Real time-savers
Reading the chapter »Tips and tricks« is recommended if you have already made some experience working with eminec MYmap. The tips shown here may help you do your work more easily, perform actions that are not possible in eminec MYmap otherwise and save time!
Arrange objects
Move sub-branches freely / disable automatic arrangement
By default, sub-branches are automatically arranged in a way so that they do not overlap each other. However, you may move sub-branches freely — just like main branches. If you do so, automatic arrangement is disabled for all branches that are subordinate to the same parent as the moved branch. This is indicated by a tiny yellow box on the branch line of the superordinate object. (Subordinate objects retain the »automatic arrangement« feature, it is disabled for the object directly superordinate to the moved object only.)
Add sub-branches with automatic arrangement switched off
When you double-click a branch or sub-branch, eminec MYmap normally creates a new sub-branch and determines its position automatically. However, if you switch off automatic arrangement (a tiny yellow box can be seen near the already existing branch or sub-branch), eminec MYmap cannot set the position automatically. In this case, the new object will appear directly on top of the existing object, and eminec MYmap switches to »Move object« mode. Move the mouse cursor to the position where you want the new object to be placed, and click the left mouse button. Only now can you enter the caption of the new sub-branch.
Reenable automatic arrangement
Click the tiny yellow box on the branch line to reenable automatic arrangement for all directly subordinate objects.
Edit map structure
Change branch order
Move a branch (using drag-and-drop) onto another branch of the same level. A box is shown, surrounding the branch you point to. Make sure the mouse cursor is within the black box (do not point to the red arrow!), and release the mouse button.
If automatic arrangement is enabled, the map and the traditional outline change now. If automatic arrangement is disabled, only the outline changes: you can update the arrangement in the map yourself now by moving the branch freely.
Change branch connection
Move a branch (using drag-and-drop) onto another branch anywhere in your map or onto the map center. A box is shown, surrounding the branch you point to. Make sure the mouse cursor is within the red box (point to the red arrow!), and release the mouse button.
Now the map as well as the traditional outline change. If automatic arrangement is disabled, the object is not being moved, but merely reconnected; you can update the arrangement in the map yourself now by moving the branch freely.
Change branch connection and order at the same time
You may also reconnect a branch and change branch order at the same time. To do so, move a branch as described in »Change branch connection«, but point to the black box instead (do not point to the red arrow!)
The branch will then be connected to the branch that is superordinate to the branch you have pointed to, and at the same time the branch order is changed so that the moved branch appears before the branch you have pointed to.
Use illustrations
Insert free visual elements
You may use clip art images not only as highlighters assigned to branches, but also — analogously to free text — as free visual elements (»pictures«) in your map. To do so, fetch a picture from the »Clip Art« task pane using drag-and-drop, but do not drop it onto an existing branch. Rather, drag the image to the free area of your map. Your picture will appear as a discrete object in the traditional outline.
Click a picture that is already selected in the map to enter the alternate text for the traditional outline. Once you have finished editing the text, it disappears from the map; however, it remains visible in the outline.
Use EMF, JPEG, GIF and BMP files
Picture files of the most important formats EMF (vector graphics) and JPEG, GIF and BMP (bitmap graphics) can be processed by eminec MYmap. Create these files with other imaging software. You may drag these files into your map directly from Windows Explorer.
Use classes
Rename and delete properties
Click a property name in the »New properties« list (top list of the »Declare« section in the »Class« task pane) so that it becomes selected. Click again, and enter the new name of the property. If you have already assigned property values, these will be deleted during this action (however refer to: »Automatic value recovery«).
Automatic value recovery
If you rename or delete a property, you also delete its property values. They are however invisibly stored by eminec MYmap. If you add a property bearing the name of a previously deleted property, the deleted values will reappear. This works even if the map has been saved and the property is added again later.
To delete a value permanently, empty the corresponding field in the »Use« section of the »Class« task pane before deleting the property in the »Declare« section.
Various tips
Navigate quickly
To navigate quickly, you may point to the free area of your map (i. e. any place where there are no objects). Drag the mouse with the left button depressed, and your map will move with the mouse cursor. This way to navigate (»panning«) is often faster than using scroll bars or the scroll wheel.
Reset user preferences
Click the »eminec MYmap« icon, and press the keys Ctrl, Alt and Shift simultaneously before the splash screen appears. This resets all user preferences.