--- title: Mind map description: Learn how to create mind maps in Collaboard. --- [Skip to content](https://help.collaboard.app/mind-map#main-content) - [English](https://help.collaboard.app/mind-map) - [Deutsch](https://help.collaboard.app/de/mindmap) English Show submenu for translations ![logo-type\_black 2.svg\]](https://help.collaboard.app/hubfs/logo-type_black%202.svg) Open main navigation Close main navigation - - [English](https://help.collaboard.app/mind-map) - [Deutsch](https://help.collaboard.app/de/mindmap) English Show submenu for translations - [Go to collaboard.app](https://www.collaboard.app/) [Go to collaboard.app](https://www.collaboard.app/?hsLang=en) Hello. How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Collaboard Help Center](https://help.collaboard.app/?hsLang=en) 2. [Working with Collaboard](https://help.collaboard.app/working-with-collaboard?hsLang=en) 3. [Other Objects](https://help.collaboard.app/working-with-collaboard?hsLang=en#other-objects) # Mind map ## Learn how to create mind maps in Collaboard. **Availability** Mind maps are available to all plans, incl. Freemium. ### How to create a mind map Open a project and navigate to the main tool box on the left. Choose mind map under *More.* *![](https://help.collaboard.app/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Oct-08-2024-01-58-17-6994-PM.png?width=269&height=226&name=image-png-Oct-08-2024-01-58-17-6994-PM.png)* Select the mind map with one click and add it to the board by drag and drop to or with a single click. #### Nodes All mind maps start with the **parent/ master node**. There is only ever one master node per mind map, serving as the center of the mind map. ![](https://help.collaboard.app/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Oct-08-2024-02-00-20-5437-PM.png?width=688&height=268&name=image-png-Oct-08-2024-02-00-20-5437-PM.png) The master node comes with a dummy text as placeholder and features the standard context menu of a *Shape* plus: - **Node type** define the border style of the node (pill, rectangle, rounded rectangle)   - **Direction** - define the direction in which the mind map branches off. Simply click the greyish "+" buttons the the left and right of the parent node. Toggle between right/ bottom or top/left via the *Direction* option in the context menu. - define the connector style: orthogonal or curved. Changes of the connector style will update all connectors of the mind map. - **Auto layout** Allows you to toggle between custom and auto node positioning. Refer to the chapter **Node positioning** below. Instead of the plus buttons use the TAB key to create child nodes. All other nodes you create will be **c****hild nodes**. The mind map can have virtually unlimited child nodes. ![](https://help.collaboard.app/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Oct-08-2024-02-17-39-7999-PM.png?width=688&height=445&name=image-png-Oct-08-2024-02-17-39-7999-PM.png) Child nodes feature the same context menu as the parent node minus the *Direction* option. First level child nodes that are created directly from the parent node will automatically get a different color each. You can create further child nodes (grand children) or you can opt to create siblings. Create more children with the TAB key and siblings with ENTER. #### Collapse/ expand nodes Nodes that have two or more children will feature a minus button when selected. Click the button the collapse the downstream tree. Click the numbered button to expand the tree. ![](https://help.collaboard.app/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Dec-03-2024-09-10-57-1065-AM.png?width=524&height=797&name=image-png-Dec-03-2024-09-10-57-1065-AM.png) #### Nodes positioning **Custom node positioning** Allows you to toggle between custom and auto node positioning. - **Auto:** custom node positions are not retained. Adding a node at any place to the mind map will result in auto-adaption of the layout. - **Manual:** custom node positioning is enabled and positions will be retained when adding new node to the mind map. CAVEAT: adding siblings will cause all other siblings to auto-arrange.  **Moving children to new parents** Drag and drop any node (not the master node) onto the new parent. The whole mind map tree associated to the child will be moved along. #### Inheritance The master node - will pass down the direction of the mind map and the connector style. Changing these features will override all other connector styles. - will pass down its formatting, but NOT the border color. The child nodes - will pass down their entire formatting. Any changes will not override the formatting of downstream children, but only affect new children. #### Selection,  connections You can single or multi/ area select any part of the mind map. If you select connectors AND nodes you can only modify the selected nodes. To modify connectors, select connectors only. You may use the remaining anchor points of a node to create connectors to any other board object.  ![](https://help.collaboard.app/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Oct-08-2024-05-24-35-5456-PM.png?width=669&height=568&name=image-png-Oct-08-2024-05-24-35-5456-PM.png) #### Formatting, labelling and context menu Use the context menu of nodes and connectors to modify at your leisure. Nodes will have a very similar context menu to *Shapes* and connectors feature the *Line* context menu. Double-click the connector to add a label. ### Keyboard shortcuts | **Shortcut** | **Result** | | --- | --- | | TAB | add child node | | ENTER | add sibling | | ESCAPE | exit editing mode | | DELETE | delete current selection | | Arrow keys | move from node to node | | CTRL/ CMD + C or Y | copy and paste |   - [Getting started](https://help.collaboard.app/getting-started?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Register / Login](https://help.collaboard.app/getting-started?hsLang=en#register-login) - [Start with your first project](https://help.collaboard.app/getting-started?hsLang=en#start-with-your-first-project) - [Working with Collaboard](https://help.collaboard.app/working-with-collaboard?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Board navigation](https://help.collaboard.app/working-with-collaboard?hsLang=en#board-navigation) - [Standard Object Options](https://help.collaboard.app/working-with-collaboard?hsLang=en#standard-object-options) - [Sticky Notes](https://help.collaboard.app/working-with-collaboard?hsLang=en#sticky-notes) - [Media](https://help.collaboard.app/working-with-collaboard?hsLang=en#media) - [Shape & Line](https://help.collaboard.app/working-with-collaboard?hsLang=en#shape-line) - [Other Objects](https://help.collaboard.app/working-with-collaboard?hsLang=en#other-objects) - [Quick Links](https://help.collaboard.app/working-with-collaboard?hsLang=en#quick-links) - [Facilitation and collaboration](https://help.collaboard.app/working-with-collaboard?hsLang=en#facilitation-and-collaboration) - [Project interaction](https://help.collaboard.app/working-with-collaboard?hsLang=en#project-interaction) - [Export](https://help.collaboard.app/working-with-collaboard?hsLang=en#export) - [Settings](https://help.collaboard.app/working-with-collaboard?hsLang=en#settings) - [Accessibility](https://help.collaboard.app/working-with-collaboard?hsLang=en#accessibility) - [Import](https://help.collaboard.app/working-with-collaboard?hsLang=en#import) - [Templates](https://help.collaboard.app/working-with-collaboard?hsLang=en#templates) - [Plans & Billing](https://help.collaboard.app/plans-billing?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Manage your subscription and plan](https://help.collaboard.app/plans-billing?hsLang=en#manage-your-subscription-and-plan) - [Administration](https://help.collaboard.app/administration?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Account Administration](https://help.collaboard.app/administration?hsLang=en#account-administration) - [Project Administration](https://help.collaboard.app/administration?hsLang=en#project-administration) - [User Management](https://help.collaboard.app/administration?hsLang=en#user-management) - [Spaces](https://help.collaboard.app/administration?hsLang=en#spaces) - [Integrations](https://help.collaboard.app/administration?hsLang=en#integrations) - [Settings](https://help.collaboard.app/administration?hsLang=en#settings) - [Support & FAQ](https://help.collaboard.app/support-faq?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Announcements and Release Notes](https://help.collaboard.app/support-faq?hsLang=en#announcements-and-release-notes) - [General](https://help.collaboard.app/support-faq?hsLang=en#general) - [FAQ](https://help.collaboard.app/support-faq?hsLang=en#faq) - [Video Trainings](https://help.collaboard.app/video-trainings?hsLang=en) [![Collaboard](https://help.collaboard.app/hs-fs/hubfs/coll-logo.png?width=300&height=165&name=coll-logo.png "Collaboard")](http://collaboard.app) collaboard.app Help Center Copyright © 2026, Collaboard by IBV Informatik, Beratungs und Vertriebs AG