ThinkingRock Forum

I am interested to know if anyone is using *both* TR and Freemind (or similar mind mapping application).

I know the idea of integration between TR and FM has been mentioned before but I am really wondering how people use each app. the good thing is that you can easily *link* form one to the other, so for a given project in TR you could have a URL pointing to an mind map for that project.

Lee

I have always used Mind Mapping as rough way of making notes in meetings and or when planning a project. I do this on paper or a whiteboard. Then I write these drafts up in a narrative form or an outline. I don't think I would get much benefit from Mind-Mapping on a computer.

Over the years I have tried to use electronic devices in meetings but I find them too distracting. However Mindmaps can be difficult to interpret some weeks later.

Whilst mind maps can start a project thought process they become less helpful when you start to want to order the activities, price them or create a timeline. So I usually throw them away when I have a more useful document.

[I think I have said the same things twice but I don't have the energy to edit my posting tonight, and I realise it is slightly off topic in that I do not use the technology that you are interested in. Sorry]

I use Freemind, independently of TR. Mindmapping is indeed a very useful technique, and I find that with Freemind one can easily order activities etc. One would not be able to do this with a handwritten version of a mindmap.

Use MapIt - commercial software. Very happy. Use it lots for essays, presentations, songs, anything creative. Mind Map sermons in church and can quickly tell how organised and logical the speaker is!

I use Free Mind for two purposes:

1. To brainstorm the project before its start. Then I can get some next actions from the mind map and add them individually to TR. It's the kind of application David Allen suggests in his "project planning" process.

2. To maintain "creative switching" mode during the day. I add 3-4 main projects I'm working on during the day to the single mindmap and type all thoughts associated with them. Sometimes it interferes with "Actions view" in TR, for instance when I add something to mindmap and forget to add it as N.A. in TR.

Maybe I should use TR exclusively - but I have problems with "Actions view" - often I add too much "Do ASAP" actions within one topic and the view appears too crowded. Mind map brings back the big picture.

I used to work with Mind Manager 2000 a few years ago, but when they upgraded to X5 - it became mainly business tool and not a helper in creativity. Free Mind has its problems but it's free.