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The TPAssist Console is the comprehensive path to all the TPAssist features. From this one
place you can manage individual topics, manage the entire tree, add journal entries, publish your
map and manage TPAssist document properties.
Console Tabs:
To accessing the TPAssist Console, click Journal, Topic, Publish, Properties or Tree Update in
the TPAssist Ribbon (In MindManager 6, click the TPAssist icon in the Export toolbar):
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The Journals Tab, is used to update task status details and capture your task activities. The
popup window has been designed to provide maximum accessibility to the capabilities that are
used most often. You can obtain the lesser used capabilities by clicking the ">>>" button.
Likewise, hiding the advanced options is achieved by clicking the "<<" button.
The picture below shows the Journal Tab with all advanced options hidden. The items with-in this
window are briefly explained below. Advanced options are also described immediately following
the most used capabilities.
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The top section of the Journal Tab is used to modify the topic title and also configure
Topic Auto
Title.
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Aspect
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Explanation
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Topic
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The focus topic title can be modified here.
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Auto Title button
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This button enables or disables the
Topic Auto Title functionality. Once
turned on, you must continue to modify the topic title via the Journal Tab.
Any changes made directly on the map will be overwritten during
Tree Updates.
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Normal Options
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Journal Date
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The date of the journal entry. Default is today's date. Date cannot be in the
future.
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Journal Type
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Journal Type provides a means to make use of pre-loaded journal activity
types. There is no requirement that a Journal Type be used. The capability
is designed to save you time when capturing your activities. i.e. in the
sample journal entry below, the "PHONE:" journal type was selected and
then the text, "From John - Phase 2 is progressing well.", was entered in
the Journal Notes area.
------------- Journal -------------
3/Jul/07: [DEMO] PHONE:
From John - Phase 2 is
progressing well.
---------- End Journal ----------
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Journal Notes
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This text area is used to capture notes associated with an activity. The
contents of the text area will be appended to the "Journal Type".
NOTE: If the Advanced Option, "Append Clipboard as" capability is used,
the output will be included after the text entered in the Journal Notes
textbox.
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Advanced Options
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Append Clipboard as:
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This pull-down choice provides TPAssist instructions regarding appending
text currently contained with-in the clipboard:
-
Newline - instruction TPAssist to take the contents of the clipboard,
remove any Line Feeds (new paragraphs), replacing them with a single
SPACE. This mode is create for including paragraphs of text with-in a
single journal entry.
-
Newline/Quotes - as above, however the resulting text is encapsulated
between two quotation marks (").
-
Join - instructs TPAssist to take the contents of the clipboard, remove
any Life Feeds (new paragraphs), however no spaces are added to the
text stream. This mode is useful for including contiguous lines of text
in the journal entry.
-
Join/Quote - as above, however the resulting text is encapsulated
between two quotation marks (").
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Copy results back to
clipboard.
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This button toggles the "clipboard" capability on and off. When ON, the
entire contents of Journal entry is copied to clipboard after clicking OK.
This is used to make use of journal notes in other applications. The
clipboard contents will be based on the Clip Macro as defined in the
Documents Tab. If notes (%n) is specified, the clip board will include
Activity Type, Journal Notes and the results of Clipboard Macro. See
Document Tab Properties
for details.
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Journal Date Alignment
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This button toggle the "Journal Date Alignment" mode on and off. When
on, TPAssist will automatically change dates based on your actions. The
following automation rules are used:
1. When 100% is clicked, update Start and Due dates (i.e. if not started,
Start date is change to Journal Date and regardless, change Due date to
Journal date).
2. If Status is changed to "Active", Start date is changed to Journal date.
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Normal Options
NOTE: The options above are only visible if Outlook Integration is turned ON.
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Outlook Integration
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ON (Auto Reminder) - Enable Outlook integration and automatically
predict the correct reminder configuration, i.e. when Topic is active,
use Next Business Day (NBD).
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ON (Manual Reminder) - Enable Outlook integration but do not
predict the correct reminder configuration.
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OFF (None) - Turn off Outlook integration for this topic.
The default behaviour of this option is defined by the "Outlook" option in
the Document Tab
of the Console.
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Outlook Item
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This choice pull-down determines the type of Outlook integration.
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Automatic (Task) OR just Task: This topic will be integrated with
Outlook, in that Outlook will contain an Outlook Task item for this
mind map topic.
-
Reminder (Appt.): This topic will be integrated with Outlook, in that
Outlook will contain an Outlook Appointment item for this mind map
topic. This item will be configured as zero duration and FREE so
that is only appears in your calendar as a reminder.
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Appointment: This topic will be integrated with Outlook, in that
Outlook will contain an Outlook Appointment item for this mind map
topic.
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Reminder Option
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This choice pull-down determines the reminder alignment. When
alignment is set to "Start" or "Due", the reminder date will track the
Start Date and Due Date respectively. "Today" uses today's date.
"NBD" automatically picks the "Next Business Day" (TPAssist
assumes Saturday and Sunday are non-business days). The "Other"
choice allows you to choose the reminder date.
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Reminder Date
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This date field is used to define the "Other" date when Reminder Option
is configured this way.
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Time
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This choice pull-down provides a set of pre- configured reminder times.
The reminder times are as follows:
For non-Private (or Business topics)
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Auto - 10am if undefined or FOLLOW current reminder time, i.e. if
the reminder time assign before opening the Journal Window is for
2pm and you change the date, the reminder will stay at 2pm.
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Morning - 10am.
-
Afternoon - 2pm.
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Evening - 5pm.
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Night - 6pm for non-Private items and 8pm for Private items
"Private" status is set using the Private Item toggle and also set by
default at document level using the Documents Tab of the TPAssist
Console.
For Private topics (or non-Business topics)
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Auto - as above, plus 10am where the reminder date is a Saturday
or Sunday; 6pm where the reminder date is a weekday.
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Morning - 10am if Saturday or Sunday, 6pm otherwise.
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Afternoon - 2pm if Saturday or Sunday, 6pm otherwise.
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Evening - 5pm if Saturday or Sunday, 6pm otherwise.
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Night - 6pm for non-Private items and 8pm for Private items
When the reminder date/time is in the past, the reminder date will
default to today and the reminder time will be assigned as follows
depending on the current time:
-
if time now is less than 10am, reminder time is 10am,
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otherwise if time now is less than 2pm, reminder time is 2pm,
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otherwise if time now is less than 5pm, reminder time is 5pm,
-
otherwise if time now is less than 6pm, reminder time is 6pm.
-
otherwise reminder time will be increased by 1 hour increments
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Outlook Integration - Advanced Options
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Aspect
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Explanation
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Notes (Body)
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This choice pull-down defines how TPAssist will manage the integration
of Topic notes and Outlook Item notes (or body). The choices are:
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No Note - Topic notes will not be copied to the Outlook Item and
Outlook Item notes will be remain in-tack and untouched.
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Summary - A summary of Topic notes will be copied to the Outlook
Item. Outlook Item notes will be overwritten each time TPAssist
updates the Outlook Item.
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All Notes - As per Summary, except all Topic notes will be copied
to the Outlook Item.
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Private Item
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-
Toggle "Private Item" on and off. This option defines if the Outlook
item is marked as "Private".
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Normal Options
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Aspect
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Explanation
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Distribute to subtopics
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This toggle button determine if you want to distribute work and values to
subtopics (See Financial Capabilities
for details).
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Advanced Options
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Aspect
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Explanation
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Work
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This area permits you to view and/or modify work or effort associated
with the topic. To customise the value, click on the cell. To revert
back to the automated process, double-click on the text box. See
Managing Work
for further details.
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Cost
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TPAssist derives the cost associated with the work by multiplying the
work or effort by the hourly rates associated with the specified
resources. Resource rates are maintained via the
Resource Editor.
Cost cannot be edited.
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Value
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This area permits you to view and/or modify the Topic Value. To
customise the value, click on the cell. To revert back to the automated
process, double-click on the text box. See
Managing Topic Value for
further details.
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Total
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TPAssist derives the total from the Cost and Value. Totals cannot be
edited.
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Normal Options
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Aspect
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Explanation
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Status
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The topic status choice sets the Task Priority, where by:
-
Priority 5 is "N/A" - TPAssist treats Priority 5 or lower (i.e. 6,7,8 or 9)
as a non- task topic, this task won't count towards percent complete
calculation, task tree summarising or be incorporated in exports to
Work Breakdown Structures. Priority 5 items are excellent for
recording notes and general non- task specific information.
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Priority 4 is "Inactive" - TPAssist treats Priority 4 as in- active task.
This association is used in the settings relating to summarising or
exports to Work Breakdown Structures.
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Priority 3 is "Active", Priority 2 is "Active(P2)", Priority 1 is "Active(P1)"
- TPAssist treats Priority 1, 2 and 3 as active tasks.
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"Unknown" removes the priority icons.
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Flag
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This choice sets the topic Flag.
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Calculate Dates (Auto
Level)
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This toggle switch enables or disables automatically update of task Start
and Due date based on Levelling rules
.
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Start
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Task Start Date. NOTE: If you Uncheck the check box, the date will be
removed. If "Calculate Dates" is enabled and when the Start date is not
defined plus the status is changed to "Active", this field will automatically
be changed to equal the current Journal date.
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Due
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Task Due Date. NOTE: If you Uncheck the check box, the date will be
removed. If "Calculate Dates" is enabled, and when the 100% button is
clicked, the Due Date will change to the current Journal Date.
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Percent Complete
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This choice sets the percent complete.
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Auto 100%
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This macro button is a short-cut for you to use when completing tasks.
Clicking the Auto 100% button will instruct the Console to remove the
priority, change the Percent Complete to 100%, automatically assign the
Due Date (to current Journal Date), remove flags and clear the Status Text.
Now when you press OK, the changes are committed to the Topic.
NOTE: If you wish to retain the Status information, click the 100% twice
more and the Status information will be restored and left intact.
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Advanced Options
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Aspect
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Explanation
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Status Text
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This text area is used to define the current status associated with
the topic. This text is placed in a Call Out topic over the topic, will
be listed as "STATUS" in Outlook integrated task/appointments and
is also published to Excel.
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Map Status
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This button toggles the "Map Status" on and off. When turned on,
the status text entered here will be copied to the Central Topic's
Status Text. NB: This overrides the existing value.
This feature is useful for tracking overall map status with-in a specific
task tree.
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Duration
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The Duration option, provides the means to define task duration.
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Resources
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This text area defines the Task Resources associated with this topic.
As with all MindManager topics, multiple Task Resources are
separated by a comma (,) or semi-colon (;).
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Resource Picker
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The Resource Picker opens the Resource Selection Dialog
. From
this point you can pick from resources already used with-in the map.
This resource picker is multi-select enabled, use your mouse to
pick and unpick resources as required.
The Resource Selection Dialog also provides an entry in the
Resource Editor
.
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Reference
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The Reference is made available to Outlook integration via the %r
macro. Outlook integration choices are defined in the Documents
Tab of the Console. If left unchanged, the value is inherited from
topic above.
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Original Target
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The Journal Tab can be used on a per-topic basis or to make changes to a number of topics at the
same time. The Multi-Select capability is available when more than one topic are selected before
opening the Journal Tab. Once opened the "Apply" button in the bottom right corner of the window
will be accompanies by the "Apply To All" button, giving you choice of apply the change to the
focus topic only (i.e. "Apply") or all selected topics (i.e. "Apply to All").
TPAssist will make changes to any property that is modified in the popup window. Avoid
"touching" text boxes and pickers for items that you don't want to assimilate as there is no easy
way to reverse changes made to a large selection of topics.
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The Tree Update tab is used to update the topic tree and to produce task tree summaries.
The popup window has been designed to provide maximum accessibility to the capabilities that
are used most often. You can obtain the lesser used capabilities by clicking the ">>>" button.
Likewise, hiding the advanced options is achieved by clicking the "<<" button.
The items with-in this window are briefly explained below.
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Aspect
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Explanation
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Scope
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This button group sets the scope of the tree update. "All" executes an update
from the Central Topic out. "Localised" executes an update from the current
focus topic.
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Task Summary
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This toggle button turns on and turns off the tree summary capability. Turning
on the capability will display its options.
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Multimap
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This toggle button turns on and turns off the "Multimap" update capability. See
Tree Update Reference for details.
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Prepare for Publishing
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This toggle button turns on and turns off a filter on topics flagged with "
Omit
From Publishing". This permits you to build a view of your rolled-up
information consistent with the results in Microsoft Excel and/or Microsoft
Project as obtained via the TPAssist
Publishing Feature.
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NOTE: Depressing toggle buttons, as illustrated in the figure above, turns the feature on.
When the MULTIMAP capability turned-on the following option is available.
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Sub maps
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The number provided specifies the sub map depth. Increasing the number can
dramatically lengthen the time taken to conduct a Multimap update. The
default sub maps option is "1", meaning the Multimap update will process the
current map plus any direct sub map only.
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Normal Options

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Automatic Tree Update:
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This Tree Update option defines the
behaviour of Tree Update after making
task detail changes using the
Journal
Tab. When task details are changed,
you will likely wish for the task details
to be rolled- up to the central topic. The
choices as part of this setting define
the degree to which the map is
updated each time you press OK in the
Journal Tab after changing task
details. The options are as follows:
-
None (Disabled) - If selected,
automatic update is turn- off. Roll-
up information will be populated
only by doing a manual Tree
Update from the central topic.
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Comprehensive (Slow) - If
selected, the entire map is
automatically updated every- time
the Journal Tab is used to change
task details. This option may be
slow when making changes in
large maps.
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Adaptive Simple (Fast) - If
selected, only the parent topics of
the focus topic will be updated
when task detail changes are
made to the Journal Tab. Whilst
much faster than
"Comprehensive", this form of
automation will fail to update dates
of related topics (as possible
when Levelling
is enabled).
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Compatibility Mode:
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This Tree Update option determines how
TPAssist's task roll-up and task
automation capabilities should inter-
operate with MindManager and external
add-ons.
-
None (default) - All TPAssist task
roll-up and task automation
capabilities will functional normally.
-
MindManager 8 Task Automation -
when selected, TPAssist will no
longer roll-up dates and percent
complete. Further more, the Auto
Date (Levelling) capability will no
longer function. However, multi-map
copying to dates and percent
complete will operate as normal.
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Advanced Options
The type of items updated during Tree Update is defined via the following toggles.
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Priority
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When turned on, the parent topics will take
on the highest priority found amongst it's
subtopics where 1 is highest and 5 is lowest.
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Percent Complete
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When turned on, parent topics percent
complete is calculated by taking the total
percent complete value of a topic's subtopics.
For example, if a topic has four subtopics
and two of these are 100%, then the topics
percent complete value will become 50%.
Subtopics with no percentage value will be
omitted from the calculation.
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Flags
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When turned on, parent topics flags will be
summarised to represent the highest ranking
flag with-in the subtopics. The flag rank is
as per the list below:
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Dates
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When turned on, parent topic Start Date is
taken from the earliest Start Date of the
subtopics. If no Start Date is found, the
parent topic's Start Date is left empty. Also,
parent topic Due Date is taken from the latest
Due Date of the subtopics. If no Due Date is
found, the parent topic's Due Date is left
empty.
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Update status Callouts
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When turned on, TPAssist will refresh Topic
Status callouts for each topic processed
during the Tree Update. This feature is useful
if you are using macros with-in your
Topic Status.
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100% Auto Clear Background
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When turned on, TPAssist will clear the
background of topics as they are completed
(i.e. when percent complete is changed to
100% in the Journal tab
of the console). In
addition, when the Tree Update is performed,
the background is also cleared where parent
topics are 100%.
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When the Task Summary capability is selected, the following options are available.
Normal Options
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Action
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The summary action has the following modes:
-
Normal - perform comprehensive search of map.
-
7 Day Horizon - focus only on topics due up to 7 days ago or due with- in
one week.
-
CLEANUP - remove summary tree
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Style
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The summary results will use one of the following three styles:
-
Proximity - Produces a summary tree, grouping topics by "In Past", "No
Date", due "Today", due "Tomorrow", due "<1 Week", due "<2 Weeks",
due "<1 Month" and due greater than 1 month.
-
Priority - Produces a summary tree, grouping topics by priority and
"active" status.
-
Flag - Produces a summary tree, grouping topics by Flag.
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My Tasks
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The My Tasks toggle instructs TPAssist to use a special "Resource Filter" and
restrict the summary tree topics assigned to "My Resource Tags" (see below).
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Advanced Options

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Resource Filter
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The Resource Filter toggle button instructs TPAssist to prompt for and then
restrict the summary tree to a sub- set of resources assigned to Topics.
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Only Task Items
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This toggle button instructs TPAssist to process task items only (i.e. those a
Priority map marker and Percent Complete value.
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Active Items
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This toggle button instructs TPAssist to process only Topics with Priority 1, 2
or 3.
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Dated Items
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This toggle button instructs TPAssist to process only Topics with a Start
Date and/or Due Date.
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Ignore Recurring
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This toggle button instructs TPAssist to ignore Priority 5 Topics.
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Ignore Complete
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This toggle button instructs TPAssist to ignore completed Topics.
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Task Title Macro
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This mask provides the instruction regarding what to use as the title or name
of the topic created in the Task Summary tree.
The default value is "%r %t", i.e. create a new topic drawing on "Reference"
and topic title. The "Reference" is assigned to a topic tree using the Task
Details aspect of the Journal Tab
.
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My Resource Tags:
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This configuration option is used in conjunction with the My Tasks filter. In the
space provided you list the resource names and abbreviations that you use,
separated by a comma. This setting is stored locally in your machine and not
with-in the map, so the "My Tasks" filter can be used on any map to find topics
assigned to you.
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NB: The choice made to the above options is remembered for each document.
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The Topic tab is used to manage various aspects of individual map topics.
The items with-in this window are briefly explained below.
Builder Tools
The Topic tab has a number of functions or "Builder Tools". You choose the tool you need by
clicking one of the toggle buttons in the "Builder Tools" area.
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ID
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Aspect
|
Explanation
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1
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Topic Properties
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This Builder Tool exposes the topic properties options. Changes you make
to the properties are saved once you click OK. See the section below for
specific details on each property.
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2
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Convert to Task Tree
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This Builder Tool is used to convert a tree of brainstorming topics to task
topics. This tool will add Priority 4 and percentage complete to the focus
topic and its sub topics. To run the conversion, select the tool and click
OK.
NOTE: The Topic properties for the focus topic are also exposed and can
be modified at the same time as executing the conversion.
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3
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In Note Tags
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This Builder Tool exposes the semi- structured notes editor. Use this
editor to change the text associated with each tag. See the
section
below for specifics details.
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4
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Linked Items
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This Builder Tool exposes the linked item list. This list is populated by the
Outlook "Linked Item" capability. See the section below for specific details.
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5
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Topic Tree Template
|
This Builder Tools creates a template from the focus topic and its
subtopics. See Topic Tree Template
for details.
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6
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Link Item via Shortcut
|
This Builder Tools is used to add a link to a file or URL via the
"Attachments" MindManager capability.
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7
|
Move attachments to Cache
|
This Builder Tools is used to process actual attached files and move them
to the Attachment Cache, replacing them with a Shortcut. By moving the
attachment from the map you reduce the map file size (or foot print). By
replacing the file with a Shortcut attachment you can still easily retrieve
your attachments.
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The Topic Properties tools exposes the topic properties options. Changes you make to the
properties are saved once you click OK. See the section below for specific details on each
property.
Properties that are not in use are hidden. They will appear as you enable the tool which relates to
them.
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Omit From Tree Update
|
This toggle button causes the Tree Update to skip this topic. This
property is useful for hiding sub groups of tasks and also non
task map topics.
(NOTE: This is not the same as "Research / Notes Topic", in that
the Tree Update will still process sub topics, however the roll-up
information will not be populated up past the focus topic.)
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Omit From Publishing
|
This toggle button causes publishing capability to skip the focus
topic. This property is useful for hiding sections of your map from
Excel status reports, as an example.
(NOTE: This is not the same as "Research / Notes Topic", in that
sub topics will still behave and be maintained as would any task
oriented topic.
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Research / Notes Topic
|
This toggle button flags a topic as completely unrelated to task
trees. Once set, this topic and any sub topics cannot be
maintained with TPAssist Journal tools. Only by locating the
top most parent topic can this restriction be removed.
|
|
Capture/Process - Auto Journal
|
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|
Turn On Outlook Integration on
Create
|
|
|
Display Profile
|
|
|
Automate Dates (Levelling)
|
Set the "Levelling" mode applicable for the focus topic and its
sub topics. Topic Auto Levelling Properties can only be defined
when Auto Level is turned on. See User Reference, Tree
Update Reference, Levelling
for further details.
The DEFAULT "Inherit" setting caused levelling to occur if it is
turned ON on parent topics.
The "ON" setting, causes Levelling to take place from this topic
and for its sub topics.
The "OFF"setting, causes Levelling to stop from this topic and
for its sub topics.
|
Default overrides for Automate Dates (Levelling)
These properties are hidden until "Automate Dates (Levelling)" is turned ON. When turned "ON",
and unless specified, the levelling functionality will inherit parent topic configuration, which is
originally based on Document (map) defaults
.
|
Aspect
|
Explanation
|
|
Apply to sublevels
|
Apply levelling to this number of levels. Zero (0) indicates no limit. If
the checkbox is unchecked, the property will be inherited from the
topics above.
|
|
Levelling Function
|
Choose the levelling function where:
-
Finish-to-Start (FS) - Topics start after the completion of the
previous topic.
-
Start-to-Start (SS) - Topics start and end together, alignment
is based on the earliest start date in the topic group.
-
Finish-to-Finish (FF) - Topics start and end together, alignment
is based on latest Due Date of topics in the group.
-
Start-To-Finish (SF) - Take the Due Date of the last topic in
the group and track back each topic in the group so all topics
finish by that Due Date.
|
|
Hours in Day
|
Specify the number of hours in a working day. This value is used to
calculate appropriate dates span when Duration is specified.
|
|
Weekends
|
Specify how Weekends (Saturday and Sunday) are managed when
levelling topics.
-
Auto - Use the weekends if the topic Start Date is either a
Saturday or Sunday.
-
Weekdays - Only use weekdays, even if Start Date is either a
Saturday or Sunday.
-
Weekends Also - Use weekends (if needed).
|
|
Continue Date
|
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|
|
The properties component of the Topic Tab can be used on a per-topic basis or to make changes
to a number of topics at the same time. The Multi-Select capability is available when more than
one topic are selected before opening the Topic Tab. Once opened the "Apply" button in the
bottom right corner of the window will be accompanies by the "Apply To All" button, giving you
choice of apply the change to the focus topic only (i.e. "Apply") or all selected topics (i.e. "Apply
to All").
TPAssist will make changes to any property that is modified in the popup window. Avoid
"touching" buttons, text boxes and pickers for items that you don't want to assimilate as there is
no easy way to reverse changes made to a large selection of topics.
|
|
This Builder Tool is used to convert a tree of brainstorming topics to task topics. This tool will add
Priority 4 and percentage complete to the focus topic and its sub topics. To run the conversion,
select the tool and click OK.
As an alternative to converting topics directly via the tool, you can also select the topics and use
the MindManager 7 Ribbon
"Create Task" Journal short-cut.
|
|
This Builder Tool exposes the semi-structured notes editor. Use this editor to change the text
associated with each tag.
To edit the notes associated with a tag, select the tag from the top list box and then type your
notes in the bottom list box. Changes made here will automatically be saved to the focus topic as
you change tag.
|
|
This Builder Tool exposes the linked item list. This list is populated by the Outlook "Linked Item"
capability. Items previously linked or embedded to the focus topic via Outlook will be listed here.
Selecting an item, then clicking OK, will instruct TPAssist to switch to Outlook and open the item.
See User Reference, Outlook, Linked Items
for further details.
|
|
This Builder Tool is used to create a template topic tree from the focus topic and it's subtopics.
See Topic Tree Template
tool for details.
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This Builder Tool is used to link a file or URL to the focus topic. This is done by creating a file
system "Shortcut" to the file or URL and then attaching the "Shortcut" to the focus topic. See
Link Item via Shortcut
tool for details.
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This Builder Tools is used to process actual attached files and move them to the
Attachment
Cache, replacing them with a Shortcut. By moving the attachment from the map you reduce the
map file size (or foot print). By replacing the file with a Shortcut attachment you can still easily
retrieve your attachments from the topic to which it relates.
To run the conversion, select the tool and click OK.
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The Publish tab is used to publish TPAssist mind maps to external packages for distribution and
communication.
The popup window has been designed to provide maximum accessibility to the capabilities that
are used most often. You can obtain the lesser used capabilities by clicking the ">>>" button.
Likewise, hiding the advanced options is achieved by clicking the "<<" button.
There are a number of parts to this window. Each is explained below.
Publish Tools
The Publish tab has a number of functions or "Tools". You choose the tool you need by clicking
one of the toggle buttons in the "Tools" area.
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Aspect
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Explanation
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Edit Resources
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This tool exposes a dialogue that can be used configure Full Names and
hourly charge rates for resources used with-in the map. These added
properties are used by the publishing capability. The Full Name assignments
are used in place of Resource names in to-do and other planner worksheets.
The hourly charge rate is used to populate the costs of activities when
Duration is assigned.
To expose the editor, click the tool button and click OK.
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Microsoft Excel
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This tool exposes the various options associated with
publishing to Excel. See
below for details.
To publish using the settings configured, choose the tool button and click OK.
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Microsoft Project
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This tool exposes the various options associated with publishing to
Microsoft
Project. See below for details.
To publish using the settings configured, choose the tool button and click OK.
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Scope
This choice area allows you to choose the scope of the tool, i.e. either the focus topic or the entire
map.
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Choice:
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Whole Map - When selected, the export commences at the central topic.
Focus Topic - When selected, the export commences at the focus topic, as if
it where the central topic.
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Multimap and Sub Maps
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This scope option instructs TPAssist to process the current map and its sub
maps (to the specified level).
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The Microsoft Excel tool exposes the various options associated with publishing to Excel. See
below for details. See Publishing to Microsoft Excel
section for specifics regarding publishing
formats.
To publish, using the settings configured, choose the tool button and click OK.
The options applicable to Excel publishing are described below.
Normal Options
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Report Date
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This is the report issue date and is displayed in the top right hand corner
of the report. The report date is also used as the starting position for
Gantt charts and resource planning worksheets. "Ignore complete" will
ignore topics prior to this date.
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Report Type
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Single WSB Mode: YES/NO
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This button enables or disables "Single Work Breakdown Structure
(WSB) Mode"
Single WSB Mode restricts the creation of subsequent separate topic
group worksheets at a particular level. For example the illustration
provided in the section below on Publishing to Microsoft Excel uses the
configuration outlined above, where by, Task Level = 2 and Single@=1,
instructing TPAssist to only publish one (1) worksheet of work breakdown
detail.
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Task details to level
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This option specifies the level of detail to be included in the Work
Breakdown Structure (or "Overall" worksheet). The number provided is
relative to the focus topic or central topic depending on the scope,
where a value of 1 extracts the immediate sub topics only, whilst a value
of 2 extracts the immediate sub topics, plus the next level topics as
well. Unless using "Single WBS Mode" as explained below, each level
results in a separate series of worksheets, one for each topic group.
There number of levels is only limited by the number of worksheets
permitted in one single worksheets (this number is dependent on the
version of Excel).
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Gantt Chart: YES/NO
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Choose this option if you want your published report to include Gantt
charts. The Gantt charts will follow the Task Level structure (i.e. one
Overall Gantt chart, plus individual Gantt charts for each subsequent
sub-level).
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Resource Schedule: YES/NO
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Choose this option if you want your published report to include a
summary resource scheduler or planner. One planner only is published
per report.
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Advanced Options
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Resource Scope
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This context option determines the source for Resource worksheets:
-
Auto (Detect) - Follow the export scope (See
Publishing Tab)
-
Global Only - Use resources as defined for entire document (map).
-
Local Only - Use resources from the focus topic and its subtopics.
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Project Title Context
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This context option determines the source for the "Project Title". The
choices are:
-
Focus Topic - Use the topic name as the project title (when Scope is
"Whole Map", the central topic's name is used).
-
Parent - Use the topic name of the parent topic.
-
Tree (Not Central) - Extract the topic tree's context for the project title
(i.e. append all topic names in hierarchy up to but excluding central
topic).
-
Tree (with Central) - as above, but with central topic.
-
Local (TAG) - Draws on the "Project Title" semi- structured notes (See
User Reference, TPAssist Console, Topic Tab, Builder Tools: In Note
Tags).
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To-Do Context
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This context option determined if and how the "To-Do" worksheets are
constructed. The To- Do worksheets are to- do list specific to each
resource in the focus topic tree. The choices are:
-
Task Tiered - Built a list of tasks, indented appropriately as per the
topic hierarchy.
-
Simple List - Build a simple list of tasks, excluding any reference to
topic hierarchy.
-
Complex List - as above, however include task context.
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Notes WS Context
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This context option determined if and how the "Notes" worksheet is to be
populated. The choices are:
-
Auto (All) - Both of the following.
-
Notes Tree Only - Extract only the "NOTES" topic tree (must exists
as sub topic of central topic).
-
Local TAG Only - Extract any Status call-out details and the "Project
Notes" semi- structured notes (See User Reference, TPAssist
Console, Topic Tab, Builder Tools: In Note Tags).
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Res. Sheet
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This toggle determines if the "Resource Sheet" worksheet is included and
populated during the export.
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Task Sheet
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This toggle determined if the "Task Sheet" worksheet is included and
populated during the export. (NB: The "Task Sheet" is only available in
limited report types).
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Pivot Source:
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This toggle determines if the "Pivot - Task" and "Pivot - Resource"
worksheets are included in the export.
NB: The pivot source worksheets can take some time to populated, so
choose only when required.
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To-Do Ignore Complete
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Check the box to ignore completed tasks when constructing the To-Do
worksheets.
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To-Do Active Only
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Check the box to only list the active tasks (See User Reference, The
TPAssist Document, Task Topics for details).
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Include WBS in Pivot
Source
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This switch determined if the WBS code (i.e. 1.2, 1.3 etc) is included in
the "Context" columns in the Pivot Source worksheets.
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RAG (Red-Amber- Green)
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Defines how the Red-Amber- Green (i.e. "RAG") column is populated in
the Overall worksheet. The source will be either just Flags or Flags and
then priorities. NOTE: "Green" RAG is automatically applied to tasks
which are active (See User Reference, The TPAssist Document, Task
Topics for details).
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Date Summary
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When enabled, the Gantt worksheet, the resource worksheet and task
lists will only be populated up to the selected date.
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Units
|
Choose the units calculation to be used in Quotation worksheets.
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Status Comment Macro
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This macro
is used in the "Comment" column of status worksheets. It
should typically contain a variation of the "%w?" macro as if no work is
defined, the Status Comment Macro is ignored.
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To publish, using the settings configured, choose the tool button and click OK.
The options applicable to Microsoft Project publishing are described below.
Normal Options
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Aspect
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Explanation
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Export Method
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Choose how TPAssist will handle existing Project files.
-
Always create new project file - This option instructs TPAssist to
open a new Microsoft Project File.
-
Append to active project file - This option will append the tasks to
the active project file, if Microsoft Project is already open. This
option is useful if you have a Microsoft Project file ready formatted
with the columns and settings you prefer. Just be sure
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Include Focus Topic
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This toggle button determines if the focus topic is to be included as the
first task in the project file.
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Advanced Options
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Aspect
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Explanation
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Filter Aware
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This toggle determines how TPAssist processes the active map. If Filter
Aware is turned on, hidden topics will be ignored.
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Add Topic Notes
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This toggle determines if the topic notes are included in the project task
notes.
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Project Notes Only
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Resource Details
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This toggle determines if specified resource work allocations are added to
each project task. If disabled, all resource assignments will be put into
the project file as 100% allocation.
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Task Roll-up
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This capability provides the means to summarise your project maps and
sub maps into overview or summary project Gantt. The "at level" option is
the number of sub topics beneath the focus topic to include.
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When a publishing method is selected, the following general export properties are visible.
Normal Options
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Aspect
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Explanation
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Default Resource
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Specify the default resource as used when Topics have a duration but no
resource.
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Advanced Options

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Aspect
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Explanation
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Hours per day
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Specify the number of hours in a working day. This value is used to
calculate appropriate dates span when Duration is specified.
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Weekends
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Specify how Weekends (Saturday and Sunday) are managed when
calculating Gantt and Resource Planner allocations.
-
Auto - Use the weekends if the topic Start Date is either a Saturday
or Sunday.
-
Weekdays - Only use weekdays, even if Start Date is either a
Saturday or Sunday.
-
Weekends Also - Use weekends (if needed).
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Duration Allocation
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Specify how Duration is allocated, when it doesn't match the spread of
days (i.e. when the Topic has a start date and a due date, 10 working
days apart, whilst only a Duration of 5 days). The choices are:
-
Spread over dates - Spread the duration evenly over inclusive dates.
-
Alloc. All Dates - Duplicate the duration for each date in the spread.
-
First Date Spread - Start with the first date and allocate a full working
day worth of hours, repeat for subsequent days until Duration has
been allocated.
-
First Date Only - Put all Duration into first date.
-
Last Date Only - Put all Duration into last date.
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Customer Title
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This context option determines the source for the "Customer". The
choices are:
-
Document Property - draw on the "Customer" entry as defined in the
Document Tab of the Console.
-
Central Topic - Use the central topic name.
-
Parent - Use the parent topic (or central topic if parent doesn't exist.
-
Local (TAG) - Draws on the "Customer Title" semi- structured notes
(See User Reference, TPAssist Console, Topic Tab, Builder Tools: In
Note Tags).
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The Document tab is used to manage various aspects of mind map document.
The items with-in this window are briefly explained below.
Tools
The Document tab has a number of functions or "Tools". You choose the tool you need by
clicking one of the toggle buttons in the "Tools" area.
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Aspect
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Explanation
|
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Document Properties
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This Tool exposes the document properties options. Changes you make to the
properties are saved once you click OK. See the section below for specific
details on each property.
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Cut'n'Paste Topic Context
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This Tool takes the focus topic and builds a full-qualified- topic string based on
the topic's parent topics.
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Replace Resource
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This Tool launches the Resource Replace dialog, which is used make global
changes task resource names.
See the section below for specifics details.
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Create HTML Viewer
Page
|
Create a HTML page
embedded with the codes to display your map using
Mindjet's MindManager viewer.
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Update Outlook Integration
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ABOUT
|
This button shows the TPAssist "About" window. This window displays version
information, licensing information and one of the two places you can launch the
Licensing Wizard.
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The picture below shows the Document Tab with all advanced options hidden. The items with- in
this window are briefly explained below. Advanced options are also described in detail below and
are exposed by clicking the ">>>" button. Likewise, hiding the advanced options is achieved by
clicking the "<<" button.
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Customer
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This value is used in Publishing and also
Outlook Integration. In Publishing the
value supplied is included in the heading rows to describe the focus of the
exported map. In Outlook Integration, by default, the Customer value is added
to Task and Appointment item categories using the "%o"
macro.
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Clip Macro
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This "mask" text value is used to determine what values are copied into the
Clipboard when the "Copy results back to clipboard" capability is turned on in
the "advanced options" of the
Journal tab. The MACROS as outlined below can
be used here. (The default value for new documents is "%r: %m/%t (%p) - %n")
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Topic Status Auto
Callout Handler
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This document option determine if "STATUS Text" values (as specified using
the Journal tab) are placed in a topic Callout.
TPAssist provides a quick method for viewing topic status. This is achieved by
added a Callout topic. The Callout Topic text will be the date of the status
change and the Callout Topic notes will reflect the status. When enabled,
Callout are automatically added to topics if the status is defined using the
Advanced option in the Journal Tab - Task Details
.
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By Default Topic
Outlook Integration is?
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This document option determine if Outlook Integration
, in the Journal Tab, is
set to "ON (Auto Reminder)" for new topics.
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Map is Private?
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This document option determines if Outlook Tasks and Appointments are, by
default, marked as "Private". The setting is applied and/or overwritten in the
Journal Tab's Outlook Integration
"advanced options".
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By Default Topic Auto Title
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Attachment Cache
|
This prompt defines the path to the map's
Attachment Cache. The
path can be a local path, network path or UNC.
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Task Marker Groups (for Excel
Export)
|
This series of selection boxes, picks the map Task Marker
Groups that will be used when publishing the Excel "Pivot
Source" worksheets.
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Aspect
|
Explanation
|
|
Context Prefix
|
This text value is prefix to Outlook appointment reminders. The
MACROS
as outlined below can be used here. The default value for new documents is
"%m" (i.e. the Central Topic).
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Task Title Macro
|
This "mask" text value is used to construct the subject title of Outlook task
items. The MACROS
as outlined below can be used here. The default value
for new documents is "%t" (i.e. Topic Title).
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Outlook Notes (Body)
|
This choice pull- down define the DEFAULT choice regarding how TPAssist
will manage the integration of Topic notes and Outlook Item notes (or body).
The choices are:
-
No Note - Topic notes will not be copied to the Outlook Item and
Outlook Item notes will be remain in- tack and untouched.
-
Summary - A summary of Topic notes will be copied to the Outlook
Item. Outlook Item notes will be overwritten each time TPAssist
updates the Outlook Item.
-
All Notes - As per Summary, except all Topic notes will be copied to
the Outlook Item.
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Categories Macro
|
This mask provides the instruction regarding categories required by TPAssist
when creating Tasks and Appointments. Each comma delimitated value is
assigned to the Outlook Task or Appointment as a unique category.
The default value is "%m, %o", i.e. create a new Task or Appointment, will
be the Central Topic and also the Customer name.
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Integrate Existing Categories?
|
When configured with YES, TPAssist 2007 will read and maintain categories
for Outlook Tasks and Appointments.
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Duration Behaviour
|
Defines how map Topic "Duration" is integrated with Outlook Tasks. If either
"Total Work" or "Actual Work", TPAssist will populate the appropriate Task
item with either a value in Total or Actual work effort.
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|
|

|
Aspect
|
Explanation
|
|
Apply to sublevels
|
By DEFAULT apply levelling to this number of levels. Zero (0) indicates no
limit. If the checkbox is unchecked, the property will be inherited from the
topics above.
|
|
Hours in Day
|
Specify the DEFAULT number of hours in a working day. This value is used to
calculate appropriate dates span when Duration is specified.
|
|
Levelling Function
|
Choose the DEFAULT levelling function where:
-
Finish-to-Start (FS) - Topics start after the completion of the previous
topic.
-
Start-to-Start (SS) - Topics start and end together, alignment is based on
the earliest start date in the topic group.
-
Finish-to-Finish (FF) - Topics start and end together, alignment is based
on latest Due Date of topics in the group.
-
Start-To-Finish (SF) - Take the Due Date of the last topic in the group and
track back each topic in the group so all topics finish by that Due Date.
|
|
Weekends
|
Specify how Weekends (Saturday and Sunday) are managed by DEFAULT
when levelling topics.
-
Auto - Use the weekends if the topic Start Date is either a Saturday or
Sunday.
-
Weekdays - Only use weekdays, even if Start Date is either a Saturday or
Sunday.
-
Weekends Also - Use weekends (if needed).
|
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Continue Date
|
Instructs levelling to continue by DEFAULT the date from one Levelling group
to another. See User Reference, Tree Update Reference, Levelling for further
details.
|
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|
|
Aspect
|
Explanation
|
|
Work Defaults to Duration
|
By DEFAULT topic " work" will default to topic duration (you can override this
on an individual basis by clicking the work value in the
Journal Tab).
|
|
Value use Topic Text
|
This toggle determines if TPAssist will automatically extract the
topic value
directly from the last word in the topic text.
|
|
Decimal Places
|
|
|
|
This Tool takes the focus topic and builds a full-qualified-topic string based on the topic's parent
topics.
|
|
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|
|
The tool creates a HTML page and configured the web codes such that the Mindjet MindManager
ActiveX viewer will load and display your map. This tool is very useful for publishing your maps to
those who don't have MindManager installed locally but want to view your content. The options
are below:

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Aspect
|
Explanation
|
|
Method
|
Determine how to configure the HTML page. The two AUTO options will create
a page in the same location as the current map, using the same file name
(with a .HTML extension). The "Relative" option embeds only the mind map file
name so the HTML file much always reside in the same folder as the mind
map. The "Absolute" option embeds the mind maps fill reference path, so this
HTML file can be stored separately to the original mind map. The final option,
"Show Save As Dialog" allows you to choose where to save the HTML file. The
mind map path reference used in this case is always absolute.
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|
Open After Create
|
Instruct TPAssist 2007 to open the HTML page in your default Internet Browser.
|
|
Overwrite Existing
|
Instructs TPAssist 2007 to overwrite any existing HTML page during the
process (Note: if this option is unchecked and the HTML page already exists,
you will asked if you want to delete it).
|
|
Copy filename to clipboard
|
Instructs TPAssist 2007 to copy the full path and file name of the resulting
HTML page to the clipboard. You can then e-mail this link so others can find
the HTML based Mindjet viewer.
|
|
Window Size
|
These settings define the size of the viewer window. These settings are
remembered per user.
|
When the appropriate options have been configured, click OK to proceed.
|
|
The tool has two modes and depends on where you last made changes to the linked topics and
Outlook items. If you last made changes in Outlook, you need to use the "Bring changes back
from Outlook" mode. However, if you recently made a number of changes directly to the map
topics, you need to use the "Save changes into linked Outlook items" mode.
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