SciPlore MindMapping

Are you using mind mapping tools such as MindManager, FreeMind or XMind? And reference management tools such as JabRef, Endnote, Mendeley, or Zotero? And do you sometimes even create bookmark in PDFs? Then you should have a look at SciPlore MindMapping.

SciPlore MindMapping is the first mind mapping tool focusing on researchers’ needs by integrating mind mapping with reference and pdf management. SciPlore MindMapping offers all the features one would expect from a standard mind mapping software, plus the following features for researchers:

1. Adding Reference Keys Manually: This feature allows assigning a reference key to a mind map’s node. This way, researchers can organize their ideas and reference to the origins.

2. Adding Reference Keys (BibTeX) Automatically: Most reference managers (e.g. JabRef, BibDesk, Referencer, ...) allow assigning a file (usually PDF) to entries in the bibliographic database. If a file that is linked in the reference database is linked by a node in the mind map, SciPlore MindMapping automatically extracts the corresponding reference key from reference database and adds it to the mind map node. Currently, this feature only works with reference databases in BibTeX format.

3. PDF Bookmark Import: When researchers read an article in PDF format, some create bookmarks for the most important statements in the article. The same information is likely to be needed in a mind map when structuring ideas or a new paper. SciPlore MindMapping offers the option to import bookmarks from a PDF. Each bookmark is imported as a node and each node is linked to the PDF. If the PDF is included in the user’s bibliographic database, the corresponding BibTeX key is also added.

SciPlore MindMapping is based on FreeMind (0.9 RC7 Max) and developed in Java. It runs under Windows (95, 98, ME, 2000, XP, Vista, 7, etc.), Linux and Mac OS. SciPlore MindMapping is 100% free and published under the GNU/GPL licence.