Is there a mind mapping software that can handle latex?

Question

I run Lubuntu 12.04 and after several terrible experiences with libre office I downloaded core and have not touched it since april. I find kile ok and have been learning to use that and writing with latex.

I am hoping there's a mind mapping program that I could use that is not too "bubbly" but most importantly can handle maths (i.e. latex). I don't need it to be able to integrate with kile but anything extra is a bonus! Tips?

Edit: The latex is needed for writing mathematical equations.

Edit: I thought they were all useful suggestions but on balance, the selected answer was my personal favourite out of them. Though it was tough to decide. Dia particularly does look like a good shout with ekee.

Solution 1

Have you seen: https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/2847/mind-maps-in-latex and https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/44112/mindmapping-with-latex ?

Both suggest http://www.texample.net/tikz/

http://www.texample.net/tikz/examples/feature/mindmaps/

...although the provided mindmaps feature is quite "bubbly"

As far as handling Maths:

https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/42611/list-of-available-tikz-libraries-with-a-short-introduction ... Graphics in LATEX using TIKZ ... TIKZ and PGF examples ... and http://www.texample.net/tikz/examples/tag/text-and-math/ will also prove helpful.

Solution 2

Try freeplane. You can type latex into the nodes. http://freeplane.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

Solution 3

This will not completely answer your question but my daughter creates mindmaps using Dia and I use LaTex (although not Kile), I use MikTex and LiveTex.

The common denominator is that both have XML and SVG compatibility. You may have to do some additional research about integration capability as I have never come across your integration requirement before.

Before I continue with my answer, if you don't know already, there is a dedicated TeX/LaTeX Q&A in Stack Exchange. It might not do any harm asking your question there also. Lets start with mind mapping and Dia

Dia is available from the Ubuntu Software Centre and is inspired by Microsoft 'Visio,' though more geared towards casual and informal diagrams including Mind Maps. It can be used to draw many different kinds of diagrams with "special objects" to help draw entity relationship diagrams, UML diagrams, flowcharts, network diagrams, and many other types. My daughter swears by this application (if that’s worth anything)

It can load and save diagrams to a custom XML format (a format also supported in LaTex), as well as exporting diagrams to a number of formats, including EPS, SVG, XFIG, WMF and PNG, and can print diagrams (including ones that span multiple pages). You may want to refer a question asked here "How to convert latex equations to SVG" as I think this will be an integral step in your final solution.

You can also create custom shapes for Dia Or download additional shapes from their repository here.

I think your requirement(mindmapper +mathematics+LaTeX) begs more clarity regarding what your expectation is, you give an example of LaTeX (using ie) but it would be very useful if we could undertstand your objective better.

Solution 4

You can use http://EquationMap.com for this purpose. It is currently a free beta version, no login required, any map you create is public and you can share it using generated URL.

Full disclosure. I'm the author of EquationMap.com

Solution 5

You may want to check out the freemindlatex tool at https://github.com/xuehuichao/freemind-latex . It allows you to write in freemind, and get beamer slides. Equations are formatted in a native latex way.

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Comments

[ish]

What is "mind-mapping"?

[Magpie]

it's a technique where you attach ideas in a spidergram to help you remember a central concept or theme

[BigSack]

Will any online Service work? or you need offline Solution only.

[Magpie]

online service is worth a look, though offline is preferable.

[Magpie]

Not exactly what I was thinking but, actually very interesting in its own right! I will have a mess around.

[TryTryAgain]

That's the catch...it will take quite a bit messing around to get what you want. It looks like xmind is heading in the direction of including LaTeX

[Magpie]

Thanks for this suggestion. I would select them both if I could.

[Magpie]

Love your work but since this is specific to ubuntu packages I cannot select this. Still, thanks for sharing.

[Christian]

More than 2 years later still no latex support -,-.