The Left and Right Arrows collapse and expand nodes when you’re in node selection mode. ⌘-Up Arrow and Down Arrow move selected nodes up and down within their hierarchy level. Return creates a new node, ⌘-Return toggles node editing, and ⇧-Return splits an existing node at the cursor. You can navigate around the structure of your outline using the arrow keys and indent and outdent nodes with Tab and ⇧-Tab, which are the commands I use most often. The outline is paired with an excellent set of intuitive keyboard shortcuts that are consistent with many other outlining apps, making them easy to learn if you’ve used an outliner before. Of course, as you edit in the outline view, changes are immediately reflected in the mind map on the right when it’s visible. The hierarchical structure of the outline is easy to visualize thanks to vertical colored lines that make it simple to see which nodes are on the same level of the outline’s hierarchy. Each node is represented by a bullet that matches the color scheme used in your mind map template along with the text of each node. Beneath the toolbar is the outline itself.
![mac outliner app mac outliner app](http://outline.app/Content/image/screenshot_work_notes_2.jpg)
The outline view’s dedicated toolbar also includes buttons for indenting and outdenting nodes, although, in most circumstances, I prefer to use the app’s keyboard shortcuts. When I have a lot to write down quickly before I forget it, an outline is my favorite approach.Įdits made in the outline are reflected in the mind map immediately. In addition to thinking in outlines, I’m a fast typist and used to typing lists of hierarchical information in text editors and note-taking apps using Markdown. I also use the outline view to generate a mind map quickly. MindNode’s keyboard navigation and shortcuts, which I’ll cover in a moment, are excellent, and often, editing a mind map in outline view is faster than working on the mind map itself. The first is as a fast way to reorganize sections of a mind map. I’ve been working with MindNode’s outline view during the beta in two ways. You can work modally in either view or view both at the same time, accommodating a wide variety of use cases and personal preferences. I love this option because it puts the outline on equal footing with the mind map. If working on your outline in a panel isn’t enough, though, there’s another button in the outline’s dedicated toolbar that expands the outline, so it takes over the entire window. If you want to work in MindNode’s outline view without also seeing the mind map, you can. When visible, though, the left-hand panel can be adjusted by dragging its border, allowing it to take over up to about two-thirds of the window. The outline resides in the left-hand panel, which can be hidden with a click of the panel’s toolbar button. With the latest update, MindNode’s outline is now editable, bringing a new dimension to the app that makes it easier than ever to organize your thoughts. I appreciated the alternate visualization but wanted the ability to move nodes around within the outline’s hierarchy. MindNode has included an outline view for years, but it wasn’t editable, which always bothered me.
![mac outliner app mac outliner app](https://media.idownloadblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Free-Outline-Apps-for-Mac-WorkFlowy.jpg)
Last year, as I planned my Big Sur review, I briefly considered switching from MindNode to an outlining app to organize my notes. However, when you pull back and consider most mind maps and outlines from a birds-eye perspective, they’re complementary rather than alternative ways to approach the same problem. Outlines suffer from a linearity and information density that makes those connections harder to find. Mind maps provide a more visual way to organize your thoughts and afford more room for creativity by making it easier to spot connections between related ideas and organize them in a less constrained way. Outlines are a system of organizing my thoughts that have served me well, but it’s not the only approach, nor is it always the best.
![mac outliner app mac outliner app](https://servenomaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/card2_white-006955c87152021923dccf6a86fd55629d4c392054f2f67a596781f2585245e6.jpg)
MAC OUTLINER APP HOW TO
A big part of every law school’s first-year curriculum is teaching students how to synthesize vast quantities of research materials into carefully-organized outlines. When I think about my writing, I think in outlines, which is a remnant of my days as a law student.