If your organization uses Microsoft SharePoint, you’ll be excited to know that Mindjet recently announced the launch of a new version of MindManager 8 that enables real-time synchronization of data between SharePoint and your mind maps. This special version of MindManager 8 includes a new SharePoint tab in the program’s ribbon toolbar to manage its interactions with the popular team collaboration tool.
MindManager 8 for SharePoint makes it easy to connect to one or more SharePoint sites and sub-sites and search for specific projects and tasks, using a new search wizard. SharePoint tasks meeting your search criteria are displayed as topics in your map, and can be explored using MindManager’s built-in browser.
You can also add lists, tasks, documents, images and other assets stored in your SharePoint sites to your maps, and then update status and priorities in your mind map, or open up the program’s browser to view all of your project data in context. You can view document properties, check out an Office document and edit it; your changes are automatically synchronized back to the SharePoint site.
A new Site Explorer map part enables you to easily create a visual map of a SharePoint sites. A wizard enables you to select one or more SharePoint sites and to filter its content by list type prior to inserting its data into your map.
You can also create new SharePoint folders and documents from within your mind maps. Creating a new folder showcases the tight two-way integration between the two applications: If you select the “create folder” icon from MindManager’s SharePoint toolbar, a wizard pops up on your screen, enabling you to select the SharePoint site and list to which you want to add a new folder. Once you’ve made these selections, MindManager’s embedded browser displays SharePoint’s add a folder page. You type in your new folder name and click the “OK” button to create it. Your new folder is added to SharePoint and, at the same time, a corresponding folder is added to your mind map. The same process can be followed to add a new issue item within that folder. Nice!
I’ve used SharePoint in two different jobs, and I must admit that I am not a fan of it. SharePoint’s deeply nested structure can be a pain in the ass to navigate through, in order to find the specific project or list you’re looking for. MindManager for SharePoint adds a highly visual front end to this popular but not very intuitive collaboration tool, and makes it easy to find and work with specific SharePoint assets within this powerful and flexible mind mapping program.
A new license of MindManager for SharePoint is $499; if you are an existing user of MindManager for Windows, a special $150 upgrade price is also available. A free trial is also available. If you want to get more of a visual idea of this program’s capabilities, Mindjet has created a series of brief videos, which you can view here.
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