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Freeplane is a program for creating mind maps. The program is versatile enough to fit anyone's mapping style. You can make the maps as simple or as complex as you need for your application. Freeplane is available in the Ubuntu Software Center or online at their web page, https://www.freeplane.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page.
What Is a Mind Map? A mind map is a visual diagram for organizing ideas and information. Use a mind map to brainstorm a new idea, create a process, or organize your thoughts. A mind map can help you keep notes during a lecture and see patterns you might otherwise miss. I've used mind maps through the years to write stories and articles, and create the processes for programs. I also used mind maps to create teaching and training curricula. Yes, I know other tools exist for doing these things, but a mind map gives me something other tools don't. With a mind map, I can see the entire program structure and functions. Other tools don't give me this broad overview. Being able to see the entire thought process allows me to see connections I would otherwise miss. The basic structure of a mind map starts with a central topic. This is the idea, class, process, or topic you are mapping. From the central topic, the map branches into several subtopics related to the topic. The subtopics can branch out to other child topics, and those child topics out to other child topics. The branches can go as deep as needed for the topic.
Installation You can download Freeplane from the Ubuntu Software Center. I'm starting with the latest download version, 1.6.10. While you can follow along with the version available in the Software Center, I will discuss new features found in 1.6. You can download version 1.6 from the Freeplane home page, https://www.Freeplane.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page. Freeplane is a Java program. If you are running the latest Java runtime, you should have no problems running Freeplane.
Program Workspace The program has a standard layout with the menus and toolbars at the top, and a workspace at the bottom. On the left-hand side, you can pull out an Icons toolbar, and on the right-hand side, you can pull out the Tool Panel. By default, you can pop up the Note panel at the bottom. In the Preferences, you can change where the Note panel docks. The menu bar sits below the title bar. The menus give you access to the program's commands.
The program has several toolbars. The main toolbar shows by default. The main toolbar gives you access to save options and common formatting actions. The Filter toolbar allows you to filter what nodes of the map show, making it a handy search tool. The F-Bar shows the actions assigned to the F-Keys. You can customize the actions assigned to the F-Keys. The Icon toolbar gives you a set of icons for marking nodes in your maps. And the status bar sits at the bottom of the window. The status bar displays information about the current map or selected node. The Filter, F-Bar, Icon, and status bars hide by default, but you can activate them through the menu View > Controls. The workspace in the middle is where you will build your map. You can have many maps open at one time, and each one displays a tab at the top of the workspace. Scrollbars hide by default, but you can show them using the View > Controls menus. You can click and drag on a blank space in the map area to move the map around. The wheel on your mouse will scroll the map up and down. Hold the SHIFT key and scroll the mouse wheel to move the map left and right.
Your First Mind Map Enough talk! Let's make our first map. If you haven't already done so, install and open Freeplane. Create a new map by selecting File > New Map from the menus. In the template dialog, select the standard template. In the 1.6 version, the name is standard-1.6.mm. This creates a new map with a root topic in the center of the screen. Type in a name for your topic like “My First Map.” Press the Enter key to save the name. To create subtopics for your main topic, press the Insert key on the keyboard. Nodes that are one level deeper than the current node are called child nodes of the current node. Type the text for the subtopic, and press the Enter key. Create more subtopics by pressing the Enter key. Nodes on the same level are called siblings in Freeplane. Create several subtopics by pressing Enter and typing in some text.
Now, let's create child nodes of a subtopic. Select one of the subtopics and press the Insert key. Type a name for the new node. Press Enter to create siblings of the new node or Insert to create a child of the new node. Branch out as far and using as many nodes as you need. The depth of your map is only limited by the needs of your mind and topic. Next time we will look at some of the core elements of Freeplane, and do more with our map. As I go through this series, I will explore the capabilities of Freeplane and the world of mind mapping. I will look at the possibilities and benefits of mind mapping. If you've never used mind maps before, I encourage you to join us for this series. It may change the way you process information.