Mind maps

A mind map starts from one idea, its title, with branches out from it. Use one to plan something, think a problem through, or gather what you know on a topic. Any branch can be a plain idea, a link to a todo, project, pillar, journal entry or article, or turned into a new todo or project that keeps its place in the map.

To open your mind maps, select Workspace on your dashboard, then Mind Maps.

Make a mind map

On Mind Maps, type a title in New mind map.
Select New Mind Map.

To make one about a project or pillar, open it and select New Mind Map at the bottom of its page. The new map is named for it and linked to it.

Add and arrange branches

The map is on the left and the outline on the right, with the selected branch’s details under it. On a phone there is only the outline. The first line is the map’s title; each line under it is a branch.

Press Enter to add a branch after the one you’re on.
Press Tab to move a branch under the one above it, and Shift+Tab to move it back out.
Press Alt+↑ or Alt+↓ to move a branch up or down.
Press Backspace on an empty branch to delete it.
Select the arrow beside a branch to fold its branches away, or show them again.

On the map, select a branch, then select it again or press F2 to rename it. Press Tab to add a branch under it, or Enter to add one beside it.

Changes are saved as you go. The note by the title says “Saving…”, then “Saved”.

Notes, todos and links

Select a branch to see its panel.

Type in Note to add a note to the branch. Branches with a note show a small mark on the map.
Select Make Todo to turn the branch into a todo. If the map is linked to one project, the todo goes into it.
Select Make Project to turn the branch into a project. If the map is linked to one pillar, the project goes under it.
Select Link to…, find the item, and select it to link the branch to something you already have.
On a linked branch, select Open to go to the item, or Unlink to make it a plain idea again.
Select Delete Branch to delete it. If it has branches under it, you’re asked first.

A linked branch always shows the item’s own title, and a todo shows as done once it’s completed. To rename it, rename the item.

On a phone

The outline shows without the map. Select ⋯ on a branch for its actions.

Who can do this

Every member of the brain.

If something goes wrong

“This map was changed in another tab or by someone else.” Select Reload to see the latest version, then make your change again.
“Not saved. Retrying…” The change couldn’t be saved yet. It’s tried again by itself; check your connection.
“A mind map can have 500 branches at most.” Delete some branches, or start another map.
“That todo wasn’t made. Please try again.” Nothing was changed. Select Make Todo again.
“Not found” by a branch: the item it linked to was deleted, or you can’t see it.
“Editing a mind map needs scripts turned on.” Turn on JavaScript in your browser to edit; without it you can read the map as a list.