Mindjet MindManager Pro 9 review

As well as simply creating nodes, lists and basic mind map structures, MindManager lets you drag hyperlinks, plus folder and document shortcuts directly to the map, either as items in their own right or attachments to list items or nodes. Better still, if you click on one of those nodes, you can have it displayed directly within the MindManager interface, completely editable, with all the toolbars apart from the File tab available for use.

Each item or node can also be allocated task information, and you can send items to Outlook as appointments as you go or to your task list, complete with interactive, clickable progress icons. Even more impressive than this, is MindManager's resource management and built in Gantt chart project management view (in previous versions the project management element was bundled as a separate application). As you build up your map and send appointments to team members, MindManager recognises invitees as Resources, and then allows you to generate a graphical, timeline-based view of ongoing projects and tasks.

You don't have to keep your mind maps to yourself either, with a host of output and sharing options available. You can output a map as a flat or interactive PDF, an SWF for hosting in a Flash player on a website, a Microsoft Word file or even as a collection of HTML pages. And you can publish it, via a link to the MindManager Player, on Facebook, WordPress, Twitter, LinkedIn and a huge range of other predefined online services. Finally, when the time comes to present your plan to the board MindManager has a presentation slide view, allowing you to display your mind map in a projector-friendly format. It even lets you export a PowerPoint .PPT file of your map, complete with expandable and collapsible controls.

If you've half a mind to try mind mapping we'd urge you to give the 30-day trial of Mind Manager 9 a whirl. It's a great piece of software - powerful, flexible and crammed with features - and it's so easy to use and accessible that you may well find yourself using it far more than you originally intended. The one sticking point is that the price is a tad high, but for a business tool this effective, it's worth it.

Author: Jonathan Bray