Graphonaut guide

Contents

• Introduction
• Modes
• Keyboard controls
  • Overview (video)
  • Mode switching
    • NORMAL to EDIT
    • NORMAL to MOVE
    • EDIT to NORMAL
    • MOVE to NORMAL
  • Zoom
    • Zoom in
    • Zoom out
  • Cursor movement
    • Left
    • Down
    • Up
    • Right
    • Next box
    • Previous box
  • Selection
    • Select/deselect
    • Deselect all
    • Select all
  • Text boxes
    • Create
    • Edit
    • Delete
  • Connections
    • Connect
    • Directionally connect
    • Delete
  • Files
    • Open
    • Save
  • Selection movement
    • Left
    • Down
    • Up
    • Right
  • Text editing

Introduction

Graphonaut is a simple mind map editor designed for speed and efficiency. All actions are controlled through the keyboard. Modes are used to enable different types of actions.

Modes

The Graphonaut editor is always in one of the three modes listed below. The current mode is displayed on the bottom-left of the screen at all times.

NORMAL

This is the default mode. In this mode, you can move the cursor, create or delete text boxes and connections, select or deselect text boxes, and save or delete files.

EDIT

This mode allows you to modify the text within a text box.

MOVE

This mode you allows you to move all text boxes that are currently selected.

Keyboard Controls

Overview

The video below demonstrates the primary actions and the corresponding keyboard controls.

Mode switching

The power of mode switching is what allows all actions to be performed using only the keyboard. If you get stuck, remember that the Esc key will always switch back to NORMAL mode.

NORMAL to EDIT

Press the Enter key to switch from NORMAL mode to EDIT mode. If the cursor is in empty space, a new text box will be created and EDIT mode will be enabled. If the cursor is over an existing text box, EDIT mode will be enabled for that text box.

NORMAL to MOVE

Press the m key to switch from NORMAL mode to MOVE mode. If any text boxes are selected, MOVE mode will allow you to move them. See: Selection movement

EDIT to NORMAL

Press the Esc key to switch from EDIT mode back to NORMAL mode.

MOVE to NORMAL

Press the Esc key to switch from MOVE mode back to NORMAL mode.

Zoom

You can zoom in or out at any time.

Zoom in

Press the Ctrl key and the + key to zoom in.

Zoom out

Press the Ctrl key and the - key to zoom out.

Cursor movement

You can use the arrow keys or the h, j, k, l, n, p keys to move the cursor while in NORMAL mode.

Left

Press the h key or the ← key to move the cursor to the left while in NORMAL mode.

Down

Press the j key or the ↓ key to move the cursor down while in NORMAL mode.

Up

Press the k key or the ↑ key to move the cursor up while in NORMAL mode.

Right

Press the l key or the → key to move the cursor to the right while in NORMAL mode.

Next box

Press the n key to move the cursor to the next text box while in NORMAL mode.

Previous box

Press the p key to move the cursor to the previous text box while in NORMAL mode.

Selection

Select text boxes to move or delete them.

Select/deselect

Press the s key while the cursor is over an existing text box to select or deselet it while in NORMAL mode. If the cursor is in empty space, all text boxes will be deselected.

Deselect all

Press the s key while the cursor is in empty space to deselect all text boxes while in NORMAL mode.

Select all

Press the a key to select all text boxes while in NORMAL mode.

Text boxes

Write notes inside text boxes.

Create

Press the Enter key while the cursor is in empty space to create a new text box while in NORMAL mode. The mode will automatically switch to EDIT.

Edit

Press the Enter key while the cursor is over an existing text box to switch from NORMAL mode to EDIT mode.

Delete

Press the Backspace key while the cursor is over an existing text box to delete it while in NORMAL mode.

Connections

Connect and disconnect text boxes to display relationships between them.

Connect

Press the c key to connect two selected text boxes with a line while in NORMAL mode. Exactly two text boxes must be selected to make a connection.

Directionally connect

Press the d key to directionally connect two selected text boxes with an arrow line while in NORMAL mode. Exactly two text boxes must be selected to make a connection. The arrow will point from the first selected text box to the second selected text box.

Delete

Press the Backspace key while the cursor is over an existing connection to delete it while in NORMAL mode.

Files

Save and open files to and from your computer.

Save

Press the w key to save your current work to a file on your computer while in NORMAL mode.

Open

Press the e key to open a file from your computer while in NORMAL mode.

Selection movement

Move selected text boxes while in MOVE mode by using the same keys that are used for cursor movement while in NORMAL mode.

Left

Press the h key or the ← key to move selected text boxes to the left while in MOVE mode.

Down

Press the j key or the ↓ key to move selected text boxes down while in MOVE mode.

Up

Press the k key or the ↑ key to move selected text boxes up while in MOVE mode.

Right

Press the l key or the → key to move selected text boxes to the right while in MOVE mode.