User Guide

September 19, 2025 · View on GitHub

Overview

MindMeld is a web-based mind mapping tool that helps you organize your thoughts, brainstorm ideas, and create visual connections between concepts. It works seamlessly on both desktop computers and mobile devices.

Getting Started

First Steps

  1. Open MindMeld in any web browser
  2. You'll see a clean, blank canvas ready for your ideas
  3. On desktop: Double-click anywhere to create your first note
  4. On mobile/tablet: Double-tap anywhere to create your first note

Working with Notes

Creating and Editing Notes

Desktop:

  • Double-click empty space → Create a new note
  • Click a note → Select it (shows colored border)
  • Click a selected note again → Start editing the text
  • Type your content → Add your ideas
  • Click outside or press Enter → Save your changes

Mobile/Tablet:

  • Double-tap empty space → Create a new note
  • Tap a note → Select it
  • Double-tap a note → Start editing the text
  • Type your content → Add your ideas
  • Tap outside → Save your changes

Rich Text in Notes ✨

MindMeld supports rich formatting to make your notes more expressive and organized:

Headings:

  • Type # Main Topic for large headings
  • Type ## Subtopic for smaller headings

Text Formatting:

  • Type **bold text** for bold text
  • Type *italic text* for italic text

Lists:

  • Type - List item for bullet points
  • Each line starting with - becomes a bullet point

Live Preview: Your formatting appears instantly as you type, making your notes more readable and organized.

Coloring Notes

  • Color Picker: Located at the top center of the screen with 4 color options
  • Available Colors: Yellow (default), Pink, Green, and Blue
  • Apply Color: Select notes and click a color in the picker to apply instantly
  • Visual Selection: The picker automatically shows the color of your selected note
  • Keyboard Navigation: Use Tab and arrow keys to navigate colors, Enter or Space to select

Connecting Notes

Connect your ideas with visual lines and arrows:

  1. Hover over any note to see small connection points appear around it
  2. Click and drag from a connection point to another note's connection point
  3. Release to create the connection with an arrow
  4. Connections automatically adjust when you move notes around

Managing Connections:

  • Desktop: Hover over a connection line to see editing options (delete or change arrow direction)
  • Mobile: Tap a connection line to see editing options
  • Connection Types: Choose from no arrow, one-way arrows, or two-way arrows

Moving and Organizing Notes

Desktop:

  • Drag notes to move them around the canvas
  • Drag a box around multiple notes to select them all at once
  • Move multiple selected notes by dragging any one of them
  • Delete notes by selecting them and pressing the Delete key

Mobile/Tablet:

  • Long-press a note until it wiggles → Then drag to move it
  • Tap and hold on empty space → Select multiple notes in an area
  • Move multiple selected notes by dragging any one of them
  • No delete key? Use the menu options to remove notes

Saving and Loading Your Work

  • Auto-save: Your work is automatically saved to your browser's local storage
  • Export: Save your mind map as a JSON file for backup or sharing
  • Import: Load previously saved mind maps from JSON files
  • Clipboard: Copy and paste mind maps via your system clipboard

Zooming and Panning

Desktop:

  • Mouse wheel → Zoom in and out (1x to 5x)
  • Right-click and drag → Move around the canvas
  • Zoom level shown → Look for "3x" display in the corner

Mobile/Tablet:

  • Pinch with two fingers → Smooth zoom in/out with precise control (1.0x to 5.0x)
  • Drag with two fingers → Move around the canvas
  • Smooth experience → Just like Google Maps zooming

Access the menu by clicking the three dots (⋮) in the color picker:

  • Import/Export: Save and load your mind maps
    • Export to File → Download as JSON backup
    • Import from File → Upload previous mind maps
    • Copy to Clipboard → Share your mind map
    • Paste from Clipboard → Import shared mind maps
  • Clear Canvas → Remove all notes and start fresh (asks for confirmation)

Quick Tips for Success

For Mobile Users

  • Wait for the wiggle → When moving notes, hold until you see the jiggle animation
  • Use two fingers → For zooming and panning, always use two fingers to avoid conflicts
  • Tap connections → Touch connection lines to edit or delete them
  • Precise zooming → Pinch slowly for fine control, just like in Google Maps

For Desktop Users

  • Hover for menus → Hover over connections to see edit options
  • Right-click to pan → Drag with right mouse button to move around
  • Quick editing → Click a selected note again to start typing immediately

General Tips

  • Use colors wisely → Different colors help organize themes or priorities
  • Rich text helps → Use # headings and **bold** to make notes clearer
  • Save backups → Export your mind maps regularly using the menu
  • Start simple → Begin with one central idea and branch outward

Making Great Mind Maps

Getting Started Right

  1. Start with one central idea → Put your main topic in the center
  2. Branch outward → Add related ideas around your central theme
  3. Keep notes short → Use keywords and phrases, not full sentences
  4. Connect related ideas → Use arrows to show how concepts relate

Using Colors Effectively

  • Yellow → Main ideas or neutral topics
  • Pink → Important points that need attention
  • Green → Positive outcomes or approved items
  • Blue → Facts, data, or reference information

Organization Ideas

  • Mind map → Central topic with branches radiating out
  • Process flow → Use arrows to show step-by-step sequences
  • Categories → Group similar ideas using the same color
  • Priorities → Use colors to show what's most/least important

Need help? Look for the small ? button in the bottom-left corner for interactive tips!

Troubleshooting

Not working as expected?

  • Try refreshing the page → This fixes most issues. If it doesn't help, try exporting the map, clearing the canvas (from the menu) and re-importing the map.
  • Check your internet connection → Make sure you're online
  • Use a modern browser → Works best in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge

Questions or feedback? MindMeld is designed to be intuitive - if something feels confusing, that's valuable feedback for making it better!