Current Freeplane File Format

Original FreeMind File Format

The original FreeMind format was never described completely formally, but there is some documentation:

• Freeplane's file format is described in the Wiki.
• There is a schema validation in SVN (integration branch), with a latest revision.

Note 

the above documentation is outdated in regard to elements introduced by Freeplane, like connector labels, attributes, scripts, user icons and (scalable) images embedded in the map.

Freeplane's version of it

The following schema takes the schema pointed at in the previous chapter and completes it with Freeplane specific extensions (in bold for easy identification):

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<xs:schema xmlns:xs="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" elementFormDefault="qualified">

 <xs:element name='Parameters'>
  <xs:complexType>
	  <!--Is the time management plugin.-->
   <xs:attribute name='REMINDUSERAT' type='xs:integer' use='optional'/>
  </xs:complexType>
 </xs:element>

 <!--Used for node notes.-->
 <xs:element name='text'>
  <xs:complexType/>
 </xs:element>

 <!-- BEGIN ATTRIBUTES -->

 <xs:element name='attribute_value'>
  <xs:complexType>
   <xs:attribute name='VALUE' type='xs:string' use='required'/>
  </xs:complexType>
 </xs:element>

 <xs:element name='attribute_name'>
  <xs:complexType>
   <xs:choice minOccurs='0' maxOccurs='unbounded'>
    <xs:element ref='attribute_value'/>
   </xs:choice>
   <xs:attribute name='NAME' type='xs:string' use='required'/>
   <xs:attribute name='MANUAL' type='xs:boolean' use='optional' />
   <xs:attribute name='RESTRICTED' type='xs:boolean' use='optional' />
   <xs:attribute name='VISIBLE' type='xs:boolean' use='optional' />
  </xs:complexType>
 </xs:element>

 <xs:element name='attribute_registry'>
  <xs:complexType>
   <xs:choice minOccurs='0' maxOccurs='unbounded'>
    <xs:element ref='attribute_name'/>
   </xs:choice>
   <xs:attribute name='SHOW_ATTRIBUTES' use='optional'>
    <xs:simpleType>
     <xs:restriction base='xs:string'>
      <xs:enumeration value='selected'/>
      <xs:enumeration value='hide'/>
     </xs:restriction>
    </xs:simpleType>
   </xs:attribute>
  </xs:complexType>
 </xs:element>

 <xs:element name='attribute_layout'>
  <xs:complexType>
   <xs:attribute name='NAME_WIDTH'  type='xs:integer' use='optional'/>
   <xs:attribute name='VALUE_WIDTH' type='xs:integer' use='optional'/>
  </xs:complexType>
 </xs:element>

 <xs:element name='attribute'>
  <xs:complexType>
   <xs:attribute name='NAME'  type='xs:string' use='required'/>
   <xs:attribute name='VALUE' type='xs:string' use='required'/>
  </xs:complexType>
 </xs:element>

 <!-- END ATTRIBUTES -->

 <xs:element name='arrowlink'>
  <xs:complexType>
   <xs:attribute name='COLOR' type='xs:string' use='optional'/>
   <xs:attribute name='DESTINATION' type='xs:string' use='required'/>
   <xs:attribute name='ENDARROW' type='xs:string' use='optional'/>
   <xs:attribute name='ENDINCLINATION' type='xs:string' use='optional'/>
   <xs:attribute name='ID' type='xs:string' use='optional'/>
   <xs:attribute name='STARTARROW' type='xs:string' use='optional'/>
   <xs:attribute name='STARTINCLINATION' type='xs:string' use='optional'/>
   <xs:attribute name='SOURCE_LABEL' type='xs:string' use='optional'/>
   <xs:attribute name='MIDDLE_LABEL' type='xs:string' use='optional'/>
   <xs:attribute name='TARGET_LABEL' type='xs:string' use='optional'/>
   <xs:attribute name='EDGE_LIKE' type='xs:boolean' use='optional'/>
  </xs:complexType>
 </xs:element>

 <xs:element name='cloud'>
  <xs:complexType>
   <xs:attribute name='COLOR' type='xs:string' use='optional'/>
   <xs:attribute name='WIDTH' type='xs:integer' use='optional'/>
  </xs:complexType>
 </xs:element>

 <xs:element name='edge'>
  <xs:complexType>
   <xs:attribute name='COLOR' type='xs:string' use='optional'/>
   <xs:attribute name='STYLE' type='xs:string' use='optional'/>
   <xs:attribute name='WIDTH' type='xs:string' use='optional'/>
  </xs:complexType>
 </xs:element>

 <xs:element name='font'>
  <xs:complexType>
   <xs:attribute name='BOLD' use='optional'>
    <xs:simpleType>
     <xs:restriction base='xs:string'>
      <xs:enumeration value='true'/>
      <xs:enumeration value='false'/>
     </xs:restriction>
    </xs:simpleType>
   </xs:attribute>
   <xs:attribute name='ITALIC' use='optional'>
    <xs:simpleType>
     <xs:restriction base='xs:string'>
      <xs:enumeration value='true'/>
      <xs:enumeration value='false'/>
     </xs:restriction>
    </xs:simpleType>
   </xs:attribute>
   <xs:attribute name='NAME' type='xs:string' use='optional'/>
   <xs:attribute name='SIZE' type='xs:integer' use='optional'/>
  </xs:complexType>
 </xs:element>

 <xs:element name='hook'>
  <xs:complexType>
   <xs:sequence>
    <xs:element ref='Parameters' minOccurs='0' maxOccurs='1'/>
    <xs:element ref='text' minOccurs='0' maxOccurs='1'/>
   </xs:sequence>
   <xs:attribute name='NAME' type='xs:string' use='required'/>
   <!-- for embedded images NAME="ExternalObject" -->
   <xs:attribute name='URI'  type='xs:anyURI' use='optional'/>
   <xs:attribute name='SIZE' type='xs:decimal' use='optional'/>
   <!-- for map config info NAME="MapStyle" -->
   <xs:attribute name='max_node_width'  type='xs:integer' use='optional'/>
   <xs:attribute name='zoom' type='xs:decimal' use='optional'/>
   <!-- for equations NAME="plugins/latex/LatexNodeHook.properties" -->
   <xs:attribute name='EQUATION' type='xs:string' use='optional'/>
  </xs:complexType>
 </xs:element>

 <xs:element name='icon'>
  <xs:complexType>
   <xs:attribute name='BUILTIN' type='xs:string' use='required'/>
  </xs:complexType>
 </xs:element>

 <xs:element name='html'>
  <xs:complexType>
   <xs:sequence>
    <!--Anything that is valid XML, but should be http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml -->
    <xs:any namespace="##any" minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="unbounded" processContents="skip"/>
   </xs:sequence>
  </xs:complexType>
 </xs:element>

 <xs:element name='richcontent'>
  <xs:complexType>
   <!-- And contains XHTML as unique child:-->
   <xs:sequence>
    <xs:element ref='html' minOccurs='1' maxOccurs='1'/>
   </xs:sequence>
   <!--Currently, only NODE or NOTE is allowed.-->
   <xs:attribute name='TYPE' use='required'>
    <xs:simpleType>
     <xs:restriction base='xs:string'>
      <xs:enumeration value='NODE'/>
      <xs:enumeration value='NOTE'/>
     </xs:restriction>
    </xs:simpleType>
   </xs:attribute>
  </xs:complexType>
 </xs:element>

 <xs:element name='map'>
  <xs:complexType>
   <xs:sequence>
    <xs:element ref='attribute_registry' minOccurs='0' maxOccurs='1'/>
    <xs:element ref='node' minOccurs='1' maxOccurs='1' />
   </xs:sequence>
   <xs:attribute name='version' type='xs:string' use='required'/>
  </xs:complexType>
 </xs:element>

 <xs:element name='node'>
  <xs:complexType>
   <xs:choice minOccurs='0' maxOccurs='unbounded'>
    <xs:element ref='arrowlink'/>
    <xs:element ref='cloud'/>
    <xs:element ref='edge'/>
    <xs:element ref='font'/>
    <xs:element ref='hook'/>
    <xs:element ref='icon'/>
    <xs:element ref='node'/>
    <!-- For nodes with extended formatting content or for notes to nodes. -->
    <xs:element ref='richcontent'/>
    <xs:element ref='attribute_layout'/>
    <xs:element ref='attribute'/>
   </xs:choice>
   <xs:attribute name='BACKGROUND_COLOR' type='xs:string' use='optional'/>
   <xs:attribute name='COLOR' type='xs:string' use='optional'/>
   <xs:attribute name='FOLDED' use='optional'>
    <xs:simpleType>
     <xs:restriction base='xs:string'>
      <xs:enumeration value='true'/>
      <xs:enumeration value='false'/>
     </xs:restriction>
    </xs:simpleType>
   </xs:attribute>
   <xs:attribute name='ID' type='xs:ID' use='optional'/>
   <xs:attribute name='LINK' type='xs:string' use='optional'/>
   <xs:attribute name='POSITION' use='optional'>
    <xs:simpleType>
     <xs:restriction base='xs:string'>
      <xs:enumeration value='left'/>
      <xs:enumeration value='right'/>
     </xs:restriction>
    </xs:simpleType>
   </xs:attribute>
   <xs:attribute name='STYLE' type='xs:string' use='optional'/>
   <xs:attribute name='TEXT' type='xs:string' use='optional'/>
   <xs:attribute name='CREATED' type='xs:integer' use='optional'/>
   <xs:attribute name='MODIFIED' type='xs:integer' use='optional'/>
   <xs:attribute name='HGAP' type='xs:integer' use='optional'/>
   <xs:attribute name='VGAP' type='xs:integer' use='optional'/>
   <xs:attribute name='VSHIFT' type='xs:integer' use='optional'/>
   <xs:attribute name='ENCRYPTED_CONTENT' type='xs:string' use='optional'/>
  </xs:complexType>
 </xs:element>
</xs:schema>

Mapping between old and new format

WiP

Mapping between old and new format

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <xs:schema xmlns:xs="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" elementFormDefault="qualified">	not relevant
<xs:element name='Parameters'> <xs:complexType> <!--Is the time management plugin.--> <xs:attribute name='REMINDUSERAT' type='xs:integer' use='optional'/> </xs:complexType> </xs:element>	Replaced by parameter node:reminder="dateTime" to node:node (this limits the number of reminders to one per node but Freeplane can't anyway handle more than one).
<!--Used for node notes.--> <xs:element name='text'> <xs:complexType/> </xs:element>	Obsolete - all nodes are "rich"
<!-- BEGIN ATTRIBUTES --> <xs:element name='attribute_value'> <xs:complexType> <xs:attribute name='VALUE' type='xs:string' use='required'/> </xs:complexType> </xs:element> <xs:element name='attribute_name'> <xs:complexType> <xs:choice minOccurs='0' maxOccurs='unbounded'> <xs:element ref='attribute_value'/> </xs:choice> <xs:attribute name='NAME' type='xs:string' use='required'/> <xs:attribute name='MANUAL' type='xs:boolean' use='optional' /> <xs:attribute name='RESTRICTED' type='xs:boolean' use='optional' /> <xs:attribute name='VISIBLE' type='xs:boolean' use='optional' /> </xs:complexType> </xs:element> <xs:element name='attribute_registry'> <xs:complexType> <xs:choice minOccurs='0' maxOccurs='unbounded'> <xs:element ref='attribute_name'/> </xs:choice> <xs:attribute name='SHOW_ATTRIBUTES' use='optional'> <xs:simpleType> <xs:restriction base='xs:string'> <xs:enumeration value='selected'/> <xs:enumeration value='hide'/> </xs:restriction> </xs:simpleType> </xs:attribute> </xs:complexType> </xs:element> <xs:element name='attribute_layout'> <xs:complexType> <xs:attribute name='NAME_WIDTH' type='xs:integer' use='optional'/> <xs:attribute name='VALUE_WIDTH' type='xs:integer' use='optional'/> </xs:complexType> </xs:element> <xs:element name='attribute'> <xs:complexType> <xs:attribute name='NAME' type='xs:string' use='required'/> <xs:attribute name='VALUE' type='xs:string' use='required'/> </xs:complexType> </xs:element> <!-- END ATTRIBUTES -->	TBD - attributes are still to be done
<xs:element name='arrowlink'> <xs:complexType> <xs:attribute name='COLOR' type='xs:string' use='optional'/> <xs:attribute name='DESTINATION' type='xs:string' use='required'/> <xs:attribute name='ENDARROW' type='xs:string' use='optional'/> <xs:attribute name='ENDINCLINATION' type='xs:string' use='optional'/> <xs:attribute name='ID' type='xs:string' use='optional'/> <xs:attribute name='STARTARROW' type='xs:string' use='optional'/> <xs:attribute name='STARTINCLINATION' type='xs:string' use='optional'/> <xs:attribute name='SOURCE_LABEL' type='xs:string' use='optional'/> <xs:attribute name='MIDDLE_LABEL' type='xs:string' use='optional'/> <xs:attribute name='TARGET_LABEL' type='xs:string' use='optional'/> <xs:attribute name='EDGE_LIKE' type='xs:boolean' use='optional'/> </xs:complexType> </xs:element>	Replaced by element <draw:connector ... /> with attributes draw:start-shape="ID" draw:color="#rrggbb" draw:end-shape="ID" map:start-arrow="true|false" map:end-arrow="true|false" xml:id="ID" map:start-inclination="int;int;" map:end-inclination="int;int;" draw:style="normal|edge-like" And with possible sub-nodes: <map:start-label>...</map:start-label> <svg:title>...</svg:title> (or svg:desc?!) <map:end-label>...</map:end-label>
<xs:element name='cloud'> <xs:complexType> <xs:attribute name='COLOR' type='xs:string' use='optional'/> <xs:attribute name='WIDTH' type='xs:integer' use='optional'/> </xs:complexType> </xs:element>	Replaced by element <node:cloud ... /> with attributes draw:color="#rrggbb" (WIDTH parameter isn't used currently and is always 0)
<xs:element name='edge'> <xs:complexType> <xs:attribute name='COLOR' type='xs:string' use='optional'/> <xs:attribute name='STYLE' type='xs:string' use='optional'/> <xs:attribute name='WIDTH' type='xs:string' use='optional'/> </xs:complexType> </xs:element>	Replaced by element <node:edge ... /> with attributes draw:color="#rrggbb" draw:style="linear|sharp-linear|bezier|sharp-bezier|horizontal" draw:stroke="solid|none" svg:stroke-width="length" (Freeplane uses only integers) Note those attributes should be moved to a <style:style> element that defines a style with the family value of graphic, and referenced by name through the draw:style-name attribute.
<xs:element name='font'> <xs:complexType> <xs:attribute name='BOLD' use='optional'> <xs:simpleType> <xs:restriction base='xs:string'> <xs:enumeration value='true'/> <xs:enumeration value='false'/> </xs:restriction> </xs:simpleType> </xs:attribute> <xs:attribute name='ITALIC' use='optional'> <xs:simpleType> <xs:restriction base='xs:string'> <xs:enumeration value='true'/> <xs:enumeration value='false'/> </xs:restriction> </xs:simpleType> </xs:attribute> <xs:attribute name='NAME' type='xs:string' use='optional'/> <xs:attribute name='SIZE' type='xs:integer' use='optional'/> </xs:complexType> </xs:element> <xs:element name='hook'> <xs:complexType> <xs:sequence> <xs:element ref='Parameters' minOccurs='0' maxOccurs='1'/> <xs:element ref='text' minOccurs='0' maxOccurs='1'/> </xs:sequence> <xs:attribute name='NAME' type='xs:string' use='required'/> <!-- for embedded images NAME="ExternalObject" --> <xs:attribute name='URI' type='xs:anyURI' use='optional'/> <xs:attribute name='SIZE' type='xs:decimal' use='optional'/> <!-- for map config info NAME="MapStyle" --> <xs:attribute name='max_node_width' type='xs:integer' use='optional'/> <xs:attribute name='zoom' type='xs:decimal' use='optional'/> <!-- for equations NAME="plugins/latex/LatexNodeHook.properties" --> <xs:attribute name='EQUATION' type='xs:string' use='optional'/> </xs:complexType> </xs:element> <xs:element name='icon'> <xs:complexType> <xs:attribute name='BUILTIN' type='xs:string' use='required'/> </xs:complexType> </xs:element> <xs:element name='html'> <xs:complexType> <xs:sequence> <!--Anything that is valid XML, but should be http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml --> <xs:any namespace="##any" minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="unbounded" processContents="skip"/> </xs:sequence> </xs:complexType> </xs:element> <xs:element name='richcontent'> <xs:complexType> <!-- And contains XHTML as unique child:--> <xs:sequence> <xs:element ref='html' minOccurs='1' maxOccurs='1'/> </xs:sequence> <!--Currently, only NODE or NOTE is allowed.--> <xs:attribute name='TYPE' use='required'> <xs:simpleType> <xs:restriction base='xs:string'> <xs:enumeration value='NODE'/> <xs:enumeration value='NOTE'/> </xs:restriction> </xs:simpleType> </xs:attribute> </xs:complexType> </xs:element> <xs:element name='map'> <xs:complexType> <xs:sequence> <xs:element ref='attribute_registry' minOccurs='0' maxOccurs='1'/> <xs:element ref='node' minOccurs='1' maxOccurs='1' /> </xs:sequence> <xs:attribute name='version' type='xs:string' use='required'/> </xs:complexType> </xs:element> <xs:element name='node'> <xs:complexType> <xs:choice minOccurs='0' maxOccurs='unbounded'> <xs:element ref='arrowlink'/> <xs:element ref='cloud'/> <xs:element ref='edge'/> <xs:element ref='font'/> <xs:element ref='hook'/> <xs:element ref='icon'/> <xs:element ref='node'/> <!-- For nodes with extended formatting content or for notes to nodes. --> <xs:element ref='richcontent'/> <xs:element ref='attribute_layout'/> <xs:element ref='attribute'/> </xs:choice> <xs:attribute name='BACKGROUND_COLOR' type='xs:string' use='optional'/> <xs:attribute name='COLOR' type='xs:string' use='optional'/> <xs:attribute name='FOLDED' use='optional'> <xs:simpleType> <xs:restriction base='xs:string'> <xs:enumeration value='true'/> <xs:enumeration value='false'/> </xs:restriction> </xs:simpleType> </xs:attribute> <xs:attribute name='ID' type='xs:ID' use='optional'/> <xs:attribute name='LINK' type='xs:string' use='optional'/> <xs:attribute name='POSITION' use='optional'> <xs:simpleType> <xs:restriction base='xs:string'> <xs:enumeration value='left'/> <xs:enumeration value='right'/> </xs:restriction> </xs:simpleType> </xs:attribute> <xs:attribute name='STYLE' type='xs:string' use='optional'/> <xs:attribute name='TEXT' type='xs:string' use='optional'/> <xs:attribute name='CREATED' type='xs:integer' use='optional'/> <xs:attribute name='MODIFIED' type='xs:integer' use='optional'/> <xs:attribute name='HGAP' type='xs:integer' use='optional'/> <xs:attribute name='VGAP' type='xs:integer' use='optional'/> <xs:attribute name='VSHIFT' type='xs:integer' use='optional'/> <xs:attribute name='ENCRYPTED_CONTENT' type='xs:string' use='optional'/> </xs:complexType> </xs:element> </xs:schema>