The Bosley Group has released MindMapper Plus 2.5 to help you translate your ideas and concepts into a visual image, Based on a theory called mind mapping, MindMapper lets you illustrate ideas using simple charts built with branches, icons, imagery, and text notes. You don't need to know how to draw, just how to type.

The concept of mind mapping is not new.  Some of the earliest examples are shown on the walls of caves, where with sticks, charcoal, berry juice and other readily available media, our predecessors put their ideas and experiences into a visual format.  At what point in time they went beyond recording experience, and started projecting new ideas and possibilities, we don't know.  Most surely however, some pioneer of this technique with stick in hand, drew diagrams in the dust outlining the plans for cornering and dispatching the next edible beast encountered by the tribe.

Most of us are familiar with more current examples of the mind mapping principle.  A teacher using the blackboard to draw pictures with arrows, symbols and text or numbers to illustrate more complex ideas and relationships.  A football coach diagramming game plays.  These are concepts many of us have used but usually with severe limitations imposed by our ability to draw and illustrate.

This is where MindMapper steps in.  You don't need a cave wall, stick or berry juice if you have a PC, a mouse, and a keyboard.  MindMapper gives you the tools to start with a central theme or concept, and visually display these ideas in a map-like format with connections by relationships to any number of satellite objects.  These objects may take the form of icons, pictures, text or other images.  The possibilities are endless.

When you open a new MindMapper map, a box containing the map's title appears in the center of the screen. You can change this title and change the size of the graphic. Highlight the title and press the INSERT KEY to create a new MAIN TOPIC. A line or branch will appear from the MIND MAP TITLE BOX to the MAIN TOPIC BOX. Name your topic and press the INSERT KEY again to create a NEW BRANCH or multiple branches. If you want to create another topic box, simply repeat the process. As the map develops, it takes on an living quality; the topics and branches seem to grow with your ideas.

Graphical Icons are easily added by way of the ICON LIBRARY and ICON EDITOR. You can also link the topics and branches within a map to each other, to outside files, or to a web site. You can add a description to any branch by typing in the TEXT NOTES space at the bottom of the MindMapper screen. A unique symbol within the TOPIC area tells viewers that there is a note attached. Notes will automatically appear whenever the TEXT NOTES window is open. You can also add movable notes that remain visible on the map but which can be dragged and dropped anywhere in the window.

MindMapper Plus 2.5 is very easy learn and use. As you need to reorganize your thoughts, you can drag and drop entire topics or branches to other areas. You can add color and depth to your lines, borders, backgrounds and text, and you can alter fonts where desirable. To illustrate a concept, insert an image or icon next to that branch. Prioritize the topics on your map by utilizing the AUTO NUMBERING feature or by using MindMapper's built in scheduler. Other features include printing of large maps utilizing SPLIT-PRINTING, SEARCH and REPLACE, as well as extensive import/export options. The basic components of any given map may be displayed in a variety of formats. Changes in placements, connections, colors or other attributes are easily accomplished.

Applications of MindMapper
The MindMapper web site is full of tutorials and examples to help you conduct a presentation, manage projects, create a simulation or post maps to a web site.  Maps may be shared among other users by using MindMapper's email or export features. You don't have to be a registered user of MindMapper to utilize mind maps. A FREE viewer is available from the web site.

MindMapper Plus 2.5 is a simple package. You won't find complex or confusing tools here: What you will find is a creative way to brainstorm, express and organize concepts with project-tracking abilities.