OpenMind’s Inspector is a little clunky, but its brainstorming mode is spot on.

Mind mapping is experiencing something of a golden age. As a method for getting ideas down in an easily shareable form, it can be a valuable tool. OpenMind is one of the newer Mac offerings to tackle mind mapping, and has a lot to like, despite its youth.

A mind map is a diagram with a main topic at the center and subordinate topics called branches radiating out from there. Any worthy mind-mapping app needs a good brainstorming mode—you don’t want the software to get in the way just as the ideas start flowing. OpenMind has one of the best brainstorming modes we’ve seen. No keyboard shortcuts or trips to the mouse, just hit return after each idea. By default, OpenMind automatically arranges the branches of your map using Auto Layout. Maps created this way look OK, but we also appreciated the ability to turn off Auto Layout and drag the branches exactly where we wanted. Additional customization options include setting font attributes, line weights, and colors. OpenMind also offers a dozen predefined styles that can be applied to an entire map. Icons that appear inline with text and clip art collections are de rigueur in mind-mapping software. OpenMind’s icon collection runs a little thin, but the clip art library is vast and searchable. The artwork is better than average for clip art—though we’re still perplexed by the hexagonal stop sign.

When it’s time to share your ideas with the world, OpenMind has plenty of export options. The Microsoft Word export offers 15 templates and PowerPoint has 18. Both also support custom templates if you require more control. The files are created in Microsoft’s new .docx and .pptx file formats and require Office 2008 for full compatibility. OpenMind also exports to Rich Text, HTML, and a few image formats. Importing is limited to Microsoft Word 2008 and PowerPoint 2008 files. We’d like to see converters for competing products as well as plain text and OPML (outline processor markup language).

We used OpenMind to create mind maps, organization charts, outlines, and Gantt charts. On balance, we found it easy to use, though not as polished as some of its competitors. Almost all document formatting is handled through a sometimes-frustrating Inspector window. As central as it is to the user experience, the Inspector feels hastily cobbled together, although we did like the extensive array of well-documented templates.

OpenMind is worth a look, particularly for those who are new to mind mapping. Established mind mappers should keep an eye on OpenMind. This version may not entice you, but with a little refinement OpenMind could be a very compelling choice.

COMPANY: MatchWare
CONTACT: www.matchware.com
PRICE: $279
REQUIREMENTS: Mac OS 10.4.11, 10.5.2, or later
Great brainstorming mode. Abundant export options. Universal binary.
Dated interface. Only two import options. Microsoft Office integration requires Office 2008.