Free Portable download (for use on USB drives)
- The paid for version adds more features.
When XMind loads, you are presented with a selection of
templates and themes. The templates are really useful and range from a
weight-loss plan to business tools such as a SWOT analysis. Alternatively, you
can choose to start with a blank workbook. Adding subtopics are easy, either by
using the button on the toolbar or by pressing the tab key on your keyboard.
To make your map more ‘visual’ you can add what XMind calls
‘markers’. These are icons which appear next to your topics. The selection of
‘markers’ includes task progress, faces and various symbols.
I've created a mindmap to the main features of XMind.
- Put a relationship between two topics – a line will link them
- Put a boundary around topics – a line will surround them
- Put a summary next to topics – brackets the topics into a group
- Add a note to a topic
- Insert a file (a document, a photo, another XMind file) to a topic
- Insert a hyperlink (to a website) to a topic
What I like about XMind is there’s lots of options to
customise, such as a choice of different ‘structures’, a list of which is shown
below:
Other customisation options include:
- Change the background colour or add a wallpaper from the selection or from one of your own files
- Change the shape for each topic, and the colour of the shape, and make it gradient-filled.
- Change the line colours which extent from the central topic to ‘multi’ and ‘tapered’.
- Add a ‘legend’ which explains the markers you’ve used.
- Change the font and font colour.
Personally, I use XMind to keep track of my to-do list for
university and also to organise my lecture notes. I’m sure you’ll have lots of
ideas of how you can make use of this great piece of software. For example,
keeping track of the ideas you have floating around in your head to organising
a holiday! Go on and give XMind a try!
Nice article !
ReplyDelete