Steps 1 and 2 explored linking individual topics to other topics; in the same map and also in other
maps. This is sufficient for tracking interdependency between groups of activities. It is however,
insufficient for tracking journal activities undertaken with- in your multi- map structure.
For
example, the task detail roll- up will tell you priority, dates etc, but in the parent maps you'll have
limited visibility of actions taken towards completing your tasks, because up until now we have
only explored localised use of the Journal capability.
The powerful journal capture capability of TPAssist can be extended into multi- maps. This is
achieved by linking the Central Topic of sub maps to the parent maps, therefore allowing
TPAssist to know where to add further journal entries. This multi-map journal feature has
two modes:
A. Simple sub-map linkage
B. Tree Structure enabled sub-map linkage
We will now explore the capabilities of each of these modes.
1) Return to the "My Summer Holiday" map, under "The Office" sub topic, find the "Hand-over work
activities to team members" topic.
2) Click on the link icon (
) and drop into the linked map.
Before we create the map links, let's add a journal entry.
3) Right Click on "Invoices" topic and choose "Journal".
4) Choose "TASK" and enter "Prepared list of invoices due next month". IN ADDITION, change
the Flag to RED. Then click Apply.
Notice now how the Journal tree has an entry for today.
If you were to return the "My Summer Holiday" at this point you should notice no changes.
Let's now create the link to the parent map.
5) Back in "Team Hand-Over activities" map, select the Central Topic.
8) Add a hyperlink (use CTRL-K or from the toolbar, choose the Hyperlink tool (
))
9) In the select link dialogue, choose "Existing File or Web Page", then use the OPEN icon to find
your "My Summer Holiday" map (NB: You may need to change the "Files of Type" at the bottom
of this dialogue to see your maps). Click OK to create the link.
This should create a hyperlink to your parent map.
Now we will create another journal entry on our invoices and hopeful see the parent map's
journal updated.
10) Right Click on "Invoices" topic and choose "Journal".
11) Choose "MEETING" and enter "Met with Kim and discussed invoices due next month", ALSO
in the Status Text enter "Must e- mail list to Kim". Click Apply.
Now, lets swap back to "My Summer Holiday" and review the Journal.
12) Switch to "My Summer Holiday" map, expand the Journal sub-topic, find the year, month and
date applicable to day and hover your mouse over the Notes icon.
You will notice that a journal entry has been added to the notes. The journal entry has the
sub-map's central topic ('Team Hand-over activities'), the sub-topic name ('Operations') and
the topic ('Invoices'). This indicates that today an activity took place on the 'Invoices' topic
of your hand-over activities map.
This process has just demonstrated the "
Simple sub-map linkage" journal linkage mode.
In the next few steps we will explore how you can expand the capability to give your multi-
maps context. This is known as the "
Tree Structure enabled sub- map linkage" mode.
Let's start by reviewing the "Hand-Over work to team members" activity. This topic is
linked it to the sub map. Remember how in the step 4 above, we changed the sub map
and put a red flag the "Invoices" topic. Let's manually refresh the status.
13) In "My Summer Holiday" and choose the central topic, in the export toolbar at the bottom of
the window, choose the Tree Update command and click "Multimap", then click OK.
The "Hand-over work activities to team members" topic and parent topics should now have
a red flags.
14) Now drop back into the "Team Hand-Over activities" sub map, by clicking on the link icon
(
) on the "Hand- over work activities to team members" topic.
15) In the "Team Hand-Over activities" map, select the Central Topic.
16) From the toolbar, choose the Hyperlink tool (
)
17) Now choose the "Select Topic..." button.
18) Now expand the tree viewer and select "Hand-over work activities to team members", then
click OK.
You have now linked the sub-map to a sub-topic with-in your parent map.
This is called
"Tree Structure enabled sub-map linkage".
Our next task is to create a journal entry against one of the topics in this map so we can
see how the journal feature operates in "
Tree Structure enabled sub- map linkage"
mode.
19) Right Click on "Invoices" topic and choose "Journal".
20) Choose "E-MAIL" and enter "Sent invoice list to Kim", clear the status and
IN ADDITION,
change the Flag to GREEN. Then click Apply.
Now let's explore the parent map.
21) Switch to "My Summer Holiday" map, expand the Journal sub-topic, find the year, month and
date applicable to day and hover your mouse over the Notes icon.
You will notice that a journal entry has been added to the notes. The journal entry has the
parent map's context ("The Office"), then the activity with-in the parent context ("Hand-over
work ac...") and finally, the details with-in the sub map, i.e.. the sub-topic name
('Operations') and the topic ('Invoices').
In addition to updating master journal's with full context, the "
Tree Structure enabled sub-
map linkage" mode also updates the topic notes for all parent topics as illustrated here
for "Hand-Over work activities to team members" and "The Office" subtopic.
The final aspect to the "Tree Structure enabled sub-map linkage" mode is the
automatic update of task status. Remember how in the "
Simple sub-map linkage" mode
we had to manually perform a "Multimap" tree update in order to get the Red Flag from the
sub- map.
With "Tree Structure enabled sub- map linkage" mode the Green Flag has
automatically been transferred and updated up the tree.
This only works if a Journal
entry is made.
1. Welcome
) (TIP: In MindManager 7/8, the Hyperlink
tool is on the Home Ribbon Tab, and you can also use CTRL-K).
)
) to drop into the linked map.
