The Mindjet Blog

Archive for November, 2008

Visualize Your Data with the New Database Linker

Nov 24

Posted by MichaelDeutch in MindManager, MindManager for Windows, Mindjet

Part 6 of 8 in the blog series, ‘What’s Great in MindManager 8’!

One of the ways that mind mapping with software transcends the typical paper-based mind maps is the visualization of data, not just thoughts. Mindjet MindManager 8 increases the digital divide between traditional mapping with the introduction of the Database Linker. This handy feature lets you add information stored in databases to your maps. 

Here are a few ways that you the database linker can provide clarity to your world:

  • Import CRM data to develop account strategies
  • Build dashboards that blend quantitative data with your qualitative insights
  • Visualize IT architectures to plan future improvements
  • Build Org charts with detailed employee data

 

How will you set your data free? 

 

Check out the previous posts in this series:

Post 1: What’s Great in MindManager 8: Introducing the Mindjet Player

Post 2: Tackling Tough Tasks: MindManager 8’s Top Task Management Enhancements

Post 3: Context Matters: Edit Office Files Within MindManager Maps

Post 4: Browsing Within Your MindManager Maps

Post 5: Serving Up Web Services

 

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Serving Up Web Services in MindManager 8

Nov 21

Posted by MichaelDeutch in MindManager, MindManager for Windows, Mindjet

Part 5 of 8 in the blog series, ‘What’s Great in MindManager 8’!

Since I live and breathe in MindManager, I’m excited to share a little about our new Web Services map part.

 

What are Web Services?
I’ll try to answer that by showing you. First, take any of your maps and select a topic.

 

Now, go to your MindManager 8 map parts, open your web services folder to click on the ‘Google’ web service.  A dialog window will appear to ask you how many search results you’d like to see. I selected 5.

 

MindManager persforms your search and the results now appear in your map. Hover over the notes icon to get a quick idea of the content contained in each link or click the links to view the results in the new integrated web browser.

According to Wikipedia, Web Services is defined as “a software system designed to support interoperable machine-to-machine interaction over a network". Hopefully, seeing it work is easier to understand than the definition itself.

 

Web Services included in MindManager 8:

  • Search: Google, Yahoo & Microsoft Live
  • E-Commerce: Amazon, Ebay & StrkeIron
  • Social Networks: Facebook & MySpace

Mindjet will be releasing information soon on how to add your own services to connect to even more information on the web. For now, here are some of the ways that I plan to use these services:

  • Research (created nested web searches and quickly review web content on any subject)
  • Brainstorming (use Google to trigger new ideas off of keywords)
  • Note-taking
  • Writing
  • Preparing presentations

 

If you’re new to MindManager, here are some more great map parts to speed up your mapping!

  • Branch Templates: If you typically find yourself following a process and repeating content across maps, this handy feature may save you a lot of time and keep your work consistent. Branch templates let you copy & reuse sections of a map in other maps. Place your cursor on the parent topic that starts the branch you want to reuse, open the Map Parts task pane,  pick a folder to store your template and click "Add Selected Topic(s)".
  • File Explorer: This map part is great for building information & project dashboards. While adding it to your map, provide it with a location on your desktop and MindManager will automatically create topics for all your files and folders. It also refreshes to keep your dashboard map always up-to-date, providing easy access to your files while working on projects. And with the new Microsoft File Editing, you can link and update these files in context of your map, keeping the big picture in view at all times.
  • Microsoft Linkers: There are also some quick and easy ways to add Microsoft Excel ranges directly into your map as topics as well as new topics that create appointments, contacts, notes or tasks in Outlook.
  • News Feeds: Right-clicking in the Map Parts folders exposes the abilty to add an RSS news feed map part. This adds a dynamic RSS topic into your map so you can keep track of the latest and greatest news, right in your map. This can come in handy for research. And with the new integrated web browser, you can read the articles right in MindManager, adding key notes or quotes directly into your map.

 

Check out the previous posts in this series:

Post 1: What’s Great in MindManager 8: Introducing the Mindjet Player

Post 2: Tackling Tough Tasks: MindManager 8’s Top Task Management Enhancements

Post 3: Context Matters: Edit Office Files Within MindManager Maps

Post 4: Browsing Within Your MindManager Maps

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Mindjet November Newsletter: Get an Insider’s Look at our Industry Game Changer

Nov 20

Posted by Administrator in MindManager, MindManager for Windows, Mindjet, News & Events, Success Stories, Tips n' Tricks

Mindjet’s November Newsletter is now live!

In this edition:

and more!

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Browsing Within Your MindManager Maps

Nov 19

Posted by MichaelDeutch in MindManager, MindManager for Windows, Mindjet

Part 4 of 8 in the blog series, ‘What’s Great in MindManager 8’!

In my last blog, I covered how MindManager 8’s new embedded browser can both view and edit Microsoft Office files. Today, I’m going to share two other uses of the embedded browser.

 Web Access
The integrated browser enables you to view and interact with any website. This is a powerful new addition to your mapping. Why? Here’s a few things you can now do inside your map:

  • Research online, cutting and pasting content directly into your map
  • Work with your online services like Salesforce.com directly from your map dashboards
  • Access your Microsoft SharePoint server
  • Enhance presentations with videos from sites like YouTube
  • Display web-based slideshows from Slideshare.net or SlideRocket.com
  • Include notes, spreadsheets or charts from online office apps like Google Docs 

 

 

 PDF Viewing
Last, but not least, you can view Adobe PDF files within the browser. This can be extremely useful when you’re performing research.  While reviewing PDF files, summarize or take notes directly in your map. 

Whether you’re writing, researching, brainstorming or simply getting things done, MindManager 8’s integrated browser will let increase your focus and your productivity. 

Check out the previous posts in this series:

Post 1: What’s Great in MindManager 8: Introducing the Mindjet Player

Post 2: Tackling Tough Tasks: MindManager 8’s Top Task Management Enhancements

Post 3: Context Matters: Edit Office Files Within MindManager Maps!

Looking for more on MindManager 8? Our next issue of Mindjet Connections will be going live tomorrow, November 20. Get an insider’s look at the new MindManager 8 product and hear how to become more valuable in your job and how to do amazing work to help you thrive in the recession. It’ll have MindManager 8 tips & tricks as well as information on upcoming live webinars for everyone considering an upgrade to version 8. Don’t forget, check out Mindjet Connections on Nov. 20th for all of the above and more! 

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Context Matters: Edit Office Files Within MindManager Maps!

Nov 17

Posted by MichaelDeutch in MindManager, MindManager for Windows, Mindjet

Part 3 of 8 in the blog series, ‘What’s Great in MindManager 8’!

Here’s one of my favorite features of MindManager 8. Within MindManager, it’s referred to as the embedded browser. But the name underplays its power. 

With the embedded browser, you can open, view, edit and save changes to Microsoft Office files. Both attached or linked files can be opened within the browser. And this all happens within MindManager, without losing context of the map you’re in or losing focus on the task at hand.

Download the example above with MindManager 8 and give it a try. 

Need a trial? Click here.

Here are some ways the embedded browser can save you time and keep you focused:

 Managing Project Information
Keep your project documents and deliverables linked on your project dashboard map for easy access and updates.

 Writing and Research Projects
Writing can only be as good as the thinking that precedes it. Map out your research and organize your thoughts. Attach a word document and start writing with your visual outline as a guide.  

 Creating PowerPoint Presentations
Many presentation experts agree that mind-mapping is one of the best ways to organize your thoughts into clear, well-structured presentations. Start with your map and let it guide you the whole time as you develop your presentations. 

 Delivering Map Presentations
Add even more sizzle when you present your MindManager map by attaching and displaying slides, documents or detailed spreadsheets and charts. Everything you share will be in context and your audience will never lose sight of the ‘big picture’. When questions or comments arise, capture everything in your map or make real-time updates to your attached or linked files.

Stay tuned for more on this feature on my next post or check out this quick video tutorial to see it in action.   

How will you use the embedded browser? Leave your comments below.

Check out the previous posts in this series:

Post 1: What’s Great in MindManager 8: Introducing the Mindjet Player.

Post 2: Tackling Tough Tasks: MindManager 8’s Top Task Management Enhancements.

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Tackling Tough Tasks: MindManager 8s Top Task Management Enhancements

Nov 14

Posted by MichaelDeutch in MindManager for Windows, Mindjet

Part 2 of 8 in the blog series, ‘What’s Great in MindManager 8’!

Mapping with MindManager offers a great way to visualize projects. MindManager has helped plan and organize millions of projects easily capturing tasks & requirements as well as creating project dashboards to communicate the big picture and highlight project details. Now, MindManager 8 offers some great enhancements that make your project reporting more accurate, easier to maintain and provides the information that you need to know to better manage exceptions to keep your project on track. Take a look:

1.    Roll-up Tasks
When you mark a task as a ‘Roll-up’ task, MindManager reviews all the topics in its branch and calculates the start date, finish date and duration. There’s a new icon, the clock with the red check mark, to indicate that this is a roll-up task. If you use your mouse to hover over the % complete icon in the summary task, you’ll see the exact calculated % complete.

2.    Faster Creation of Dependencies
Creating project dependencies in MindManager 7 and earlier required you to draw a relationship between each two topics. That’s a lot of clicks if you have a decent sized plan. With MindManager 8, it’s now a breeze. Simply click and drag a rectangle to select two or more topics within a branch that has a Roll-up task. Then, select the dependency type from the dependency pull down list in the Task Info pane. The order the tasks are selected dictates the direction of the dependencies.

 

3.    New Dependency Types
As you may have noticed in the earlier task image, there are new symbols that appear in task relationship lines. These represent the extended dependency types available.  

 

4.    Highlighted Issues
After you ‘plan your work’ and start ‘working your plan’, summary tasks kick in and automatically recalculate when you update tasks. The task pane lets you set fill colors to highlight when tasks and summary tasks are overdue or at risk of being late. This lets you focus your attention on the tasks that matter most!

 
In the example above, the summary task was automatically updated to be ‘at-risk’ because an individual task was highlighted as ‘late’. So, now you can review the project at a high level, and drill down in the areas that need your attention. 

5.    New Map Calendar
You can also adjust your work calendar, indicating both workdays and holidays, to keep project schedules accurate.

Check out Part 1 of this series:

If you missed the first post in this series on the Mindjet Player, click here. 

Add feedback to the comments below. How will you use the new task management features?

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What’s Great in MindManager 8: Introducing the Mindjet Player

Nov 12

Posted by MichaelDeutch in MindManager, MindManager for Windows, Mindjet

Part 1 of 8 in the blog series, ‘What’s Great in MindManager 8’!

Have you ever tried emailing a MindManager map to someone who doesn’t have MindManager? It has always been a challenge for me! Now, with MindManager 8, you can share interactive maps with just about anyone!

With the new export, you can generate a Mindjet Player file which are interactive read-only files that can be distributed via email or shared online. There’s no Mindjet software to download or install for others to see and use your map and its content.

 

How it works:

  • With MindManager 8 for Windows, create your map.
  • Click the Export tab and select Export as “Mindjet Player”.
  • In the “Save as Type” option, you can choose either an interactive PDF or a flash file that can be embedded in Websites and blogs.
  • Click save.

 

Take a look:

Here’s a screenshot of an interactive map that is embedded in the Mindjet.com website. As mentioned above it could also be generated as an interactive PDF file.

 

A Few Notes:

  • The Player converts MindManager’s most often used features. Some advanced features like displaying Excel ranges & charts are not yet rendered in the Player but Mindjet is exploring this for future versions.
  • Recipients should have Adobe Reader 9 installed and Adobe Flash.

Click here for more information on the Mindjet Player.

Michael Deutch

Mindjet Chief Evangelist

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