Branches

Working with Branches

As you build up your map, you will collect many ideas. You may find it helpful to hide parts of the map, to concentrate on the work at hand.

Branching Ideas.

Click the 'Expand' or 'Collapse' branch icons at the top-right of the Idea to show or hide its leaf Ideas. Connect Ideas by dragging one over another -- or use the 'Create Links' button. View mixed mode with the 'Map|Text' button. With the text panel open, Ideas moved on the Map will change essay structure in the document. The available command buttons on the closest row will change depending on which panel is active.

Idea Status

Idea Status and Recent Edits

While editing your essay, you can see which areas of the map are finished or need work. Set each Idea's status, adding small icons to them. Display the 'age' of an Idea's most recent edit to keep track of where to refocus.

Idea Status and Edit Age.

Ideas' status and most recent edits in Essay Writer software: right-click to change status and change Document Settings to show edit age.
Right-click an Idea to change its status. This will display the icon you choose on the bottom-right of the Idea. To display the most recent edit age of each Idea, go to 'Edit' then 'Document Settings...' Open the 'Labels' tab and check 'Modified in recent' to alter the settings.

Printing

Customise your printed work, by adjusting the text and print styles.

Setting up your Printed Document.

Set up your printed pages in Essay Writer software: Go to 'File' and 'Print Preview' to check how your document will be printed. In 'File' and 'Page Setup', you can change paper size, orientation, and margins. For standard options: go to 'Edit', 'Document Settings', and 'Text View'. Then go to 'Print Style'. Click the 'Help...' buttons for more options.

A table of contents shows all idea titles in a list, as well as the word counts per chapter. Ensure your introductions and conclusions are always shorter than your main body.

Table of Contents.

Insert your Table on Contents in Essay Writer software: Right-click around your Idea Map. Hover over 'New' and left-click 'Table of Contents'. Link this new Idea to your main Idea Map. Go to 'Edit', 'Document Settings...' and 'Table of Contents' to customise it.

Maps 1: Basic Controls

The Map holds all of your Ideas and how they link up into an outline. This video includes the very basics of moving the camera and selecting objects on the Map.

Maps 1: Basic Controls.

Pan the camera by dragging scroll bars, pressing arrow keys, or scrolling over the scroll bars. Scrolling over the map cycles through linked Ideas. Press the zoom buttons or choose a zoom amount from the drop-down menu. Right-click a menu at the top to change which commands are displayed. Click and drag over an area to select its objects on the Map. Hold your 'Control' key and click objects to include or exclude them. Right-click Map objects for additional selection options.

Maps 2: Touch UI

This video shows you how to use touch screens in Essay Writer, on the Map and in 3D View. (Change settings such as icon size in Tools, Options and the 'Appearance' tab.)

Maps 2: Touch UI.

On very large Maps, you may prefer to zoom and swipe to move around. Double-tap around the Map to create a text Idea. Tap an Idea to select it, and drag to move or link it. Tap and hold within the Map Panel to display the pie menu. Call the touch menu on clear space, a Link, or an Idea to show different commands. Multi-finger gestures can be used for manipulating 3D: spin to rotate the Map.

Maps 3: Add Colour

The Map holds all of your Ideas and how they link up into an outline. This video includes the very basics of moving the camera and selecting objects on the Map.

Maps 3: Add Colour.

Select one or more Ideas, then press 'Font', 'Shapes', 'Fill Color' or 'Fill Style'. For text without any shape or background, choose the blank option in 'Fill Style'. Select one or more Links, then open 'Line Color', 'Line Width' or 'Link Style'. Right-click a clear space on the Map, and hover over 'Background' in the drop-down menu. Select 'Color...' to 'Choose Idea Map Background Color'.

Maps 4: Add Icons

The Map holds all of your Ideas and how they link up into an outline. This video shows you how to add icons to your Ideas.

Maps 4: Add Icons.

Drag and drop an image from your local files onto an Idea. This image replaces its previous shape to become its new icon. Right-click the Idea, and hover over to choose from the 'Align Title' sub-menu. Some software versions include Clipart. Press the 'Clipart' button to display its panel. Drag clipart onto a clear space on the Map to create a new text Idea.

Branches

Working with Branches

Idea Status

Idea Status and Recent Edits

Printing

Printing

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Maps 1: Basic Controls

Maps 1: Basic Controls

Maps 2: Touch UI

Maps 2: Touch UI

Maps 3: Add Colour

Maps 3: Add Colour

Maps 4: Add Icons

Maps 4: Add Icons

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