Topic

Topic Type

XMind has four different topic types: Central Topic, Main topic, Subtopic and Floating Topic.

Topic Types

  1. Central Topic: As the starting point of any mind map, central topic stands for the core idea of the mind map.
  2. Main Topic: As the first level of boxes around Central Topic, main topics are the main branches of your core idea.
  3. Subtopic: They are the child topics of main topic and floating topic. We normally use them to record more details.
  4. Floating Topic: Not belonging to any other topics, floating topics can be located anywhere on the map as indepandent ideas. Normally, they have a blurry or weak relationship with the other topics

Create Topic
    There are several ways to create topics: shortcuts, toolbar, menu commands and mouse.
  1. Shortcuts:
    • Enter: creating a main topic or a topic on the same level.
    • Tab/Insert: creating a subtopic.
    • Shift +Enter: creating a topic on the same level, but before the currently selected topic.
    • Ctrl +Enter: creating a parent topic of the currently selected topic.
  2. Toolbar: Click the icons below to create the corresponding topics
    Topic Icon
  3. Menu Commands:
    • Topic：creating a main topic or a topic on the same level.
    • Subtopic: creating a subtopic.
    • Before Topic: creating a topic on the same level, but before the current topic.
    • Parent Topic: creating a parent of the currently selected topic.
    • Floating 'Central' Topic: creating a floating topic which has the same attributes as the central topic.
    • Floating Topic: creating a floating topic which has the same attributes as a main topic.
  4. Mouse:
    • Right-click on the topic: "Insert -> Topic/Subtopic"
    • Double-click on a blank space: Creating a floating topic.
    • Right-click on a blank space: "Floating Topic / Floating 'Central' Topic".

Note: You should select a topic before creating subtopics.

Edit Topic

  1. Edit Text
    • Right-click and choose 'Edit' on the menu.
    • Double click the topic.
    • Press "F2" on your keyboard.
    • Press "Spacebar" on your keyboard.
  2. Delete Topic
    • Choose "Edit > Delete" on the menu.
    • Right-click and choose 'Delete'.
    • Click delete icon on the toolbar.
    • Use shortcut key: "Delete"
  3. Set the width of the box
    1. Select a topic, and enter into Edit Mode.
    2. Drag and move the slide on the right of the topic box to change the Topic Width.
      Topic Width

Note: The topic width will adjust to the width of the text as you editing, but you can make the width narrower by dragging the slide as described above.

Topic Properties

  1. Select the topic, and click "View - Properties" from the menu
  2. Then, you can make the following changes:
    • Structure: reorganize the layout of the mind map/ the branch.
    • Style: modify all properties settings by selecting one existing style design.
    • Text: change the text font, size, type, color, and alignment.
    • Shape: select the topic's shape and background color.
    • Border: define the line type, width and color of the topic's border.
    • Line: design the line type, width, and color.

Free Position

Under the default structure (Map Clockwise) of XMind, we are arrange the topic's position.

  1. Ctrl(Alt on Mac) : Copy selected topic(s) to new position.
  2. Alt(Command on Mac) : Move selected Main Topic(s) to new position as desired.
  3. Shift : Move selected topic(s) to new position as floating topic(s).

Number the topics

  1. Select multiple topics, and click "View - Properties" from the menu.
  2. Set the numbering properties below
    • Choose number style: There are four styles for choice, and None to cancel number.
    • Inherit parents' number: Enabling this by clicking the icon will let subtopics inherit the number from parents' topics.
    • Pre and Suf: You can enter prefix number in the Pre field to appear before the Number, or enter suffix numbers in the Suf field to appear after "dot".

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