Freeplane

Freeplane is free, Open-Source software to support thinking, sharing information, and getting things done at work, in school, and at home. The core of the software consists of functions for mind mapping, also called concept mapping or information mapping, and tools for using mapped information. Freeplane runs on any operating system on which a current version of Java is installed and from USB.

Freeplane supports the above application areas with the following functions:

• Note taking with freely positionable, unconnected nodes (post-it's);
• Ordering ideas (nodes) into a hierarchy connected by lines (edges);
• Classifying nodes with metadata (attributes) and style types (system styles, user defined styles, level styles);
• Grouping nodes with visual containers (clouds) and accolade (summary node);
• Connecting nodes with dynamic links, free lines (connectors) and labels;
• Automatically styling nodes (with a bubble, color, edge type, etc.) according to hierarchical level and content (conditional styles, automatic edge color, level styles);
• Structuring nodes in terms of content (text, scientific formula, calculation, icon, image and hyperlink) and presentation area (core, details, notes, attributes, images and tooltip);
• Changing views by hiding content (folding branches, filtering, roll-up of details and hiding extensions in tooltip), finding, scrolling and navigating;
• Tasking with calendar and reminders;
• Password protecting of whole map and of individual nodes with DES encryption;
• Ease of use with inline- and dialog editors, object oriented main menu, context menu's, multi-language support, spell checker, properties panel, drag-and-drop functionality, hot keys, options for batch execution, publishing, sharing and selectable preferences;
• Approximate Search (similarity search) which allows to find search terms in a text, even if there is no exact match (e.g. "setup" = "set up" or "flie" = "file");
• Easy extension of functionality with add-ons and home made scripts;
• Integration with Docear academic literature suite;
• Extensive support through Wiki and Forum; and tutorial and documentation in the form of a mind map.