Mind Mapping Software Tips

When evaluating Mind Mapping software it is important to start by analyzing your needs:

Free software:

If your aim is simply to create Mind Maps there are free Mind Mapping software tools available such as FreeMind etc. that will do a good job of making a Mind Map. Some free online tools also allow users to store maps on the Internet for sharing and collaboration with others. However storing Mind Maps containing confidential or sensitive information online could cause some security issues.

Commercial software:

If on the other hand you wish to use Mind Mapping software to boost your productivity, it is important to consider what the program lets you do with the Mind Map once you've created it. Does it offer several views, such as Top-Down, Left-Right, Fishbone, Timeline, Outline, Gantt etc.? How well is it integrated with MS Office? Many Mind Mapping software users rely on Mind Maps to plan projects at different levels from simple "to do lists" to complete Gantt charts. Professional Mind Mapping software such as MatchWare MindView 4 Business allow you to add task information to the map and contain built-in Gantt Chart views.

Here is a check list to help you evaluate Mind Mapping software:

• Ease of use
• Variety of templates available
• Number of different layouts (Mind Map, Top-Down, Left-Right, Outline, Timeline, Gantt Chart etc.)
• Integration with MS Office (import/export to Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, Project)
• Availability of other export formats such as HTML, picture and XML
• Handling of task information and project management rules

Good luck!