Map layout

The arrangement of main topics is controlled by the map's general layout options.

The subtopics layout options let you control:

• growth direction - map, tree or org-chart layout

• line style - the shape of the connecting lines

• line anchor - the originating point on the parent topic for subtopic connecting lines

• spacing - the distance from the parent topic to its subtopic and the distance between its sibling topics

You can align a set of topics, and enable an option to snap topics and objects to a pre-defined grid.

• Change the general layout of the map
• Change the layout of subtopics
• Align topics

Change the general layout of the map

The General Layout options are only available if you have the central topic selected. These options apply to the entire map. You can only set these options in Map View.

1. Select the central topic.

2. On the Design tab, click the Object Format dialog launcher.

3. On the General Layout tab, choose the desired attributes for the map.

• Organic appearance makes the main topic connecting lines look more like hand-drawn lines.

• Display shadow adds a shadow to the topic connecting lines and topic shapes.

• Main Topic Line Width controls the thickness of lines connecting the central topics and main topics.

• Main Topic Spacing controls the spacing between the main topics.

4. Click the Map Theme button if you wish to save these settings as theme defaults for this map, or re-set the topic's formatting to the default formatting from the theme.

5. To distribute main topics evenly around the central topic, right-click on the map background, and then click Balance Map.

Change the layout of subtopics

These options apply to the subtopics of the currently selected topic, or to the whole map if you select the Central Topic. You can only set these options in Map View.

Growth direction and line style

1. Select the topic(s).

2. On the Design tab, in the Object Format group, click Growth and Topic Lines to change these options.

• Or, you can right-click a topic and use the Growth  and Topic Lines   commands in the mini-toolbar.

• For Org-chart topics, Growth direction applies to 3 levels by default, but you may choose the number of levels to include. Topics below this level return to Map topics unless you specify a different format for them.

More layout options

1. Select the topic(s).

2. On the Design tab, click the Object Format dialog launcher.

3. Change the settings on the Subtopics Layout tab to meet your needs

4. Some experimentation may be required to get just the right "look" for your map - click Apply to see how your settings will look without leaving the dialog.

4. Click the Map Theme button if you wish to save these settings as theme defaults for this map, or re-set the topic's formatting to the default from the theme.

Align topics

You can align two or more topics with each other.

1. Select two or more topics

2. On the Design tab, in the Object Format group, click the Align Topics arrow.

3. Select how you want the topics aligned on the map.

See also:

Reorganize topics

Use Map Themes