CmapTools
concept maps on servers, edit their maps synchronously (at the same time) with other users on the Internet, and search the web for information relevant to a concept map
What is CmapTools?
This software empowers users to construct, navigate, share, and criticize knowledge models represented as Concept Maps. The toolkit is platform independent and network enabled, allowing the users to build, and collaborate during the construction of concept maps with colleagues anywhere on the network, as well as, share and navigate through others models distributed on servers throughout Internet.
CmapTools Screenshots
CmapTools Features
CmapTools information
Supported Languages
- English
Concept maps and mind maps have a logical model and visually different. The alternatives to Cmap proposals are wrong because they are software to process mental maps. This error is very serious but it is also very common among those who are visual thinking beginner.
Hi Marco, I have removed some alternatives from our list. Give it a look :) Users help is always appreciated ;)
You can also suggest or remove alternatives yourself.
Reply written ago
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ADVICE:
CONS
MINOR:
Also, some export formats don't always work properly. If you are using export to back up, make sure you check.
It seems difficult to make a style sheet for nodes that operates in all maps.
There is no easy way to store your cmaps (safely) in the folder of your choice (off of c-drive). You can do so at installation phase, but if you try to do that via a reinstall, it can be tricky...
Having search in toolbar would be nice, rather than having to call it up...esp considering this is an info-wrangling program so suited to large amts of data!
Would be nice if you had the choice to make nested nodes take the name of the top node, rather than having to make a whole new name
NOTE TO ALTERNATIVETO people: it would be good if people could EDIT their comments. This would save:
ELABORATION...this product is rather awesome!
I've been using cmap tools for a few days now and some of its features are sufficiently useful that I've changed over to using it to write my book.
I've discovered it has a (little-known?) feature that allows you to easily LINK nodes to nodes in OTHER MAPS. One way you can do this is by having both maps open, and dragging a link-line ONTO the node in the other map you want to link to. This is EXTREMELY useful for me, and I'm sure others. Awesome!
I complained before about the fact that the link-lines have two legs (rather than the one used in most mm programs)...which can make for a real dog-legged mess of links as soon as you move a node. I must slightly alter my comments by adding:
Frankly, the two-legged connecting line thing ruins the whole program...it is SO irritating!
Could be v useful for study or to plan something like a book or project.
It is one of by far the easiest programs to quickly make nodes and links, and to label links
It has an open space - you are not tied to a 'master node' like most mindmappers. It's similar to the excellent Compendium in this.
Has a very cool auto-arrange feature
You can add both notes and annotations.
Also has an interesting feature called nesting. This allows you to put a group of nodes inside another node, and then make that node small. This COULD be a useful way to manage a large amount of info by temporarily hiding bits of it. HOWEVER...
DOWNFALLS:
You can't just copy or throw nodes into nested nodes... Once you group a bunch of nodes into a nested node, that's it. To add more, it's a complex process. This greatly limits what could otherwise be an awesome feature, similar to Compendium's nesting abilities.
The links between nodes I found VERY irritating. For some reason the developers decided it was a good idea to give each link TWO legs - one on each side of the label, different to most other programs. So as soon as you start moving nodes around, you end up with a zig-zagging mess. It would be good if you could CHOOSE to just have the links in single lines. You will USE that auto-arrange!