Review: ConceptDraw MINDMAP 4

ConceptDraw MINDMAP 4, $199
CS Odessa
http://www.conceptdraw.com/en/products/mindmap/main.php

ConceptDraw MINDMAP is a mind-mapping package built on the foundation of the basic Visio-like ConceptDraw Professional package (which I reviewed a while back). The result is a mix: you get some dedicated mind-mapping functionality, but if you want to bang out a quick network diagram or organization chart you can do that too. Indeed, you can drop shapes from any of the ConceptDraw libraries on a mind map, as well as use its general-purpose drawing tools to tweak things.

ConceptDraw MINDMAP offers several different ways to get started without the "blank page" syndrome. There's an assistant that will prompt you for a central topic and subtopics to give you the start of a new map, along with choices for initial graphics. There's a mindmapping template that loads up an initial topic in the middle and a series of libraries with common shapes. There's also a brainstorming mode that lets you develop an outline of topics and subtopics that you can quickly flip back and forth to a mindmap; edits in either the outline view or the graphical mind map view are represented in the other.

Graphically, you have control over fonts and colors and icons and placement of everything. There are also, as I mentioned, good tools for freeform drawing and libraries of extra shapes to add to dress up the mind maps. Other little touches include floating topics that don't connect to the rest of the map and the addition of text notes to any topic. ConceptDraw MINDMAP also includes OLE object support so you can link and embed other objects in a mind map. You can export the finished product to several formats, including Microsoft Project and ConceptDraw's own Project format, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word outline, PDF, or HTML.

Overall, ConceptDraw MINDMAP does a perfectly fine job of constructing mind maps and other diagrams. It lacks some of the more advanced capabilities of MindJet's MindManager, notably the latter's tight integration with other products in the Microsoft menagerie. But if your budget runs to only one program for general-purpose diagramming and mind-mapping, this is a solid contender.

  Click for larger screenshot

Mike Gunderloy is the lead developer for Larkware and author of numerous books and articles on programming topics.

Published October 17, 2005