Are you using mind mapping tools such as MindManager, FreeMind or XMind? And reference management tools such as JabRef, Endnote, 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 special features for researchers:

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.

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.

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.

Monitoring Folders for new PDFs
In SciPlore MindMapping you can specify a "monitoring node". This node then will list all PDF files you store in a certain folder on your hard drive: whenever you store a new PDF it is listed automatically in your mind map.

Backup your mind maps
If you want, SciPlore MindMapping makes a backup of your mind maps to our servers each time you save them in the software. That means, where ever you are, you can access all your mind maps online or in case of data loss you can restore your mind maps from our servers.

SciPlore MindMapping is based on FreeMind (0.9 RC7 Max) and 100% compatible to FreeMind. All mind maps created with SciPlore MindMapping can be opened and edited with FreeMind 0.9 and vice versa. SciPlore MindMapping is developed in Java and runs under Windows (95, 98, ME, 2000, XP, Vista, 7, etc.), Linux and Mac OS (Java 1.6 or later is required which is available for free). SciPlore MindMapping is 100% free and published under the GNU/GPL licence.

When you install SciPlore MindMapping you will be asked if you want to allow (anonymous) usage statistics. We would kindly ask you to agree because we would love to do some research on how many people are using mind mapping software, how often, etc. However, if you feel uncomfortable you do not need to activate this function and can use SciPlore MindMapping without any limitations anyway.