MatchWare MindView Review

Capture Ideas Without Disrupting The Brainstorming Process

MatchWare MindView has a brainstorming mode feature which allows users to create mind maps while they are conducting brainstorming sessions with their colleagues. Thus, they will be able to capture and explore ideas without disrupting the discussions and activities they are performing throughout the brainstorming process.

Collect Ideas And Organize Them Into Branches

But how exactly does MatchWare MindView help teams capture and explore ideas? The software enables them to collect ideas and organize them in a single workspace. These ideas then are used to form the branches and sub-branches that will compose the mind map. The workspace is designed with a drag-and-drop user interface. Thus, when users are done defining the branches and sub-branches, they simply need to drag and drop them onto the workspace to position and arrange them and produce a clear and neatly organized conceptual visual presentation.

Enrich Your Mind Map With Media Resources

With MatchWare MindView, mind maps can be enriched with media files and resources. This makes it easy for others to view and consume the ideas and information contained in mind maps. Objects, illustrations, shapes, styles, and icons can be added to branches and sub-branches, allowing users to clearly explain their ideas and highlight the relationships between them. These media files and resources are stored in the software’s media catalog where they can access over 1500 clipart illustrations and other visual elements.

Calculation Feature

The mind mapping solution has a calculation feature. With this feature, numeric values and formulas can be entered in branches or sub-branches. The software can actually automatically calculate values based on the formulas that have been entered. For example, if users want to calculate the total sales from different geographical locations which are represented by sub-branches, the software can instantly perform calculations starting from the values entered in the outermost sub-branches and show the total sales amount on the root. A root is the starting point of a mind map where branches and sub-branches are linked to.

Attach External Resources To Branches And Sub-Branches

Data, files, and documents from external systems and sources can also be attached to branches and sub-branches within a mind map. These include Word, Excel, or PDF documents, images, videos, Flash animations, sound files, and even hyperlinks. Users have the option to define which external resources they want to put into their mind maps and share with others. This is made possible by the feature called Pack & Go, a compiling and saving functionality which permits them to save their mind maps including all the external resources attached to it.

Generate And Link Multiple Mind Maps Together

MatchWare MindView can link multiple maps together. For example, users can remove a branch from a mind map to form a new mind map. To access the new map from the original mind map, they simply need to click on the connection that links the branch to the new map. They can also detach a branch and create a new map on a separate digital workspace or document. Likewise, the new map will automatically open up after the connection is clicked on the source map.  

View Mind Maps In Different Ways

One of the powerful features of MatchWare MindView is that has the ability to present mind maps in multiple views. Thus, teams can select which views they are most comfortable with as they create, develop, and share their mind maps.

Mind Map View

The Mind Map view is among the different views available in MatchWare MindView. In this view, the root is placed in the center and the branches surround it in a clockwise direction. This type of view is ideal for brainstorming sessions wherein users are just interested in capturing ideas.

Top-Down View

Another type of view is called the Top-Down View. Here, the branches and sub-branches are arranged in a hierarchical structure wherein the sub-branches appear below the main branches and all of the branches are underneath the root located at the top. If users want to identify how important an idea is, this view will surely work best for them.

Left/Right View

The Left/Right View is a view wherein the branches and sub-branches are shown either on the left or right of the root, forming a series of lists. This type of view is very convenient, especially for teams that want to check each idea or topic through a list.

Outline View

Meanwhile, the Outline View is also good for brainstorming sessions as well as managing tasks. This view arranges branches and sub-branches in such a way that the most important ones are placed at the top and the least important ones are at the bottom. Basically, they are organized in an outline form that shows a hierarchical order. All the data related to the topics or ideas are listed on the right side in a tabular form. That is why it is regarded as a great view for task management because task data can be easily viewed and edited using such view.

Timeline View

When it comes to the Timeline View, this type of view is a good fit for users who want to focus more the schedules associated with their topics, ideas, or projects. In this view, the branches and sub-branches are displayed on a horizontal timeline axis where they can view the specific dates they correspond to, which can be scaled on daily, monthly, historical, or geological basis.

Gantt View

Lastly, MatchWare MindView’s Gantt View is the perfect view for project planning and management. This is because it combines the Outline View which is shown at the left side and a dynamic Gantt Chart at the right side. Thus, users will be able to view all data related to their tasks, and at the same time, check the tasks against the schedules assigned to them. They can also track the progress of each task through the aid of this view.

Task Management And Award-Winning Integration

The mind mapping software offers powerful and award-winning integration features as previously mentioned, making it a supplemental tool for popular Microsoft Office applications. One of these integration features is its Microsoft Outlook integration. This integration feature is actually enhanced by MatchWare MindView’s task management capabilities.  As users create and link branches and sub-branches together, the software also provides them with the capability to input task data such as start and end dates, resources, and priority and completion levels.

Users have two ways enter task data in branches. One way is by inputting the data into the task panel. The other way is through switching to the Outline View where they can enter the task data in the cells that are related to the branches. As a result, they will be able to generate task lists within the software which are comprised of detailed information. Once they set up the tasks lists, they can then import them into the task folder found in Microsoft Outlook. In addition, they can export any task lists they created from Microsoft Outlook and use them for the mind maps they are building within MatchWare MindView.