I am really loving it and will definitely be buying the full version. I’m a recent convert to Scrivener and, as good as it is, I think its weakest area is in the idea-creation part - if you mangled it to be better you’d lose what is so good about it. Scapple looks like filling that gap really well.
I still think there’s a use for Mindmap programs - I recently used MindNode Pro to create the outline for my novel and imported using the OPML link. While Scapple is freeform, Mindnode is rigid - both have very strong use cases.
One thing I’d say is that I’m a keyboard only fiend - I hate using mice as they slow me down - and Scapple could learn a lot from the Mindnode flexibility. Actually, having consistency across all three would be good for me (and I know you only produce two of them), but things like ESC to edit, ENTER to create, etc, would be good.
Keep up the great work - I’ll definitely be buying it.
Scapple looks great. It may be the non-mind mapping mind mapping tool I’ve been looking for if you know what I mean.
Two questions:
First, is there a way, or could you add a way, to have two separate unidirectional arrows between two different notes? So in addition to having:
A <—> B
which expresses a reciprocal relationship between A and B, eg, they are friends, I am looking for:
<----
A B
---->
This is something really I want and I haven’t seen in any diagramming tool. It might express for example that A is a customer of B and B competes with A.
Second, how do I select an existing link, whether it’s to delete it, or change the type or whatever?
Trying to add connected nodes to an already existing node using the keyboard shortcuts, e.g. SHIFT-CMD-DOWN or SHIFT-CMD-ALT-DOWN for the arrow flavour, and nothing is happening. It works using the menu, but like my post above says, I’m a keyboard boy.
This is brilliant! This is close to how I use a piece of paper to sketch ideas.
Some comments:
I have not tested the export to OPML but trust it will be robust.
I use a four-color pen in real life and would like some equivalent capability on Scapple.
I’m not a fan of the dotted line – a line without arrows would be fine with me.
Notes can get obscured by other notes – a visual cue indicating something is underneath would be nice.
I’ll join the chorus singing for an iPad version.
Beyond these comments, it does need a bit of polish. But if you released Scapple today, as is, I’d buy it immediately, trusting that it will improve just as Scrivener has.
Congrats on a wonderfully done program! I am quite partial to this style of “mapping” out thoughts and writing and I wish there were more programs like it. I know you said it’s essentially feature-complete, but one feature that would make this program so much more useful to me would be the ability to “drill down” into any given note and have a new canvas space (like having a new document). (That is, the way Tinderbox operates.) This feature (combined with the infinitely large canvas you already have) would make it scale basically indefinitely. If it could do that I think I would use this program for writing just about everything. The only time I end up really using Scrivener is when there is almost no more thinking to be done about creating content. Otherwise it is still just too structured for me. But Scapple is absolutely perfect for me. It’s just that it wouldn’t scale for larger projects if I can’t drill down into a given note a la Tinderbox. If that were the case I think the applications for this program would expand greatly. For example, you could use one document for class notes. Or even one document for school in general or simply for everything. That is how I use Tinderbox. I would love if Scapple could something similar in combination with the strengths it already has. Keep up the good work!
Would really like to see a tiny bit more control over the style of the line. It does not make sense to me–at all–that the only way I can have a solid line is by indicating directionality. I realize this software is meant to reflect your needs and workflow, but for my purposes, the strength (dotted versus solid, and maybe double solid or some other heavier line) or type (via color coding for instance) of connections is much more meaningful than directionality, which I use, but only sparingly. What I’m left with is a lot of dotted lines that look like equally weak connections to me. I realize introducing additional line types would undermine the either/or simplicity of dotted vs. solid, but you already do that by allowing directionality. We already have this control over notes, via shape, color, etc., so I’m not sure I get why it’s not available for lines. This is the only substantive way I can imagine this product being improved though.
Edit: I realize this may sound a bit like asking Scapple to move too much in the direction of mind mapping, which I didn’t intend (hence: “tiny bit more control”). I’d be 80% satisfied with just the addition of a solid, non-directional line.
Firstly thank you for this wonderful program.
Just a quick idea for a feature: would it be possible to add linked scrap pads.
This could simply be implemented via tabs, or less so by system links to other pads. These links could fire the opening of pads by clicking on set notes or an icon.
Brilliant. And, of course, this software is crying out for an iPad version. Perhaps one supporting stylus/handwriting input. Just piling up the pressure
Also, I have to disagree with nrx on directionality. Directionality is important because it is a standard way of symbolising logical connections: double-sided arrow = strict implication, one-sided = entailment, etc.
I’m kind of baffled that you think you’re disagreeing with me. I didn’t in any way argue against directionality as a feature. I explicitly stated that I use it myself. I think if you go back and re-read what I wrote, it should become clear that my main point was that I would use a solid, non-directional line more frequently than a directional one, and that the absence of such a line limits the utility of the line for me in certain specific ways. So you may find the existing implementation entirely to your liking, but this hardly constitutes a disagreement, unless you somehow think that a solid, non-directional line or other, more fine-grained control over the line would ruin the software. Which you clearly don’t, since you said you’d like colors. I don’t mean to be combative, but I think maybe I was misunderstood here?
I also meant to ask - is it possible to put text labels that are associated with the connection arrows? Such that if the arrows move around the labels with move with it.
Well they aren’t technically labels, so this technique should not be confused as such. They are merely notes that you’ve inserted between two notes. You may visually make them look diminished in relation to the other notes, but the software’s design itself doesn’t support the concept of a labelled connection line, so don’t expect it to be too fancy.
This is fantastic, thank you! I am using Scrivener to write my dissertation, and I have also been dissatisfied with all of the mind mapping software I’ve tried. Just tried Scapple, and it is exactly what I have been looking for. You must live inside my brain
One question: Will we lose our Scapple documents created using this beta version once the final retail version is out? Can’t wait!
I’m going to try and use this to reverse outline a short story I wrote. Going to summarize each different section and see what parts I’m missing. Hopefully will be useful. I’m also interested to know if save files will not be purged. Very cool.
