Add visual elements

Visual elements can be used to indicate connections (relationships) or groupings (boundaries), or simply to make topics more memorable (images).

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Relationships

Sometimes a relationship exists between two (or more) topics, and you want to illustrate this on your map. You can add a relationship line that connects two topics, and label it if you wish. You can change the look of the relationship using the Task Pane's Format settings.

Add a relationship

On the Ribbon's Insert tab, click Relationship.

Hint: Right-click a topic, and then click Insert Relationship.

When the cursor changes to the Relationship cursor, click the first topic, and then click the second topic.

The relationship line appears connecting the two topics. The topics will remain connected even if they are moved. If you move one or both of the topics connected by a relationship, the line will automatically adjust.

Modify and format the relationship

When you select a relationship, handles appear so you can re-shape it or change its connection point.

Change the shape of the line

Select the relationship, then drag the handles .

Relationship lines follow an optimal path by default because their Auto Layout attribute is enabled. If you re-shape the line, the Auto Layout option is automatically disabled. If you want the line to return to its optimal path you can re-enable the Auto Layout option in the right-click shortcut menu.

Connect to a different topic

Select the relationship then drag the connection handle to another topic.

Format the line's style and color

Select the relationship line(s).
Use the commands on the Ribbon's Home tab to change its line style and color.
For more options, open the Task Pane and use the Format group settings.

Add a callout (label) to the relationship

Select the Relationship.
On the Ribbon's Home tab, click Callout.

Hint: Right-click the relationship line, and then click Insert Callout.

When the generic callout appears enter your text.
Format the callout using the settings on the Ribbon's Home and Design tabs.

Remove a relationship

Select the relationship line, and then click Delete on the Ribbon's Home tab.

Right-click the relationship line, and then click Delete Relationship.

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Boundaries

Boundaries come in two basic types: grouping boundaries and summary boundaries.


Grouping boundaries can be used to emphasize the relationships between topics and subtopics with an outline surrounding an area on a map with your choice of line type and an optional fill color.		Summary boundaries can be used to reduce a set of subtopics into a single summary topic and then allow this topic to grow again.

Create a boundary

Select the topic whose subtopics you want to group with the boundary.
On the Ribbon's Insert tab, click Boundary.

Hint: You can add boundaries within boundaries.

Format, modify, or copy a boundary

When you select a boundary, blue highlighting appears to show that it is selected. Then you can change the boundary's formatting.

Format a boundary

Select the boundary.
Use commands on the Ribbon's Home and Design tabs to change its line style, fill color, and transparency.
For more options, open the Task Pane and use the Format group settings.

Add a summary topic (callout) to a boundary

Select the boundary.
On the Ribbon's Home tab, click Callout.

Hint: Right-click the boundary and click Insert Callout.

When the generic callout appears enter your text.
Format the callout using the settings on the Ribbon's Home and Design tabs.

Hint: You can expand the summary topic into a new topic tree by adding subtopics to it.

Remove a boundary

Select the boundary and click Delete on the Ribbon's Home tab.

Hint: Right-click the boundary and click Delete Boundary.

Move or copy a boundary

Select the boundary and click Cut or Copy on the Ribbon's Home tab.
Select a topic. The boundary will enclose this topic and its subtopics.
Click Paste on the Ribbon.

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Images

You can add images from JPG, GIF, and PNG files to your map. Images can be either attached to an existing topic or added to new topics. You can add images to topics, subtopics, floating topics, and callouts.

Add an image

Select a topic, or create a new topic, callout, or floating topic.
On the Ribbon's Home tab, click Image.

Right-click a topic then click Add Image.

Choose the image you want to insert on the topic.

Position the image

The image placement settings allow you to orient the image relative to the topic text.

Select the topic that contains the image.
On the Ribbon's Design tab, click Align Image, and select the placement you want to use.

Re-size an image

Select the image inside the topic.
Drag the corner handles to re-size the image. Hold Shift as you drag to change the image's aspect ratio.

To return the image to its original size, right-click the image, and then click Reset Image Size.

Remove an image

Right-click the image inside the topic, then click Delete Image.