[Resolved] Has anyone used XMind?

[wossname]

I need an alternative to MindManager, preferably for free.

Has anyone used XMind and if so, what do you think of it?

All I need is to be able to build up a tree of concepts, and write a whole load of text against each one. I need to be able to insert images into the text too. I need to be able to export the document to Word format or OpenOffice format or HTML.

MindManager is great for this (ok, that's blatantly untrue but I use it at work) but costs a fortune.

Or does anyone know any other decent tools that do this for free? I've tried VYM and Freemind, but these are even worse than MM.

[DeanMc]

I use mind manager although I got it as a present from the folks to try and help me focus my thoughts. Never used XMind. to be honest I don't think it is great at all I think I might just go back to pen and paper since MM is pretty restrictive, maybe I will try XMind.

[DeanMc]

Ok I really like Xmind, its pretty much the same as MM but seems to be slightly more user friendly.

[DeanMc]

I like the way you can label summary's and relationships, it all seems more colorful as well. I have noticed the notes are a bit funky, it register's a as a spelling error but not A.

There are also different display types for your map, fish bone, org chart, map, etc. This is and org chart.

[kregg]

You mention Freemind; yes, it isn't the best mind map tool around, but it is basically using html/xhtml for each "point"/box/cloud/whatever, so technically you can do anything that you could do in HTML, including adding images. I know you can export the mind map in Freemind to XHTML/HTML/Images (which in turn using OpenOffice could be exported to Word/PDF format).

I'm off to check out this xmind, and then I'll be back with my opinions.

[kregg]

OK, XMind is simply brilliant. It reminds me of that little Organiser tool object that was in Microsoft Word since the 2000 version. That was fantastic, and so is this. This, simply put, spits on Freemind's face. Everything Freemind could have done, XMind does it too, but in such an obviously easy way it's no wonder why no-one has done it before. My biggest criticism of XMind is the lack of formats that you can export to. Unlike Freemind, XMind is quite limited to what it can export to. Even bigger criticism is the fact you have to register on the XMind website to actually download the program. Fair enough if there was initial purpose, but the only real purpose is so you can link up in the program to your account, and even that link-up is not mandatory. Nevertheless, it is the best mind mapping tool I've used so far - it's definitely staying on this PC.

For those who cared, I did a mindmap of all the things that I can remember off the top of my head that makes me lulz. Mindmap can be seen here (linked because image is huge).

[DeanMc]

You can buy the pro version that exports to all the usual format's, I believe its $60 but I generally am happy with the raw map.

I agree, I'm not a fan of registration, but it is free so I won't complain to much!

[wossname]

Well that's good enough for me, I'll give it a try. The only reason I didn't try it before is like Klegg said, you have to sell your soul to the Xmind website before it gives you a link.

[wossname]

Well, I guess it's the best of a bad lot.

A bit annoyed that it doesn't spit out exports in Word format, but I can live with HTML format instead. That said, the actual final exported stuff is better than Mindmanager can manage, and it doesn't take all day about it either.

Stupidly, though, exporting to HTML doesn't actually insert any hyperlinks. So you have to manually scroll down to the bit you want (or do a text search). Stupid. This kind of stuff isn't brain surgery.

Oh well, screw it, it'll do for personal use

Thanks guys.

[kregg]

Wossname, if you still have freemind on your PC, what you can do is do your mindmap in Xmind, export it as a Freemind project, and then export it as a XHTML Clickable map image version. I know it is quite a bit of hassle, but the clickable map is actually done really nicely. Shame the actual mindmap looks horrible in comparison to Xmind's own mindmaps.

[wossname]

Freemind doesn't support images in the text (or at least I didn't have the patience to coerce it).

Xmind doesn't even let you shrink an image in the text. FAIL.

I had to write a cygwin shell script to insert width="50%" throughout the whole exported HTML. And I hate cygwin more than I hate Bill Gates' DNA.


To be honest I'm half contemplating writing a mind mapping program that doesn't suck ass, just to show the world that's it just not that bloody hard to do.

[DeanMc]

I'd pay you 60 Ugandan dollars if it worked....

[kregg]

Freemind doesn't support images in the text (or at least I didn't have the patience to coerce it).

You can. It's easy as writing HTML, you just do:

<html>
<img src="lol.jpg" />
This is lol
</html>

into any node, and you will have it. Of course, the files do have to be relative to the actual freemind file (which means saving it beforehand), but once that is done, it works fine.

And no, I couldn't find a better way.

[wossname]

Writing HTML is exactly the thing I'm trying to avoid in using this mind-mapping garbage.

Ho hum.

[kregg]

True, but it is something, as opposed to having nothing to work with.

[Harsh Gupta]

What exactly are these used for? Never heard of them!

[kregg]

Well the one I used is a mind map, but sometimes people use the organisational chart for stuff like family trees. There are many more, but I'm feeling a bit lazy this morning.

[wossname]

I tend to use MindManager (at work) for generating technical documents that are then exported to Word format. It completely circumvents having to manually make your documents' formatting look consistent, because the software does it all for you.

The reason I don't want to use MindManager at home is that it's insanely expensive and it is soul-destroyingly sluggish to use. Other than that, the results it produces are excellent and easily suitable for client-facing documentation.