1. To reposition a topic
   
   Simply select the topic and drag to a new position. Note that you can reposition only first level topics. Also, repositioning a topic will move all its child topics accordingly.
   
   
2. To change start point of a topic
   
   When selecting a first level topic, you will notice a tiny yellow box inside the central image. This is known as the "start point" of the selected topic's branch. In order to change the start point, simply drag this yellow box to the desired location. Note that it can be repositioned within the rectangle boundary of the central image.
     
   
3. To start out a new topic at a custom point
   
   In order to branch out from a specific position in a central image and to type in a topic, an additional click is needed upon selecting the central topic.
   After selecting the central topic, clicking again within the rectangle area of the central topic will display a tiny red mark. This indicates a start point of a new topic of which you can begin typing.
   As you begin typing, a branch line is automatically drawn in the direction stretching from the center of the central topic through the point you clicked.
   
   

1. Setting The Default Style at Application Level
   
   With version 4.5 you can now preset the default map style and apply to new maps. These properties include the central image, topic font style, and mapping direction for each topic level. The benefit of this new functionality, will reduce a significant amount of time than if were to re-create each map to the unique style.
   
   To set the default map style, go to "Tools", "Option", and "Default Style". You can define style properties for each level, or read in style properties from an existing map file. Pressing OK button saves the default map style at an application level and makes them automatically applied to new maps.
   
   
   
   
2. Changing Map Style
   
   You can define and apply style properties for a currently open map, where as default style is automatically applied to all new maps. To change map styles, select Format and Style. You can define properties for each level, or read in style properties of an existing map. To apply to the current map, select OK button.
   
   Selecting Reset All button resets style properties for all levels back to default map style defined under Tool / Option menu..
   
   
   

1. Roll-up and Roll-down levels in schedule window
   
   MindMapper version 4.5 also includes the new "roll up" feature, which lets you hide certain levels when a number of branching levels in a schedule window exists. You can roll up or down by simply clicking the "+" or "-" symbol next to a topic in the schedule window. Remember, by rolling up or down the levels in schedule window, this will also automatically update the display in the map window, and vice versa.
   
   
   
   
2. Display of schedule bar
   
   When selecting a topic with a schedule, MindMapper automatically scrolls the schedule window to make sure the selected topic's schedule bar is always displayed in schedule window.
   
   
   
   
3. Copying schedule window
   
   New version 4.5 allows you to now copy the entire schedule range or only what is currently displayed on your map, if you want to copy and paste the schedule window onto another application.
   To do so, clicking the right mouse button opens the Popup menu. Next, selecting "Copy" will copy "What You See" in the schedule and resource window.
   Note, if you want to copy the schedule without the resource pane, simply close it from the Popup menu before selecting "Copy" or "Copy All".
   
   
   
   The "Copy" feature only copies What you see on the screen.
   
   
   
   The "Copy All" copies the entire schedule range.
   
   
   
   
4. Colors of schedule bar
   
   New in version 4.5, is the ability to synchronize colors of the schedule bar and topic branch.
   By changing the branch color in the map window, automatically updates its corresponding schedule bar color. Changing schedule bar color will the have the reciprocal effect as well.
   To change the schedule bar color, simply select the topic in the schedule window and select a color from Line Color tool button. Note that this is the same method when changing branch color as well.
   The newly selected color applies both to schedule and map window and includes all related child topics.
   
   
   
   
5. Shifting schedule of topics
   
   There may be time when you would need to shift the schedule of a topic with all its child topics.
   To shift a topic schedule, simply drag the schedule bar of the highest level topic. This will automatically shift all related schedule bars accordingly.
   
   
6. Increased display range
   
   With version 4.5 you can now see a wider schedule range. To do so, simply click at any point in the schedule window and select the "Zoom Out" button. Note, in order to display a wider schedule range, the zoom display limit has been increased.
   
   
7. Deleting a schedule
   
   Deleting a schedule in the schedule window deletes schedule property of the topic and makes the topic disappear from map window.

1. Various Print Previews
   
   You can choose what to preview for any maps to be printed, by selecting the Print Preview button on the tool bar and selecting Map, Text, Schedule, Resource, or Slide from the list.
   
   
   
   
2. Setting printing scale
   
   Previously, when printing smaller maps, the former MindMapper version used to extend the map to the selected paper size. With version 4.5, you can now adjust the printing scale to achieve the best result.
   
   This is accomplished by one of the following ways:
   
   1. Select Map Preview from the tool bar, and change Printing Scale value in Print Preview window.
   
   
   
   
   
   2. You can also change Printing Scale value in Page Setup dialog and preview the result.
   
   
   
   

1. Number of legends is increased from 30 to 60. You can now toggle between two sets of legend by clicking the arrow buttons as shown below.
2. 

1. Once you have created a presentation scenario, you can print just the presentation slides by selecting "Slide" in the Print dialog box.
2. 

1. Spell checking feature has been greatly enhanced for English and in German. You can now add your own words to a dictionary and set various options to customize this feature to meet your need.
2. 
3. 
4. 

1. Week numbering
   • You can select between week numbering by Month and Year by going to Tool, Option, Misc. For example, if you select week numbering by Year, week is numbered from 1 to 52 starting with January.
2. Selecting Start & End date from calendar
   • Clicking at a date now automatically updates Start/End date and closes the calendar. (Previously, a blank spot outside the calendar had to be clicked to close the calendar.)
3. Scroll with a wheel mouse
   • You can now scroll up and down the scheduled topics with a wheel mouse.

1. MindMapper now supports animated GIFs as clip art and image files format.
2. You can now insert animated GIF to a topic just like a clip art or place it as a floating image in your map. This will add some fun factor and gain more attention to your map.
3. Please note that using too many animated GIF can be distracting. To turn off animation, click the right mouse button and unselect "Animation".
4. MindMapper comes with 10 default animated GIFs in "Animation" clip art folder. You can add your own animated GIFs.
5. 
6. 

MindMapper 4.0 contains many new features and improvements that make mind mapping, project management and creating presentations easier than before. This document provides an overview of some of these features. Enhancements and improvements to scheduling, presentation options and incorporating innovative ideas such as capturing scanned words and auto pasting them into MindMapper makes this version the most useful and most powerful. You can create mind maps, manage, and present an entire collaboration project easily to and from Microsoft Office products and from within MindMapper 4.0.

You can define many different resources such as manpower, equipment usage, and materials within MindMapper, and assign resources to each topic (task/node). This feature is especially useful for schedules at a glance incorporating time and budget (see figure 1) .

Figure 1: Scheduling Window and Assigning Resources Dialog Box


Define or import resource(s) from Microsoft Excel

To define resource(s), select the "Tools" menu, "Resource", then "Define" option. In this dialog box, you can either import the pre-defined resource file or define each new resource(s).

To use a pre-defined resource file, file format should be in either CSV (comma separated value format) or ASCII txt file. To import pre-defined resource file, select "Import" button in the "Define Resource" dialog box, and select file type (csv or txt).

To define a new resource, select "+" button and enter resource name, unit, cost per unit, etc. directly into the blank box in the "Define Resource" dialog box. To delete a resource from the list, just click on the resource and select "-" button. All defined resources are saved within your current map file. To export defined resource information to other applications, select the "Export" button. This will automatically generate a csv file.

Figure 2: Defining resources to a scheduled node


Assign resource(s) to each topic

To assign resources to a topic, right click on a select topic and choose "Resource" menu.

You can also select "Resource" under "Insert" menu. Enter number of unit to allocate and record actual unit used for each resource. Planned and actual costs for current topic are automatically calculated. Use Ctrl or Shift keys to select multiple resources and reset values.

Figure 3: Assigning resources to a scheduled node.


Preview and Print Summary

To preview and print summary of resource usages in a table format, select "Print" under the File menu and choose "Resource". You will have the option to either "Preview" your table or "Print". This summary can be exported as a comma delimited (CSV) text file by selecting "Resource" under Tool menu and choosing "Export Summary".

Figure 4: Printing assigned and defined resources in table format

A "reading pen" exists in the marketplace that is used like a marker which scans and stores words as they are marked. Amazingly, these selected words can be transferred into your PC. Similar to a reading pen, MindMapper enables you to use an "auto paste" feature to transfer your scanned words and phrases directly from your electronic document into MindMapper. This is particularly useful if you do a lot of reading and need to summarize from your computer screen.

To activate Auto Paste mode, press F6 key or select Auto Paste Mode under the Tool menu in MindMapper.

Figure 5: Tool Menu Bar (Select Auto Paste Mode or press F6)

The "Stop Auto Pasting" button appears at the upper left corner of your display indicating that you are in Auto Paste mode.

Keep in mind that you must first select the topic to which you would like to add your words or phrases as a node in MindMapper. Any words or phrases that are selected will become attached as child topics whether you are in MindMapper, on the web, or in other documents. Otherwise, if a topic is not selected in MindMapper, words or phrases will be added as just floating text.

You can set MindMapper to become automatically minimized when Auto Paste is on. To set this option, go to Tools, Options and Misc. tab.

Figure 6: Tool menu bar (Tools, Option, Misc tab)

Activating Auto Paste

Let's start by opening a Microsoft Word document and marking (click and drag) a word or phrase with your mouse. Mark your key words as you read the document.

All words and phrases that you mark will automatically become added to your map. You can simply reorganize these topics later. To cancel "Auto Paste" mode, simply click "Stop Auto Pasting" button.

Figure 7: Auto pasting in MindMapper 4.0

You will find in many instances that you may wish to print and carry your maps that contain your schedule, memos, speeches, etc. With MindMapper 4.0, you can print your map along with its title, date of creation, and file name with its full path in five different locations. For those who fold and carry maps, finding a specific map is now easier than ever.

Figure 8: Setting up your MindMapper label for easy fold and carry

You can now easily insert the following graphic files into your map as a background of a topic: bmp, png, tif, emf, gif and jpg. To insert a picture as a topic, select a topic in your map, Select "Picture from file..." under "Insert menu".

You can extract clipart and/or any graphic image in your map including a background image of a topic, and save it for later use. You can save file as a bmp, png, tif, emf, gif or jpg.

Figure 9: Importing and saving images within your mind map.

You can easily copy an image from other applications and insert it as the top level background. You can copy images from web page or Office documents and paste it into a topic as a background image. Simply select an image and right-click, Copy option (or Ctrl + C). Then select a topic in your map and select "Paste Inside" under the edit menu.

Figure 10: Pasting images from other documents

Keeping the project planners in mind, a new mapping direction is added for MindMapper 4.0. This will assist project planners with another way to help visualize their project. fdsafdsa

Figure 11: Added mapping directions for better visualization of your projects.

Add a soft, casual and personal touch to the look and feel of your map with various curly line styles. To apply a curly line style, select a topic and select "Line Style" button from the tool bar. This will open a drop down list from which you can select a curly line style.

Figure 12: Add a soft, casual and personal touch to the look and feel of your map


Figure 13: Selecting "None" is added to position a topic vertically centered

Describe your flow of thoughts clearly with arrows showing a clear direction in how you would like to explain your statements. Your lines with arrows can go in one direction or in both depending on your map. This is particularly useful when an explanation is needed in a sequence of order.

Two more branch shapes (Straight and Cornered) have been added to provide users with a more visual option to branch out their thoughts.

Figure 14: Two new branch shapes incorporated into MindMapper 4.0 (Straight and Cornered)

You can select six different level of thickness to a topic line. Selecting a topic and setting the line thickness will be applied to the selected topic and its child topics.

Note: Line thickness (weight) does not apply to merged and convergent line style.

You can use Image Map Converter utility to save a MindMapper map as a graphic image with hyperlinks written in HTML. This means that you can open this image map using Internet Explorer, and be able to open all hyperlinked files from a browser. This utility is available at www.mindmapper.com.

You can add this utility to MindMapper and execute directly from MindMapper.

Launch MindMapper

Select "Tools" menu then "Customize" option.

Select "Tools" tab and press "Add" button.

Enter requested fields;

  Menu text = Name of the utility (ex, ImageMap)

  Command = Program file to execute.(Imagemap.exe)

  Arguments = Type in " < DocPath > " (open the current map)

  Initial directory = Default folder to save converted image maps.

Converting Selecting "ImageMap" under the Tool menu will automatically convert the currently opened map file to an HTML file and open this file in an internet explorer browser.

You can now assign multiple schedules to one topic by simply marking different schedule bars for a selected topic in the schedule window. Multiple schedules are compatible with MS Project and XML file formats.

Schedule window displays not only the duration of each tasks, but also planned and actual costs based on your resource allocation.

To merge adjacent schedule bars, simply drag one towards the other.

To split one schedule bar into two bars, click right mouse at a desired break point within a schedule bar, and select "Split task".

Print Preview of Schedule window

Clicking on any point in the schedule window and selecting Preview button will directly print preview your schedule.

A good presentation is a critical factor for a successful business. MindMapper not only helps you to organize thoughts and topics in the most natural and logical way, but it helps you make an impressive presentation in the shortest possible time. Once you put together your map, the presentation feature of MindMapper allows you to quickly prepare a presentation slide show within MindMapper. Your slide show can be set to advance each slides manually, automatically after a set interval, or repeat the whole set of slides until you press "Esc" key.

Selecting "View scenario" under "Presentation" menu opens the Scenario window on the left side of MindMapper window as shown below. The Scenario window will display a preview of your slide show as you capture them.

Figure 15: Preview of slide show shown on left scenario window

• Display mode

  By right clicking on a blank spot inside the scenario window, the following three slide show display options are available: View by (1) Title, (2) Thumbnail or (3) Thumbnail with Title.

  Figure 16: View your slide shows in your choice of three display modes: Title, Thumbnail or Thumbnail w/title

Creating an effective presentation scenario may sometimes become tedious. Selecting the Default Scenario option under the Presentation menu automatically creates a series of slides from your map and inserts them at the current insertion point in the Scenario window. You can then use the default scenario as a starting point to develop your presentation further or to just directly run your presentation.

To capture a slide, just follow two simple steps:

• Step 1: Set up your map

  Set up your map the way you want it to look in the show, using roll-up, roll-down, zoom in and out, etc.

• Step 2: Capture slide

  Select "Capture slide" option under Presentation menu. (Make sure that you select a topic in your map with your mouse. Otherwise, the capture slide option will be unavailable.)

  Figure 17: Thumbnail view of the captured slide.

As shown above, a thumbnail of the slide as captured shows up in the Scenario window, and a horizontal line shows up below the thumbnail indicating the position where the next captured slide will be inserted.

Capturing the next slide will add another thumbnail to the scenario window above the horizontal line. Repeat these steps to complete your presentation scenario.

Editing The Scenario

• To insert a new slide between two existing slides

  In the Scenario window, click your mouse between the two slide thumbnails and capture the next slide.

  
• To replace a slide with a new capture

Click and select the thumbnail to be replaced and capture the new slide.


• To delete a slide

Select the thumbnail to delete and press the "Del" key.

• To move a thumbnail within the scenario

Select the thumbnail that you want to move, drag and drop at a desired position.

• To copy and paste a thumbnail

Right click at the slide, copy and paste.

• Include hyperlinked files in your presentation

If you want to include a hyperlinked file in your presentation scenario, simply right click at the topic with a hyperlink, move your mouse over "Add to presentation", select a file from the fly-out list.

• To set Slide Transition

You can set how each slide advances during a presentation. Right click at a thumbnail and select Slide Transition to set a transition method for the selected thumbnail. If you want to apply your selection to all thumbnails, check "Apply to all slides" and select "OK".

Selecting Run Presentation under the Presentation menu will start running the slide show in a full screen mode as shown below;

Slide #1	->	Slide #2	->	Next slide

Click your mouse at any spot if you need to advance the slide manually.
NOTE: You can edit your map anytime during the presentation.

To quit presentation mode, press "Esc" or right click and select "End Presentation" option.

MindMapper 4.0 builds on its predecessors to provide new solutions for project managers. With is advanced presentation features, scheduling and auto pasting features, it is an easy and efficient solution for managing your projects.