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phase1geo / Minder

Mind-mapping application for Elementary OS
GNU General Public License v3.0
1.01k stars 69 forks source link

Feature: Import File Structure / Mindmapping Filemanager #231

Open ghost opened 3 years ago

ghost commented 3 years ago

Can we have the ability to import a file structure or maybe even a mindmapping filemanager ?

Freemind has the ability to import a file structure - it's incredible useful when you are going to sort your home or like in my case tasks. My task managment is pretty simple: Simply use your favourite filemanager and add directories in your nextcloud / google drive as tasks, a subtask would be a subdirectory: you can add pictures, etc. It works flawless on every system.

I've thought it would be usefull to import such a file structure and generate a mindmap for a better overview.

Next step maybe a mindmap filemanager ? It would be a true innovation - what do you think ?

phase1geo commented 3 years ago

Just so that I can better understand the file structure feature. If I understand what you are saying, the user would essentially open a directory which Minder would then parse the folder and all of its subfolders/contents. All found directories would be subnodes of the main directory node and all files would be leaf nodes in the tree, correct? If a file was detected to be an image file, Minder should display the image in the mind map. If a text file was detected, it would show the entire contents of the file in the node text?

Is this a correct understanding of the feature? Is there anything that I got wrong?

I will probably have some follow up questions about this, such as:

This is an interesting concept to me. I've never heard of or thought of doing tasks in this way. I suppose that if Minder could display tasks in this manner, it could also potentially create this directory structure from a mindmap. Would that feature be desirable?

As for the file manager, there is already an opened feature request for that type of feature, I believe. I'm assuming you are referring to a sidebar which would display a list of files and allow you to open them, delete them, etc.

ghost commented 3 years ago

Yes - exactly like you've described @phase1geo. Also you've mentioned some interesting things i didn't think about it yet like exporting the mindmap to a file structure.

This was the original idea i've got by managing my flat directory task managment. I've thought: why there is no filemanager which displays a directory structure as a mindmap instead the usual linear view. Mindmaps have been originally developed by IBM as far as i know with the intention that humans are more capable to manage mindmaps not linear lists.

It is logical to have a filemanager with its functions operating on a mindmap view. I assume it would increase our all productivity but i guess this could be a seperate project.

Nevertheless importing and exporting mindmaps based on the directory structure would be extremly helpful for me (and maybe other people). Drag & Drop a directory into minder and autogenerating a mindmap would be nice :)