User Guide

Export

On Mac, to export a document, go ahead and click on Export To in the File menu and select your preferred file format. After you've adjusted the settings in the export window then open click the Export… button. Now you can choose where to save your exported document to. You can also share your document directly via Mail, Messages, or AirDrop by clicking the Send a Copy button located between the Cancel and Export... button in the bottom right corner.

On iOS, to export a document, it depends on whether you're using an iPad or an iPhone.

On the iPhone, tap the action button in the toolbar (it's the circle with the three dots), from the drop-down menu select File and then Export. Now select the file format you want to export to and adjust the settings. Next, tap on "Send to app..." and choose the app you want to send it to.

On the iPad, tap the document name and from the drop-down menu select Export. Now select the file format you want to export to and adjust the settings. Next, tap on "Send to app..." and choose the app you want to send it to.

Different formats

As listed before MindNode can export a bunch of different document formats. Here we'll learn a bit more about them and how they handle different features in MindNode.

MindNode File format

Firstly, you can export a MindNode document in different MindNode file format versions. If you have an older device running an older version of MindNode, this legacy export option ensures the compatibility of your file and the legacy app.

Note that this means newer features won't be included in the file.

FreeMind

Next, MindNode can export the FreeMind format, which is supported by most other mind-mapping apps.

However, keep in mind that FreeMind, iThoughts, and older versions of MindNode do not support tags, for example, which might be true for other features as well.

OPML

MindNode can also export OPML files which are supported by most outlining apps.

The special thing about OPML files is that they do not retain text formatting when being exported. Instead, tags are added to OPML files in the #CamelCase Hashtag format at the end of each node title.

Markdown

Then, MindNode can export Markdown files (.md), and it can also images in export (.textbundle).

In those files:

• Node titles are headings prefixed with the corresponding number of # in front of them for each level.
• Notes are text below those headings.
• Tags look like this: #tagname (using the #CamelCase Hashtag format).
• Tasks look like this: - [ ] task name.

Text

Also, there are several different text file formats MindNode can export. Here is what is special about them when exporting:

Plain text (.txt):

• Does not preserve text attributes such as font, size, colour, etc.
• Tags look like this: #tagname (using the #CamelCase Hashtag format).
• Tasks look like this: - [ ] task name.
• Notes are just more text, so they are basically the same as node titles. This is why it’s impossible to import notes, as they don’t have special syntax.

Rich Text (.rtf)

• Preserves text attributes like font, size, color, etc.
• Tags look like this: #tagname (using the #CamelCase Hashtag format).
• Open tasks use ◦.
• Finished tasks use ✓.

CSV

• Header with levels.
• Or header with levels and tags.
• Then, node titles.
• Tasks look like this: - [ ] task name.
• Tags are in a separate column at the end called "tags". In that column, multiple tags are separated by commas.

Note: Notes and images are discarded when exporting.

TaskPaper

Taskpaper files are plain text to-do lists.

• Every line in TaskPaper is a task.
• Finished tasks use @done syntax.
• Unfinished tasks have no syntax.
• Tags look like this: @tags(tagname) (TaskPaper uses the CamelCaseHashtag format for tags, but with @ instead of as the hashtag).
• Notes are included, but images are discarded when exporting.

Microsoft Word .docx (Mac only)

• Preserves text attributes like font, size, color, etc.
• Tags look like this: #tagname (using the #CamelCase Hashtag format).
• Open tasks use ◦.
• Finished tasks use ✓.

Something to keep in mind regarding tags: when exporting, the tags are added after each node's title. For example, an exported line may look like this: "This is the node title #Tag1 #Tag2".

PDF

You can choose whether you want to export the mind map or the outline for those files. You can then again choose whether notes and/or tags should be included in the outline.

Images

Images will create a PNG file of your mind map. For those files, you can choose whether you want the background to be transparent or not.

Tasks

Once you have completed your project planning, you might wish to use your tasks as a list. From MindNode, you can share your tasks with Apple's Reminders, Things or OmniFocus.

The title of the list will be the name of your Document. When you check items as complete in either Reminders or MindNode, the completion will be synchronized across both. To update your list with new tasks you have added, or change task titles, export the list again. New items will be added, and titles will be updated.

A note regarding limitations:

1. Deleting items in Reminders or your MindNode document will not delete the items in your MindNode file. Only task completion will be in sync. The same goes for editing task titles; they will not be synchronized.
2. Only tasks will appear in the Reminders list, not their parent nodes. The branch path will be added to the task above the note imported from MindNode.

Sharing to Things, OmniFocus and TaskPaper will create a new list for you. However, these do not update automatically with changes you make to your MindNode file.

Tags in task lists:

• Reminders: Tags are added as a comma-separated list in the notes field of each reminder.
• OmniFocus: Uses the TaskPaper format for export.
• Things: Please note that Things only imports tags you have previously added in Things manually. Also, Things only supports tags in To-Dos, not in Headings. That means only nodes with child nodes in MindNode will have their tags exported to Things.