Getting Started
SmartDraw makes mind mapping so easy, you may be surprised at just how easy and fast it
really is to get started. We'll build a mind map together in this tutorial so you can
see what we mean.
Mind Mapping a Business Strategy
Imagine you manage a team of sales professionals, and sales for your company's particular
product appear to have dropped to a lower-than-expected historical level. You utilize a
mind map to help you determine where the problem lies, and plan a strategy for improving
company sales. The following hypothetical mind map is easily created with SmartDraw.
Problem-solving a Sales Slump
Start SmartDraw by double-clicking the SmartDraw 2008 icon to open the Document Browser.
The Document Browser
The SmartTemplates List of diagram types appears along the left side
of the screen, the Preview Area appears in the center; and
SmartHelp appears on the right. The SmartTemplates List
contains essentially all the diagram types you can create with SmartDraw, the Preview
Area provides a preview of the available SmartTemplates based on the selected template
library, and SmartHelp provides help and suggestions for navigating SmartDraw. Select
"Mind Maps" from the SmartTemplates list on the left, about two-thirds of the way down
the list, and the Mind Map Template Preview Area are displayed.
The Mind Map SmartTemplate Preview Area
From the Preview Area, click "Blank Mind Map" to open the Application Screen.
The Mind Maps SmartPanel opens on the left side of the screen, the Work Area
opens in the middle, and the ribbon of tabbed controls, called the Main
Toolbar, appears at the top. Within the center of the Work Area is the
Main Topic box.
The Mind Maps Application Screen