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We have covered enough Freeplane features that we can build a useful template. For our example, I'm showing you a simple project management system. I've mentioned before I use Freeplane to outline and manage my projects. The template will allow for the management of many jobs. We will create a set of attributes and styles to make the system work for us. Once we finish the template, we will implement the model.
We'll build our model using the standard template file. Use the menus File > New Map and select the standard.mm file.
Attributes
First, we will create the attributes. The attribute manager allows us to set up everything we need. You open the manager using the menus Edit > Node extensions > Attribute manager. We'll create the attribute names by clicking on the edit icon for the ‘All attributes’ row. Add these attributes through the list dialog: Status, Start, and Due. When you add to the list, a row is created in the manager window. After adding all the names, click the Close button.
For the attribute Status, we will add default values. Select the edit icon for the Status row and add the values: On Hold, Working, Pending, and Complete. Click the Close button and check the Restrict set checkbox. Restricting the set prevents mistakes when entering the project's status.
Select the checkboxes to make all the attributes visible. Click the OK button to close the manager.
Styles
Styles are the visual character of the mind map. Through them, we assign colors, icons, and attributes to differentiate nodes. We will create six for our template. Each style defines a different purpose on the map.
Getting Started
Use the shortcut keys CTRL + F11 to open the Style editor. Select the Default style and change the Node Shape to Bubble. Delete all the default User Defined Styles. To delete a style, right-click it and select ‘Remove user defined style’.
Project
The project is a to- level node defining the project title. We'll assign the attributes Status, Start, and Due to the style. A node assigned to Project will become the parent node for each project. So, we want Project to stand out among the others.
Right-click the Default style and select New style from selection. In the text box that pops up, enter the name Project and click OK. The new Project node shows under in the User defined styles node.
Under the Color of whole core section of the Tool Panel, click on the Text swatch. From the color pallet, pick one of the darker blues for the text color. Scroll down to the Font for whole core section, and set the Font size to 18. Check the bold box. The Project style is big and bold and catches the eye.
We want to add some attributes to the Project style. To add the first attribute, use the menus Edit > Node extensions > Edit attributes in-line. A new attribute row is inserted into the node. Use the dropdown on the left to select Status. Double-click the value for the Status and choose Pending, then add the Start and Due attributes using the right-click menu. Leave the values for the last two blank.
Finally, we'll crown it with the mind-map icon. When I think of a job, I think of all the things that go into it. Often, you can make a project a map on its own. For me, it's the best choice from an image. Select the icon from the Styles icon sidebar.
Priority Levels
We'll create three priority styles, high, medium, and low. These styles are meant to show the importance of an item in the project. As we step down through each of the priorities, the visual impact decreases. Use the Default node as the starting point for each level by right-clicking Default and selecting New style from selection.
For Priority High, bold the font and make the background color red. Add the exclamation point for an icon. The Priority Medium is simpler than Priority High. Make the font italic and the background color yellow. For the Priority Low, we just give it a dull gray background.
ToDo and Done
I can't create a template without my standard ToDo and Done. In this case, we will keep them simple. For ToDO, add the empty checkbox, and for Done, add the checked box. These two styles we'll use for tasks. By keeping the text plain, we can easily mix them with the priority styles. For both, use the Default style as the starting point.
Save Template
We are finished with the template. We need to save our work. Click the menus File > Save Map. At the top of the save dialog, you'll see a drop-down box. From the drop-down, select the option ‘User templates’ to move the location to your template folder. Name the file Projects.mm and click the Save button. Once the file is saved, you can close it.
Implementation
Now, we need to use our new template. The menus File > New map brings up the Select template dialog. From the drop-down list, click on the Project.mm file and click the OK button. Freeplane creates a map using the template.
Rename the root node to My Projects. Pressing the Insert key will create a child node. Name the node Project 1. From the main toolbar, use the styles drop-down list to select the Project style. Use the menus Edit > Node extensions > Attributes from style to add the Status, Start, and Due fields below the node.
Use the Insert key to create a child node for the project and name it Tasks. Create several children for Tasks, naming them Task 1, Task 2, etc. Select all the tasks nodes and assign the ToDo style to them.
Now, let's make one of the tasks a high priority. After selecting one of the nodes, follow the menus Format > Manage styles > Manage conditional styles for node. Click the new Button to create an Always condition. From the Style drop-down list, pick High Priority. Click the OK button, and the style's format is added to the node. Repeat these steps for the other tasks, assigning them different priorities.
You can click into the Start and Due attributes below the project node and type in dates according to your local format.
We created a simple template without many bells and whistles; however, it is a starting point for more advanced features. Using conditional formatting, you could tag currently active projects. Play with the template, expand it, and make it your own. After all, making it your own is the core principle of mind mapping.