On Mindmeister, XMIND and Mind Mapping
Note: This post is over a year and a half old. You may want to check later in this blog to see if there is new information.
It’s my personal opinion that mind mapping doesn’t get enough attention. Of course, I spend a lot of time in the “real world” blabbing on about mind mapping. Evangelizing, even. So I’m going to expound (again) on thoughts and tools for few bytes…
(Personal) Mind mapping theory
First off, the theory that drives me. My brain can only execute a thought pattern so far before it fills. Then I either lose the beginning parts of the “train” or the branch ends. Getting it recorded is crucial, and mind maps provide a semi-freeform organization that allows for quick entry and structure that matches the way that I brainstorm. I can think in a single direction for as far as it will go and then jump to another thought. Random thoughts can be recorded to return to for later expansion. Contradicting thoughts allow for opposing expansion and I can carry out full pro/con arguments in my head. I’ve said many times that a good mind map is like having an entire board meeting in your head.
Collaborative mapping
Collaborative mind maps are a great tool as well. It’s a superb note-taking method for brainstorming meetings, and web-accessible tools like Mindmeister allow for realtime, remote collaboration or one-at-a-time input on a map. Once best practices are set up and adhered to, the tool becomes invaluable. Mindmeister, like other similar tools, allows for output in many formats, including image files and pdfs that can be saved and shared. Exporting to Freemind or MindManager is also a handy way to take an idea back to the drawing board, so to speak. Best practices for Circle Six mind map brainstorming generally include:
- Never erase someone else’s idea
- Map nodes are for ideas, not comments
- Commentary and side notes go in notes attached to a node
- Use links, to other ideas or external urls
- Keep node titles short and succinct, using notes to elaborate
If we stick to those rules, maps stay easy to read and ideas keep flowing.
Mindmeister and the API
I began working with the Mindmeister API over the weekend and found it to be quite robust. My goal for the weekend was simply to embed private maps into the C6 Central Desktop account. I ran into a problem with losing GET parameters on the callback during the authorization process and shot an email to Mindmeister. I’m really pleased to say they responded promptly with a phone call and provided me with an undocumented parameter that solved the problem. If you’re ever trying to pass data past the callback page in the Mindmeister API, just tack on an &data= parameter and it will pass through. Not a secret, just undocumented. I think the potential for the API is great and underutilized at this point. I did, in the end, create an easy way to embed any map into any page in my account. In any account that allows an iFrame, actually.
Desktop mind mapping
I usually export to Freemind for desktop editing. Freemind files import back into most online mind mapping tools, and it’s cross-platform for easy sharing. I picked up XMIND through the recent MacUpdate Promo. I’m very impressed with it, but repeatedly frustrated with the fact that it’s not a Cocoa application and interfaces poorly with everything else in my workflow. It’s files (workbooks) are also JAR files, and to do any conversions or imports you have to uncompress the archive, run an XSLT transformation on the proprietary XML file, and hopefully come out with something you can use elsewhere. Hopefully other people will find it impressive enough to start including compatibility for it elsewhere so we start getting more import tools. I’m using it frequently, but it’s kind of an island right now. It is, however, available on 3 platforms, so if you were to outfit your whole office with the software ($299 retail) you’d be fine. It can also import from Freemind and MindManager, it’s just exporting that gets annoying.
How it ends
I generally don’t share a full mind map with a client. Sometimes I trim them down to the branches relevant to the ideas that were chosen for presentation and include a PDF with the package to show the thought process. Sometimes I export the map as an outline and edit that into the presentation itself. It generally depends on the content and tone of the map, which varies greatly depending on the subject and the people involved in creating it. All of the tools I use offer a variety of options, and I think I’ve made use of just about all of them at some point.
I honestly don’t know what I’d do without a mind map and a wiki. If I could squash email completely and get down to Skype (chat) for quick communication, wikis for discussion, and mind maps for brainstorming, my online life would be more enjoyable. I have recently come back to the idea, though, that in-person communication has tremendous value in personal, business and creative situations. You all knew that, but that’s coming from someone who thought talking was a waste because it didn’t leave a record. So maybe I’m finally growing up. 
applications» business» collaboration» creativity» mindmap» software» tools» wiki» work»
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