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How to Make a Complete Map of Every Thought you Think (2003)

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Re: How to Make a Complete Map of Every Thought you Think (2003)

#11

Post by jessedhillon »

kamaal wrote: post #9
jobigoud wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What makes paper/whiteboard so advantageous ? (Honest question, I'm using hierarchical TOC at the moment) considering it's much harder to edit, and slower to get thoughts out compared to typing ? (Note that I've only started reading the link, it may be addressed further down, if so, sorry).

>>What makes paper/whiteboard so advantageous ? This is a very important question. Drawing Maps, especially for testing purposes depends on dumping things from your brain to paper as they come to you. The problem with Map creation software is Mouse and Keyboard, take time to draw a circle(Or at best position a circle), and write things inside the circle. Brain doesn't work in get-idea->hibernate-until-recorded->proce…

Have you tried FreeMind? The interface is quite good -- none of this circle drawing stuff you point out.

Re: How to Make a Complete Map of Every Thought you Think (2003)

#12

Post by clarry »

kamaal wrote: post #9
jobigoud wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What makes paper/whiteboard so advantageous ? (Honest question, I'm using hierarchical TOC at the moment) considering it's much harder to edit, and slower to get thoughts out compared to typing ? (Note that I've only started reading the link, it may be addressed further down, if so, sorry).

>>What makes paper/whiteboard so advantageous ? This is a very important question. Drawing Maps, especially for testing purposes depends on dumping things from your brain to paper as they come to you. The problem with Map creation software is Mouse and Keyboard, take time to draw a circle(Or at best position a circle), and write things inside the circle. Brain doesn't work in get-idea->hibernate-until-recorded->proce…

I, too, prefer paper for the reasons you noted. However, I also tend to run out of paper and the map becomes a disorganized mess as I cram in new ideas. So often I end up reverting to software. I haven't found nice mapping software, so for the time being I'm using a text editor. So I don't draw circles or write pretty headlines or such; I focus on writing thoughts down (I type pretty fast) and I worry about organizing it later.

A map editor is on my todo list though. The goal is to make something where I can do exactly what I do now (type things down, little to no mousing involved, minimize time spent on the circles/organization/whatever) and shuffle the data around when it becomes more convenient. Diagrams and drawings will still be a pain though. Maybe I'll get a Cintiq or something :-)

Re: How to Make a Complete Map of Every Thought you Think (2003)

#13

Post by jjsz »

jessedhillon wrote: post #11
kamaal wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>>What makes paper/whiteboard so advantageous ? This is a very important question. Drawing Maps, especially for testing purposes depends on dumping things from your brain to paper as they come to you. The problem with Map creation software is Mouse and Keyboard, take time to draw a circle(Or at best position a circle), and write things inside the circle. Brain doesn't work in get-idea->hibernate-until-recorded->proce…

Have you tried FreeMind? The interface is quite good -- none of this circle drawing stuff you point out.

I use Wisdomap. One level about Mind42 but I can't collapse parents. I use it to make outlines. Click text mode then manually add the format after exporting. It's a pain. Does Freemind export formats in HTML?

Re: How to Make a Complete Map of Every Thought you Think (2003)

#14

Post by eliasmacpherson »

jessedhillon wrote: post #11
kamaal wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>>What makes paper/whiteboard so advantageous ? This is a very important question. Drawing Maps, especially for testing purposes depends on dumping things from your brain to paper as they come to you. The problem with Map creation software is Mouse and Keyboard, take time to draw a circle(Or at best position a circle), and write things inside the circle. Brain doesn't work in get-idea->hibernate-until-recorded->proce…

Have you tried FreeMind? The interface is quite good -- none of this circle drawing stuff you point out.

Bears repeating that the keyboard shortcuts in freemind, particularly enter and insert, remove the need for the mouse. They are much quicker than circle and line drawing with pen and paper.

Re: How to Make a Complete Map of Every Thought you Think (2003)

#15

Post by jessedhillon »

jjsz wrote: post #13
jessedhillon wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have you tried FreeMind? The interface is quite good -- none of this circle drawing stuff you point out.

I use Wisdomap. One level about Mind42 but I can't collapse parents. I use it to make outlines. Click text mode then manually add the format after exporting. It's a pain. Does Freemind export formats in HTML?

It can export your mind map as a set of nested lists.

Re: How to Make a Complete Map of Every Thought you Think (2003)

#19

Post by ciex »

This is an interesting thought about the disadvantages of software text editors:

"A long time ago, I stored all of my thoughts in a computer text file. It was actually an AWESOME system. The computer has so many advantages that the paper world doesn't. [...]

For all this awesomeness in the computer, you are unconsciously pulled into a problem:

ALL OF YOUR TEXT looks EXACTLY THE SAME.[...]

YES, YES! I CAN HEAR YOU COMPUTER-PEOPLE'S COMPLAINING. ``But you can use FONTS!'' But you can make it Bold! But you can make it Italics! yes! Yes! YES! I know it! You CAN do all those things.

But that doesn't make it FAST. In keeping notes, you don't want to constantly be dicking around with your UI. You want to be able to JUST WRITE.[...]

So, by contrasting with the computer, I have described the kinds of things you want to concentrate on in your notebook. USE DIAGRAMS EVERYWHERE. They are FAR better than coercive linear text. And USE VARIABLE WRITING STYLES. Write sloppy, write neat, and everything in between. It communicates to you. Use shorthand and abbreviation. Know Gregg's script? Use that when it suits you."

In general I feel that this whole text/book could use a lot of editing. It's intentional of course, as the author says himself he just spits out the text without going back. Still, at a length of >100 pages it is frustrating. Thank you anyway for posting, it is very inspiring!

Re: How to Make a Complete Map of Every Thought you Think (2003)

#20

Post by derrida »

jessedhillon wrote: post #15
jjsz wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I use Wisdomap. One level about Mind42 but I can't collapse parents. I use it to make outlines. Click text mode then manually add the format after exporting. It's a pain. Does Freemind export formats in HTML?

It can export your mind map as a set of nested lists.

If you use Org-Mode in Emacs, you can also export to Freemind (C-c C-e m)
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