Document

A file which is displayed in a window in NovaMind, and contains one or more Mind Maps. In NovaMind Express, you can only edit one Mind Map from a file at a time, so if there are multiple Mind Maps in a file, you will be prompted to select the one to open. In NovaMind Pro and Platinum, this restriction does not exist, and you can edit multiple Mind Maps at the same time.

Document View

A view where you can see all the Maps in a Document, and change properties for selected maps all at once. This option is only available in NovaMind Pro and Platinum.

Mind Map

A visual diagram representing related ideas, concepts, or tasks in a hierarchical format.

Mind Map Title or Root

The central topic of the Mind Map. There is always one of these on every Mind Map. This ensures that the Mind Map always has a single outline interpretation, unlike concept mapping.

Branch

A graphical representation of an idea that is attached to either the Mind Map title, or another branch. It has either text or images (or both) to denote meaning.

First Level or Top Level branch

A branch that is attached to the Mind Map Title.

Child Branch

A branch that is below the one being discussed.

Sibling Branch

A branch that is at the same level as the branch under consideration. Two branches are siblings if they have the same parent.

Outline View or Outline Format

A representation of the Mind Map in text form where the branches at successive levels are indented according to their level (number of parent branches between them and the Mind Map Title).

Attached Graphics

Images or shapes that are attached to a branch and move when the branch is moved, but are physically separate from the bounds of the branch itself and can be moved independently of the branch, and put in front of or behind the branch.

Rainbow Coloring and Rainbow Saturation

Automatic coloring of branches depending on their location in relation to the center of the Mind Map. This allows for quick and easy creation of colorful Mind Maps. Colors can be overridden for any branch. The Rainbow Saturation is the intensity of the rainbow colors.

Adornment

A small icon that is attached to the left end of a branch to visually denote some sort of special meaning.

Hyperlink

A link that, when clicked, takes the user to another branch, another Mind Map, another file, or web site, or composes an email - it is a way of linking a branch to some other information either locally or remotely. Branch hyperlinks are only available in NovaMind Pro and Platinum.

FlexiBranch®

A branch that can be reshaped using handles, while the text flows along the curve of the branch.

Kerning

The spacing between characters that are typed.

Free Layout

A setting which does not restrict you putting your branches wherever you like on your Mind Map.

Assisted Layout

A setting which tries to keep your Mind Map looking nice, while still allowing you to adjust the position of the branches.

Controlled Layout

A setting where NovaMind controls the placement of the branches in order to minimize the space taken by the Mind Map while making sure that the branches don't overlap.

Snap Lines

Lines that appear as you are moving branches around which indicate when the branch you are moving is close to being aligned to another branch, or is an equal distance from the other branch. If you let the branch go while the snap line is showing, the branch will move to align with the position shown by the snap line. Snap lines are only available in NovaMind Pro and Platinum.

Detail Level

The number of levels of the Mind Map that are shown - for example if the detail level is 2, the First Level Branches and their children will be shown, but any children of theirs will be hidden. This feature is only available in NovaMind Pro and Platinum.

Link Line

A flexible line that connects branches and graphics to show other associations besides the main hierarchical organization of the Mind Map.

Collapse Symbol

A small icon that is shown at the end of the branches, which you can click to hide the children of a branch. When a branch's children are hidden, there is an Expand icon which will show the children when clicked.

Graft

Move a branch so that it is the child of a different parent branch.

Canvas

The background that the Mind Map is drawn on.

Context Sensitive Menu

The menu that is displayed when you right-click (or Control-Click) on your Mind Map. Different menus are displayed when editing text, clicking on a branch, or clicking on the canvas.

Toolbar

The buttons at the top of the window, allowing you quick access to common functions.

Tool Palette

The small floating window that can be displayed to speed common operations like adding branches.

Screenwriter and Screenplay and Script

Screenwriters are people who write screenplays, or scripts which are a specially formatted form of writing which is used for the TV and movie industry for actors, directors, cameramen etc to produce a movie or TV show. This functionality is only available in the Platinum edition of NovaMind.

Template

A pre-created Mind Map which you can use as a starting point for your own Mind Maps. In the Pro and Platinum versions of NovaMind, you can save Mind Maps as templates to reuse them.

Theme

A pre-defined group of settings for the map canvas and the branch styles which can be applied to an existing Mind Map.

Map Style

A defined group of settings that can be applied to maps to change their background, coloring, layout assistance and branch numbering. You can either apply map styles by deselecting all graphics on the Mind Map and changing the settings for the selected Mind Map, or in NovaMind Pro and Platinum, you can use the Document View to change the map style for multiple Mind Maps at once.

Graphic Style

A defined group of settings that can be applied to branches and graphics to change the way they look. This can include things like line colors and styles, fonts, and fill colors. You can select any branch and change the way it looks and save this as a style, and apply that style to any other set of selected branches.

Suggesterator

A NovaMind extension that plugs in to NovaMind and suggests new directions for your thinking, and allows you to quickly add branches with the suggested words on them (and their definitions in the branch notes if desired. This plugin only works with English.