SimpleMind for Android™ FAQ

Note: several features as mentioned on this page are only available in SimpleMind for Android Full edition but not in SimpleMind Free for Android. Check the feature matrix for details.

Getting started

How to get started

A Mind Map is a visual representation of hierarchical information that includes a central idea surrounded by connected branches of associated topics. It's a great way to organize your thoughts and to share your thoughts with others. A Mind Map starts with a central theme to which you can add topics (bubbles, balloons). You can add child topics to each topic. A topic and all of its child topics are called a branch.

When first starting SimpleMind for Android Pro a new Mind Map will open. Enter any text as your Central Theme. To add more Topics, use the

-tool and drag it anywhere you want. To add a Cross Link, drag the

-tool to an existing topic.
To learn more about editing, check out the Editor Help.

The image above is the toolbar. To your left is the menu. Tap this to open the Mind Map Explorer, from here you can open and manage all Mind Maps.
To the right of the screen are the commands, for example navigation history or delete. Commands that do fit can be found by tapping the overflow menu (the three vertical dots). If you do not see the overflow menu, use the hardware menu button on your device.

When using the full edition, we recommend linking SimpleMind with Dropbox or Google Drive first to avoid losing any work.

What Android versions are supported?

SimpleMind for Android supports Android version 3.2 and higher, some features are only available in newer versions of Android. It is optimized for both phones and tablets.

Starting Android 4.0 a Search Bar is added to search for text in Local Mind Maps.
Starting Android 4.4 opening documents from a link, like picture preview, is not always possible due to Android's changed security policy.
Starting Android 4.4 export to .pdf and printing are supported.
Full screen en full screen editing looks better on newer Android versions.

Where can I purchase SimpleMind for Android?

SimpleMind for Android is available from Google Play and Amazon. Google Play allows installing on most devices. Amazon allows installing on all Android devices with the Amazon Store installed.

SimpleMind is also available for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Windows.
The iPad and iPhone version can only be purchased from Apple's iTunes,
or if you have the free SimpleMind+ version: use InApp Purchase to get full functionality.
The desktop version for Mac and Windows can be purchased from our website.

SimpleMind for Android is not available in a bundle with SimpleMind Desktop or SimpleMind for iPad/iPhone.

How do I transfer Mind Maps created with SimpleMind Free for Android to the full version?

First install the Full version let run it once.
Open SimpleMind Free, tap menu to go the the Mind Maps explorer. Use the Share command from the toolbar to Export the Mind Maps to SimpleMind Full edition.
This will start the SimpleMind Importer. Tap import and all Mind Maps will be transferred to the full edition. Note: Mind Maps already existing in the Full Edition are not overwritten. When the process is complete you will see a notification.
Close SimpleMind Free and start SimpleMind Full to verify all Mind Maps are imported OK. If so, you can uninstall SimpleMind Free.

How can I use the SimpleMind for Android license on a new device?

The SimpleMind for Android license is tied to your Google or Amazonn account, depending where you purchased it. SimpleMind bought in Google Play can be installed an unlimited amount of times on any Android device with the same account. Check here for details. It works the same for Amazon, except Apps purchased via Amazon are only available on Android devices with Amazon installed.

To use SimpleMind on a different platform, Mac, Windows or iPad and iPhone you will need to purchase a license for that platform.

I purchased SimpleMind for Android via Google Play, but still get 'License not found'. What to do?

SimpleMind for Android uses the Google Play store for license validation. Unfortunately this is sometimes not reliable. Here are some things you can do to get your valid copy of SimpleMind running:

Make sure you have internet connectivity.
Make sure in Android you have sync enabled: Go to the Settings App and check the status for 'Accounts and Sync'. Sync should be on for the account that you used to purchase SimpleMind.
If this is all OK: reset the Google Play app Cache: Go to Settings | Apps, look for Google Play Store and Click 'Clear cache'. Reboot and check if you can run now.
If that did not help: again for the Google Play Store app, do a 'Clear data' and 'Force stop'. Then reboot your device
Re-installing SimpleMind followed by a reboot of the device will sometimes help. Uninstall and re-download from Google Play. You won't be charged again if you use the same account you previously used to purchase SimpleMind. Note: uninstall will erase your current Mind Maps! If you have important Mind Maps you want to save, you can make a back up like so: Switch off internet connectivity (Airplane mode). This should allow you to start SimpleMind. Go to Mind Maps list, do an 'Export all Mind Maps' and send yourself an email with the archive as attachment. After re-installing you can import this archive by opening it from the mail app.
If all this did not work: contact us.

Mind Map Files

Where are my Mind Maps stored?

SimpleMind for Android can store Mind Maps:

Locally on your device.
Local Mind Maps are stored in the private application directory on your device. This directory is not accessible from the outside. Local files are not stored on a cloud or on one of our servers. Remember to make a back-up on a regular basis.
on Dropbox or Google Drive.
Mind Maps are stored in the cloud and the build-in cloud support synchronizes the Mind Maps in the cloud with your device. This will ensure all Mind Maps are stored safely in the cloud. Additionally the cloud's web-interface can be used to restore previous versions of your Mind Maps. Read more…
in an External Directory (any public directory) on your device.
Mind Maps can be stored in a public directory on the device. Read more…

How to back-up Local Mind Maps

To keep Local Mind Maps safe, make back-ups on a regular basis. That way, the Mind Maps are safe if your device gets stolen, drowned or accidentally uninstalled. Make sure you store your back-up in a cloud (for instance, use the Dropbox app) or send it by mail for safekeeping.

In the Local Mind Map Explorer you'll find the Export all Mind Maps command. This creates a single archive with extension .smmstore containing all Mind Maps and other relevant information. Send this archive to an App of your choice, for example the Dropbox app or mail app.
To restore the backup, import the .smmstore archive.

In this video you will see
Step 1: How to back-up Local Mind Maps
Step 2A: How to restore the back-up from Dropbox
Step 2B: How to restore the back-up from a mail attachment

How to use SimpleMind for Android with Dropbox or Google Drive

SimpleMind has native, build-in support for Dropbox and Google Drive. This allows automatic synchronizing of Mind Maps with other Android devices, Windows or Mac desktops and iPad/iPhone via your cloud's account.

After connecting SimpleMind to the cloud Mind Maps can be directly opened from and saved to Dropbox or Google Drive.

Synchronization with the cloud is done inside SimpleMind at regular intervals and at shutdown. To manually force synchronization, use the 'Synchronize' command from the cloud Explorer toolbar. When SimpleMind synchronizes with the cloud it will synchronize:

The Mind Map currently opened in the editor.
Any Mind Map modified on this device since the last synchronisation.
All Mind Maps marked as 'Off-line available'.

Marking a Mind Map Off-line available
Marking a Map as Off-line available allows you to work on the Mind Map, even when you are not connected to the internet.
By default a Mind Map will only be synchronized when opened in SimpleMind and you are connected to the internet. Mind Maps that have not been opened are not synchronized. Marking a Mind Map as 'Off-line available' assures the Mind Map is synchronized even if it is not opened.
To do so, tap the menu top open the Mind Map Explorer. Invoke the action bar for the Mind Map you want to make off-line available. On the action bar, tap the pin.

The video below shows how SimpleMind works with the cloud. In the video Dropbox is shown, it works the same for Google Drive.

How to connect SimpleMind for Android to Dropbox or Google Drive

Install the Dropbox app or Google Drive app for Android (optional). To connect to Google Drive, the latest version of Google Play Services needs to be installed.
Open SimpleMind and tap menu to open the Mind Map Explorer.
Top left in this window's toolbar you'll see navigation tabs as depicted on the right. Initially this will usually be 'Local'. Tap that, next tap 'Setup Clouds'.
Click 'Connect'. This prompts you for confirmation to let SimpleMind access your cloud folder.
Click 'Allow'.
A new cloud navigation tab will be added.

Once connected to the cloud you can use the Cloud's Explorer to browse the directory structure and directly open Mind Maps from the cloud.

How to copy a Local Mind Map to the cloud

After connecting to the cloud, local Mind Maps can be copied to the cloud.

Tap menu to open the Mind Map explorer.
Select Local from the navigations tab.
Invoke the action bar for the Mind Map you want to copy. On the action bar, tap the cloud icon and select a cloud.
Select the folder where to copy the Mind Map to, and tap done.

See the video above, 'how to copy a local Mind Map' starts at the 35 second mark.

After you have copied your local Mind Map to the cloud you can delete the local Mind Map since it's now a duplicate.

Note: You can also copy a mind map on Dropbox to Google Drive (and vice versa) this way.

External Directory

Mind Maps can be stored in a public directory on the device. Optionally, you may use a third party app to synchronize this public directory with other devices.

To set up an External Directory:

Tap menu to open the Mind Map explorer.
Top left in this window's toolbar you'll see navigation tabs as depicted on the right. Initially this will usually be 'Local'.
Tap that to see supported clouds, including the External Directory
If the External Directory is not visible in this list, use 'Cloud Setup' to enable the External Directory.
Selecting 'External Directory' from the navigation Tabs, opens the build-in Explorer.

The default external directory is directory SimpleMind in public root directory. To change this, use 'Change External Directory' from the (overflow) menu. Use the arrow to browse back to the desired folder.

Import a Mind Maps

SimpleMind for Android can import native files (.smmx), Local Mind Map back-ups (.smmstore) FreeMind (.mm) and .opml files.
To import a file from a different Mind Map application (XMind etc.), please check if that program supports converting to Freemind (.mm) or .opml.

Using native cloud support is the easiest way to import Mind Maps.

First upload the Mind Map file you wish to import to Dropbox or Google Drive, then open SimpleMind for Android on your device.
Tap menu and go to the build-in cloud Explorer in SimpleMind and locate the file.
If the file is a .smmx Mind Map, you can now directly open it. The file will remain on the cloud and any changes you make on this device are uploaded to the cloud.
If the file is a Freemind (.mm) or .opml file, use Import from the action bar. The file will be converted to the native .smmx Mind Map format which is then uploaded to the cloud.

If you don't have Dropbox or Google Drive, use this method.

Save the file to any public directory on your device. For example, use the mail application to save the attachment to a public folder like the Download folder.
Open SimpleMind and tap menu. Select the Local tab.
From the menu (or toolbar), select Import file.
Locate the directory you saved the file to, and select this file to import it. Next, the importer will preview the imported Mind Map.
In this Importer Preview use the Import button to complete the import. The imported file will be converted to the native .smmx format and will be stored in the Local Mind Maps on your device.

The importer handles native files (.smmx), Mind Map back-ups (.smmstore) FreeMind (.mm) and .opml files.

Importing Freemind files

SimpleMind for Android full edition can import Freemind files (.mm). Freemind Import is quite limited and only intended for a one-time import to convert the Freemind Mind Map to the native SimpleMind format. SimpleMind will extract text, notes and hierarchy from the Freemind file. All other attributes such as links and icons are ignored. Any rich text is flattened to plain text. Freemind does not save spatial information and SimpleMind uses its own lay outer to position topics. Once imported, the Mind Map is stored in the native .smmx format.
See also: Importing a Mind Map

How do I transfer my Mind Maps to another Android device or a PC/Mac?

Using Dropbox or Google Drive is the easiest way to transfer Mind Maps with other devices running SimpleMind.
Alternatively, select Share Mind Map ➜ Send Mind Map and send the Mind Map in native .smmx format to an Android app.
For example the Mail App. Use this app to transfer the Mind Map to the desktop or another Android device.
See Share for a video

Sharing

How to share a Mind Map

Sharing a Mind Map is possible in native .smmx format, as .pdf (Android 4.4 and up), a .png image, a .jpeg image, html outline, text outline, Freemind .mm and .opml.

Select from the toolbar or overflow menu ➜ Share Mind Map ➜ Send Mind Map.
Select a format.
Select the app to send the Mind Map to, for example the Mail App.

You can also use the share command to send the Mind Map in any format to the cloud app. The cloud app will then upload the file to the cloud. This also works for other cloud apps, like OneDrive. This is a one time send. Exported files will not be synchronized when a Local Mind Map is changed. If you want to synchronize your Mind Maps with another device also running SimpleMind, use the built-in Dropbox or Google Drive support.

How to create an Outline

How to export a Mind Map to a word processor or spreadsheet

To create an outline document, export a Mind Map as .html outline. The .html outline maintains the hierarchical structure in the Mind Map. It can be imported in word processors and spreadsheets. This will result in a hierarchical list with topic texts. Each topic has a sub-list containing its sub-topic texts. Use the Bullets and Numbering options in the word processor to number these lists to your liking.

Select from the toolbar or overflow menu ➜ Share Mind Map ➜ Send Mind Map.
Select .html outline to create an outline document.
Select the app to send the Mind Map to, for example the Mail App.

How to print a Mind Map

Android 4.4 and higher allows direct printing from SimpleMind for Android using Google Cloud Print.
Select from the toolbar or overflow menu 'Print'.
Or share the Mind Map as .pdf and print the .pdf.
Android 4.3 or older Share the Mind Map as (high resolution) .png and print the .png image.

Miscellaneous

How to get rid of the Trash image displayed in the Mind Map editor?

If you delete a Mind Map it is moved to the Trash folder, rather than actually deleting it. Similar to how the mail app treats deleting email messages. To draw your attention to the fact that the Mind Map is actually deleted, a trash images is displayed in the editor background. To get rid of the trash background image, undelete the Mind Map by moving it to any other folder. The same applies to Mind Maps created in the Trash folder. Use Empty Trash to completely irreversibly delete the Mind Map.

Which keyboard shortcuts does SimpleMind support?

If you use an external keyboard, the SimpleMind Mind Map editor supports the following keyboard short cuts:

Tab: Add Child topic
Enter: Add Sibling topic
Ctrl+B : Toggle Bold font for selected topics
Ctrl+C : Copy selected element
Ctrl+E : Edit Text
Ctrl+Enter : OK
Ctrl+I : Toggle Italic font for selected topics
Ctrl+L : Add Cross Link
Ctrl+N : Edit Note
Ctrl+V : Paste
Ctrl+X : Cut selected element
Ctrl+Z : Undo
Ctrl+Y or Shift+Ctrl+Z : Redo
Del: Delete
Escape: Cancel
Left-Arrow: navigate to parent topic (in relation: scroll to source topic)
Right-Arrow: navigate to first child topic (in relation: scroll to target topic)
Up/Down-Arrow: navigate to next/previous sibling topic

Zooming out disables editing

Zooming out too far will disable editing functions. To prevent unwanted changes the Mind Map will become read only.
Zoom in to bring back the normal functionality.
Note: Do you feel SimpleMind switches to read-only too soon? If you wish you can adjust the editor scale factor, this will change the zoom factor.

本站仅提供存储服务，所有内容均由用户发布，如发现有害或侵权内容，请点击举报。