Leicester Medics: Getting started in MindMeister

What is MindMeister?

MindMeister (http://www.mindmeister.com) is online mind mapping software with a range of options. The basic
account is free. The premium account allows you to create an unlimited number of mind maps and upload
attachments, but you do have to pay.

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How to create a Mind Map in MindMeister

1. After signing in, you will be redirected to the My Maps view. Click the button to create
a new Mind Map.
2. Type a caption for the root node - this will also become the name of your mind map. Press ENTER.
3. Click Add or press INS or TAB to add a child node.
4. Now type the caption for the node. Press Shift+ENTER to insert new lines, or ENTER to commit.
5. You can also create sibling nodes by pressing ENTER.
6. Click Delete or press DEL to delete a node.
7. Double-click anywhere on the map to add a new node.
8. Drag and drop ideas to rearrange them on a map.
9. Use cursor keys to navigate a map.

How to navigate a Mind Map

You can use the Mind Map Navigator to navigate through your map. The pink square represents the map region that
is displayed in the browser. You can move the square with the mouse to any region on your map canvas in order to
see that portion. You can recentre your map by clicking the button and zoom in or out by clicking or ,
or using the  +  and  -  keys.

You can also switch between mind maps using the button.

Editing a Mind Map

i) formatting text

You can use the Mind Map Text Formatting to format nodes text.

You can change the text size using the buttons and set text styles by clicking for bold and for
italic text. Change the text colour by selecting a colour from the colour panel, clicking .

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ii) setting box styles

You can use the Mind Map Box Formatting to format nodes.

You can change the box radius using the three buttons. Change the box colour by selecting a colour
from the colour panel, clicking and remove the box colour with a click on .

iii) editing the map theme

This option is only available with a premium account.

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iv) adding icons

You can use the Icons widget to add icons to your map nodes.

Do this by clicking the button and selecting an icon. You can add as many icons as you like. To remove an icon
again, just right-click on the icon and click on Remove icon.

v) adding images

You can use the Icons & Images widget to add inline images to your mind map.

Open the dropdown menu to see all image selection options. You can upload your own images only if you
have a premium account. To remove your image again, select the image by clicking on it and then click the Remove
overlay.

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vi) adding notes

You can use the Notes widget to add notes to your ideas. Add a note just by entering text in the yellow area. Notes
are saved automatically when you leave the notes box, so there is no need for manual saving. If you need to enter
more text or use formatting functions, click the Advanced... link to open the advanced note editing mode. To remove
a note, click the button.

vii) adding links

You can use the Links widget to add links to your ideas.

You can add links to websites, email addresses or other ideas or maps. Open the link type dropdown by clicking
and select what type of link you would like to add.

To remove a link, click the button.

viii) adding attachments

You can upload your own attachments, but only if you have a premium account.

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ix) adding tasks

You can use the Tasks widget to add task information to your topics. MindMeister supports the following task
properties: Priority, Completion, Due Date, Owner/Assigned To.

History/search/view options

These can be found on the right hand side at the bottom of the screen.

Toggle mind map Toggle filter view to Toggle background Toggle sidebar
revision history search for terms, grid
icons etc.

Sharing mind maps

You can share the mind maps you create by choosing the ‘Share Map’ option on the left hand side at the bottom of
the screen.

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Key shortcuts

You can use the following key shortcuts while working on a mind map:

General shortcuts

Add a child idea INS or TAB

Add a sibling idea ENTER

Delete an idea DEL or BACKSPACE

Add a connection between ideas ALT-C

Navigate between nodes ↑, ↓, ←, →

Open/close branches SPACE

Zoom in, out +, -

Re-centre F6

Find node CTRL-F

Show 1 Level ALT-1

Show 2 Levels ALT-2

Show All Levels ALT-9

Editing Nodes

Edit Caption F2

Commit changes in caption ENTER

Exit without commiting changes ESC

Add line break SHIFT-ENTER

Add / Edit Note CTRL-F2

Formatting Nodes

Toggle bold ALT-SHIFT-B

Toogle italic ALT-SHIFT-I

Make font bigger ALT-SHIFT-↑

Make font smaller ALT-SHIFT-↓

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 Open notes dialog ALT-SHIFT-N

Open links dialog ALT-SHIFT-L

Open tasks dialog ALT-SHIFT-T

Move and Rearrange

Cut CTRL-X

Copy CTRL-C

Paste CTRL-V

Move node up CTRL-↑

Move node down CTRL-↓

Auto-layout F8

Auto-condense ALT-F9

More

Undo CTRL-Z

Redo CTRL-Y

Wunderkind SHIFT-SPACE

Saving, exporting and embedding

MindMeister will automatically save your mind map. It’s also important to have a backup as well as regularly saving
your work. You can do this by exporting a MindMeister mindmap to an image or other format and saving it on your
system. To do this click Export on the editor at the top of the page. This will then give you a choice of saving your
mindmap in a variety of formats. You could also print your mind map.

If you’d like to embed a MIndMeister mindmap in a webpage (such as a blog post), first go to the My Maps view (if
you’re within a mind map, you can do this by clicking the Close button at the top right hand side of the page). Then
click on the downward arrow next to the map you would like to embed and click on Properties:

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You will have to make your mind map public in order to embed it. Click on Publish within Map Properties and set the
Publish slider to On. Then click the Embed map… button.

Click the Copy to clipboard button to copy the embed code:

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Go to your webpage and paste in the code. If you are using a blog like WordPress, make sure you select HTML rather
than the Visual editing mode.

This handout is based on http://www.mindmeister.com/help, which also contains a lot more additional help and
information.

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