MindManager maps are often used to reference information in other documents. Traditionally this has been achieved with a topic link to a file or use of "smart" map parts to incorporate information (Outlook & Excel) in the map. MindManager 8 introduces a "Browser" Pane to make working with external files far more fluid.
Word: Click on a .doc topic link and the browser pane opens to display the document and Word 2007 Ribbon within the MindManager interface. You can then work on the map and document without tabbing between windows.
If you use Office 2003 the Integrated Editor still works and loads the application Toolbars, but not the Menu bar.
Excel: Below you see Excel open in browser and the right click option to "Open outside MindManager". Using this option launches the associated application in a separate window like previous versions of MindManager.
PowerPoint: If I use PowerPoint at all the presentation invariably starts out as a MindManager map. I map out the structure, notes and gather resources in the map. I then export to PowerPoint and add graphics. From then on the map and PowerPoint can diverge so it's useful to review in context with the original source. However, it would be nice if MindManager had better presentation tools then I wouldn't need PowerPoint at all!
I must admit the first time I saw this feature I was underwhelmed. My initial reaction was: "Why would you ever want to work in this little edit pane?"
Then I actually used it and found dipping into documents without leaving MindManager becomes very natural. Having a wide format screen probably helps but I'm now convinced of it's value. You wouldn't want to compose a complex document in the Browser Pane but for reference, printing and simple edits it's a nice addition to MindManager. Even better, the Browser Pane is not just for Office but I'll cover that in future posts.
This tip from the PowerPoint Team Blog shows how to use “Arrange All” with a wide/multi-screen display to work more efficiently in PowerPoint.
The PowerPoint Team Blog : Quick Try This: It's a Multi-Screen World
There are an increasing number of people out there with multiple monitors attached to their computers. And many of them are PowerPoint users who think this new configuration should be more useful to them than it is. They're right, and today I'll show you a simple technique to gain that advantage…
Demo shows Notepad with the ActiveWords Bar visible, it’s normally docked at the screen top or totally hidden.
Disclosure: 6 month trial screencast.com account provided by TechSmith
I’ve written about Rick Altman and his mostly Corel/PowerPoint related newsletter before. They are always worth reading and in the latest he makes some fearless forecasts, even mentioning the end of spam. This presented one small problem.
I have my ISP’s mail filter set to stamp potential spam with [SPAM] in the subject line but not delete it. I then use MailWasher to review their selections, to check it’s really spam, before download as the occasional message is incorrectly tagged. Rick’s email is certainly not spam but I suspect mentioning the subject was enough to get it tagged…
That’s one advantage of RSS vs email distribution. Its time for a feed Rick!
For the 2007 forecasts (see latest editorial) and to sign up to “All Things Visual”, his [NOTSPAM} email newsletter, visit http://www.altman.com/
Ellen Finkelstein previews Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 with a comprehensive look at what’s new, changed, even a few things that have been removed!
Review of PowerPoint 2007 PowerPoint: News and Features
I've been working hard on updating my PowerPoint, which will be called How to Do Everything with Microsoft® Office PowerPoint® 2007. It's due out in January. As I've gone through the chapters, I've delved into every nook and cranny of the new program, and here is my review…
Joel posted these for the intended audience, comic book artists, but I think many of the techniques for composition/lighting apply to both PowerPoint and rendering.
Joel Johnson: Wally Wood's 22 Panels That Always Work: Unlimited Edition
Ask any working comic book artist who has been in the business for more than ten years about "Wally Wood's 22 Panels That Always Work", and they know of it like it was the bible.Once shrouded in secrecy, Wally Wood would selectively give assistants and those close to him three 8×10 photocopies of comic panels that bore the absolute essence of drawing comic book panels. 22 images in total, they held the secret to a comic book illustrator’s success, and those who learned from them benefited from the master’s wisdom.
via drawn
Imagine you worked for a company that had re-branded, including redesigned corporate templates. Maybe this included a PowerPoint template that ignored every bit of advice you’ve read recently about better PowerPoint design. It might use overwhelming bright colours and a huge logo on every slide overpowering a tiny area for the most important bit – the content.
Of course you could just use it or you could create a presentation that massaged that template into something more modern. Maybe slightly tone down the colour so it doesn’t shout, perhaps ignore the “approved content area” (a letter-box slot between the “branding”) and fill the slides with image(s) and as few words as possible, reduce or even remove logos from most slides…
Ok, so it’s no longer “brand compliant” but the impact has been interesting. Those who have seen the presentation have commented on the content but nobody has mentioned the missing branding; so why is it there?
I don’t know anything about branding but reading this today made me grin…
Presentation Zen: Cleaning up our act
“Try this: If you must use your logo, do so only on the first slide and the last slide.”
“Putting your logo on every slide is like shouting your name before every new thought you have.“
“Branding is important — but a logo on your PPT slides is not branding (not even close).”
So what is branding? Jack Yan knows, what’s more he’s prepared to share – Online branding: a definitive guide.
I’ve been working on a PowerPoint presentation recently and and found the twin monitor set-up we run for CAD a huge help. Being able to run the the application on one screen, editing content/animation/timing, while having the slide-show running continuously on the other to check the results is an enormous productivity boost.
It’s not an uncommon set-up for CAD/Graphics these days but I think a twin monitor set-up is probably the best productivity gain for any user given the low cost of screens. There are few tasks that require only one application, email + another at least, and as soon as you need two a twin screen saves loads of unproductive clicks showing/hiding windows.
Not everyone has access to the hardware for this, if you don’t this tip from the PowerPoint Blog achieves close to the same functionality on a single monitor.
The PowerPoint® Blog - Simultaneously View & Edit Presentations
There are new versions of the freebie DWF Viewer and DWF Writer applications.
Many of the new viewer features are aimed at exploring 3D DWF models although improvements to operation, integration, and 2D DWF viewing haven’t been forgotten. I’ll start with the Viewer and it’s new 3D features as they are powerful and the most fun!
Slice and Dice!
With a 3D DWF you can slice a section though the model for a better look inside. The screen-shot (click for full-size) shows a section through an ADT house model. The section is live and you can drag the “section plane” around with the “triad” axis object. You can add up to six sections at any time. Right click on the Section name in the views pane to access display/control options for each section view.
Raise the Roof!
If a section is not enough just pull the model apart for a better look. Click the move button then select & drag model elements out of the way. In the screen-shot (click for full-size) the blue roof slab has been lifted to look into the interior. You can reset the model to make good all your demolition by selecting elements/groups in the Content Browser Model tree then Right-click>Reset.
Not everything new is 3D focused. Many existing functions and interface features have been refined:
. Yes, the page change buttons which went missing in 6.0 are back!Not everything I wished for is there, I’m still hanging out for better navigation of Architectural DWF’s but there is more than enough in here to make the DWF Viewer worth a download.
There is also an update to the companion free DWF writer. It allows applications without built in DWF publishing to print a DWF via File>Print then selecting DWF Writer as your printer. It also adds one click “Publish to DWF” tool-bars to I.E. and Microsoft Office applications. With OpenGL enabled applications (mainly CAD) you can even “DWF Write” a 3d model DWF.
To update existing DWF Viewer installations just launch the viewer & you should be prompted to update. If not force an update from the menu Help>Check for updates.
Learn more about DWF, inc sample files, from: www.autodesk.com/dwf
More details on Shaan’s AutoCAD blog: Between the Lines: New Autodesk DWF Viewer 6.5
Change is Good
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