Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

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December 14, 2006

FreeMind: Mindmapping for Notes and Blog Post Ideas

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 8:26 am

Guest Writer Grigor Ćorić of Behind the Glasses

If you are looking for mind mapping software it is a chance that you’ve already stumbled upon FreeMind, GPL-licensed software, a collaborate project on SourceForge. I did it more than 6 months ago.

FreeMind is written in Java and therefore is cross-platform. Once installed, it runs smoothly and without any hiccups. Although the low version number (0.8) would suggest that this is an incomplete product, it is not. It has everything someone would expect from a serious mind mapping application.

FreeMind is best used in applications where you draw maps quickly and for limited purposes, such as brainstorming, keeping meeting notes or jotting ideas for an article. Not that it is completely impossible to add more attractive visual elements, but the visual elements are limited to basics, such as inserted pictures.

This is a screenshot of a mind map that I drew to organize ideas for a post on my blog:

FreeMind

As you can see in the picture, you can

Basic functions are performed quickly and easily. You can use both keyboard and a mouse. Keys are assigned to functions in a sensible way, so the most used keys are those that insert, enter, or delete a subtopic (child node). There is one small annoyance to get use to: a topic (or node) is not selected by a mouse click but when the mouse pointer is placed over it. Therefore nodes can become selected inadvertently. Be careful!

After a period of extensive usage, I can highly recommend FreeMind as a great alternative to more highly priced software. A hard-core mindmapper might miss some features, but then again, there is always a sheet of paper and a couple of pens.

Kind regards,

Grigor Ćorić

Thanks, Grigor, for offering this alternative for folks who want something smaller to try their mindmapping skills.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related articles
Mind Mapping: Right Brain Work Ahead — Enter At Your Own Risk
Compendium from OpenLearn: FREE Mindmapping Software





Filed under Guest Writer, Successful Blog, Tools, Writing |




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15 Comments to “FreeMind: Mindmapping for Notes and Blog Post Ideas”

  1. December 14th, 2006 at 9:30 am
    Jesse said

    Sounds like a recovering ADD “survivor’s” dream. Thanks for exposing us to this. Maybe meetings would go a bit better… :)

  2. December 14th, 2006 at 9:30 am
    Phil Newton said

    I’ve been using Freemind for a while now, and it’s a really handy tool for fleshing out ideas for articles and projects.

    I still love my trusty pen and paper, but Freemind’s ability to restructure mind maps is a real plus.

  3. December 14th, 2006 at 9:33 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Jesse!
    We all need things to help focus these days. I can’t imagine not having a tool or two in my proverbial back pocket.

    I was delighted that Grigor offered to share his experience with FreeMind with all of us. He’s a super guy for doing so!

    I’m equally happy that you have a use for it!

  4. December 14th, 2006 at 10:18 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Phil!
    Yeah, I know what you mean. That lovely “never been erased or changed and all things are organized” feeling is such a good one.

    I wish that we could capture it and keep it for those days when it seems that everything is unraveling . . . :)

  5. December 14th, 2006 at 2:38 pm
    Yoav said

    Hi Liz,

    I think yor link to Grigor’s site is broken.

    thanks for a cool blog!

  6. December 14th, 2006 at 3:53 pm
    William Tully said

    I had completely forgotten about FreeMind! I downloaded it a few months back, installed it, and then promptly forgot about when I got sidetracked with something else.. When I downloaded FreeMind, I also downloaded an amazing little program called:

    Papel - The intuitive tool for creative writers

    Without this little bit of software, I’m not sure what stage my book would be in - certainly not anywhere near where I am now!

    I love the idea of using FM to plan out blog posts and such and I’m definitely going to have to go back and re-visit the program.

    Oh, in case someone is looking for Papel, the only decent link I could find for it still is:

    http://www.softpedia.com/get/Office-tools/Text-editors/Papel.shtml

  7. December 14th, 2006 at 4:14 pm
    William Tully said

    Correction on the Papel link.. It would seem that the author has gone MIA and most freeware sites pointed to his site… I have scoured, I have found, and I provide:

    http://tully.ca/blog/?p=30

  8. December 14th, 2006 at 4:55 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Yoav!
    Welcome!
    I fixed the link. Thanks so much for telling me. I want everyone to visit Grigor!!!

  9. December 14th, 2006 at 4:56 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi William!
    So nice to meet you!
    I’m so happy that we could remind you of this little gem. Thanks for bringing the link and for the time it you to find the new version. You’re a gem yourself for doing that!

  10. December 15th, 2006 at 1:07 am
    qureyoon said

    this is a great tools indeed, but i’m more interested on how you managed your mind map :)
    maybe some tips or two, since i know lotsa great people, are familiar with mind mapping :)
    and i had zero experience on mind mapping :P

  11. December 15th, 2006 at 6:25 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Qureyoon!
    Thank you for your question. I’ll work on answering it. It’s a valid one. I just have to give it some thought.

    Hmmm. :)

  12. December 15th, 2006 at 11:55 am
    Pimp Your Work - If MindManager isn’t for you, maybe try Freemind for mindmapping said

    [...] Liz Strauss has a guest post from Grigor Ćorić on mindmapping.  Grigor recommends FreeMind as an alternative to commercial mindmapping tools.  Okay, I’ve tried FreeMind and I didn’t like it. I was spoiled already by MindManager from MindJet.  Hobie Swan introduced me to MindManager and gave me a license to use.  MindJet is also one of the sponsors of our contest (still open until next week).  That bias aside, if you want to get into mindmapping and aren’t sure about it, try FreeMind.  I think the process of mindmapping is more important that the tool you use to do it. [...]

  13. December 19th, 2006 at 4:15 am
    Kian Ann said

    I’ve use Free Mind before - and i still find nothing beats physically drawing out on paper, except that if it is on softcopy you could print out as many copies you want!

  14. December 26th, 2006 at 8:42 am
    Ray Le Couteur said

    “Okay, I’ve tried FreeMind and I didn’t like it. I was spoiled already by MindManager from MindJet.”

    Quite the opposite of my experience then - I tried Mindmanager and never really got into it. I find Freemind faster and more intuitive - not so many bells and whistles but it does everything I want - I use it almost as much as my word processor. It organises my world!

  15. December 26th, 2006 at 8:55 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Ray,
    Welcome!
    I can’t blame you . . . once you have elegant . . . it’s hard to go back. :)

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