Blog on the topic of assistive technology, eLearning, mind mapping, project management, visual learning, collaborative tools, and educational technology
CS Odessa will be holding a seminar on ConceptDraw Office on March 4th, 2010 at 10 am PST. The primary focus will be ConceptDraw MINDMAP, but also addressed is how ConceptDraw Office works together in an integrated manner.
ConceptDraw Mindmap and ConceptDraw Project to support Google Desktop Search
Plug-in provides convenient access to ideas and information captured using CS Odessa visual documents for Windows
San Jose, CA, December 8, 2009 -- CS Odessa, the leading provider of business productivity and visualization software solutions for Macintosh and PC, announced today the release of its new Google Desktop Search® plug-in. The plug-in is available at no charge to individual and corporate customers who have the current Windows version of the company’s ConceptDraw MINDMAP® or ConceptDraw PROJECT®.
“With the release today of this new plug-in, our customers—especially those working in the enterprise—can now use Google Desktop Search to locate business-critical ideas and information stored inside their ConceptDraw mind maps and project plans,” said Yuriy Varbanets, ConceptDraw MINDMAP product manager. “Unlike typical file systems, ConceptDraw mind maps provide an intuitive, collaborative way to organize the brainstorming, research and planning that is critical to business success.”
CS Odessa’s new plug-in enables customers to use Google Desktop Search to dig deep inside ConceptDraw MINDMAP and ConceptDraw PROJECT documents. This gives users immediate access to a wide range of content types, including project management plans, project task lists, creative brainstorming for new products and services, detailed research notes, and relevant hyperlinks. Search results are then viewable from the Google Desktop Page.
“Our customers are telling us how important search has become to their business,” said Danil Somsikov, ConceptDraw MINDMAP developer. “Integration with Google Desktop Search gives our users a quick, convenient way to search the wealth of information they generate using ConceptDraw mind mapping and project planning software.”
The Google Desktop Search plug-in for ConceptDraw MINDMAP and ConceptDraw PROJECT can be downloaded at http://www.conceptdraw.com/googlesearch. The update is currently available for Windows users only.
The ConceptDraw Productivity Product Line
CS Odessa ConceptDraw products for Macintosh and Windows include:
• ConceptDraw MINDMAP
Brainstorming tool that utilizes mind mapping techniques to help organize ideas and tasks
• ConceptDraw PROJECT
Professional project management software
• ConceptDraw Office
Powerful integrated productivity software suite that allows one to plan, do and manage any process or project
• ConceptDraw PRO
Diagramming and drawing software
• ConceptDraw PRO WebWave Plug-in
Optional software plug-in for ConceptDraw PRO to create professional diagrams and drawings on the stage of website or application prototyping and design, page mocking-up and site-mapping
• ConceptDraw PRO NetDiagrammer Plug-in
Optional network and system design plug-in for ConceptDraw Pro
ABOUT CS ODESSA
Founded in 1993, Computer Systems Odessa supplies cross-platform productivity tools and graphics technologies to professional and corporate users. With headquarters in Odessa, Ukraine and an office in California, USA, CS Odessa sells products internationally through resellers in over 25 countries, and directly sells products in over 120 countries. The ConceptDraw line of productivity solutions has won numerous awards and is used by hundreds of thousands of people all over the world.
For those of you who have upgraded to the latest Mac OS- Snow Leopard you may have encountered some difficulties running your existing applications. While the software companies are well informed about these impending changes that may impact on their software sometimes it is hard to get the patches out the door exactly when the new operating system ships. You will be happy to know that Mindjet has recently released an update for MindManager 7 which will now allow you to run MindManager for the Mac under Apple's latest operating system called Snow Leopard. You can download the update by clicking here.
Likewise, I just received word from CS Odessa that announced that all of the current versions of their ConceptDraw productivity software product line now fully supports the Apple Macintosh OS X 10.6, Snow Leopard operating system. You can find the ConceptDraw Office Update by clicking here. So if you are using ConceptDrawMindMap with Snow Leaopard just click on the link and you will be mind mapping in seconds on your Mac with the latest and greatest operating system.
Sitting in any vehicle; what’s the center of visual control? It’s the instrument panel, better known as the “dashboard”. Every vehicle has one, we require them and they give us an accurate measurement of performance and capability. Consider the vehicle analogy while using information mapping software. It makes perfect sense for the information manager to use a dashboard to measure key process variables (KPV”s) within business.
Have you considered a dashboard approach as a “single point of access” to all of your KPV”s while using the tools, methods and mindset of visual mapping? Another pertinent question may be asked of the developers of visual mapping software. Why is a dashboard approach unavailable in most of the applications that utilize a mind mapping approaches to information management?
A visual map can, when used effectively, be an ideal tool for graphically communicating ideas and gaining team buy in right at the genesis of a project; and as a dashboard, an excellent way to graphically track the progress of any project. While a visual map is extremely effective as a communication tool, it’s much more effective and powerful when used as, or synchronized with a dashboard.
ConceptDraw Office is a product suite that, in our opinion, has a very unique and powerful dashboard function that enables tracking and reporting of critical KPV’s within a business management project. Analysing CD Office through the eyes of a busy project manager; the power of the dashboard function is evident. For those of you who may not be familiar with ConceptDraw Office; it consists of three distinct applications:
All of this is supported by the CS ODESSA InGyre technology; the tool that seamlessly synchronises the information exchanges between the three products within CD Office. In any business there are many shift points where data is transformed to meet particular audience requirements. InGyre Technology Adds Value at any Stage of a Business Process. InGyre Technology supports delivery of information in an optimal visual manner for specific audiences.
CD Office provides a turnkey approach to creating, managing and exchanging information and knowledge, while easily generating reports and utilizing the graphical power of the product. Using the “Generate Reports” function, the project manager can generate an impressive report of KPV’s within seconds.
The process from mind mapping your project in CD MindMap and sending it to CD Project is processed with ease while using CD MindMap. Making it easy to communicate ideas and brainstorm project paths before moving into project management is what CD Office does well. You can determine which branches of your mind map are moved over to CD Project which gives you lots of control. Once you have synchronised the mapped information with CD Project you are in the full featured project management function and ready to go.
CD Project has several different views which are useful in planning your project. Most users of project management software will spend most of their time in the Gantt Chart as they set up the dependencies, schedule, and track the tasks. You can also view the Resource Sheet, Network Diagram, as well as Resource Usage from within CD Project.
The absolute power of ConceptDraw Office is the generation of the business system reports. Simply chose the “Generate Reports” function, and you can create highly visual reports to keep you and your team up to date with project status, capabilities and performance measures. Communicating project information in a clear and succinct manner ready enables the elimination of ambiguity for stakeholders and shareholders alike. So we encourage you to take a closer look at ConceptDraw Office, use the dashboard approach and manage your projects, while keeping them on time and within budget.
I received this email today from CS Odessa about some new features in ConceptDrawMINDMAP 5.3 that I thought would be of interest to you. You can upgrade your copy of ConceptDraw MINDMAP 5.X for free at the Odessa website.
Odessa, Ukraine, January 29, 2008 – CS Odessa today announces the release of ConceptDrawMINDMAP 5.3, a new version of CS Odessa’s mind mapping business productivity software. The 5.3 update adds a new unique capability of creating visual eBooks based on mind maps and several other important additions.
Visual eBook is an electronic book where all the information is presented as a mind map rather than text paragraphs. Each page of a Visual eBook is a mind map that is grouped by chapters and paragraphs like in a text book. Visual eBook is a great solution for preparing learning materials within academic and business environments.
ConceptDrawMINDMAP 5.3 has everything that users need to create Visual eBooks. The software features a comprehensive visual mapping toolset that gives customers the ability to create multi-page maps with hyperlinks to other mind maps as well as a PDF export that creates multi-page documents and preserves all of the links between maps and topics. Visual eBook creation guide can be found at http://www.conceptdraw.com/pg?id=mm_5.3_press-ebook
YuryVarbanets, Product Manager of ConceptDrawMINDMAP notes, “The ability to easily make multi-page PDF documents from the mind maps with all the hyperlinks and interrelationships preserved is essential for many coaches and educators. We’ve developed ConceptDrawMINDMAP 5.3 to help to convey information in a format that is easy to learn from by creating a visual book.”
There were other additions introduced in ConceptDrawMINDMAP 5.3. These are the ability to send a map via email from inside the application and the option to turn off the background from printing. Map style presets were also redesigned and now they look more professional. All the enhancements can be found in both the Macintosh and the Windows versions of the software.
ConceptDrawMINDMAP 5 is an easy-to-use tool that supports mind mapping and brainstorming techniques, as well as many other personal productivity methodologies. It is supposed to provide businesses and individuals with creative way to increase the efficiency and productivity when organizing ideas and projects, or when communicating with people.
More information about the ConceptDrawMINDMAP 5 can be found at: http://www.conceptdraw.com/pg?id=mm_5.3_press-about
The update to ConceptDrawMIDNMAP 5.3 is free for all registered users of ConceptDrawMIDNMAP 5.x. ConceptDrawMINDMAP 5 is available at the price of $199 USD for the Professional edition and of $119 USD for Personal edition at: http://www.conceptdraw.com/pg?id=mm_5.3_press-buy
Eric Blue in his blog discussed the need for a common way for users of mindmapping applications to be able to view their maps on the web. Taking it upon himself he did a proof of concept called MindMap Viewer which allows you to use a variety of mind map formats, and display the maps inside a browser using a Java applet or Flash viewer. I for one applaud his efforts. I to would like to be able to use my mind mapping application and quickly publish my maps to the web. As Eric points out this is a proof of concept work and you may need to tread gingerly. In any case it speaks to our need to be able to publish our mindmaps quickly on the web so that we can share and collaborate.
Here is a Press Release from CS Odessa about the the release of ConceptDraw Project 4 for Macintosh and Windows. I hope to do a review of the program in the future and look at the integration with ConceptDraw MindMap 5.
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Odessa, Ukraine, September 13, 2007 – CS Odessa today announced the general availability of ConceptDraw Project 4 for Macintosh and Windows. The newest release of ConceptDraw Project 4 project management software is designed to plan and track a wide range of projects simultaneously and to accurately allocate and manage any shared resources between all supervised projects. Also added to Project 4 is a “Resource Usage View”, enhanced Microsoft Project compatibility, a redesigned tabular project interface and a number of commonly requested usability improvements.
The addition of “Resource Usage View” in Project 4 permits project managers to quickly ascertain an accurate view of resource loading and task allocation for each available resource. Project 4 represents the project data in a clear, compelling visual presentation displaying a color-coded representation of resource usage; possible areas of potential resource misalignment are highlighted for clear viewing. “Resource Usage View” is an essential tool for quickly finding over and under allocated workers and then being able to precisely balance against the project requirements.
The ConceptDraw Project user interface has undergone some important changes in version 4, providing even quicker navigation between projects and different status views, these changes dramatically speed up the task of project management. With Project 4 tasks and resources contained in all projects are clearly laid out making it easier to supervise each individual project as well as all the projects contained in the manager’s portfolio. These user interface changes have been introduced in Project 4 to make project operations easier and faster for both beginner and experienced users.
ConceptDraw Project 4 is an Universal Binary application and requires Mac OS X 10.4 or greater to run. All purchasers of ConceptDraw Project 3 from August 15, 2007 until ship date are eligible to receive a no cost upgrade to ConceptDraw Project 4.
Odessa, Ukraine, July 10 2007 – CS Odessa today has released a service pack for its business productivity software product ConceptDraw MINDMAP 5. Mind mapping and brainstorming techniques are often recognized as helping people boost their business effectiveness and productivity, and our latest offering MINDMAP 5 is a sophisticated tool that is easy to use for mapping out a new process or task. ConceptDraw MINDMAP 5 provides a simple and intuitive toolset that can be used in project planning, personal organizing and team management tasks using the mind mapping visual metaphor. MINDMAP 5 easily integrates into one’s daily office workflow because of the tight integration with the Microsoft Office product line and many popular project management tools.
MINDMAP 5.0.3 service pack is available to any registered customer of version 5. Individuals who are currently evaluating ConceptDraw MINDMAP 5.0.2 version can now download the newest release to evaluate our MINDMAP product offering.
by Brian S. Friedlander, Ph.D. & Wallace Tait
dashboard function is evident. For those of you who may not be familiar with ConceptDraw Office; it consists of three distinct applications:
processed with ease while using CD MindMap. Making it easy to communicate ideas and brainstorm project paths before moving into project management is what CD Office does well. You can determine which branches of your mind map are moved over to CD Project which gives you lots of control. Once you have synchronised the mapped information with CD Project you are in the full featured project management function and ready to go.
they set up the dependencies, schedule, and track the tasks. You can also view the Resource Sheet, Network Diagram, as well as Resource Usage from within CD Project.
I received this email today from CS Odessa about some new features in ConceptDraw MINDMAP 5.3 that I thought would be of interest to you. You can upgrade your copy of ConceptDraw MINDMAP 5.X for free at the Odessa website.
Eric Blue in his blog discussed the need for a common way for users of mindmapping applications to be able to view their maps on the web. Taking it upon himself he did a proof of concept called MindMap Viewer which allows you to use a variety of mind map formats, and display the maps inside a browser using a Java applet or Flash viewer. I for one applaud his efforts. I to would like to be able to use my mind mapping application and quickly publish my maps to the web. As Eric points out this is a proof of concept work and you may need to tread gingerly. In any case it speaks to our need to be able to publish our mindmaps quickly on the web so that we can share and collaborate.
