way to disable (or tighten) the autolink feature?

[wpong]

Greetings all --

I'm new to xmind, and exploring whether it will serve well in my work,
writing, etc. I'm hopeful that xmind will hit the spot. Have a
question though (I've tried to do some searching on this forum, and I
apologize in advance if I've missed this)

Question: Is there a way to prevent, or at least tighten the
"nearness" required between two Topics before xmind tries to auto-link
the topics? When Concept-mapping, or capturing brainstorming
sessions, I need to be able to jot down the topics and connect them
with explicit "relationships," unencumbered by spatial considerations
-- when the auto-link feature makes links based on proximity, it
severely impedes the flow and capture of ideas, as I'm busily trying
to prevent an auto-links that we didn't intend.

Tried a workaround by increasing font size, and zooming out. Not
something I feel comfortable with this though. The best solution
would definitely be to disable or modify the autolinking
functionality.

--Will

[wpong]

Incidentally, I have also tried using the "alt-drag" method to
reposition topics while avoiding auto-links. This is the idea, but is
awkward, and one mistake (forgetting to press "alt" while dragging)
can result in headaches when autolinks are created suddently. Can an
option be made to toggle this mode on/off, so that pressing "alt" is
not necessary?
--Will

Again, any and all suggestions are welcome.
--Will

[stephen zhu]

Hi Will

We understand your opinions, and will consider it seriously.
BTW, can you design a scene for this usage?
Sincerely!

Stephen

--
=========
Skype: stephen0928

[wpong]

Hey Stephen --

>> can you design a scene for this usage?

Certainly. First a couple of (hopefully helpful) comments. From what
I can see, Xmind could become a user's main tool for idea capture,
evolution, arrangement, and communication. I'd like to be able to use
Xmind from the earliest stages of information gathering and problem
definition (an area when Xmind could really excel, in my opinion).

For me at least (just one opinion), I would need Xmind to have a mode
where it functions very robustly as a "concept mapping" tool, allowing
rapid capture of ideas even if they are poorly understood, and have
unclear relationships between them. In this mode, a user needs
confidence that they can quickly and reliably establish (and delete)
logical relationships between topics, and that the relationships will
remain stable -- not coming and going dependent upon the map's
physical arrangement, how close nodes are to one another, or how they
might get rearranged in the future.

Suggestion: Perhaps you create an either-or mode-selection in
preferences:
"Auto-link mode: [ ] Alt+Drag disables auto-link creation" << (the
current functionality)
"Concept-map mode: [ ] Alt+Drag ENABLES auto-link creation" <<
(effectively the opposite of the current functionality -- Alt key is
*required* for auto-link searching to occur)

Some scenarios where I would use Xmind to capture and evolve ideas /
concepts -- these touch on past work I've done, but I didn't have a
tool like Xmind at my disposal so I don't have maps for you (I found
other means of accomplishing organizing the ideas). Let me know if
this helps:

#1) In my work, I have directed a strategic planning efforts for a non-
profit organizations. Especially early on, this can involve working
with poorly defined, disconnected ideas, and trying form a coherent
picture. Team members begin sharing their own ideas of what the
organization's priorities are. They come rapidly, and I capture and
clarify them as we go. I begin seeing conceptual connections between
the ideas, and themes among groups of them. I try to capture / model
these, sometimes real-time. Sometimes after the meeting.

#2) An all-day meeting, Sitting with two top executives who are with
different ideas of the Vision and Strategy of the organization, trying
to clarify elements of each person's position, how they relate to the
other person's position. I would have the projector going, and
capturing points quickly one right after another as they are spoken.
In due time, I look for points of agreement and disagreement, related
but different perspective. I begin creating relationships between
them appropriately. As a team, we discuss and refine all elements of
the model as a basis for continuing discussion.

#3) Analyzing an article or other written work that is difficult to
follow at points, but has important implications for our operations:
I would cite problematic or critical portions of the article (as
"topics") and try to establish the intended relationships between
them, implications for us, etc.

#4) Writing an article, or a proposal. Xmind could be used as more of
a concept-map tool to rough-out the flow of the piece, before the
traditional mind-map features of Xmind would be used to organize the
outline structure of the final piece.

Does this help? Let me know your thoughts. Thanks much Stephen.

--Will

[stephen zhu]

Hi Will

Very sorry to reply you late. Your email is so kind and helpful. XMind will consider about this seriously!

Sincerely!

Stephen
=========
Skype: stephen0928