Pocket Mindmap desktop companion link beta 2 out

[Ed Hansberry]

<a href="http://www.pocketmindmap.com/Docs/PMM_EN/Support/BetaProgram/PMMPartner/PMMPartner%20Beta2.ASP">http://www.pocketmindmap.com/Docs/PMM_EN/Support/BetaProgram/PMMPartner/PMMPartner%20Beta2.ASP</a><br /><br />For those of you using Pocket Mindmap on your Pocket PC and Mindjet's Mindmanager Business or Enterprise editions, the 2nd beta of PMMPartner is out. They have tested on Windows XP, 2000 and 98. This is based on .NET technology so you need to have the .NET framework installed and updated to Service Pack 2. That is a 20MB download from Windows Update. Thanks to Rob for the link.

[Rob Alexander]

I thought I'd add a little detail since I've taken some time to look it over. The first thing to note is that this version will only work with MindManager 2002 Business or Enterprise. They said they'll release a version for version 4 (Business or Enterprise) soon. Also, as Ed said, you'll need the .Net extensions from Microsoft. The easiest way to get those is to use Windows Update as it will be one of the options under recommended updates. Now, on to the product.

There's good news and bad news here. The good news is that the conversion of maps is much more solid than in the first beta. In the first beta, a MM map converted to PMM would have the branches all out of order and laying on top of each other. In this version, the map comes through almost exactly like the original. Notes also get carried through the conversion quite nicely.

The bad news is that the round trip support that Rolf said he wanted to add for this beta is not there. That is, when you convert a map between MM and PMM, all icons, colors and boundaries are lost. Consequently, you cannot move a map to your PPC, edit the map, and then move it back to your desktop without losing all of the special formatting. If you stick to plain maps, this won't be a problem, but otherwise, you'll still find yourself frustrated by not being able to make a clean transition between the two.

Even with these limitations, though, PMM and Desktop Companion is still a stronger product than Mindjet's Mobile MindManager. If you use PMM, you'll definitely want to grab a copy of this.

[Marcel_Proust]

I've always found PMM to be incredibly capable. A minor 1.2.3 update has also been recently posted together with the desktop companion link software. (once you are at a 0.01 update, you know it's minor.)
I take it the desktop companion software will soon be improved, and the issues mentioned above will be resolved.
For my use, the only problem I have with the software is that once you are past the primary branches, you cannot place your branches where you want. The program decides for you. Does anyone know of alternative mindmapping programs that go beyond this deficiency?

[Rob Alexander]

They did say in their forum that they intend to add the ability to convert icons, colors and so forth. I'm a little concerned because, when I asked about round-tripping after beta 1 was repleased, Rolf said they intended to support full round-tripping in beta 2. Atfer beta 2, when I asked the same question, he used the phrase "near round trip" for beta 3. That 'near' word worries me a bit. While I understand the PMM may not be able to use all of the features of MM, or even display certain enhanced attributes, it's really important that the conversion not remove those things that PMM can't handle. It's the ability to take your mind map out with you and alter it with new ideas, then bring it back to the desktop that would make this useful. If you can't finish the trip without losing attributes you've set in the original, then you're stuck using PMM as a viewer for your mind maps, rather than as an editor. Or if you do edit, you'll have to copy the changes back manually.

I agree with Marcel about the higher level branches. It's irritating to not be able to control their position. If I have more than one line at that level, I find they sometimes lay on top of each other. I think that would be a good enhancement to ask the developers to look at for a future version of PMM. I'm not aware of any other PPC product that does any better. Mobile MindManager give you even less control over the map view.