#Expert review of freeplane mindmap manual#
#Expert review of freeplane mindmap software#
#Expert review of freeplane mindmap license#

One window contains the work project the other is used for controlling and configuring the software ( Figure 1). The CmapTools graphical user interface (GUI) shuns common conventions: It opens with two independent empty windows.

#Expert review of freeplane mindmap manual#

Instead, you have to put in some manual work – even if you just want to launch the program from the menu. The wizard creates a user-defined directory and unpacks the program files.īinaries do not automatically end up in the usual /usr/bin or /opt directories. The 180MB package is a bit unconventional: You can call the binary package directly after setting the execution rights ( chmod u+x), and an installation wizard launches. You can also use CmapTools in the cloud, which does not require a dedicated application on the client, just a web browser.ĬmapTools is a Java application and therefore needs a Java Runtime Environment. The website also features a server variant for an on-premises server and an iPad version.

#Expert review of freeplane mindmap license#

Its license is proprietary, but the software is free of charge. CmapToolsĬmapTools, developed at the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, is available for several platforms. I tested five mind map programs to see how their design features compare. However, visual clarity depends on the design possibilities offered by the mind-mapping program: Illustrations break up abstract content, and different font attributes emphasize the relevance of individual project steps. Users can view an onscreen tree view to visualize dependencies. To help people understand their decision and thought processes, mind-mapping programs depict process steps graphically. However, its cost (free) and powerful functionality mean that it is worth a try.Structuring complex processes is part of the daily grind in many organizations. It doesn’t have the most aesthetically appealing interface, and the way its menus are set up can be confusing to many. Final verdictįreeMind is open source, cross-platform mind mapping software that allows you to brainstorm in a nonlinear fashion. Draw.io also has a UI that looks fairly dated, but we found that it was nevertheless more intuitive to use than FreeMind.

You have the option of saving your work locally onto your machine, Google Drive, or Microsoft OneDrive. The subscription will also get you access to the MindMeister customer service team if you have any questions or concerns.įinally, Draw.io is a free, web-based mind mapping software product. Although MindMeister offers a free plan, you will need to purchase a subscription if you want to access all of its features. Meanwhile, MindMeister is a web-based mind mapping software that features a modern, easy to use UI.

Though Freeplan offers some support for FreeMind files, the files created by the two apps are not 100% mutually compatible when it comes to file formats.įreeplan builds on FreeMind, adding features like different cloud shapes, a grid system, better menus and UI, and better support for add-ons that extend and customize the features and functionality of the tool. The competitionįreeMind is not the only mind mapping tool on the market, so here are some alternatives we think are noteworthy.įreeplan is a mind mapping tool that was created using FreeMind files as the starting point. However, FreeMind is open source software, so there is no guarantee that your feature request will be implemented. If you think there are features missing from the product, you can also log a feature request. However, once we figured out where different features lived, we felt that it was definitely usable for mind mapping, especially since the product is free. Its user interface (UI) screams early 2000s, and we found it somewhat difficult to find the features we needed in the various menus. One of the first things you will likely notice is that FreeMind appears a bit dated. The software stores its maps in XML format, so if you decide to move to another product, you may be able to export the maps it creates and then import them into the tool of your choice (assuming it supports XML imports).

However, if you prefer to create an image file, FreeMind also supports PNG, JPEG, and SVD. And if you want to refer to outside files, you can add HTML links, as well as links to files living on your local machine.įreeMind allows you to export your work into HTML, XHTML, PDF, and OpenDocument formats. Other design features include folding branches, icons on individual nodes, and clouds around branches. FreeMind also allows you to make batch edits by copying and pasting groups of items (without loss of formatting). You can choose to have your nodes and branches shifted around automatically, but you can also rearrange items manually if desired. FreeMind’s MindMaps are created using notes that are joined by branches.