13 min read

Mind Mapping

Sharing the mind map, using the exporting features of FreeMind, is to be explored in this Article. Besides, we can export and upload the mind map on the Web. We are going to deal with the options offered, and we are also adding another condiment to the recipes to spice them up.

There are plenty of features that can make our mind map more attractive to the reader, but we have to dig into the different alternatives to make it happen. Moreover, taking into account the pros and cons of each exporting feature, we are going to consider them before exporting our mind map.

When designing the activity considering how useful the reader can find the mind map, we are also bearing in mind, at the same time, which exporting features to work with afterwards. Therefore, it is very important to learn the options and their possibilities. Besides, we can improve the exporting possibilities by using a multimedia asset, which can enhance our mind map as well.

Exporting the mind map in different formats is going to be the main concern when designing and creating mind maps. We are working with FreeMind, and we see the maps as we design them. However, when exporting the maps, we can see them in different ways; thus the importance of the exporting feature.

Exporting a branch as a new map or HTML

In this recipe we are going to split the mind map in order to create a new one, using one part of the original one. It is very important to do it when the mind map is getting overwritten, that is to say when we add too much information and we want to represent the subject matter and write the exact information.

Getting ready

It is time to design a new mind map out of a node that already exists in the one that we are designing; therefore, we will export a branch in order to create a new one. Another option for exporting a branch is to export it as HTML.

How to do it…

When writing the mind map, if we feel that we do need to split it or if we want to keep on writing but the space that we have is not enough, it means that we have to export a branch as a new mind map. We must bear in mind that this branch appears as the root node of the new one. The sibling nodes that it has are to be exported as well.

In the first part of the recipe we are going to focus on the two ways to export the branch; in the second part of the recipe we will compare the results when exporting them in one way or another. The following are the steps that you have to perform:

  1. Open the file that you are going to work with. In case you are working with a new file, you do need to save it before exporting the branch.

  2. Click on the node that you want to make the root node, as shown in the following screenshot:

  3. Click on File | Export | Branch As New Mind, as shown in the following screenshot:

  4. A pop-up window appears. Write a name for your file and click on Save.

  5. A red arrow appears on the branch, indicating that the branch was exported as a new mind map, as shown in the following screenshot:

  6. The branch exported as a mind map looks like the following screenshot:

    It is important to point out that when exporting the branch of the mind map, the nodes—whether folded or not—no longer appear in the original one, as they are going to be exported to the new mind map.

  7. To export another branch of the mind map as HTML, click on the node to export, as shown in the following screenshot:

  8. Click on File | Export | Branch as HTML, as shown in the following screenshot:

How it works…

The main difference between exporting the branch as HTML instead of exporting the branch itself, is that the sibling nodes remain in the original mind map. So, we only export the branch and it appears in our default web browser. Another relevant feature is that when exporting the branch of the mind map as HTML, we see the map in a different format, not as a mind map itself. It is shown in the following screenshot:

We can also save this HTML file. Click on the down arrow next to Firefox. Click on Save Page As, write a name for the file, and click on Save. The file is saved as shown in the preceding screenshot, on your computer.

Exporting the mind map to bitmaps or vector graphics

We can export a mind map as an image, using any of the following three graphic file formats—JPEG, PNG, and SVG. We are going to analyze the options, although they are very simple.

If the mind map has bitmaps, we can export the mind map as PNG (short for Portable Network Graphics). It is a file format that provides advanced graphic features and lossless compression. It is advisable to use this type of file format while working with bitmaps when we don’t want to lose image quality while rendering the mind map to the final bitmap.

In case we want to export the mind map in the file form with the smallest possible size, we can use the JPEG (short for Joint Photographic Experts Group) file format, which uses lossy compression. Pixels with different colors add noise to the image, and delete color information and replace it with pixels of approximated values. If the mind map has many photographs, the best choice for the smallest file size that will lose some image quality is JPEG. JPEG is a compressed graphic file that is used for images that have many colors, that is to say, pictures taken with any type of photographic camera.

The third option is to export the mind map as SVG (short for Scalable Vector Graphics). It is advisable to export the mind map in this format if we want to edit the geometric forms that make up the mind map. We can use software that deals with vector graphics and can edit this format. An example of such software is Inkscape.

Getting ready

It is time to think which mind map we want to export! The steps are the same for any of the exports, what differs is that we are going to choose a different type of file extension.

How to do it…

We have designed several types of mind maps, using different elements. We are now going to choose a mind map to export and a file extension that suits it. The following are the steps to be performed:

  1. Open the file that you want to export.

  2. Remember to unfold all the nodes, otherwise they are going to be exported as folded.

  3. Click on File | Export | As SVG…, as shown in the following screenshot:

  4. Write a name for the file and click on Save.

How it works…

We must take into consideration that the software that deals with SVG should be Inkscape or any other similar commercial one, such as Paint. When we look for the file on our computer and click on it, any of the said software will open and show the file. It is shown in the following screenshot:

Uploading the mind map on Flickr and sharing it

In this recipe we are going to upload our mind map on Flickr in order to share it. We must bear in mind that we have to unfold all its branches at the time of exporting, because we won’t be able to unfold a branch if it is exported in a folded form. So, the first step is to prepare a mind map in order to be exported.

Another important aspect to consider when uploading a file on Flickr is that it does not accept SVG files; therefore, we have to export our mind map either as PNG or JPEG, taking into account how they are designed. So, let’s get ready!

Getting ready

It is time to sign up on Flickr; to do it, we must go to http://www.flickr.com/. In this recipe, we are going to upload that mind map on Flickr. Why? So that we can have access to the HTML code and embed it, and have the URL and create a link with it. There are plenty of options to have our mind map uploaded on this photo-sharing site. Furthermore, there are several activities that teachers can create using this mind map.

How to do it…

The first step that we have to perform in order to upload the mind map is to export it. We have to choose a mind map with pictures or photographs. After that, we have to export it as PNG or JPEG. In this recipe we are going to export it as PNG, because the mind map has bitmaps. The following are the steps that you have to perform:

  1. Open the file that you are going to work with.

  2. Click on File | Export | As PNG….

  3. Write a name for the file and click on Save, as shown in the following screenshot:

  4. The file is saved in order to upload it on Flickr

  5. Sign in to your Flickr account and personalize your profile. Go to http://www.flickr.com/, and sign in for your account. You can also sign in with your Facebook account if you happen to have one.

  6. Click on Upload, as shown in the following screenshot:

  7. Click on Choose photos and videos.

  8. Search for the mind map that you have just exported as PNG. Click on the name of the file and click on Open.

  9. Choose the type of privacy for this file, within the Set Privacy block, as shown in the following screenshot:

  10. Click on Upload Photos and Videos. Wait for the file to upload.

  11. Click on add a description, as shown in the following screenshot:

  12. Complete the blocks, as shown in the following screenshot:

  13. Click on SAVE.

How it works…

After uploading the mind map to Flickr, we can now click on it. We can share it through different ways—by grabbing the link or copying and pasting the HTML/BBCode, as shown in the following screenshot:

Exporting the mind map as HTML

In this recipe we are going to export the mind map as HTML. In order to export the mind map as HTML, it is important to consider the fact that it has to be designed using words rather than images. Furthermore, it is also convenient to create the mind map using different types of sizes, fonts, as well as colors, in order to show the importance and differences after being exported.

Getting ready

The mind map has only text, and it is appropriate for exporting as HTML.

How to do it…

When exporting as HTML, we have two options. We can export the mind map folded or unfolded. If we export it as folded, we also have the possibility to unfold it when exported; but if we export it as unfolded, we do not have the possibility to fold it afterwards. These possibilities are explored in this recipe. So, the following are the steps that we have to perform:

  1. Open the file to export. Fold all the nodes.

  2. Click on File | Export | As HTML…, as shown in the following screenshot:

  3. The mind map is exported. There appear + signs next to the nodes that have subnodes, as shown in the following screenshot:

  4. Click on the + sign to unfold the nodes, as shown in the following screenshot:

How it works…

When exporting the mind map with its nodes folded, the result is different. The mind map looks the same as the previous screenshot, but the + or signs do not appear next to the nodes that contain subnodes. The exported mind map, with its nodes unfolded, appears as shown in the following screenshot:

Exporting the mind map as XHTML

There are three options when exporting our mind maps as XHTML. Two of them are available in the menu, but the third one depends on whether the mind map is folded or not. Therefore, before exporting it, we have to analyze the options. When the mind map is exported, it looks similar to HTML, but it is more colorful and the information in the note window appears below the node in which we have added it.

Getting ready

We are going to export the same mind map using the three different alternatives, so that we can notice the different results. The mind map to be exported is the one of British monarchs. In the previous recipe we exported the mind map as HTML, so we can also compare the difference with that exportation.

How to do it…

We are going to export the mind map as XHTML (clickable map image version). But, we are going to export it with its nodes folded. So, the following are the steps that you have to perform:

  1. Open the file that you are going to work with.

  2. Fold all the nodes containing subnodes.

  3. Click on File | Export | As XHTML (Clickable map image version) …, as shown in the following screenshot:

  4. Enter a name for the file and click on Save.

  5. The exported map appears in the default web browser, as shown in the following screenshot:

  6. Minimize your default web browser and go back to FreeMind. Unfold all the nodes in the same mind map.

  7. Repeat steps 3 and 4.

  8. The exported map appears in your default web browser, as shown in the following screenshot:

How it works…

It is time to explore the third option when exporting the mind map as XHTML. The option that we are exploring here does not export the image of the map, so it does not matter whether the nodes are folded or not. The information about the different nodes is exported, and we can expand or collapse the nodes, by clicking on the upper part. Perform the following steps:

  1. Open the mind map you want to export.

  2. Click on File | Export | As XHTML (JavaScript version)…, as shown in the following screenshot:

  3. Enter a name for the file. Click on Save.

  4. The mind map is exported to your default web browser, as shown in the following screenshot:

    Save the files on your computer in any of these cases, when the mind map is exported.

Exporting the mind map as Flash

Exporting the mind map as Flash is very interesting, because it maintains the characteristics that we have added to the mind map. Besides, whether exported with the nodes folded or not, we can open them by clicking on the nodes. In the case that the nodes contain information in the note window, we can read them if we hover the mouse over those nodes.

Getting ready

It is time to see how to export the mind map in a different way. We have to bear in mind that Flash is not available in some operating systems.

How to do it…

We are going to keep on exporting the same mind map, so that the difference in the exportations is noticeable. The following are the steps to perform:

  1. Open the file that you are going to work with.

  2. Click on File | Export | As Flash…, as shown in the following screenshot:

  3. Write a name for the file. Click on Save.

How it works…

The exported mind map appears in the default web browser. The mind map looks the same as in FreeMind. When clicking on the nodes, they fold or unfold. If there is a node that contains information in the note window, it appears while hovering the mouse over it. It is shown in the following screenshot:

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