Digital Workshop

I think I want to find some aid or tool for planning and designing a Publication. Any recommendations? Something 'cheap' and moderately simple.

I am a non-programmer, so I don't want to get into heavy UML and strict visual design tools. I am looking at "VR" from lucidmodels, and it seems quick and easy to use. What do you use? How do you plan-out a complex pub with conditional navigation?

Sanity is part of the goal.

Thanks
Larry

ps. Synthis also offers a modeler tool, but I've not tested to know enough on it.

Hi Larry,

I use Mind Mapping software to help me plan a large publication (strictly speaking, I shouldn't be using the phrase "Mind Map" as it has been copyrighted by Tony Buzan - http://www.buzanworld.com/ ) - I use Inspiration but there are a couple of free alternatives CMap being one http://cmap.ihmc.us/download/

Thanks, David.

I'm familiar with Inspiration... from old Mac days. It is not the same product now. I eval'd a few months ago, it is geared to K12 and under crowd though still basically functional.

Different mind mapping tools provide a partial solution. Very good for free-form, but lite on ways to transfer over 'seeded ideas' to a working plan. I took a quick look at Cmap, will check it further. I prefer the traditional layout of Cmap and others to some of the emerging Open-source variations.


ShapeIdeas SneekyPeek goes there, but also conforms to some IT concepts.

In a diff class, TopicScape is cool for getting started and much more, but still not what I want to get into a working plan for Opus pub and scripts.

Cheers,

Hi

I know what you mean about Inspiration. In a previous life I was a primary school teacher and used this great deal with my class. I have always found it very easy to use and can quickly get my thoughts mapped out. However, I downloaded ShapeIdeas SneakyPeek - very good, I like it a lot and with the exchange rate at the moment the cost is very competitive. Cheers!


Made the mistake of Googling "Sneakypeek" to try and find the link. You might imagine the sort of sites that were returned

David,
I didn't anticipate poss. errant search results. For others, here are links to tools I mentioned so far.
http://shapeideas.net/
http://www.topicscape.com/
http://www.lucidmodels.com/

All 'affordable'. Each brings some usefulness. Lots of tradeoffs.

I also considered... "how would I use Opus itself to 'rough out' a plan." And that's where I hope some here will enlighten me... especially when embarking on non-linear navigation, or complex scripts/variables.

You might like to consider Jot Notes which is available from http://www.kingstairs.com/ for $29.95.

This is not in the same category as some of the other tools mentioned in that it doesn't guide you as you build the framework, but for about 12 years I've found it useful for helping me layout the ideas and structures for various Opus projects and novels.

Thanks to all for your leads.

As for tools, I've concluded Cmap mapping and LucidVR modeller will be my mainstays. Both are very fast, and pretty direct in getting a diagram down. Both can have links, though Cmap is more flexible here. Lucid has something like an audit trail feature that may help trace work in progress.

I'm still not 'set' on sftw to actual outline and draft content, as there are so many 'small' sections. Most general writing tools will get me there, even Office suite. But I am going to start off using MS OneNote and TheJournal as they keep sections or chapters more visible and handy, rather than Word's separate files.

Cheers.

Being a Luddite, I will stick with a large whiteboard and plenty of colored marking pens:-)
Try and find a screen 3 meters long.
This also has the added benefit of me being able to escape from the computer occasionally and looking out the window.
That's if my eyes can stand the glare of natural light.

cheers
Paul

Paul's a Luddite | Yeah Right!

I am currently using Free Mindmap.
http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/in ... ap_Gallery.
It's fast, simple and effective.

Regards

Neil

Thanks for the tip Nitro

Have downloaded Mindmap and now I just have to get my head around it

Still, given the amount of empty space that others claim is in my mind, getting around it shouldn't be too hard.

Cheers

Graham

Hi Graham,

Press "Alt" + 2 for a full example and a list of shortcuts, "Alt" + 1 takes you back to your mindmap.

Regards

Neil