August 27th, 2010
Just to keep the appetites wetted while I take the long weekend off to play cricket, commentate on cricket, drink refreshments, eat cake and run another MindManager License competition! Here is a draft map of your survey comments and inputs. There is a lot more to process and react to particularly individual comments people made, which I will be responding to personally.
Click the little map to get the bigger draftier map.
Thank you for taking to the time enter the competition and complete the surveys.
The winning answer was 6527 and the winners have been declared here.
Tags: competition, Survey, User Group
Posted in review | No Comments »
August 24th, 2010
Here are my tips for reducing the time it takes to load and to speed up MindManager.
Loading
- Options > Add Ins > Disable all those you do not use
- Options > Catalyst > Disable if you do not use it as your main mode of use
On my PC, MindManager was ready to use after 27 seconds if Catalyst with sign in is enabled on start up and 18 seconds disabled.
- Disconnect from any databases and SharePoint Servers you are not using.
Using
- Choose a start up map strategy. Your choices are:
- Options > Save reopen last open local maps on startup (My preference)
- Options > General > Open document on startup
- New
- Existing e.g. your current project or personal dashboard
- Or do not open a map on start up
- Add your favourite maps and folders to the My Maps pane. Cull unused maps and folders.
- Reduce the number of folders in your Library pane. MindManager refreshes the links everytime you open this pane.
- Options > Spelling – Disable check spelling as you type
- Options > Turn off any visual effects you do not need
- Close maps which you are not using and have these characteristics:
- Hundreds of topics
- Attachments
- Map parts: Outlook, Excel, News Feeds, Web Services, Sharepoint, Databases
- Catalyst maps
Do you have any more suggestions?
Tags: performance, tips
Posted in tips | No Comments »
August 24th, 2010
Your best chance is in the LinkedIn and Facebook surveys. There are 4 licenses up for grabs online, one in each of the surveys outlined MindManager 9 License Competitions.
Is it worth 5 minutes of your time? Here is a Google search of MindManager 9 reviews. It will probably take you longer to read a few of these than enter one of the competitions. Your chances of winning the £244 inc VAT license are currently better than 1 in 100! That is the UK price but the license can be used in any country.
If you win the license you can give it away but I need to know the end user. Perhaps a student would find it useful for researching or your aunty for doing genealogy research or your business partner for working with you.
If you are a Mac guy you could run the license in Parallels or give it to one of your frustrated PC user friends.
Good luck
Tags: Mindjet, social network, User Group
Posted in promotion | No Comments »
August 20th, 2010
You have not been receiving the emails for blogs since February this year. The RSS feed location in WordPress seems to have changed and Feedburner was not picking up the blogs! I have revised it and you should get this email! Thank you Richard Parsons for alerting me.
Here is a digest of recent posts. Click to view.
Note the map was created automatically with the Map Part -News Feed {right click the News Feeeds folder} (which no longer seems to be a refreshable part).
The Notes icons were hidden in the View > Show/Hide.
The map was exported to the web using the Clickable Image template.
I uploaded the resulting gif file (In Customize > Advance Settings > Turn off the map background) to my WordPress server.
The index.html.txt was pasted in to the blog and the ing src pointed at the uploaded gif.
Easy when you know how. I could do it quicker in MindManager 7 because the Web Export could be added to the Quick Access Toolbar 
Tags: review
Posted in Uncategorized, review | 3 Comments »
August 20th, 2010
Back in October 2009 I created a MindMeister Wiki Map (anyone can edit) about the Strengths and Weaknesses of Mind Mapping Software. Soon after a sub map for Mindjet was added. Today I have added a new node to that map for MindManager 9, plus some initial thoughts. Please add yours.
My other thought is why don’t Mindjet have a free wiki map tool?
Tags: Mindjet, review, wiki
Posted in mind map, mindmanager, review | 1 Comment »
August 18th, 2010
There are MindManager 9 Windows roadshows coming up at
16 Sept – London Mindjet Info and Registration – LinkedIn
17 Sept – Birmingham Mindjet Info and Registration – LinkedIn
21 Sept – Manchester Mindjet Info and Registration – LinkedIn
Register on the Mindjet link.
Use LinkedIn links to show to others that you are coming and to see others who are coming.
Please contact me if you would like a chat before or after the events. I am presenting at all of them. Well presenting is the wrong word, I will be responding to the audiences requests to show them how MindManager can be used. A short version of my Master Classes. Any pre-warnings of your requests via the comments in this blog would be great.
The programs are all the same: Except on the 21 Sept – Dr. Steven Bashford, Consulting, Mindjet will present MM9 overview and Product Demonstration
08:30 am
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Registration with breakfast |
09:00 am
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09:15 am |
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Welcome and Introduction
Update the corporate strategy and focus for Mindjet globally and Nothern Europe.
Chris Harman, Director NEWS Region, Mindjet
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09:15 am
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10:45 am |
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MM9 overview and Product demonstration.
Review of the key features and user benefits for the new MM9 solution, including deeper integrations with Microsoft Office and integrated project planning & scheduling. Plus presentation of the extended solutions for SharePoint users and online mapping. This session will include a live product demo and customer feedback.
Bill Creekbaum, Director Product Management, Mindjet |
| 10:45 am |
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11:00 am |
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BREAK |
| 11:00 am |
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11:30 am |
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MindManager for SharePoint
We will demonstrate the use of MindManger for our SharePoint projects and how we ensure success in planning and deployment of an effective, well governed solution.
David Hendry, Lead Consultant, Creative SharePoint |
| 11:30 am |
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12:00 pm |
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Turning Ideas into Accessible Information
This session is hosted by Cabre, an experienced consultant and trainer in the MindManager solution that helps businesses map processes, unravel business issues and manage projects effectively.
Andrew Wilcox, Cabre |
| 12:00 pm |
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Promotions for MM9 and Software Assurance
Paul Lawrence, Business Manager UK & Ireland, Mindjet Q&A |
| 12:15 pm |
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Lunch |
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
August 13th, 2010
I am sure I have done this before but its time for a new one. This overview links to a survey about MindManager user groups on line and some research for potential user group meetings in the UK. Everyone is welcome to complete the survey especially as you can answer a question which may win you a MindManager 9 Windows license. You will find the survey below the map.
Tags: competition, mind map, social network, User Group
Posted in mindmanager | No Comments »
August 11th, 2010
Tags: Mindjet, Video
Posted in mindmanager, video | 1 Comment »
August 11th, 2010
Over time you become programmed to expect that adding a relationship between two topics with an arrow head at the destination implies a finish to start dependency. It did for several years but now there is an extra step.
This picture (click to see the full size version) shows how you define the dependency type. The roll up calculator ignores the dependencies until you do this.
You can select all relationships and define as Finish to Start in one action. Home Ribbon > Select > Select Special and then select the dependency type in the Task Management pane.
Now I can plan that event in minutes!
Tags: Planning, tips
Posted in Planning | 8 Comments »
August 10th, 2010
- Start populating the Quick Access toolbar with your frequently used Ribbon commands. Right click a command > Add to Quick Access Toolbar.
- You can minimise the Ribbon with the white up chevron between the binoculars and question mark top right. It changes to a down chevron when minimised.
- If you do not have a personal map style, open a blank map. Home > Map Style > Modify the colours, line styles, fonts, text colour etc. to suit. Apply and Close. Then Home > Map Style >Make Current Map Style the Default.
- My Options tips are:
- General: Increase recently used files list to 15
- General: Disable on line help
- View: Enable Developer ribbon tab
- Save: Prompt for Map Properties on first save ( I don’t always fill it in)
- Save: Always create a backup copy (It is a copy of your last save)
- Save: Save Autorecover info every 5 minutes. (Trust time for Windows and MindManager et al)
- Save: Compression on saving: Super Fast (MindManager files are zip files. This will increase disk space used)
- Save: Application startup > Enable Reopen last open local maps on startup (i.e. return to yesterdays desktop)
- User Information: Fill it in (Saves you doing it in Map Properties and elsewhere)
- Spelling: Check out the AutoCorrect Options. (You may be happy with eg not e.g.)
- TabletPC: Height of ink input field > 120 (lets me write two lines of scribble)
- AddIns: Disable any you are not going to use.
- Template Maps
- Change the author of the template maps you use to you. It means you don’t have to change the author from Mindjet to you every time you save a new map, assuming you use Map Properties. Enable the Developer ribbon in Options > View. Open Map Templates in the Developer Ribbon. Select a template > Modify. Right click the Workbook tab > Properties >Change the author and any other fields e.g Category. Save the template.
- You may wish to add logos and change line colors etc. to your branding.
- If they are templates for maps that involve resources, add the people you will use repeatedly to a Resource floating topic. Save it as a Map Part and you can add it to other maps or templates.
Hope this helps. If you have any questions, comments or your own suggestions please add them below.
Tags: tips
Posted in tips | No Comments »
