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Freemind: Open Source Mind-Mapping Software
Chapter 2: Getting Started
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Freemind operates in the “mind map” mode. Before creating
a new mind map, you should be aware of some common
terminologies used in Freemind. A node is a text box that is
used to store information. Nodes are connected together
using curved lines called edges. When you create a new
mind map in Freemind, you will notice a grey, oval shaped
node with a label “New Mindmap”. This is the root node.
You will build your map by adding nodes to the root node.
The root node is currently selected when it is highlighted in
grey color. Clicking on it will open the text for editing.
A child node originates from the parent node and is
positioned 1 level lower than the parent node. A sibling
node is positioned at the same level as its reference node. For
example, when a sibling node is created for a child node, it is
positioned at the same level as that of the child node. A root
node can only have child nodes. Other nodes can have both
child and sibling nodes.
As you build your map, you can set colors, sizes, fonts and
other attributes to emphasize nodes and edges. This helps
you to customize your map. For example, you can use
clouds to group together the interrelated nodes, colors to
differentiate between completed tasks and remaining tasks,
and icons to prioritize a node.
Nodes can be "folded" or "unfolded" by clicking on them.
Unfolding a node displays the nodes below it. You can also
insert, delete, and rearrange nodes quickly. Most of the
options also have keyboard shortcuts.
