanwhile, the author invited more readers to join in the voting campaign for determining the final ranking of the five.  In the final blog of “Most Popular Mind Mapping: XMind“, the editor of Lifehacker announced the final result. Thankfully, XMind  was voted as the winner, leading the second about 8% total votes.

Without your support, we can never make this happen. XMind team will never take your trust as granted.  Working hard, we wish to bring you the better mind mapping tool.
Thank you again!

Last week, Lifehacker.com launched a new event, and asked people to nominate which mind mapping tools they thought were the best.  Because they believe Mind mapping is a great way to brainstorm, make a plan, or turn ideas into the steps needed to make it real.

The good news is that XMind has received the enough nomination, and is in the Five Best Mind Mapping Tools list. Now, XMind is still waiting for your precious votes for the final ranking.

• Visit Five Best Mind Mapping Tools page
• Scroll down to the vote area
• Choose XMind in the list and click Vote button on the right bottom

We’ve known that mind mapping is a very useful tool for idea management, strategic analysis, etc.  But what if meeting big data or complex project? For this situation, the Matrix structure in XMind could be our one effective solution. It has a spreadsheet layout, but has some more special features.

• Every cell can have multiple topics.
• Every topic can have its own structure to express content accurately, like logic, tree, and etc.
• Relationship, boundary and summary can be added for illustrating more logic relationships.
• Matrix can also be converted into other structures, like mindmap, tree, organization chart, logic chart and fishbone by two clicks.

As you see, Marketing Budget is the Matrix tile. Research/Consulting,  Advertise, Public relationships and Promotion are column name. Quarter 1/2/3/4 are the row name.

Create a Matrix

Matrix is a special mind map structure. And it’s easy to get one.

1. New a blank mind map
2. Right click on the central topic, and choose Structure — Matrix
   
3. Click Enter key to get one more row; Click the button beside central topic to get one more column.

Operations to Matrix

The operations to Matrix can be simple and easy. Let’s take a look of the basic operations.

• Add a column: click the Add Column button besides Matrix title(central topic).
• Add a row: select any a row title and click Enter key.
• Add topics to a cell: double-click in that cell directly.
• Modify column/row title: double click that title and modify its content.
• Change the Row: select the row title and move up or down.
• Change the Column order: select column title and move right or left
• Delete a row: select the row title, click Delete key.
• Delete a column: select all topics in that column, and click Delete key.
• Change topic structure in a cell: right click on the target topic, Click Structure — Map/Tree/Logic/Fishbone.

Tips: To add relationship(Ctrl+L), boundary(Ctrl+B), note(F4) and summary(Ctrl+]) , the operations are the same as usual.

Matrix & Mind Map

Since Matrix is a special structure, it can also be changed into the other structures. The process is easy.

1. Select the Matrix title.
2. Choose Structure — Map/Tree/Logic/Fishbone from the context menu.

Below is the example about changing SWOT Analysis template from matrix structure to the mind map structure.

(Matrix Structure)

(Mind Map Structure)

As you see, the parts of Matrix actually correspond the topics or labels of a mind map.

• SWOT Analysis ==> Central topic
• Internal and External ==> Main topics
• Helpful ==> Label of Strengths and Opportunities
• Strengths and Weakness ==> Subtopics of Internal

Tips: “Helpful” is just the label of Strengths, but not Strength1 & Strength 2.

People may already know the theme in XMind. Esp. the theme-extracting feature can extract all attribute settings of topics, relationships, lines, boundaries and etc.  This also means applying a theme to the map will modify all these elements in it. But what if we just want to change the relationship, topic, or boundary only? Here is the Style.

The style feature allows us to change topic, boundary or relationship separately. And more, we can design one special topic style, extract and rename it for future usage. Below will show you how to enjoy the Style

Apply Style

First, let’s see how to apply the topic style into the map,

1. Open the Style view from menu View – Styles
2. Select the target topic(s) in the map
3. Choose the preferred style in the Style view and double-click
4. Now, the selected topic(s) should have a new style.

We can also apply the corresponding style to boundary, relationship and sheet by the same steps. In fact, this feature is FREE.

Extract Style

In XMind, after designing the topic, boundary, relationship and sheet, we can extract these styles for future usage.  They will be listed in the Style view.  We can rename them and apply them to the others fast. Below are steps how to extract style from a topic,

1. Select the target topic in the map
2. Clicking Tool-Extract Style from the menu.
   
3. XMind will extract this topic style and save it in the Style view.
4. Click the name of this extracted style, we can rename it.
5. For deleting the extracted style, please select one and click “Delete”button.
6. The steps to extract styles of boundary, relationship and sheet are the same.

Have you tried to extract your own style and apply? Since we know how to extract and apply our own style, why not try to improve the efficiency?

Concentrating on one thing one time can make you more successful. For presentation or review of your mind map, you may desire to display and contrast just parts of topics at the screen. Filter feature can help you to concentrate on a series of topics, sharing same markers or labels. Once entered the filter mode, the background will be dark and topics containing the selected markers or labels will be lighted. By this way, the filter supports you to focus on the similar objectives and gives you a different view, such as the first priority tasks or particular person’s tasks.

Enter filter mode

Within XMind, powerful filter feature can make it accessible.

1. Click “View – Other – Mind map – Filter” and XMind will pop up the filter view at the right side of  the screen.
2. Within the filter view, the markers and labels of current sheet have been listed below. You can select target markers and labels by clicking the bracket.
3. Once you select the markers or labels, XMind will enter filter mode and light the topics, maintaining the target markers. If the target markers or labels belong to the topic, which has been collapsed, XMind will enter the filter mode. Make sure the branches has been extended before apply the filter feature

(Tips: XMind supports you to select multiple markers and labels at one time. At the same time, XMind is able to edit under the filter mode)

Exit filter mode & modify the lightness

Now that you know how to enter filter mode, then how could we exit filter mode? At the same time, how to change the lightness of the screen within XMind. Try the steps below.

1. Open filter view and there is a button of “show all” at the top right corner of it
2. Clicking the button, XMind will exit the filter mode immediately.
   (Tips:You can also exit the filter mode by cancel the selection of markers in filter view)
3. Besides the “show all” button, there is a “lightness” button. Clicking the button, XMind will change the lightness of the screen.

Bee line

At the bottom line of the edit window, there is a also shortcut of filter. You can enter filter mode, change the selected marker and modify the lightness.

1. If you haven’t entered the filter mode, you can choose one established marker and enter the filter mode by one clicking on the mini filter button.
2. If you’ve already opened the filter mode, you can modify the lightness of the screen by one clicking on it.
3. If you’ve already changed the background darker, XMind will quit from the filter mode for one clicking.

Why not try to concentrate on the target and grasp the attention of your audience within your presentation?

Export FreeMind and MindManager

For exporting XMind document into FreeMind and MindManager file type.

One more thing, actually,  you can export .xmind file into 10 different formats, like image, txt, html, whereas only a few export features are on charge. Have you tried the import and export features?

Merry Christmas and Happy new year! Today, XMind 2012 SE (v3.3.1) is ready for you, which brings a few new features, and many bugs-fix, improvements.

In November 2009, there was an article about how XMind can be helpful on Project management by using TaskInfo and Gantt Chart. At that time, XMind might not perform well enough, but it still worked efficiently. And with valuable support and suggestions from many enthusiastic people, XMind has made many improvements through time. For example, the “assigned to” option to add a particular person.

Especially in XMind 2012, we bring the “task dependency relationship” to help you identify the dependency relation between tasks, and re-design the Gantt Chart with a more friendly interface, fluent interaction and improved usability. We’re ready now.

Task Dependency In XMind

Before showing Gantt Chart, maybe we should talk about the Task Dependency for better understanding.
A dependency relation exists between any two tasks in XMind. How do you display it? Now, XMind can help you achieve this with few simple steps. For example, task A has a dependency relation with task B. Let’s do as following:
Select task A.

1. On the Predecessors fields, click plus button.
2. Choose task B in the coming Task Dependency dialog.
3. Confirm the Dependency type,
   • Finish to Start, Task A can’t be started until Task B is finished.
   • Start to Finish, Task A can’t be finished until Task B is started.
   • Start to Start, Task A can’t be started until Task B is started.
   • Finish to Finish, Task A can’t be finished until Task B is finished.
4. Click OK to finish.

Then after adding these task details, let’s click Show Gantt Chart at the Taskinfo View bottom. All tasks in current mind map will be shown in the Gantt Chart view.

If you switch among sheets or workbooks, the content will be updated at the same time. Moreover, when you drill down any a topic to focus on more details, Gantt Chart will only show the tasks in this drilled down map. Concentration is ever so easy and simple.

Gantt Chart has two parts. On the left, all topics are listed as a tree. On the right, the tasks are shown as task bars with time indicator. A glance, you can catch the most task details immediately, like Task content, Start/End Date, Progress Status, and Dependencies. When moving mouse on a task, all information will be appeared. How convenient! Also, you can change timeline scale among Hours, Days, Weeks and Months in the left as you want.

In this redesigned Gantt Chart View, we bring various colors for task bars, which depend on the task’ priority. This would be helpful to distinguish one task from the others. One more thing, the Task Dependency, which is shown as the lines between tasks. You’re allowed to insert dependency line here, by selecting the little circle at the start or end of a task bar and pointing to any a task. To help you understand the dependency type better,  please watch the above screenshot, there are four lines, from top to bottom,

• The first one means that Task B can’t be started until Task A is started.
• The second one means that Task C can’t be started until Task B is finished.
• The third one means that Task D can’t be finished until Task E is started.
• The fourth one means that Task F can’t be finished until Task E is finished.

What we do believe is that, you may bring a big surprise to your co-workers while reporting the project status with XMind, and they will understand your work fast and easily.

Within XMind, markers stand for special meaning of priority, percentage complete, passion and so on. The appropriate use of marker can beautify mind map, improve the communication efficiency and simplify your mind map.

Add markers

Within XMind, markers can be added into mind map by flexible operations. Actually, there are 3 different ways for adding markers.
(Tips: we recommend you not to add more than 3 markers into one topic)

• Marker View
  1. Open the marker view firstly by clicking “View- Marker”.
  2. Drag the target marker to the particular topic. Or select the particular topics and click the target marker.

• Right clicking
  Right clicking on the target topic and choose the “Markers” option for selecting the particular marker.

• Short cut
  By pressing short cut of “Ctrl + 1“, you can add the first priority marker into the selected topics quickly.
  (Tips: the number can range from 1 to 6 and it will stand for the corresponding priority)

Delete markers

Within XMind, the added markers can be deleted by 2 different approaches.

• Right clicking
  Right clicking on the target marker and choose the “Delete” option.

• Delete button
  Click on the target marker. Move the mouse and click on the target again. After these operations, you’ve selected the marker.  Press the “Delete” button can delete the marker immediately.
  (For each marker group, users can only add one marker of it into one topic)

Add your own markers

XMind has integrated many markers for expressing various meanings in advance. At the same time, it offers you the approach to add your own markers into XMind for special application context. With the added markers, you can design mind maps more effectively and precisely.

1. Open the “Marker Preference” window by clicking: ”Edit- Preferences- Mind Map- Markers”.
2. In the upper part of the window, click the “Add” button and a new marker group can be created immediately.
   (Tips: Selecting the marker group and clicking the “remove” button can delete the marker group and its markers.)
3. Select the marker group and type directly for renaming it.
   (Tips: The new name can not be displayed directly in the marker view, unless restarting marker view.)
4. Select one marker group and click the “add” button in the markers part.
5. Within the pop up window, you can select markers and XMind will import them into the selected marker group immediately.

Import your own markers

Maybe you’ve thought the above operations is troublesome. Actually, XMind can also import your own markers by marker package and file, which may makes your work easier.

1. Open the “Import Markers” window by clicking “File-Import-Marker Package-Next“.
2. For option of “From File”, you can enter a path of a “marker package”. For the other option of “From Directory”, you can enter a path of a folder that contains image files.
3. Click the “Finish” button and the target marker will be imported immediately.

Export markers

Sometimes, you may want to share your markers to friends or copy the markers to another computer. For these situations, XMind offer you the approach to export your own marker as a marker package.

1. Open the “Export Markers” window by clicking “File-Export-Marker Package“.
2. Select one marker group in the window and click the “Browse” button to find the target path.
3. Click the “Finish” button, XMind will export the marker group as a marker package in the target file.

Marker package for you

Here, I’ve prepared 3 marker packages for you. Click the links and download them. Try to import your own marker yourself.

(Tips: they are marker package, so you may import them by method of “import your own markers”)

Markers stand for business tools

Markers stand for IT service

Markers stand for file type

In XMind, theme is the attributes collection for text font, text color, shape and color of topics , lines, boundaries, and relationships, map’s background color and wallpaper. XMind has 6 well-designed themes in the theme view, which you can open from menu View — Theme.

Apply a theme

In Theme view, double-clicking any a theme will apply it to the current opened map immediately. Just one click, we get a well-formated map. By using theme, we can save a lot of time to get a better mind map to improve our work. And this is what XMind wants to help.

Although we list many attributes above, but theme has not to have all of them. For example, XMind pre-made themes do not have font information. So when applying them to map, we can find that the font in map will not be changed.

Tips: For the situation that you’ve manually changed attribute of the topic or wallpaper, applying theme won’t affect that attribute. We believe the your own choice should be listed firstly. For color attribute, if you change the attribute into “automatic”, then it will change as the theme has asked for.

Design our own themes

XMind Pro offers possibility to let us design our own themes and save them for future usage. And the steps are very simple,

1. Open a blank map, create a main topic and subtopic
2. Select central topic and chage text font, color, line, and shape in the propeties view
3. Do the same thing to main topic and subtopic
4. If necessary, we can insert a relationship and boundary, and change their properties.
5. Select Tools — Extract Theme from menu
6. Click extract only in the coming dialog to get this theme
7. Click name of the extracted theme in the theme view, we can rename the theme (Only work for XMind 3.3.1 version)

“Extract and apply” & “extract only”

In the theme-extracted dialog, there are two options, “extract and apply” & “extract only”. Below are their differences,

• Extract and apply, extracting the theme from current map and apply it back.
• Extract only, just extracting the theme from current map and save it in the theme view.

If we’re facing a big map, the first option will let us change the map with this extracted theme at once.

Rules to Extract a theme

While facing a complicated map, how does XMind extract a theme? Below are the rules XMind follows.

1. XMind extract four levels style of topics, central topic, main topic, subtopic and floating topic.
2. Every attribute in a level will just have one. For example, no matter how many font in main topics, theme just has one font.
3. In each level, for every style, XMind will extract the font of the topic which was created first among all topics in the level whose fonts have been changed. If we haven’t changed the attribute of main topic 1 but change the attribute of main topic 2 and main topic 3, then XMind will extract the attribute of main topic 2.

The above rules can also work to boundaries, relationships and summaries.

Change the default theme

Every time, you create a blank mind map, it will be applied with the default theme automatically. So most time, people would love to select they favorite theme as default one, which is the one marked with a Star in the theme view. For changing the default theme,

1. Open theme view (view — theme)
2. Select the theme in the theme view.
3. Click Star button at the top right corner of Theme View.

In the future, maybe we can share our personal theme. For now, what’s your experience of theme feature?