Difference between revisions of "Home"

From Freeplane - free mind mapping and knowledge management software
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[[File:FreeplaneWiki.jpg|thumb|right|       [https://www.freeplane.org/mapsOnline/?map=IndexWiki.mm Index wiki] ]]
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__TOC__
 
  
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You can navigate this wiki in different ways. The navigation menu on the left directs you to main support areas. Pages on detailed topics can be found in the mind map ''Index wiki'' on the right. Many pages of this wiki are tagged at the end of the page with Categories. You can click on the Category at the end of the page to display an index of all pages of the same Category.
 +
 
 +
You are invited to use and contribute to this wiki, to share information and tips about Freeplane and its features.
 +
<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">NOTE: because of spammer attacks, editing of this wiki is now only allowed for registered wiki editors. If you want to become a wiki editor, [https://sourceforge.net/u/dpolivaev/profile/send_message write] to the Freeplane team which user name and e-mail you want to use for the registration.</span> So we can create a new user account and let the wiki generate password and send it to the mail address you provide.
 +
 
 +
We use forum https://www.freeplane.org/forum for discussions and issue tracker https://www.freeplane.org/tickets for bug reports and feature requests.
 +
The old forum content is available read only at https://www.freeplane.org/forum2012 .
 +
 
 +
[[Support#This_wiki| Read more..]].
 +
 
 +
{{TOC|align=right}}
 
<center>
 
<center>
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<big>'''''Boost your brain with Freeplane''''' </big>  
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<big>'''''Free mind mapping and knowledge management software''''' </big>  
 
</center>  
 
</center>  
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[[Image:Download.png|center|71x67px|link=http://sourceforge.net/projects/freeplane/|Download Freeplane]]  
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[[Image:Download.png|center|71x67px|link=https://sourceforge.net/projects/freeplane/files/|Download Freeplane]]  
 
<center>
 
<center>
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<big>'''[http://sourceforge.net/projects/freeplane/ Download Freeplane now!]''' </big><br><br>
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<big>'''[https://sourceforge.net/projects/freeplane/ Download Freeplane now!]''' </big><br>
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[[Freeplane 1.0.x-1.1.x|Stable version: 1.1.x]]<br>
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(this downloads the stable version 1.10.3) <br>
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[[Freeplane 1.2.x-1.3.x|Development version: 1.2.x]]<br>
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[https://www.freeplane.org/info/history/history_en.txt change log]&nbsp;&nbsp;&bull;&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Fixed_security_vulnerabilities|fixed security issues]]<br>
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[http://sourceforge.net/projects/freeplane/files/freeplane%20for%20windows%20mobile Freeplane for Windows Mobile]
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Download last development versions ([https://sourceforge.net/projects/freeplane/files/freeplane%20preview/ '''''preview'''''])<br>
 +
Try it and give [https://sourceforge.net/projects/freeplane/reviews/ '''your opinion'''].
 +
<br>
  
 +
Freeplane is a free mind mapping program under the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_General_Public_License GNU General Public License (GPL) version 2 or later].  <br>
 +
See [[Support#Installation|''Support'']] for installation instructions, language support and special buttons and keys for Macintosh.<br>
 +
</center>
  
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Freeplane is free under the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_General_Public_License GNU General Public License (GPL) version 2 or later].  <br>
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<big>Freeplane is the Community Choice Source Forge Project of the Month for June 2014 and for November 2016 and the Staff Choice for July 2014 and December 2020.</big>
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Test Freeplane and [https://sourceforge.net/projects/freeplane/reviews/ '''give your opinion'''].
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</center>
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==What it is==
 +
[[File:WhatIsMindMapping.jpg|thumb|right|[https://www.freeplane.org/mapsOnline/?map=WhatIsMindMapping.mm What is mind mapping]]]
 +
Freeplane is a free and open source software application that supports thinking, sharing information and getting things done at work, in school and at home.  The software can be used for [https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Mind_map '''mind mapping'''] and analyzing the information contained in mind maps. Freeplane runs on any operating system that has a current version of Java installed. It can be run locally or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portable_application portably] from removable storage like a USB drive.
  
 +
==Freeplane basics==
 +
<center>{{#ev:youtube|-5KH64Skpnc}}</center>
  
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The above download button loads Freeplane version 1.1.3. To load the development version 1.2.x go to the [http://freeplane.sourceforge.net/preview/ preview area]. The following text also describes features which apply to Freeplane 1.2.x only. For the more limited feautures of Freeplane 1.1.3, see [[Support]], [[FAQ]], the [[Freeplane 1.2.x-1.3.x| differences]] with Freeplane 1.2.x and consult the Documentation in the Help menu of Freeplane 1.1.3.  
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== Application areas==
 +
[[File:FreeplaneOverview_en.jpg|thumb|right|[https://www.freeplane.org/mapsOnline/?map=freeplaneApplications.mm Application areas] ]]
 +
Freeplane supports much more than classic static mind mapping. This is illustrated by the mind map ''Application areas'' on the right, which summarizes the kind of tasks supported by Freeplane. Click on the hyperlink below the image to navigate the map. Read the node called ''Caption'' to learn how to navigate the map and unhide hidden information. Click the node ''Demonstration creating a map'' to see how easy it is to make a map.
  
 +
In the center of the map, ''Application areas'' you see the central topic (root node) of the map. Extending from it are branches with subtopics (child nodes). At the border you see free topics (free nodes) which are independent of the root-tree. All topics can be formatted or styled and can contain text, hyperlinks, pictures and more; and can be connected with labelled lines or arrows. Also a topic (node) can represent hidden information which displays when the user wants it or can be automatically executed (formula). Content can also be password protected or connected to a particular time or filter.
 +
==Functions==
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[[File:freeplaneFunctions.jpg|thumb|right | [https://www.freeplane.org/mapsOnline/?map=freeplaneFunctions.mm Freeplane functions]]]
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<!-- [[File:freeplaneFunctions.jpg|thumb|right | [https://www.freeplane.org/mapsOnline/?map=Freeplane_FeatureMap.mm Freeplane features]]] -->
 +
Freeplane supports the above application areas with the following functions:
 +
* Note taking with freely positionable, unconnected nodes (like post-it’s);
 +
* Ordering ideas (nodes) into a hierarchy connected by lines (edges);
 +
* Classifying nodes with metadata (attributes) and style types (system styles, user defined styles, level styles);
 +
* Grouping nodes with visual containers (clouds) and accolade (summary node);
 +
* Connecting nodes with dynamic links, free lines (connectors) and labels;
 +
* Automatically styling nodes (with a bubble, color, edge type, etc.) according to hierarchical level and content (conditional styles, automatic edge color, level styles);
 +
* Structuring nodes in terms of content (text, scientific formula, calculation, icon, image and hyperlink) and presentation area (core, details, notes, attributes, images and tooltip);
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* Changing views by hiding content (folding branches, filtering, roll-up of details and hiding extensions in tooltip), finding, scrolling and navigating;
 +
* Tasking with calendar and reminders;
 +
* Password protecting of whole map and of individual nodes with DES encryption;
 +
* Ease of use with inline- and dialog editors, object oriented main menu, context menu’s, multi-language support, spell checker, properties panel, drag& drop functionality, hot keys, options for batch execution, publishing, sharing and selectable preferences;
 +
* [[Approximate_search|Approximate Search]] (similarity search) which allows to find search terms in a text, even if there is no ''exact'' match (e.g. "setup" = "set up" or "flie" = "file").
 +
* [[LaTeX_in_Freeplane|Support for LaTeX formulae]] underneath/in nodes
 +
* Easy extension of functionality with [[Add-ons|add-ons]] and home made [[Scripting|scripts]];
 +
* Integration with Docear academic literature suite;
 +
* Extensive support through Wiki and Forum; and tutorial and documentation in the form of a mind map.
  
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= What is Freeplane?  =
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The map called ''Freeplane functions'' illustrates the main functions of Freeplane. Besides it provides an index with hyperlinks to the tutorial an documentation where you can read more. The links are hidden at first, but become visible and can be clicked if you hover with the cursor over a function (node). This is another example of the power of Freeplane. (To experience these functions, open ''Help > Getting Started'' in the Freeplane program and select Index).
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[[File:FreeplaneOverview_en.jpg|thumb|right|[http://www.kioo.nl/freeplane/TasksWithFreeplane Application areas] ]]
 
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Freeplane is free and open source software to support thinking and sharing information and getting things done at work, in school and at home. The core of the software consists of functions for [http://www.informationtamers.com/WikIT/index.php?title=Information_map_types '''information mapping'''], also called [https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Mind_map '''mind mapping'''] or concept mapping, and tools for using mapped information. Freeplane supports much more than classic mind mapping. The kind of tasks supported by Freeplane are summarized in the map on the right. Click on the hyperlink below the image to navigate the map. Read the node called ''Caption'' to learn how to navigate the map and unhide hidden information.
 
  
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'''Note'''
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==Add-ons and Scripts==
−
In the center you see an elliptical form which contains the central topic (root node) of the map. Extending from it are branches with subtopics (child nodes). At the border you see free topics which are independent of the root-tree. All topics can be formatted or styled and can contain text, hyperlinks, pictures and more; and can be connected with labelled lines or arrows. Also a topic (node) can represent hidden information which shows when the user wants it or can be automatically executed (formula). Or content can be password protected or connected to a particular time or filter.
+
It is possible to extend the functionality of Freeplane using [[Add-ons]] and [[Scripting|scripts]]. You can make your own add-ons and scripts using the built in scripting language Groovy (based on JavaScript), and beginning with version 1.5 other languages, like python. Check page [[Add-ons_(install)]] for add-ons other users have made and shared. They can be downloaded and installed with a simple mouse click. [[Add-ons (Develop)|Instructions are available]] if you want  to make your own add-ons.
  
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=Why Freeplane?=
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==Presenting mind maps==
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[[File:WhyFP.jpg|thumb|right|[http://www.kioo.nl/freeplane/WhyFP Why Freeplane] ]]
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Once you have a mind map you may want to use and present it. RoAn-Presentation provides a combination of mind mapping with Powerpoint- and Prezi like presentation, using automatic filtering and zooming. Stepping the presentation not only unfolds nodes, but also displays hidden details, centers the current node and more. In short it supports traversing a mind map, taking over abundant clicking from the user. You may download and install addon RoAn-presentation
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Freeplane aims for maximum ease and speed of use. Occupying the middle ground between an editor and a diagramming tool, Freeplane allows the user to add content as quickly and naturally as they would in a text editor, yet producing structured content that can be manipulated as easily as a diagram. The workflow is unimpeded by the need to think about and manually place each piece of information; the user can intuitively input content as paragraphs and headings, and easily reorganise at a later stage. Freeplane maps can be easily integrated with Internet pages as in this wiki. And Freeplane is integrated with the [http://docear.org/details.php ''Docear academic literature suite'']. Check the [[Freeplane ratings page]].
+
[[Add-ons_%28install%29#Roan-Presentation|'''here''']].
  
−
Freeplane offers potential programmers a versatile scripting language. Programmers may easily develop powerful extensions and students are stimulated to learn programming in a natural and stimulating environment. Freeplane also has a powerful mechanism to install [[Add-ons|packages]] of scripts and other preferences.
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==Why you want it==
 +
[[File:WHY_Freeplane1.2Narrative.jpg|thumb|right| [https://www.freeplane.org/mapsOnline/?map=WhyFreeplane.mm Why Freeplane] ]]
  
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=Platforms and installation=
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Freeplane aims for maximum ease and speed of use. Occupying the middle ground between an editor and a diagramming tool, Freeplane allows the user to add content as quickly and naturally as they would in a text editor, yet producing structured content that can be manipulated as easily as a diagram. The workflow is unimpeded by the need to think about and manually place each piece of information; the user can intuitively input content as paragraphs and headings, and easily reorganise at a later stage. The width and other aspect of each topic (node) can be set independently and a node can be defined to behave indepently from the nodes in the tree structure, to be ''free positionable''. The use of adaptable styles makes formatting an easy job and conditional styles make it automatic. A growing set of node extensions provide for details, metadata, scalable images, in-line hyperlinks and more which can be independently controlled to be visible or not. Freeplane maps can be easily integrated with Internet pages as in this wiki. And Freeplane is integrated with the [http://docear.org ''Docear academic literature suite''].  Although Freeplane functionality is intended for non-programmers, the Freeplane project offers potential programmers a versatile [[Scripting:_Example_scripts| scripting]] language. Programmers may easily develop powerful extensions and students are stimulated to learn programming in a natural and stimulating environment. Freeplane also has a powerful mechanism to install [[Add-ons|packages]] of scripts, icons, images, language dictionaries for spell checking and other preferences including a different menu structure; and which can be used by non-programmers.
−
Freeplane is written in Java which is '''platform independent'''.  As a result Freeplane can be run on any operating system on which a current versions of Java is installed. It also runs from USB.  
 
  
−
The installation of Java for Windows is automatic if you use the download procedure above. This wiki contains special pages decribing the installation for  [[Macintosh]], [[Ubuntu]], [[Linux]], [[Portable_Freeplane| Portable Freeplane]] and [[Freeplane for Windows Mobile]].
+
Freeplane was created because of [http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Freemind_refactoring_plan short-comings] in the design of the popular open source mind mapping program [http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page Freemind].  Freeplane has been [[Relationship_to_FreeMind| refactored]] from Freemind to make its code and packages more modular, make it easier for new [[Contributors|software developers]] to contribute to Freeplane development, and to release new versions of Freeplane more often.  
  
−
Freeplane supports an increasingly number of [http://freeplane.sourceforge.net/cgi-bin/translist.cgi languages] are: Croatian, [[Mind_Map_Gallery/Dutch|Dutch]], English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Swedish. Each language potentially has a specific page at the [http://freeplane.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Mind_Map_Gallery Mind map gallery]. The English spell checker is installed by default. Consult the documentation to install the spell checker for other languages.
+
FreeMind users can have a look at the [[Freeplane features you were missing in FreeMind| list of the most helpful features]] missed in FreeMind and available in Freeplane.
  
 
=Documentation=
 
=Documentation=
−
Freeplane has an extensive user documentation. Part of this documentation is provided with the program, in menu Help. Another part is contained in the Freeplane wiki. And finally there is much information in three forums of the Freeplane community.
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[[File:FreeplaneTutorial_en.jpg|thumb|right|[https://www.freeplane.org/mapsOnline/?map=freeplaneTutorial.mm Tutorial] ]]
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[[File:FreeplaneTutorial_en.jpg|thumb|right|[http://www.kioo.nl/freeplane/tutorial_en Quick reference] ]]
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The versatility of Freeplane is demonstrated by the fact that the main user documentation is contained in mind maps. The mind map on the right shows the basic ''Tutorial'' for using Freeplane. The actual version of this map is contained in the Freeplane program in menu ''Help > Tutorial.''
−
* For the beginning user there a ''Quick reference'' in the Freeplane Help under ''Getting started''. And there is the wiki page ''[[Tutorial_Freeplane|Tutorial Freeplane]]'' with the basic principles of mind mapping and didactic examples. More examples  can be found at the wiki[[Mind_map_gallery| ''Mind map galleries'']]; they exist for different languages.
+
This wiki contains a page ''[[Freeplane_Tutorial_Extensions| Freeplane_Tutorial_Extensions]]'' with use cases which can be navigated or can be downloaded and extended. For some of the examples there are animations illustrating the making of the map. See [[:Category:Translation|Translated wiki pages]] if the page ''Freeplane Tutorial Extensions'' has been translated into your language. The advanced user is helped with detailed documentation in Freeplane's''Help > Documentation'' and by many specific wiki pages explaining things like ''[[Scripting]]'', ''[[Formulas]]'' and ''[[Add-ons]]''. The [[Mind_map_gallery| mind map galleries]] provide a place for sharing mind maps in several languages. Online help is available at the open Forum, see below. It is possible to create a high quality animation or video of using Freeplane, see [[Video's_and_animations_How-to| how to]].
 +
 
 +
==Freeplane books==
 +
* German: "Freeplane 1.3 kompakt" by Holger Reibold, ISBN: 978-3-95444-177-4.
  
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* For the advanced user the documentation contained in menu Help under ''Documentation''. This document contains a detailed description of all functions, limitations and examples.
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=Community=
  
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* For the professional user the wiki contains pages dedicated to ''[[Scripting]]'', ''[[Formulas]]'' and ''[[Add-ons]]''. The page on scripting contains useful scripts which you can use right away, without knowledge of the scripting language. Besides the page gives an introduction how to make your own scrips. Also the [[Mind_map_gallery| mind map galleries]] may provide ideas for mind maps.
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[[File:Nnako_CommunityStructure.png|thumb|right|link={{filepath:Nnako_CommunityStructure.png}}|community structure]]
  
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* For developers the wiki contains many pages, see [[Contributing_to_Freeplane's_Development| join the team]], [http://freeplane.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Category:Team_Freeplane Team Freeplane] and [http://freeplane.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Special:Categories Categories].
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Freeplane is a non-commercial project. It lives by our active and vibrant [[:Category:Community|community]], where we try to support each other in order to develop and provide an outstanding knowledge management application. Please, feel free to discuss Freeplane and its features with other interested Freeplane users. For this purpose, we provided two forums (see structure picture on the right):
  
−
=Community and developments=
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We invite you to do the following things:
−
Freeplane has its origin in [http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Freemind_refactoring_plan Freemind], [[Logo_and_splashscreen|read more]].  The initial software has been refatored to make it more modular and easy to contribute by new developers, and to increase the release cycle,  [http://freeplane.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Relationship_to_FreeMind read more...] New developments are communicated [[News| here]]. There are three forums. The first two are devided in a developers and a users part:
 
−
*[https://sourceforge.net/apps/phpbb/freeplane/viewforum.php?f=1 Main open forum]
 
−
*[https://sourceforge.net/projects/freeplane/forums/forum/758437 Old open forum]
 
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*[https://sourceforge.net/apps/mantisbt/freeplane/view_all_bug_page.php Place to ask for features and reporting bugs]
 
  
−
Freeplane is a non-commercial project which survives and is made possible due to the participation of many people around the world. [[Contributing to Freeplane's Development|'''Join us''']] as a developer, designer, screencast producer, text writer, translator, or forum moderator, see the Freeplane [http://freeplane.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Visions vision].
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in our '''[https://github.com/freeplane/freeplane/discussions OPEN DISCUSSION FORUM]'''
  
−
= Thanks =
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* discuss the usage of existing features
 +
* discuss the suitability of new features
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* discuss the development of [[Scripts_collection|existing scripts]] and new ones
 +
 
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New bug reports go into the [https://github.com/freeplane/freeplane/issues/new?template=bug_report.md bug reports]
 +
 
 +
New feature requests go into the [https://github.com/freeplane/freeplane/issues/new?template=feature_request.md feature requests]
 +
 
 +
Freeplane's old user forums are archived [https://sourceforge.net/p/freeplane/discussion/758437 here] and [https://www.freeplane.org/forum2012/viewforum.php?f=1 here].
  
−
Freeplane team uses:
 
  
−
*'''YourKit Java Profiler''' developed and donated by [http://www.yourkit.com YourKit], for analysis of memory consumption and performance issues
+
News about new features coming in future releases of Freeplane can be found on our [[Support#Freeplane_1.2.x| preview page]].
−
*Code analyser [http://stan4j.com stan4j], developed and donated by Odysseus Software GmbH
 
  
−
=This wiki=
+
To understand the Freeplane document structure (XML) and get it's XSD schema go to: [[Document Format |Document Format ]]
  
−
Many pages on this wiki are tagged ath the end of the page with Categories. You can click on the Category at the end of the page to display an index of all pages of the same Category. The main categories are summarized [[Index Wiki| here]].
+
To understand the the project goal, see the Freeplane [[Visions| vision]].
  
−
You are invited to use this wiki to share information and tips about Freeplane and its features. You can create new pages and edit all existing pages including this one after you [http://freeplane.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php?title=Special:UserLogin&returnto=Main_Page register and log in].
+
[[:Category:Community|Join]] the Freeplane [[Contributors|team]] not only as user but maybe as a
−
<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">NOTE: because of spammer attacks, editing of this wiki is now only allowed for registered wiki editors. If you want to become a wiki editor, [http://sourceforge.net/projects/freeplane/forums/forum/758437/topic/3960149 write] to the Freeplane team.</div>
+
* developer (coder and designer)
 +
* tester (writer of tutorials, screencasts and help texts)
 +
* translator (various languages)
 +
* forum moderator (care for a specific subject)
  
 +
= Artwork =
 +
[[File:Freeplane frame icon 32x32.png|top|border]] Artwork for Freeplane since version 1.3 is created by [http://havepencilwilltravel.com/artwork/ Robert Gibson]
  
−
You can subscribe to [http://freeplane.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php?title=Special:RecentChanges&feed=atom atom feed] to be informed about all changes in this wiki. Using [http://www.feedmyinbox.com/ this web service] you can get daily e-mail notifications whenever the content changes. The same service can also be used for notifications about any changes to the project pages on SourceForge.
+
= Thanks =
  
 +
Freeplane team uses:
  
 +
*Free and open source web based translation management system [https://weblate.org Weblate] developed and [https://hosted.weblate.org hosted] by [https://cihar.com/ Michal Čihař]
 +
*[https://www.yourkit.com/overview/index.jsp YourKit Java Profiler] developed and donated by [https://www.yourkit.com/company/index.jsp YourKit LLC], for analysis of memory consumption and performance issues
 +
*Code analyser [http://stan4j.com stan4j], developed and donated by Odysseus Software GmbH
  
−
[[Category:User_Documentation]][[Category:Tutorials]] [[Category:Team Freeplane]]
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[[Category:Developer]]

Latest revision as of 14:39, 25 June 2022

Index wiki

You can navigate this wiki in different ways. The navigation menu on the left directs you to main support areas. Pages on detailed topics can be found in the mind map Index wiki on the right. Many pages of this wiki are tagged at the end of the page with Categories. You can click on the Category at the end of the page to display an index of all pages of the same Category.

You are invited to use and contribute to this wiki, to share information and tips about Freeplane and its features. NOTE: because of spammer attacks, editing of this wiki is now only allowed for registered wiki editors. If you want to become a wiki editor, write to the Freeplane team which user name and e-mail you want to use for the registration. So we can create a new user account and let the wiki generate password and send it to the mail address you provide.

We use forum https://www.freeplane.org/forum for discussions and issue tracker https://www.freeplane.org/tickets for bug reports and feature requests. The old forum content is available read only at https://www.freeplane.org/forum2012 .

Read more...

Free mind mapping and knowledge management software

Download Freeplane

Download Freeplane now!
(this downloads the stable version 1.10.3)
change log  •  fixed security issues
Download last development versions (preview)
Try it and give your opinion.

Freeplane is a free mind mapping program under the GNU General Public License (GPL) version 2 or later.
See Support for installation instructions, language support and special buttons and keys for Macintosh.

Freeplane is the Community Choice Source Forge Project of the Month for June 2014 and for November 2016 and the Staff Choice for July 2014 and December 2020.

What it is

What is mind mapping

Freeplane is a free and open source software application that supports thinking, sharing information and getting things done at work, in school and at home. The software can be used for mind mapping and analyzing the information contained in mind maps. Freeplane runs on any operating system that has a current version of Java installed. It can be run locally or portably from removable storage like a USB drive.

Freeplane basics

Application areas

Application areas

Freeplane supports much more than classic static mind mapping. This is illustrated by the mind map Application areas on the right, which summarizes the kind of tasks supported by Freeplane. Click on the hyperlink below the image to navigate the map. Read the node called Caption to learn how to navigate the map and unhide hidden information. Click the node Demonstration creating a map to see how easy it is to make a map.

In the center of the map, Application areas you see the central topic (root node) of the map. Extending from it are branches with subtopics (child nodes). At the border you see free topics (free nodes) which are independent of the root-tree. All topics can be formatted or styled and can contain text, hyperlinks, pictures and more; and can be connected with labelled lines or arrows. Also a topic (node) can represent hidden information which displays when the user wants it or can be automatically executed (formula). Content can also be password protected or connected to a particular time or filter.

Functions

Freeplane functions

Freeplane supports the above application areas with the following functions:

  • Note taking with freely positionable, unconnected nodes (like post-it’s);
  • Ordering ideas (nodes) into a hierarchy connected by lines (edges);
  • Classifying nodes with metadata (attributes) and style types (system styles, user defined styles, level styles);
  • Grouping nodes with visual containers (clouds) and accolade (summary node);
  • Connecting nodes with dynamic links, free lines (connectors) and labels;
  • Automatically styling nodes (with a bubble, color, edge type, etc.) according to hierarchical level and content (conditional styles, automatic edge color, level styles);
  • Structuring nodes in terms of content (text, scientific formula, calculation, icon, image and hyperlink) and presentation area (core, details, notes, attributes, images and tooltip);
  • Changing views by hiding content (folding branches, filtering, roll-up of details and hiding extensions in tooltip), finding, scrolling and navigating;
  • Tasking with calendar and reminders;
  • Password protecting of whole map and of individual nodes with DES encryption;
  • Ease of use with inline- and dialog editors, object oriented main menu, context menu’s, multi-language support, spell checker, properties panel, drag& drop functionality, hot keys, options for batch execution, publishing, sharing and selectable preferences;
  • Approximate Search (similarity search) which allows to find search terms in a text, even if there is no exact match (e.g. "setup" = "set up" or "flie" = "file").
  • Support for LaTeX formulae underneath/in nodes
  • Easy extension of functionality with add-ons and home made scripts;
  • Integration with Docear academic literature suite;
  • Extensive support through Wiki and Forum; and tutorial and documentation in the form of a mind map.

The map called Freeplane functions illustrates the main functions of Freeplane. Besides it provides an index with hyperlinks to the tutorial an documentation where you can read more. The links are hidden at first, but become visible and can be clicked if you hover with the cursor over a function (node). This is another example of the power of Freeplane. (To experience these functions, open Help > Getting Started in the Freeplane program and select Index).

Add-ons and Scripts

It is possible to extend the functionality of Freeplane using Add-ons and scripts. You can make your own add-ons and scripts using the built in scripting language Groovy (based on JavaScript), and beginning with version 1.5 other languages, like python. Check page Add-ons_(install) for add-ons other users have made and shared. They can be downloaded and installed with a simple mouse click. Instructions are available if you want to make your own add-ons.

Presenting mind maps

Once you have a mind map you may want to use and present it. RoAn-Presentation provides a combination of mind mapping with Powerpoint- and Prezi like presentation, using automatic filtering and zooming. Stepping the presentation not only unfolds nodes, but also displays hidden details, centers the current node and more. In short it supports traversing a mind map, taking over abundant clicking from the user. You may download and install addon RoAn-presentation here.

Why you want it

Why Freeplane

Freeplane aims for maximum ease and speed of use. Occupying the middle ground between an editor and a diagramming tool, Freeplane allows the user to add content as quickly and naturally as they would in a text editor, yet producing structured content that can be manipulated as easily as a diagram. The workflow is unimpeded by the need to think about and manually place each piece of information; the user can intuitively input content as paragraphs and headings, and easily reorganise at a later stage. The width and other aspect of each topic (node) can be set independently and a node can be defined to behave indepently from the nodes in the tree structure, to be free positionable. The use of adaptable styles makes formatting an easy job and conditional styles make it automatic. A growing set of node extensions provide for details, metadata, scalable images, in-line hyperlinks and more which can be independently controlled to be visible or not. Freeplane maps can be easily integrated with Internet pages as in this wiki. And Freeplane is integrated with the Docear academic literature suite. Although Freeplane functionality is intended for non-programmers, the Freeplane project offers potential programmers a versatile scripting language. Programmers may easily develop powerful extensions and students are stimulated to learn programming in a natural and stimulating environment. Freeplane also has a powerful mechanism to install packages of scripts, icons, images, language dictionaries for spell checking and other preferences including a different menu structure; and which can be used by non-programmers.

Freeplane was created because of short-comings in the design of the popular open source mind mapping program Freemind. Freeplane has been refactored from Freemind to make its code and packages more modular, make it easier for new software developers to contribute to Freeplane development, and to release new versions of Freeplane more often.

FreeMind users can have a look at the list of the most helpful features missed in FreeMind and available in Freeplane.

Documentation

Tutorial

The versatility of Freeplane is demonstrated by the fact that the main user documentation is contained in mind maps. The mind map on the right shows the basic Tutorial for using Freeplane. The actual version of this map is contained in the Freeplane program in menu Help > Tutorial. This wiki contains a page Freeplane_Tutorial_Extensions with use cases which can be navigated or can be downloaded and extended. For some of the examples there are animations illustrating the making of the map. See Translated wiki pages if the page Freeplane Tutorial Extensions has been translated into your language. The advanced user is helped with detailed documentation in Freeplane'sHelp > Documentation and by many specific wiki pages explaining things like Scripting, Formulas and Add-ons. The mind map galleries provide a place for sharing mind maps in several languages. Online help is available at the open Forum, see below. It is possible to create a high quality animation or video of using Freeplane, see how to.

Freeplane books

  • German: "Freeplane 1.3 kompakt" by Holger Reibold, ISBN: 978-3-95444-177-4.

Community

community structure

Freeplane is a non-commercial project. It lives by our active and vibrant community, where we try to support each other in order to develop and provide an outstanding knowledge management application. Please, feel free to discuss Freeplane and its features with other interested Freeplane users. For this purpose, we provided two forums (see structure picture on the right):

We invite you to do the following things:

in our OPEN DISCUSSION FORUM

  • discuss the usage of existing features
  • discuss the suitability of new features
  • discuss the development of existing scripts and new ones

New bug reports go into the bug reports

New feature requests go into the feature requests

Freeplane's old user forums are archived here and here.


News about new features coming in future releases of Freeplane can be found on our preview page.

To understand the Freeplane document structure (XML) and get it's XSD schema go to: Document Format

To understand the the project goal, see the Freeplane vision.

Join the Freeplane team not only as user but maybe as a

  • developer (coder and designer)
  • tester (writer of tutorials, screencasts and help texts)
  • translator (various languages)
  • forum moderator (care for a specific subject)

Artwork

Freeplane frame icon 32x32.png Artwork for Freeplane since version 1.3 is created by Robert Gibson

Thanks

Freeplane team uses:

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