About Mind Mapping
Mind mapping is considered as most convenient method to capture ideas analyze them. Other uses include to visualize,classify,structure,generate ideas,aid in study,problem solving,decision making etc.. As such it is a generic tool and can be used for any purpose at any level. In simple terms it is a structured notes taking tool. It offers much more than a flat hierarchy, more than a tree structure. And it is inline with xml but in pictorial form.
It starts with a central concept which will be placed in the middle of background of a map. Then ideas around it projects in radial direction around it. Tony Buzan is considered as father of modern mind mapping technology.
Get Tool
Commercial tool Mind Mapper costs around 175 USD. You can find other tools in this category in wiki site. But Free Mind is an open source tool (GPL v2 licensed).
Other Links
Here are some links User's Guide, Main Page , Review, WikiLink, Getting Things Done.
Ease of use
I found it so easy to use. It took me 2 hours to get a hold on it. Prior to this I don't have any background about it. I read 60 page user's document in just 45 minutes. And then in no time it changed the way I think and work. Most attractive thing about this tool is its speed and keyboard short cuts. That ensures that you don't need to pause from thinking mode to editing mode to take notes. It just flows without any dampness.
Modes
It offers three modes of operation.
MindMap (~edit) editor Alt+1
Browse(~read only) mind map files or web Alt +2
Files(~view files on local computer Alt + 3
Nodes
Node is a key word that makes up a think stream. To create a node just press insert and type the keyword. Each node can be represented as a Fork or bubble. I use fork if I think that I can add more down to that node. And I use bubble if the node is the last one in that thought process. This gives some sort of closed feeling. You can also join nodes from two streams.
Formatting node
Each node can be marked with icons. This is very useful. Just highlight node and then press Shift+I. You can assign an icon.
Each node can be named with html. And that can include images <img src="">
Physical Layout
Physical layouts are about text format and background format of each node. Its is not about shape. Sample layouts are like, OK, Not OK, Needs action, Larger topic etc.. You can add additional physical layouts by editing "C:\Program Files\FreeMind\atterns.xml".
Clouds
You can cloud around nodes to form a set or group and then color them. I found it very useful.
Some quick keyboard shot cuts I adopted
Insert,delete to insert and delete nodes at selected level
Ctrl+K to insert hyperlink manually
Ctrl + Shift + K for inserting link from local disk
Ctrl + Up/Down to move nodes up and down among siblings
In non editing mode esc brings to root and Auto adjusts to fit the page
Toggle fold unfold using space bar
Renter on node to create siblings below it and shift+enter to create above it
Long note editor-Alt+enter
Editing node with F2/Home/End
Press Alt=I to insert icon
Some more pleasure with mouse
Click on any node to toggle between fold and unfold
Point at node to see extra bubble to move up and down
Just right click on surface to access other windows
Import/Export - You just need to name it
Its import/export offering is extraordinary. Html, applet, jpg, svg etc..
Couple of aspects that I don't like with this tool
1) You cant pin selection of node. While trying to access menu bar selection changes. On mouse over event need to be handled with more delay to make automatic selection.
[You can do this by just holding down Alt or Ctrl]
2) Automatic layout option doesn't offer much. I guess some kind of alignment options would have solved this problem. Like Right align, left align Top, distribute etc..
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