The Mind Mapping Software Weblog

Learning to love the ribbon toolbar

In my recent "Hot or Not" survey, the ribbon toolbar was rated the least popular of 19 features. In addition, based on what I've read in several online discussion groups, it appears that users have a love-hate relationship with this dramatic new productivity feature, which is available in MindManager and NovaMind.

I'm not quite sure what all of the consternation is about.  I have come to really like the ribbon toolbar, and here's why:

Microsoft did a lot of usability research on the ribbon toolbar (what they call the Fluent UI) before rolling it out in Office 2007 suite. Click here for more details on Microsoft's thinking behind this interface innovation. Some solid thinking went into what is arguably the biggest advance in software interfaces in some time. The key points of Microsoft's backgrounder are these:

Why was a new interface needed? “In previous releases of Microsoft Office applications, people used a system of menus, toolbars, task panes, and dialog boxes to get their work done. This system worked well when the applications had a limited number of commands. Now that the programs do so much more, the menus and toolbars system does not work as well. Too many program features are too hard for many users to find.”

What are the benefits of tabs in the ribbon UI? “The tabs on the ribbon display the commands that are most relevant for each of the task areas in the applications… These tabs simplify accessing application features because they organize the commands in a way that corresponds directly to the tasks people perform in these applications.”

The big button. In earlier versions of Office, file-level features were mixed in with authoring features in the suite’s menus and toolbars. The big button in the upper left corner of programs with the ribbon toolbar now centralizes everything you can do with a document in one place, such as share it, protect it, print it, publish it and send it. “It simplifies the core authoring scenarios and allows the ribbon to focus on creating great documents.” This applies in MindManager and NovaMind as well.

More visual cues help you to see what you can do. In the new ribbon toolbars, the buttons tend to be larger and more visual, depicting to a greater extent what will happen when you click them (a good example is the "topic shape" or "growth direction" buttons in the format menu of MindManager). Microsoft calls the larger, more detailed drop-down lists in the new ribbon UI “galleries.” They replace complex dialog boxes with numerous options in older versions of the Office applications with drop-downs that actually show you what will happen if you invoke them. According to Microsoft, galleries simplify the process of producing professional looking work.

In my opinion, the ribbon toolbar is much more driven by functionality than the old toolbar design was, especially in MindManager and NovaMind. With the new toolbar design, you first consider what it is you want to do (such as format map topics) and click that command. This exposes a toolbar populated with commands and functions that you can carry out related to that general task. Meanwhile, the rest of the toolbar remains hidden behind the other tabs, reducing visual clutter. I think this is far superior to the old fashioned arbitrary horizontal rows of toolbar buttons. Was the old style of toolbar familiar? Definitely. Was it logical? More often than not, no.

I believe that a large number of people hate the ribbon toolbar design because it's simply different. They've gotten used to the locations of the commands and buttons they use in their old software, and they don’t want it changed, dammit! But I'm confident that once users get over the initial dislocation (“Where the hell did that button go??”), a large number of users will come to really enjoy the productivity increase that the ribbon toolbar makes possible.

How to use MindManager 7's Map Parts feature to increase your productivity

CJ Cornell, writing in the latest Mindjet User Newsletter, shares with us a simple and very productive technique for utilizing MindManager 7's Map Parts tool. In a nutshell, if you want to save a map or part of a map for re-use later (as a time-saver or for use as a template for repetitive tasks), you simply drag the map or branch to the lower right section of the Map Parts pane, where it says "Add selected topics." That's it - it is really that simple!

CJ not only explains how to use this powerful but little-understood feature of MindManager, but also offers some valuable suggestions on where you might want to use it. Great stuff!

Getting started with mind mapping podcast now available

Tom Crawford from the VizThink community recorded a video podcast with me earlier this week, where we talked about a number of topics related to mind mapping, including:

• What is mind mapping?
• Paper versus computer-assisted mapping
• The history of mind mapping
• The future of mind mapping
• Web-based versus computer-based mapping tools
• New features in demand by users
• How to get started with mind mapping for beginners

Click here to view this video, or download the MP3 audio of our discussion. I hope you enjoy it!

Survey results highlight the most popular features of mind mapping software

In my recent “What's Hot or Not” survey, I asked readers of this blog to rate a series of mind mapping software features on a scale of one to 10, where one equals "not hot" and 10 equals "hot."  Sort of like the popular site that enables visitors to rank pictures of men and women based on their “hotness” (or lack thereof), only my survey was focused on popular features of mind mapping software.

Almost 350 of you responded, and the results were quite interesting. Here's how you ranked the features, from most to least popular:

1. Making presentations with mind maps - 8.1
2. Drill down/focus on branch - 7.8
3. Storing task information in topics - 7.7
4. Add-ins for more functionality - 7.6
5. Brainstorming mode - 7.5
6. Overview navigation map - 7.2
7. Outline view - 7.2
8. Integration with Microsoft Word - 7.1
9. Reviewing maps with others - 7.1
10. Integration with PowerPoint - 7.0
11. Filter topics using icons/markers - 6.9
12. Collaboration - 6.9
13. Topic boundaries/borders - 6.8
14. Filter topics using keywords - 6.7
15. Right-click commands - 6.6
16. Open source mapping software - 6.4
17. Web-based mind mapping tools - 6.4
18. Integration with Outlook e-mail messages - 5.8
19. Ribbon toolbar - 5.6

Surprised?  I certainly was. First, I had no idea that making presentations with mind mapping software, ranked number one at 8.1, would be so popular. Over 37% of respondents ranked it a 10, which means you feel quite passionate about this feature. I assume that many of you utilize your mind mapping software to develop an outline of your presentation, and then exported it too PowerPoint. Boy, was I wrong!

On the other hand, I was not surprised to see drill down/focus in ranked number two, with a score of 7.8.  This feature, which has been available on Inspiration for many years and was recently added to MindManager in version 7, enables you to display only the currently selected topic and subtopics; the rest of the map temporarily disappears from the screen. This enables you to reduce visual clutter and focus your mind on fully developing that specific section of your map. Once you have done so, you can "focus out" to display the entire map once again. I am easily distracted, so I find this feature to be very valuable, and it looks like you do, too.

Storing task information in topics was ranked number three, with a score of 7.7. That's a no-brainer, considering the number of you who utilize your mind mapping software for project management. Tracking tasks in a map is an excellent way to increase your productivity, and I'm glad to see so many of you recognize that!

Add-ins for more functionality was ranked number four, with a score of 7.6. Over 32% of you ranked it a 10, which means this is another point of passion for respondents. This surprised me a little bit because, until recently, MindManager was the only mind mapping software program for which developers are creating add-ins. What I don’t know is if respondents are actually using add-ins with their mind mapping software, or if it sounds like a desirable enhancement that they may purchase in the near future.

Brainstorming mode was another hot button for respondents, who ranked it fifth with a score of 7.5. Significantly, nearly one-third of you (29.2%) ranked it a 10, which means you really love this feature. I do, too. Anything that allows me to record ideas quickly in a mind map and keeps my creative “flow” going is a great thing!

One of the biggest surprises to me was the low ranking that web-based mind mapping tools received; they were third from the bottom of the list, with a score of 6.4.  Considering the amount of buzz that these web-based applications have been receiving lately, I thought this would have ranked higher than it did.

I also found it interesting that the ribbon toolbar came in dead last, with a score of only 5.6. Apparently, users of mind mapping software have a love-hate relationship with this productivity feature. I like it very much, because it exposes more of the program's features in fewer clicks; I find it’s a real time-saver. But I also know, based on several discussion threads that I’ve read in online forums, that some people really hate the ribbon toolbar. I’ll admit that it does take some getting used to, but I'm surprised that it scored this low in the survey!

What sticks out in your mind as you view the survey results?  Please share your thoughts in the comments section of this blog post.

New contest: Enter to win a free copy of my Power Tips & Strategies e-book

2008 is off to a great start for me, and I'm in a giving mood today.

I have decided to give away one free copy of my popular e-book, Power Tips & Strategies for Mind Mapping Software Second Edition, to a deserving reader. It contains a wealth of ideas, strategies and best practices that can transform you into a master visual mapper - one who is able to conquer information overload, make better decisions, reach clarity faster on key issues, manage projects better and solve problems creatively.

To qualify, here's what you need to do: Using the comments section of this post (below), tell me a brief story about why you need it, and how you plan to utilize the knowledge it contains to make a difference in your work and life. Hint: If you want to know what the e-book contains, please click here. Please don't e-mail me. Only stories submitted via the comments section of this blog will be considered for this free drawing.

The deadline for your submissions is midnight, Central U.S. time on Tuesday, February 26th - one week from today. I will review all of the comments submitted, and will select the writer of the best story to receive a free copy of this 110-page, information-packed resource guide.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Andrew Wilcox launches a blog

If you've spent any time around the various MindManager support groups on the web, you should be familiar with the name of Andrew Wilcox. He is the managing director of Cabre, a UK-based training firm that provides training on MindManager, and is quite active on the Ecademy Mind Mapping Forum and the Yahoo MindManager Users group.

Andrew has finally launched a blog, entitled Applications of MindManager. If his advice in these online forums is any indication, we should be in for quite a treat as he shares what he has learned in this new medium!

A map of mind mapping software interoperability

Vic Gee, author of the Mind Mapping Blog, envisions a day when there is total interoperability of mind mapping programs. In other words, any program can open and work with files created in any other program. As a first step in this quest, he has created a fascinating visualization that depicts which programs can "talk to" the two mind mapping applications with the greatest number of users, MindManager and FreeMind. This detailed diagram is interactive, with buttons that lead to further information on each program when clicked. Vic has supplemented this rich visual repository with information on other visual mapping programs that don't connect with these two market leaders.

If you notice any missing information, please let Vic know, so he can continue to improve upon and expand this visual model.

MindVisualizer 2.7.3 offers attachment, link enhancements

Earlier this month, a new version of MindVisualizer was released by InnovationGear.com. New features in version 2.7.3 include:

• Support for topic attachments: You can attach any type of existing files to a topic as attachments. You can also create common documents on the fly within the attachments dialogue box - nice!
• Support for dragging and dropping of Outlook items into maps as hyperlinks (including e-mails, tasks and contacts)
• Support for drag-and-drop from web browsers; if you hold the CTRL key down when doing this, the hyperlink will be added as a new topic to your map. If you drop the link in a blank area of your map workspace, a floating topic will be created.
• Topic auto-coloring has been added.
• Margins between topics have been improved in this version
• Topic images can be drawn freehand, utilizing MS Paint.

For more details on these new capabilities, please visit the MindVisualizer changelog.

A cure for information overload

This is the introduction of the Mind Mapping Manifesto, a new e-book that I will be publishing very soon:

In the name of organizational efficiency, chances are you’re now doing more work than ever before – more projects, more objectives, more data, more plans and more deliverables. It’s getting harder to keep up. You’re a victim of “information overload.”

To survive, you need to be able to sift through a mountain of information, ideas and knowledge, synthesize meaning from it and communicate it in reports, plans and other business reports. But in many cases, you’re limited to the same set of business productivity tools that nearly every organization gives its knowledge workers – Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook. Nothing against Microsoft or its ubiquitous business suite. It’s excellent, and it enables a lot of work to be done.

But it’s not enough any more.

What’s needed is a new paradigm for managing ideas, information, data and knowledge – a software tool that enables users to manipulate these assets with greater flexibility, and which helps you to see new connections and possibilities.

One set of tools that meets these requirements amazingly well is mind mapping software. This genre has been steadily growing in popularity. These programs are starting to get more exposure in the computer press, business magazines and blogs. The leading developer of mind mapping software reports that it has sold nearly 1 million licenses of its programs worldwide. But the number of users is still only a drop in the bucket compared to the tens or hundreds of millions of knowledge workers who need a “better way” to manage their workload.

Many executives who have used mind mapping software rave about it – how it has delivered a quantum leap in their productivity, creativity and decision-making skills. How it enables them to think through projects and challenges more completely, and reach clarity on issues faster.

Not enough executives and entrepreneurs truly understand what mind mapping software is and what it can do for them.

The objective of this e-book is to start a revolution.

My goal is to help you understand what all the excitement is about, and why you need to begin exploring what mind mapping software can do for you and your organization.

If you're interested in being notified when I launch this e-book, please click here.

Viva la revolution!

Mind mapping software: What's hot, what's not

It's time to have a little fun. A popular website is HotorNot.com, where visitors get to rate pictures of men and women on a scale of 1-10, corresponding to how "hot" or "not hot" they are. I've decided to adapt this idea to mind mapping software, to get a feel for what features and capabilities you think are "hot" and which ones are "not."

Please click here to participate in this fun survey.

The results will be shared in this blog in a week or two. Have fun!