Features of Mind Mapping Software
By
R. D. Swartz
Mind Mapping Software can increase your efficiency as you create and document your business or writing projects. It can help you be completely organized and find ways to accomplish your project goals on time and in budget. There are several software companies and products to choose from but they all have similar overall features but some have developed very cleaver methods that separate them from their competition.
The software has a colorful open interface with easy to navigate tool bars. You can think and create ideas and sub-topics instantly and organize them in any way you want. You can include priority, task completion time and URL links to any topic. As you create each new topic or sub-topic you can assign a new color, category or picture to help visualize the task.
Adding new topics is done quickly in the main interface, then you add notes and descriptions about each new topic. You can change the size of each topic to control the overall view of the project. Most of the actions are automatic when you move your mouse over topics where pop up boxes will display notes or possible options for you to perform next.
Most software gives you the option to choose from many types of maps like organizational charts, cause and effect, logical diagrams and the traditional balloon style mind map. All of them have drop and drag features to easily move things around into different categories or branches of the project.
Some software has the ability to add audio clips to further enhance a topic or give examples to employees with direct audio commands or use audio clips from outside sources to educate on ways to enhance that particular stage of the project. It is a great way to have (how to do) examples in audio form so there is less chance of confusion when the project is underway.
Most software uses drop and drag features for pictures to allow you to quickly download images to enhance the idea and creation part of your topic or later on to use as examples while the project is underway.
Some software providers have created online communities where you can download or upload projects, map formats and other important enchantments as well as comment or work on each other’s projects. This brings the online community to assist each other in all aspects of projects big and small as well as brings new concepts to the table beyond what the software makers have produced.
Mind mapping software is an important tool to help you not only create efficiently but to also promote and display projects. You can save to PDF files and email instantly your work or upload to a website. You can present you projects in almost any format and you can do far more than just describe a new concept, you can visually take your audience threw your idea in ways they could never imagine by just listening to you talk.
