1 \documentclass{article}
3 \usepackage[latin1]{inputenc}
13 \hypersetup{bookmarks, bookmarksopen,
14 pdftitle={VYM - a tool for visual thinking },
15 pdfauthor={Uwe Drechsel},
17 pdfkeywords={map, tool},
18 pdfpagemode={UseOutlines},
19 bookmarksopenlevel={1},
26 \newcommand{\vym}{{\sc vym }}
27 \newcommand{\ra}{$\longrightarrow$}
28 \newcommand{\la}{$\longleftarrow$}
29 \newcommand{\ua}{$\uparrow$}
30 \newcommand{\da}{$\downarrow$}
31 \newcommand{\key}[1]{[#1]}
35 \includegraphics[width=8cm]{vym-logo-new.png}
37 VYM \\ -- \\View Your Mind}
38 \author{\textcopyright Uwe Drechsel }
49 \section{Introduction}
50 \subsection{What is a \vym map?}
51 A \vym map (in short words {\em map}) is a tree like structure:
53 \includegraphics[width=12cm]{example1.png}
55 Such maps can be drawn by hand on paper or a flip chart and help to
56 structure your thoughs. While a tree like structure like above can be
57 drawn by hand or any drawing software \vym offers
58 much more features to work with such maps. \vym is not another drawing
59 software, but a tool to store and modify information in an intuitive
60 way. For example you can reorder parts of the map by pressing a key or
61 add various information like a complete email by a simple mouse click.
63 \subsection{Why should I use maps? Time, Space and your Brain.}
64 \subsubsection*{Space}
65 A map can concentrate a very complex content on little space e.g. a
66 piece of paper. It helps to use both sides of your brain: the logical
67 side and also your creative side (e.g. by using pictures, colors and
68 keywords in a map, so called {\em anchors}). It is a technique to
69 organize the way you think: It can help you by developing, sorting and
70 memorizing your thoughts.
73 Because you just use keywords and drawings, it is much faster than good
74 old fashioned notes. Your brain memorizes things by associating them to
75 other things -- a map makes use of those connections and stimulates
79 \subsubsection*{Your Brain}
80 In 1960 the Prof. {\sc Roger Sperry} discovered that both hemispheres
81 of the human brain have different tasks (of course both of them
82 basically {\em can} do the same):
84 \begin{tabular}{|p{5.5cm}|p{5.5cm}|} \hline
85 Left side & Right side \\ \hline
87 \item verbal speech and writing
89 \item logical thinking
90 \item analyzing and details
97 \item visual thinking, day dreams
98 \item intuition and emotion
99 \item overview of things
101 \item art, music, dancing
102 \item non-linear thinking, connecting things
103 \item spatial awareness
104 \end{itemize} \\ \hline
107 In our science oriented society we have learned to mainly rely on our
108 left side of the brain, the "rational" one. In other cultures,
109 especially like the native americans and other "old" cultures, the right
110 side is much more important. maps are just one way to stimulate the
111 other side and make use of additional ressources we all have.
114 \subsection{Where could I use a map?}
115 Here are some examples, how you can use those maps
117 \item to prepare articles, papers, books, talks, \ldots
118 \item to sort complex data
119 \item to memorize facts, persons, vocabulary, \ldots
120 \item to sort emails, files and bookmarks on your computer
121 \item to moderate conferences
124 \subsection{What you shouldn't do with a map...}
125 A map drawn by somebody shows the way the author thinks. There is
126 no right or wrong in the way it is drawn, so there is no way to criticize
127 it. "It is, what it is" ({\sc F.~Lehmann}).
132 \subsection{Internet Ressources}
133 A good starting point to learn more about maps in general is Wikipedia:
136 \href{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_map}{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind\_map}
138 \href{http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindmap}{http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindmap}
141 \subsection{Concept of \vym: Maps, branches, mapeditor and noteeditor}
143 %TODO may add a general introduction here...
145 \vym uses two windows: an editor for the map itself and another one for
146 notes, which are part of the map. Let's call them {\em mapeditor} and
149 \includegraphics[width=8cm]{windows.png}
151 Usually you will work in the {\em mapeditor} by just adding new
152 branches, moving around and reordering them. The various ways to do this
153 will be explained in \ref{mapeditor}. You can store additional
154 information e.g. the content of a email easily in a {\em branch}: Just
155 type or copy\&paste it into the {\em noteeditor}. Working with notes is
156 explained in \ref{noteeditor}
158 The map itself has always a {\em mapcenter}. The
159 mapcenter has {\em branches} just like the trunk of a tree. Each branch
160 in turn may have branches again.
162 \includegraphics[width=10cm]{branches.png}
164 We will call a branch directly connected to the mapcenter a {\em
165 mainbranch}, because it determines the position of all its child
168 The mapcenter and the branches all have a {\em heading}. This is the
169 text you see in the mapeditor. Usually it should just be one or a few
170 words, so that one can easily keep track of the whole map.
173 In the toolbar above the mapeditor you see various symbols.
175 \includegraphics[width=8cm]{default-flags.png}
177 These are called {\em flags} and can be used to mark branches in the
178 map, e.g. if something is important or questionable.
179 There are also more flags set by \vym automatically to show additional
180 information, e.g. when a exists for a particular branch.
182 By default some of these flags are set exclusively e.g. when the \lq
183 thumb-up\rq flag is set, then the \lq thumb down\rq is unset and vice
184 versa. You can change this default behaviour in the settings menu.
186 %TODO add info about toolbars e.g. undo/redo, ...
188 \section{Mapeditor} \label {mapeditor}
189 \subsection{Start a new map}
190 After \vym is started two windows will open: the mapeditor and the
191 noteditor. Usually you will work in both windows, but at the moment we
192 will just need the mapeditor.
194 Select the mapcenter "New map" in the middle of the mapeditor by
195 left-clicking with the mouse. It will turn yellow to show that is
196 selected. There are several ways to add a new branch to the center:
198 \item Using the mouse: Open the context meny by clicking with the
199 right mouse button (CTRL-Click on Mac) onto the
200 mapcenter and choose Add \ra Add as child
201 \item Press \key{Ins} or \key{A}
203 A new branch will appear and you will be able to type the heading of the
204 branch. Finish adding the new branch by pressing \key{Enter}.
206 Sometimes it comes handy to add a new branch above or below the current
207 one. Use \key{Ins} together with \key{Shift} or \key{Ctrl}. It is also
208 possible to add a branch in such a way, that the current selection
209 becomes the child of the new branch, which is like inserting it {\em
210 before} the selection. This can be done using the context menu.
212 \subsection{Navigate through a map}
213 \subsubsection*{Select branches}
214 To select branches you can use the left button of your mouse or also the
215 arrow keys. Depending on the {\em orientation} of a branch type
216 \key{\la} or \key{\ra} to get nearer to the mapcenter or deeper
217 down into the branches. Within a set of branches, let's call them a
218 {\em subtree}, you can use \key{\ua} and \key{\da} to go up and down. You can
219 also use \key{Pos1} and \key{End} to select the first and last branch.
222 \subsubsection*{Zoom a map}
223 While adding more and more branches the size of the map may become
224 bigger than the mapeditor window. You can use the scrollbars on the
225 right and the bottom of your mapeditor window to scroll, but it is
226 easier to just scroll using the left mouse button: Click onto the {\em
227 canvas} itself, the empty space somewhere between the branches. The
228 mouse pointer will change from an arrow to a hand, now move the visible
229 part of the map to show the desired part.
231 If you select branches using the arrow keys, the map will scroll
232 to ensure that the selected branch is always visible.
234 Working with huge maps, the {\em zoom}-function comes in handy: You can
237 \item from the menu View \ra Zoom
238 \item the toolbar buttons
240 \includegraphics[width=3cm]{zoom-buttons.png}
243 The crossed magnifying lens resets the zoomed view to its original size.
246 \subsubsection*{Find Function} \label{findwindow}
247 With huge maps there is the need to have a
248 find function. Choose Edit \ra Find to open the Find Window:
250 \includegraphics[width=6cm]{find-window.png}
252 The text you enter here will be searched in all the headings and also in
253 notes. Everytime you press the "Find"-button it will look for the next
254 occurence, which then will be selected automatically. If the search
255 fails, there will appear a short message "Nothing found" or a few
256 seconds in the {\em statusbar} on the bottom of the mapeditor.
258 \subsubsection*{Scroll a part of the map}
259 A very big subtree of a map e.g. a branch with hundreds of childs makes
260 it very hard to keep an overview over the whole map. You can hide all
261 the childs of a branch by {\em scrolling} it -- this function is also
262 often called {\em folding}. Think of the whole subtree as painted onto a
263 big newspaper. You can scroll the paper to a small roll, leaving just
264 the headline readable.
266 To scroll or unscroll a branch and its childs, press the
268 \item \key{Scroll} key or \key{S}
269 \item press the middle-mouse button or
270 \item choose the little scroll from the toolbar.
272 If you select parts of a scrolled branch e.g. using the find function or
273 by using the arrow-keys, it will unscroll temporary. This is shown as a
274 scroll with a little hour glass. If the temporary unscrolled part is not
275 longer needed, it will be hidden again automatically. It is also
276 possible to unscroll all branches using "Edit\ra Unscroll all scrolled
281 \subsection{Modify and move branches}
282 \subsubsection*{Modify the heading of a branch}
283 You can edit the heading by selecting the branch and then
285 \item pressing \key{Enter}
286 \item double-clicking with left mouse.
288 Just type the new heading (or edit the old one) and press \key{Enter}.
290 \subsubsection*{Move a branch}
291 The easiest way to move a branch is to select it with left-mouse and
292 drag it to the destination while keeping the mouse button pressed.
293 Depending on the branch it will be
295 \item moved to the destination or
296 \item {\em linked} to a new {\em parent} (mapcenter or branch)
298 If you drag the branch over another one or over the mapcenter, you will
299 notice that the link connecting it to the old parent will be changed to
300 lead to the new parent which is now under your mousepointer.
301 If you release the button now, the branch will be relinked.
303 If you release the button in the middle of nowhere, the result will
304 depend on the type of branch you are releasing:
306 \item A mainbranch is directly connected to the mapcenter.
307 It will stay on its new position.
308 \item An ordinary branch will "jump" back to its original position.
310 Thus you can easily rearrange the layout of the mainbranches to avoid
311 overlapping of their subtrees.
312 There is another convenient way to move branches, especially if you want
313 to {\em reorder} a subtree: You can move a branch up or down in a
316 \item pressing \key{\ua} and \key {\da}
317 \item selecting Edit \ra Move branch
318 \item clicking on the toolbar buttons:
320 \includegraphics[width=1.5cm]{move-buttons.png}
324 There is yet another way to move branches: If you press \key{Shift} or
325 \key{Ctrl} while moving with the mouse, the branch will be added above
326 or below the one the mouse pointer is over. This helps also to reorder a
329 \subsection{The right side of your brain - colors and images}
330 \subsubsection*{Change color of a heading}
331 You can also use colors to put more information into a map, e.g. use
332 red, green and more colors to prioritize tasks. Again you can
334 \item use the menu and choose e.g Format \rq Set Color
335 \item use the toolbar
337 \includegraphics[width=3cm]{color-buttons.png}
340 The first button (black in the graphic above) shows the actual color.
341 Clicking on it let's you choose another color. You can also "pick"
342 another color by selecting a branch with the desired color and using the
343 "pick color" button. Both of the buttons showing a bucket actually put
344 the current color to the selected branch. While the first one just
345 colors the heading of the selection, the last one also colors all the
346 childs of the selected branch.
349 A very useful function is the "copy color" using the mouse: Select the
350 branch which should get the new color, then press \key{Ctrl} and
351 simultanously click with left-mouse on another branch to copy its color
352 to the first one. Here the childs of the selection also will get the new
353 color, if you just want to color the selection itself, additionally
356 \subsubsection*{Use flags}
357 \vym provides various flags. You see them in the toolbar on top of the
358 mapeditor window. (Note: Like all toolbars you can also move them to the
359 left or the right side of the window or even detach them. Just grab the
360 very left "dotted" part of the toolbar with your left-mouse button.)
362 \includegraphics[width=8cm]{default-flags.png}
364 If you have a branch selected, you can set any number of flags by
365 clicking them in the toolbar. The toolbar buttons change their state and
366 always reflect the flags set in the selected branch.
368 Presently \vym uses two kinds of flags: {\em System Flags} and {\em
369 Standard Flags}. The standard flags are those shown in the toolbar.
370 System flags are set by \vym to indicate e.g. that there is additional
371 information in a note (more on this in \ref{noteeditor}). Later versions
372 of \vym may have another kind of flags, which may be edited by the user.
374 \subsubsection*{Images}
375 The easiest way to add an image to a branch is by dragging it e.g. from a
376 webbrowser to the mapeditor while a branch is selected there.
378 You can also add a image to a branch by opening the context menu of the
379 branch choose "Add Image". A
380 dialog window lets you choose the image to load.
381 \footnote{Supported image types are: PNG, BMP, XBM, XPM and PNM. It may
382 also support JPEG, MNG and GIF, if specially configured during
383 compilation (as done when \vym is part of SUSE LINUX).}
384 While an image is selected in the dialog, you can see a preview of the
385 image. It is also possible to select multiple images.
387 You can position the image anywhere you want, just drag it with left
388 mouse. To relink it to another branch, press \key{Shift} while moving
389 it. To delete it, press \key{Del}.
391 If you right-click onto an image, a context menu will open which let's
392 you first choose one of several image formats. Then a file dialog opens
393 to save the image. Hint: This is used to "export" the image, it will be
394 saved anyway in the map itself! You can also cut and
395 copy images, but it is not possible to add objects to an image\footnote{
396 Images are regarded as "extra feature". It would make working with
397 the map much more complex if e.g. images could be linked to images.}
399 The option \lq{\bf Use for export} \rq controls the output of exports
400 e.g. to HTML: If set to no, the image won't appear in the {\em text}
401 part of the output. This is useful for large images or if images are
402 used as a kind of frame e.g. the famous cloud symbol around a part of
403 the map. Those shouldn't appear in the middle of the text.
405 At the moment image support is preliminary: Images will be saved
406 together with all the other data of a map in the {\tt .vym}-file.
407 Later versions will include more functionality like resizing the images,
408 changing its z-value (put it into background) etc.
410 \subsubsection*{Frames}
411 A frame can be added to a branch by clicking with the
412 right-mouse button. A context menu will open, where you can choose the
413 frame. At the moment just a rectangle resp. "No Frame" will be offered,
414 nevertheless you can use images as frames. Have a look at the demo map
415 {\tt todo.vym} as an example, where the mapcenter is a cloud. You can
416 use an external drawing program like {\tt gimp} to create an image,
417 preferable with an transparency channel, so that you can design frames
418 which don't use a rectangular borderline, just like the cloud.
421 \subsection{Background design}
422 The design of the background of a map and also of the links connecting
423 various parts of the map can be changed by
425 \item Selecting Format from the menu
426 \item Right clicking onto the canvas, which will open a context menu
429 \subsubsection*{Background color}
430 The color is set (and also displayed) as "Set background color".
432 \subsubsection*{Link color}
433 Links connecting branches can be colored in one of the following ways:
435 \item use the color of the heading of the branch the links is
436 \item use {\em one} color for all links. The default color is blue.
439 The latter can be set with "Set link color". Check or uncheck the "Use
440 color of heading for link" option to choose one of the two designs for
443 \subsubsection*{Link style}
444 \vym offers four different styles for the appearences of links:
451 The "thick" styles only draw links starting at mapcenter thick, the rest
452 of the map is always painted "thin".
455 \subsection{Link to other documents}
456 Presently \vym supports two kind of links:
458 \item Document, which will be opened in an external webbrowser
459 \item \vym map, which will be opened in \vym itself
462 \subsubsection*{Webbrowser}
463 Modern Webbrowsers like {\tt konqueror} are able to display various
464 types of files, both local or in the internet. To enter the URL of
465 any document, right-click onto a branch or use the Edit Menu
466 and choose "Edit URL". Enter the path to your document (or copy and
467 paste it from your browser). Examples for valid paths are:
469 http://www.insilmaril.de/vym/index.html
470 file:/usr/share/doc/packages/vym/doc/vym.pdf
472 If an URL was entered, a little globe will appear in the branch. By
473 clicking on the globe in the toolbar or the context menu an external
475 The browser can be changed in the Settings Menu.}
478 \includegraphics[width=0.5cm]{flag-url.png}
480 If you want to keep bookmarks in a map, select a branch where you want
481 to add the bookmark, then simply drag the URL from your browser to the
482 map. Also you could use an existing heading as URL: Right click onto the
483 branch and select "Use heading for URL".
485 \subsubsection*{\vym map}
486 To link to to another map right click on a branch or choose "Edit \ra
487 Enter \vym link". A file dialog opens where you can choose the map. A
488 branch with a link is marked with
490 \includegraphics[width=0.5cm]{flag-vymlink.png}
492 Clicking this flag in the toolbar or in the context menu of a branch
493 will open the map in another tab (see \ref{tabs} for working with
494 multiple maps). To delete an existing link, just press the "Cancel"
497 Technical note: Internally \vym uses absolute paths, to avoid opening
498 several tabs containing the same map. When a map is saved, this path is
499 converted to a relative one (e.g. {\tt /home/user/vym.map} might become
500 {\tt ./vym.map}. This makes it fairly easy to use multiple maps on
501 different computers or export them to HTML in future.
503 \subsection{Multiple maps} \label{tabs}
504 You can work on multiple maps at the same time. Each new map is opened
505 in another {\em tab}. The available tabs are shown just above the
506 mapeditor. You can use the normal cut/copy/paste functions to
507 copy data from one map to another.
512 %\subsubsection{Menus}
513 %\subsubsection{Keyboard shortcuts}
518 % Working with tabs (multiple maps)
522 \section{Noteeditor} \label {noteeditor}
523 If you want to save more text in a branch e.g. a complete email, a
524 cooking recipe, or the whole source code of a software project, you can
527 \includegraphics[width=8cm]{noteeditor.png}
529 This editor displays text associated to a branch selected in the
530 mapeditor. To visualize that there maybe is no text yet, the noteeditor
531 shows different background colors depending on its state:
534 Before you can type or paste text into it, you have
535 to select a branch in the mapeditor. Note that the background color
536 of the noteeditor indicates its state:
538 \item black: no branch selected
539 \item grey: no text entered yet
540 \item white: text is already available
542 To show you in the mapeditor itself that there is a note with more
543 information for a particular branch, a little note flag will appear next
544 to the heading of the branch. See the lower branch on the right side:
546 \includegraphics[width=8cm]{branches-flags.png}
549 \subsection{Import and export notes}
550 The note is always saved automatically within the \vym file itself.
551 Nevertheless sometimes it is nice to import a note from an external file
552 or write it. Use "File\ra~Import" and "File\ra~Export" to do so.
554 \subsection{Edit and print note}
555 Editing works like in any simple texteditor, including undo and redo
556 functions. You can delete the complete note by clicking the
557 trashcan. Only the note itself is printed by clicking the printer icon.
559 When pasting into the editor using the X11 copy\&paste mechanism, the
560 editor will create a paragraph for each new line. Usually this is not
561 wanted, so there you can convert all paragraphs into linebreaks by using
562 Edit~\ra~Remove~Paragraphs or \key{ALT-X}.
564 \subsection{RichText: Colors, paragraphs and formatted text}
565 \vym supports formatted text (QT Rich Text) in the noteeditor since
566 version 1.4.7. Colors and text attributes (e.g. italic, bold) can be
567 set with the buttons above the text. The text itself is divided in
568 paragraphs. For each paragraph the format can be set (e.g. centered,
569 right). A paragraph is ended when a \key{Return} is entered. If you just
570 want to begin a new line, press \key{CTRL-Return}.
572 \subsection{Fonts and how to quickly switch them}
573 The noteeditor is ment to be used for simple notes, not really as full
574 featured text editor. Because of many requests \vym supports now
575 formatted text in the noteeditor\footnote{
576 \vym uses the QRichtText format, which is basically a subset of the
577 formatting provided in HTML.}
578 Two default fonts are supported which can be set in the Settings menu.
579 One is a fixed width font, the other has variable width. The fixed font
580 is usually used for emails, source code etc.\ while the variable font is
581 used for simple notes, where one doesn't need fixed character widths.
582 Both fonts can easily switched using the following symbol from the
585 \includegraphics[width=0.5cm]{formatfixedfont.png}
587 In the Settings menu both fonts can be set and also which font should be
590 Additionally to the default fonts any font installed on your system can
591 be used. Please note, that the chosen font also will be used for HTML
592 exports, so you should only use fonts which are available generally.
594 \subsection{Find text}
595 The noteeditor itself has no Find function, use Find in the mapeditor,
596 which will also search all notes (see \ref{findwindow}).
598 \subsection{Paste text into note editor}
599 Often you will paste text into the editor from another application e.g.
600 an email. Normally \vym will generate a new paragraph for each new line.
601 This usually is not what you want, so you can choose from the menu
603 \subsection{Advanced actions}
604 \subsubsection*{Edit \ra Convert subsubsections:}
605 This turns subsubsections in selected text (or all text, if nothing is
606 selected) into linebreaks. This is especially useful for snippets of
609 \subsubsection*{Edit \ra Join Lines:}
610 Tries to format text, so that empty lines are used to delimit
611 paragraphs. This is done for selected text (or all text, if nothing is
612 selected). Especially useful for text like emails, meeting minutes etc.
614 \section{Hello world}
615 This section is about how \vym can interact with other applications.
616 Many applications meanwhile can read and write their data using XML, the
617 eXtensible Markup Language. \vym also uses XML to save its maps, see
618 \ref{fileformat} for a more detailed description.
620 So if your an application understands XML, chances are good that someone
621 could write import/export filters for \vym. Volunteers are always
626 \subsubsection*{KDE Bookmarks}
627 The integrated bookmark editor in KDE is somewhat limited, so why not
628 use \vym to maintain the bookmark mess? To create a new map containing
629 your current KDE bookmarks just choose
631 \item File \ra Import\ra KDE Bookmarks
634 \subsubsection*{Mind Manager}
635 \vym has currently a very basic import filter to convert maps created by
636 {\em Mind Manager}\footnote{Mind Manager is a professional software by
637 Mindjet. Both names are registered trademarks by Mindjet. For more
638 information see their website at
639 \href{http://mindjet.de}{http://mindjet.de}} into \vym maps. Notes and
640 pictures are not converted at the moment. You can import files with
642 \item File \ra Import\ra Mind Manager
646 \subsubsection*{Directory structure}
647 \vym can read a directory structure. This is mainly for
648 testing \vym e.g. to easily create huge maps used for benchmarks (yes,
649 there is still room to optimize \vym ;-)
652 \vym supports various formats to help other applications.
654 \subsubsection*{Open Office}
655 Open Office beginning with version~2 uses the so called "Open Office
656 Document Format", which can be written by \vym. The options are
657 currently limited, but it possible to export presentations which can be
658 opened in Open Office Impress. By selecting
660 \item File \ra Export\ra Open Office
662 you get a file dialogue where you can choose the output file and the
665 \includegraphics[width=12cm]{export-oo.png}
667 The file types represent various templates, which can be created with
668 some manual work from an existing Open Office document. The structure of
669 \vym map is then inserted into a template.
670 There are some limitations at the moment:
672 \item \vym can't take care of page lengths, so you have to check and
673 probably reedit in Open Office to avoid text running over the end of
675 \item Images and flags are not used at the moment
676 \item Notes are just written as plain text, without RichText
678 Some of the templates make use of {\em sections} e.g. insert the
679 headings of mainbranches as chapters for sections into the presentation.
681 \subsubsection*{Image}
682 \vym supports all image formats which are natively supported by the
684 BMP, JPEG, PBM, PGM, PNG, PPN, XPM, and XBM.
685 For use in websites and for sending images by email PNG is a good
686 recommodation regarding quality and size of the image. \vym uses QTs
687 default options for compressing the images.
689 \subsubsection*{ASCII}
690 Exporting an image as text is somewhat experimental at the moment. Later
691 this will probably done using stylesheets. So the output may change in
692 future versions of \vym.
694 \subsubsection*{\LaTeX}
695 \vym can generate an input file for \LaTeX. Currently this is considered
696 as experimental, there are no options (yet).
699 \item File \ra Export\ra \LaTeX
701 you will be asked in a file dialog for the name of the output file. This
702 file should be included in a \LaTeX document using command
704 \include{inputfile.tex}
707 \subsubsection*{XHTML (Webpages)}
709 This is the format you want to use to create a webpage. For an example
710 have a look at the \vym homepage:
711 \href{http://www.InSilmaril.de/vym}{www.InSilmaril.de/vym}
713 Some explanation how this works:
714 Before a map is exported as XHTML, it will be first written as XML into a
715 directory (see \ref{xmlexport}). Then the external program {\tt
716 xsltproc}\footnote{On SUSE Linux {\tt xsltproc} is installed by
718 will be called to process the XML file and generate HTML code.
719 A dialog allows to set various options:
721 \item {\bf Include image:} If set, \vym will creat an image map at
722 the top of the HTML output. Clicking on a branch in the map will
723 jump to the corresponding section in the output.
725 \item {\bf Colored headings:}
726 If set to yes, \vym will color the headings in the text part with the
727 same colors like in the map.
728 \item {\bf Show Warnings:}
729 If set to yes, \vym will ask before overwriting data.
730 \item {\bf Show output:}
731 This is useful mainly for debugging. It will show how the processing of
732 the XML file works by calling the external {\tt xsltproc}.
734 Additionally the paths to the CSS and XSL stylesheets can be set. By
735 default on SUSE~Linux they will be in {\tt /usr/share/vym/styles}.
738 \subsubsection*{XML} \label{xmlexport}
739 The map is written into a directory both as an image and as XML. The
740 directory is set in a file dialog. If the directory is not empty, you
741 will be questioned if you risk to overwrite its contents.
743 It is possible to export different maps into the same directory. Each
744 file generated will have the map's name as prefix, e.g. {\tt todo.vym}
745 becomes {\tt todo.xml}, {\tt todo.png}, {\tt todo-image-1.png} and so
746 on. This is useful if e.g. for a website several combined maps have to
747 be stored in the same directory.
749 \subsubsection*{Export a part of a map}
750 Select a branch you want to export together with its childs, then open
751 the context menu and choose {\em Save Selection}. This will create a
752 file with the postfix {\tt .vyp}, which is an abbreviation for \lq vym
756 \section{Advanced Editing}
757 \vym offers a few shortcuts to let you work more quickly and literally
758 to connect any branches directly.
759 \subsection{Modifier Modes}
760 Modifiers are for example the \key{Shift}- or the \key{Alt}-keys. When
761 pressed while doing actions with the mouse, they will cause \vym to use
762 a "modified" action. E.g. you can move branches with mouse. If
763 \key{Ctrl} or \key{Alt}is pressed while releasing the branch, it will be
764 added above/below the target, not as child of the target.
766 Without a modifier pressed, the first click on a branch just selects
767 it. For the behaviour of the \key{Ctrl} modifier there are several
768 options, which can be set from the modifier toolbar:
770 \includegraphics[width=3cm]{modmodes.png}
772 The default is to copy the color from the clicked branch to the already
773 selected branch. In the toolbar shown above the default modifier is
774 selected, namely to copy the color of a branch. The second modifier
775 let's you easily copy a whole branch with a single click. The third
776 modifier lets you create {\em xLinks}, which will be explained in the
780 So far all the data in the \vym map has been treelike. Using xLinks you
781 can link one branch to any other, just like attaching a rope between two
782 branches in a real tree. This is especially useful in complex maps,
783 where you want to have crossreferences which don't fit on the same
784 visible area, which fits on your screen. The following example, which is
785 part of the \vym package, still fits on one screen, but shows how data
786 can be crosslinked. In the graphics there is a link from a task (prepare
787 a presentation) to general information:
789 \includegraphics[width=12cm]{xlink.png}
791 Note that a xLink which points to a branch that is not visible (because
792 it is scrolled), is just show as a little horizontal arrow. In the
793 screenshot above have a look at the \lq Tuesday\rq\ branch.
795 \subsubsection*{Create a xLink}
796 Choose the link mode from the modifier toolbar (by clicking or pressing
797 \key{L}). Select the branch, where the xLink should start. Press the
798 modifier key \key{Ctr} and simultanously click on the branch where the
799 link should end. (The link is already drawn before you release the mouse
800 key). If you release the mouse over a branch the xLink becomes
803 \subsubsection*{Modify or delete a xLink}
804 Open the context menu of a branch and select \lq Edit xLink\rq. A
805 submenu contains all the xLinks of the branch (if there are any). They
806 are named like the branches, where they end. Choose one and
807 the xLink dialogue opens, where you can set color, width and also delete
810 \subsubsection*{Follow a xLink}
811 In a complext \vym map it sometimes comes handy to jump to the other end
812 of a xLink. You can do this by opening the context menu of the branch
813 and clicking on \lq Goto xLink\rq and selecting the xLink you want to
818 \subsection{Adding and removing branches}
819 The context menu of a branch shows some more ways to add and delete data
820 e.g. you can delete a branch while keeping its childs. The childs become
821 linked to the parent of the previously removed branch.
822 Similar branches can be inserted into existing maps. For keyboard
823 shortcuts also have a look at the context menu.
825 \subsection{Adding a whole map or a part of a map}
826 Select a branch where you want to add a previously saved map ({\tt .vym})or a part
827 of a map ({\tt .vyp}) , then open
828 the context menu and choose {\em Add \ra Import}. For the import you can
829 choose between {\em Import Add} and {\em Import Replace}: The imported
830 data will be added after the selection resp. replace the selection.
833 \section{\vym on Mac OS X}
834 \subsection{Overview}
835 Basically there are two ways to run \vym on Macs:
836 \subsubsection*{QT Mac Edition:}
837 \vym here provides the well known Mac look and feel. \vym is
838 available as zipped Mac OS X application. It has been compiled and
839 tested in Mac~OS~10.3, but should also work on Tiger. It is using
840 the Mac version of Trolltechs QT library.
842 \vym can also be run using the Linux version, but then menus and
843 handling will also be those of the Linux version e.g. The menu bar
846 \subsection {Contextmenu and special keys}
847 Most Macs unfortunatly just have a single mouse button. In order to show
848 the context menu which usually would be opened with the right mouse
849 button, you can click while pressing the \key{kommand}-key.
851 Especially on Laptops some of the keys usually used on PC keyboards seem
852 to be missing. The QT-Mac Edition of \vym has its own keyboard
853 shortcuts. To find the shortcuts just have a look at all the menu
854 entries, the shortcut is visible next to an entry. Toolbar buttons also
855 may have shortcuts, just position the mouse pointer over a button and
856 wait for the little help window to appear.
858 \subsection {Viewing external links}
859 \vym on Mac uses the system call {\tt /usr/bin/open} to view links.
860 Mac~OS determines automatically if the link is a pdf or www page and
861 opens the right browser.
866 \section{Contributing to \vym}
868 \subsection{Getting help}
870 \subsubsection*{Frequently asked questions}
871 Please refer to the FAQ available on the \vym website:
873 \href{http://www.InSilmaril.de/vym/faq.html}{http://www.InSilmaril.de/vym/faq.html}
876 \subsubsection*{Mailinglists}
877 There are two mailinglists: {\tt vym-forum} is the \vym users forum to
878 discuss various questions, while {\tt vym-devel} is intended for people
879 interested in contributing to \vym. You can view the archives and
882 \href{https://sourceforge.net/mail/?group_id=127802}{https://sourceforge.net/mail/?group\_id=127802}
885 \subsubsection*{Contacting the author}
886 Especially for support questions please try the mailinglists first. If
887 everything else fails you can contact the Uwe Drechsel at
889 \href{mailto:vym@InSilmaril.de}{vym@Insilmaril.de}
893 \subsection{Compiling from the sources}
894 \subsubsection*{Get the sources}
896 \subsubsection*{The Qt toolkit}
897 Qt is C++ toolkit for multiplatform GUI and application development. It
898 provides single-source portability across MS~Windows, Mac~OS~X, Linux
899 ans all major commercial Unix variants. Qt is also available for
900 embedded devices. Qt is a Trolltech product. See
901 \href{http://www.trolltech.com/qt/}{www.trolltech.com/qt}
905 \subsubsection*{Compiling \vym }
906 Make sure you have installed your Qt environment properly, see the Qt
907 documentation for details. You need to have the Qt command {\tt qmake}
908 in your {\tt PATH}-environment, then run
914 The last command {\tt make install} needs root-permissions. Of course it
915 may be omitted, if you just want to test \vym.
917 \subsubsection*{Compiling \vym on Macs}
919 \subsection{\vym file format} \label{fileformat}
920 \vym maps usually have the postfix "{\tt .vym}" and represent a
921 compressed archive of data. If you want to have a
922 closer look into the data structure map called "mapname.vym",
923 just uncompress the map manually using
927 This will create directories named {\tt images} and {\tt flags} in your
928 current directory and also the map itself, usually named {\tt
930 The XML structure of \vym is pretty self explaining, just have a look at
933 This XML file can be loaded directly into \vym, it does not have to be
934 compressed. If you want to compress all the data yourself, use
938 to compress all data in your current directory.
940 \subsection{New features}
941 There are lots of features which might find their way into \vym.
942 Together with \vym you should have received a directory with several
943 maps e.g. on SUSE~LINUX this is
945 {\tt /usr/share/doc/packages/vym/demos}
947 where you find the map {\tt todo.vym}. It lists quite a lot of things to
948 be done in future. If you have more ideas, contact the development team
950 {\tt vym-devel@lists.sourceforge.net}.
953 \subsection{New languages support}
954 \subsection{New export/import filters}
960 %\subsubsection{Menus}
961 %\subsubsection{Keyboard shortcuts}
962 %Where does vym save its settings? -> ~/.qt/vymrc