MindMapPaper

Company / Author

Lex River

Screenshots

Click for enlarged image.

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What they say

“MindMapPaper is a free tool for creating mind maps, diagrams or any tree-type data. Mind map consists of nodes and connections between nodes. Chose any icon, font, font size and font color for each node. Export MindMap as jpeg image and use it on presentation or send it to your friend.”

Observations

An original approach to mind mapping with advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages:

• Simplicity. Takes a few minutes to learn.
• Clear and simple appearance.
• Complete control over layout. Nodes stay where you put them.
• Despite the author’s description (’tree-type data’), a rigid tree hierarchy is not enforced. Really a network drawer, because any node can be connected to any other. As it supports relationship descriptions across the linking lines, it is a true concept mapper.
• Node to node connections have an arrow indicating in which direction they were drawn. By dragging connections both ways, double arrows can be shown to avoid parent-child relationship.
• Images, files and hyperlinks can be attached to nodes.
• The mind map file is an XML file and is not proprietary, so can be exchanged.

Disadvantages I noticed after short use:

• Rather plain appearance. Requires node-by-node work to make it more eye-catching. Multiple selection and mass reformatting makes this easier, though.
• The inherited-style capabilities require the simple step of Ctrl+RightMouseDrag, which will create child node with the same style as parent.
• Straight, thin, unchangeable lines like a spider diagram.
• Attachments are separate files in the mind map file’s directory so could easily result in broken maps.
• No real zoom, just two viewing sizes: very small and normal. If the map grows beyond the screen, you’ll have to drag it around.
• No node folding. This must be software’s the greatest weakness at present.

See http://www.informationtamers.com/mind-mapping/blog/2009/10/mindmappaper-free-hybrid-software for my somewhat fuller review.

Their website

http://mindmappaper.com/

Operating System(s)

Windows

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Price: Free  |  Status: Historical (defunct)  |  Date added: 2009-10-02