MM8 Mindjet Player

[Maurice]

I am disappointed that the excellent Export as Player cannot be arranged so that my Styles and layout (respecting Relationships) are preserved. Currently, people to whom I send a Player file will have to endure a big e-mail download and then be faced with what looks like a horrible, carelessly produced map that will not endear either me or MM 8 to them. What a way to recommend the software. I'd like it to preserve the layout and style (the look) of my carefully crafted work, and if there were a choice to allow appearance to be maintained it would please everyone, including the people that actually like the shipped default style of MM8 (7, or 6 past for that matter). Have you any comment?

[ajwilcox]

Hi Maurice

I understand your concern with the current (because I hope it will be improved) functionality of the Mindjet Player.  You should give this feedback to Mindjet via the Tools > Online Support > Feedback option in MindManager which takes you to here http://www.mindjet.com/support/contact/default.aspx

Like all of MindManager's exports you have to create a map which is fit for the purpose.  A map which produces an MS Project plan many not produce a good Word document. 

The Mindjet Player's strengths are being able to supply a map which can be expanded and contracted with simple notes to anyone who has a recent version of the Adobe PDF Viewer.  Patrick McKeown has posted a good example in his blog  Search Engine Research.

So turn your original posting on its head and think what can I use it for to effect a useful transfer of knowledge to my audience.

[Maurice]

Thank you for the pointer.  I'll give the feedback as suggested.  Ever since MM6 I have been bothered about shipped default styles (implied assumption that business users have lack of aesthetic perception) but warmed to that and later versions after playing with new styles and setting defaults.  Player tramples all that out.  Thanks too for the link to Patrick McKeown's map.  It offers the lesson to avoid using relationship arrows when preparing to export to Player.  Fitness for purpose indeed!  But knowing purpose is only the first bit; what the tools can do towards fulfilling the purpose is what we are getting.

Maps for project plans and Word documents is another matter to which I may return under another thread.