![plain text workflow plain text workflow](https://hangconsult.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/workflow007.png)
Mind maps are excellent for brainstorming (for me), but looking at one later can be mind-boggling if it’s too random. Once I have an idea fleshed out as a mind map, I need to convert it to an outline or text document again. To make up for that, I’m going to do a follow-up article entirely about brainstorming in Curio. This allows me to go from Markdown to mind map and back without worrying about having to manually re-type things later.Īddendum: I can’t believe I wrote this whole thing and forgot to include one of my favorite brainstorming applications, Curio. Most of the apps I use accept plain text import and export, as well as OPML as a transport. One thing to consider in any mind mapping app is the portability of your data. There are plenty of other options to explore, though, including Mindmeister for iPad, iBlueSky and Maptini. When I do need to map out an idea on iOS, the best app I’ve found is iThoughtsHD.
#Plain text workflow full#
I’m very impressed so far, and will likely be doing a full review in short order. Other options to look at include Delineato Pro, OmniGraffle, and Scapple, among mentioned iThoughtsX on Twitter ( app site), so I downloaded it to check it out. It handles metadata, notes, tasks, images and more, and has amazing features for live collaboration, change tracking and presentation.
![plain text workflow plain text workflow](https://unito.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Workflow-Process-1600x745.jpg)
MindMeister A web-based mind mapping application that I use whenever I need to collaborate or share a map. Mindjet MindManager A more expensive but very robust application that allows me to add notes to topics, link files and urls, create tasks and due dates, add metadata for associating tasks, drill down to filtered views and more. It can’t handle notes, tags, file links, etc., but for rapid brainstorming it’s an affordable and capable option. While there are a slew of options available, my preferred apps are: MindNode A simple mind mapping application with great keyboard navigation. Speed is of essence for me, and a desktop platform is best for quickly navigating and popping in ideas. My preferred platform for mind mapping is OS X.
#Plain text workflow mac#
There are a variety available for both Mac and iOS (and Android). You can do it with pencil (or markers) and paper, but I find it most effective when I use an application to do it. If you’ve never mind mapped before, it’s easy to get started. Mind mapping allows me to quickly add ideas to any part of the idea and reorganize on the fly.
![plain text workflow plain text workflow](https://blogs.sap.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/image-20-1024x504-1.png)
I put together a script for making the conversion from Markdown to a mind map dead simple. Once I have a quick outline, I convert this to a mind map for speedier brainstorming. I save my photos to disk using Dropbox’s camera import, and then manually rebuild notes as text or embed a sketch into a mind map. On occasions where an index card or napkin makes more sense for quick capture, I’ll usually just snap a photo of the result using the iOS camera app or KitCam (no longer available on the app store). I use Drafts on my iPhone to append ideas to a Markdown file on the go, and nvALT on my desktop to brainstorm from scratch or further develop a note from Drafts. Most of my scribbles are plain text, usually formatted as a Markdown list if it’s more than just a single line. My ideas almost always start as “scribbles,” whether it’s a single-line note to myself, a sketch, or a quick Markdown outline.
#Plain text workflow free#
Feel free to mention your favorite alternative in the comments! I’m not going to list every possible application, but I’ll offer a few to explore. I mention a few apps in this post for which there are a dozen alternatives. None of them will be a perfect fit for anyone else, but the bits and pieces can be organized into a workflow that suits just about every need. This post expounds a bit on my various brainstorming workflows.