Topic shape and color

You can set the topic shape and fill color for individual topics using the commands on the Format tab, in the Format Topic group. More options (such as transparency and using a custom shape) are available from the Format Topic dialog launcher. You can only set these options in Map View.

Change topic shape and color

1. Select the topic(s).

2. On the Format tab, in the Topics group, click the Topic Shape arrow, then click a topic shape, or click Image from Library ▼.

   If you choose the Custom shape option in the shapes list, you can use a shape from the MindManager Library for the topic.

    

   To use custom shapes from the Library:

   1. Select the topic(s) whose shape you want to change.

   2. Open the Library pane (click the Library tab).

   3. Click the Shapes folder.

   4. Select the shape to use for the selected topic(s) from the lower pane.

   To apply a custom shape:

   1. Choose the Custom Image entry in the shapes list .

   2. Navigate to the image file and click Insert.

   To save a custom shape in the Library:

   1. Click the Save Image button in the Format Topic Shape and Color dialog (this option is not available via the formatting toolbar).

   2. Navigate to the folder where you want to save the image (usually in or under the Library Shapes folder) and click Save.

   3. The custom shape will be added to the Library for easy re-use.

    

   • The Library pane will open, displaying the Shapes folder.

   • Click a shape in the lower pane.

   Line color and Fill color do not apply to custom shapes.

   You can adjust the content margins for any shape.

3. On the Format tab, in the Formatting group, click Fill Color or Line Color .

Your choice of Line color effects the topic's connecting lines and shape outline color. The Fill color is used as a highlight (for topics without shapes) or inside the topic shape. You can set the fill transparency using the Format Topic dialog launcher.

Fill colors can be used as map markers to classify topics on your map (for example a topic in with red fill means "critical task"). See Code topics for more information on using markers.

You can enable or disable gradient fills using the Visual Effects options.

More shape and color options

1. On the Format tab, click the Topics dialog launcher.

2. On the Shape and Color tab, choose the desired attributes for the topic.

• You can set the Fill Transparency here.

• You can use a Custom Image shape ▼.

  1. Under Custom image shape click Select Image, then navigate to the image file and click Insert.

  2. If you want to save this image to the MindManager Library for re-use, click Save Image, navigate to the target folder, then click Save. If you save the image to the default location, it will appear in the Library's Shapes folder.

  3. The image is used for the topic shape, and will stretch or compress to accommodate the topic text. The topic text is superimposed over the shape.

3. Use the Style button if you wish to:

• Save as New Style Default: Save all the topic's format settings as the automatic style for topics of the same type at this level. The settings become part of the current map's style. All existing topics at this level assume these attributes (unless they have been individually formatted), as will any new topics you create. You can save these new settings as a Map Style that you can re-use on other maps. You can see these new attributes in the Modify Style view.

• Reset to Style Default: Reset the topic to the automatic formatting of the current style.