Add topics using Map Parts

Map Parts, in their generic form, are static topic and subtopic structures with standard content. Their purpose is to save time re-entering frequently-used or common information sets such as days of the week, actions, standard meeting agendas etc. You can create your own Map Parts with frequently-used topics. Generic Map Parts are stored in the main Map Parts folder, in the Map Parts task pane.

Smart Map Parts are a special type of Map Parts that contains active links to applications and web services which are external to MindManager. They have the ability to integrate data retrieved from desktop programs, application databases, search engines and online news organizations into a map by using  XML, XSL and Web Services technologies.

Smart Map Parts are grouped and stored in folders under the generic Map Parts folder in the Map Parts task pane. They have a unique appearance (graphic and shaded outline) to distinguish them from other Map Parts.

Add a Map Part to your map

  1. Do one of the following:

  1. In the Map Parts task pane, navigate to the Map Parts folder you want to use. (The top folder for generic, static Map Parts, or the subfolders for Smart Map Parts.)

  1. In the lower pane, click the Map Part that you want to add and drag it onto the map. Use the visual cue to drop the part as a main topic, subtopic or floating topic.

Static Map Parts become normal map topics and subtopics once they are added and you can use them just as you would topics that you added from scratch. You can save topics from an existing map as a Map Part.

Adding a Smart Map Part activates its link, and the Map Part will automatically be populated with information from the data source. Some Map Parts require you to enter information. For example, if you add the Outlook Linker Appointment Map Part, the Outlook Appointment dialog displays so you can enter the appointment details. If you cancel the action, the dialog closes and the Map Part is removed from the map. See Using Smart Map Parts for more information on each of the Smart Map parts.

You can modify the topics added as a Map Part. If you modify a Smart Map Part your changes will be lost if it is refreshed. To prevent the part from being refreshed you can use the refresh options to turn off the automatic refresh or convert its contents to regular (static) topics.

For more info on organizing and modifying Map Parts see Organize Library resources and Map Parts.