Hi all, This is a question for the MindManager

CBlackmer · 07-12-2005, 12:00 AM

Hi all,
This is a question for the MindManager users out there. I heard about the wonderful implementation this program had with Tablets, and I downloaded the trial. I had a couple of issues.

First, am I missing something or is there not eraser or scratch out gesture. That may sound like I'm nitpicking but to have to click and change modes is really frustrating

Second, is there a way to ink in a topic note, they look entirely like text to me. I don't even care about mixing text and ink, I could live with a purely searchable ink interface. This may be me not fully "giving in" to the mind map concept, but I really feel like a detailed report, or something with some history could use a note's page.

Third, I see the task properties, but is there a summary view of tasks. I need to be able to see a list of what I have to do (too scatterbrained to remember it all), but I like the concept of keeping tasks in context with the map. I'm picturing something like OneNote does with a noteflags summary, including the ability to scan tasks across all maps in my folder.

I'm an engineer and I can picture myself using MindMaps to keep a high level view of projects. I think I like that model quite a bit, but I don't see it extending all the way to small details. I really feel like I need more space to detail ideas. I see the topics in the map as titles, and the topic notes where I should put the information. That all works great, but I wan't to type the information. I thought about creating a journal note for each topic, but then I'm reducing mindmanager to a glorified file storage system, it's too expensive for that (I'll have to purchase my own copy).

Any comments? I like the program, but I feel limited by what I can do with the pen. That is the exact opposite of what I was expecting :-)

krypticide · 07-12-2005, 01:01 AM

The ink works differently in MindManager. Click the right mouse button to change to the eraser and vice versa. To ink in a topic note, make sure you are in pen mode and the topic is not already in text format. Learning the gestures is also very useful.

I used MindManager last year to take notes in classes, and it worked pretty well.

CBlackmer · 07-12-2005, 03:23 AM

I'm really excited if I can get this working well. I didn't think to try the pen button to change mode, thanks for that tip it works like a charm. I still don't understand how to ink in topic notes. I can ink in the map area fine, and I see the replace ink with text conxtext menu command (to replace a topic title from text to ink) but these only work on the map itself.

Just to be specific and make sure I understand what you're saying, I want to be able to ink in the topic notes (the window off to the right that comes up when I say insert notes). To do that I have to make sure my topic isn't allready in ink format? could you describe how to do that?

Thanks for your help,

WNewquay · 07-12-2005, 04:11 AM

Hi CBlackmer,

Nope, no ink in the topic notes. I won't attempt to explain this, but will add that it's never been an issue for me. I use MindManager a great deal, but think our uses for it are quite different which is why I can't help with tasks aspect.

Basically, I use MindManager to create and / or capture concepts. This is usually happening fairly quickly and I am working primarily at the Topic level. This is where the user interface works best for me. Rapid creation and capture of concepts.

When I need to add the detail, then it's serious typing time for me and I usually head for a keyboard and do that work in the text notes.

I've been using MindManager for years, but on the Tablet PC for about 20 months. I never missed inking in the text notes.

I expect that if I felt compelled to do a lot of inking I'd probably do it in Windows Journal and do a link.

As far as managing tasks, you could look at the integration with project management software. Apparently that works very well.

krypticide · 07-12-2005, 04:19 AM

Don't forget you can add sketches to each topic, and in mouse mode, you can move sketches so they exist in sub-branches. sketches are not searchable though.

nick_ross · 07-12-2005, 04:36 AM

Picked this up from the mindmanager forums . . .

If you use the Windows Sticky Notes to ink your topic notes, and then copy the sticky note, you can paste it into the notes section of mind manager - in its ink format.

A bit annoying that it's not all within mindmanager - but it's a workaround if you want to make lots of ink notes.

WNewquay · 07-12-2005, 04:48 AM

Hi Nick,

Thanks for the tip.

I got to thinking that the Windows Sticky Notes probably shares the same format for inking as Windows Journal, but not OneNote.

I just tried it. Did some inking in Journal, the use the lasso tool to select, then copy/pasted into the Text Notes in MindManager.

It was also one click different, but same count, to copy as text and paste that into MindManager.

krypticide · 07-12-2005, 05:43 AM

Cool tip, Nick!

AndyK · 07-12-2005, 09:59 AM

If you want to have a list of all tasks at hand, you may use the filter functions to show only tasked branches - this works even for tasks assigned to certain peoples (via MapMarkers or task info).

For a quick tutorial on MapMarkers see here:
http://www.mindjet.com/tutorials/eng...ap_markers.htm

Heres about task information:
http://www.mindjet.com/tutorials/eng.../task_info.htm

I'd definitely suggest to get a really good book about MindManager if you wannt to use it seriously - otherwise you'll miss a LOT of functionality.
I know about that, as I got the MindManager X5 trainer certification a year ago, and it takes quite some time to understand all the new features in X5, even (especially) as an experienced MindManager user.
But it is amazing!

Just don't try to synchronize back from MS Project - that works only in a one way fashion, if you don't want to erase some of your Project generated information :-)