Pathmind Courses
Pathmind is a mindmap-focused learning platform for students and teams. This guide is split into multiple parts, covering how to use different tools in the app and how to utilize systems like directives to increase your efficiency.
Everything you can do in the app comes down to a single concept of “thoughts”—nodes with special properties, each one unique.
Types:
- Text – Regular thoughts, mostly used on mind maps, can contain text (everything customizable) or directive content. To add a text thought, select it from the add thought dropdown menu; no primary setup needed.
- Note – Transparent, allows you to add comments to map content by connecting the note with other thoughts.
- Attachment – Any file content: image, video (will display on map), dqs (can apply to map), or any other file format (added as a downloadable static file on the map). Useful for storing important content.
- Table – A set of data with columns and rows, can reference map variables to switch up values. Can be light or dark.
- Page – A long text document which can contain styled text, lists, and even images.
- Form – Question and answers; each answer can trigger a custom action like hiding/showing a thought/branch.
- Mind map – Nested mind map in the current location, allows for nesting content/grouping maps into sets.
Edit Mode
This feature allows users to connect two thoughts together by first clicking thought one and then the target thought. In edit mode, most actions like deleting and copying are disabled.
Signing
- Map signing – Protect your map by setting the author, password, a message to show on map load, enabling/disabling read-only mode, and creating a signature.
- Thought signing – Set properties to thoughts like static (disallow dragging), hide (hide object), lock (disallow editing).
Styling
Styling every thought separately can be draining. In v6.5, the style menu allows you to set styles for every next thought added. Open it by clicking the style icon in the toolbar. You can pick a style from a thought using the “Pick from thought” feature (not available in edit mode).
Exporting
The app offers many mind map export options:
- .pathmind – Encrypted format, most secure for offline/off-app file transfer and sharing.
- .dqs – DO Query String, map creation and modification scripting language, can be applied onto maps automatically, doesn’t support all thought types.
- .mm – Widely adopted XML mind map format, needs map conversion before export.
- .png – Screenshot of the map in the current view, can have a transparent background set.
2. Directives
Pathmind is not only a course and mind map platform—you can also build fully functional flows with directives:
- Executables – Can execute certain actions.
- Conditionals – Return true or false based on condition.
- Formulas – Instant calculation and data extraction.
All three work together to build functional flows inside the workspace. Executables can be started manually or, when a conditional is connected, will run once the condition changes to TRUE (a recall).
Executables
>start(sign.map)
(deprecated since v6)
>start(sign.thought)
(deprecated since v6)
>start(remove.meta)
(deprecated since v6)
>notify("Message")
Show a notification popup with any content.
>delay(seconds)
Stop a flow for n time.
>dqs(dqs)
Auto-process DO Query.
>set(varname,value)
Set a local variable’s value.
>get(varname)
Get a local variable’s value.
Conditionals
True:
?true
?truthy
?1
(any value)
?varName
(once variable is updated)
?1 = 1
(any true equality)
?1 < 2
(any true comparison)
?click
(true on click on connected thought)
?thought.text
(is connected text thought)
?thought.note
(is connected note thought)
?thought.function
(is connected attachment)
False:
?false
?falsy
?0
?null
?undefined
?varName
(local variable doesn't exist)
?1 = 2
(any false equality)
?1 > 2
(any false comparison)
?thought.text
(is not connected text thought)
?thought.note
(is not connected note thought)
?thought.function
(is not connected attachment)
=sum, =sum(A)
Sum up values on path
=avg, =avg(A)
Get the average of values on path
=math(1+1)
Calculate the given expression
=math(1+1+`prefix)
Adds a prefix to result
=math(1+1+suffix`)
Adds a suffix to result
=date
Outputs the current date in DD/MM/YYYY format
=time
Outputs the current time in HH:MM format
=session
Outputs the elapsed session time in (n)XX:SS format
=onmap
Outputs the number of thoughts on the map
=random, =random(1-n)
Outputs a random number from range
=first, =first(A)
Outputs the last value from path
=trend, =trend(A)
Outputs a trend of path values
=wait
Pauses dynamic formula updates
=output, =output(trend.graph)
Creates a visual box with the output of a formula
3. Creating & Publishing Courses
Pathmind Courses introduced the concept of mind map courses, opening a new space for online learning in a digital private workspace. Everyone can publish and everyone can view, the platform is made for a community of eager learners.
There are 3 steps to packaging a high-quality lesson pack:
- Creating the mind map
You need to first get a hang of the Pathmind editor before you move onto publishing. We suggest making a few practice mind maps and sharing them to our subreddit for feedback and tips.
- Sharing
To share, go to the Pathmind Gallery (make sure you have a Courses account). Click the plus button in the toolbar and choose your preferred post type (mind map is generic with no interaction from users; course is collaborative, with live messages and reactions). Import your mind map or start creating one from scratch.
- Leading
Join the map at the scheduled course time, otherwise your users will have no tutor for the lesson. Share important details using the message system, go through each node with users, and make sure everyone keeps up and understands what’s happening.
Support
If you have any questions about the user guide, reach out to us at support@pathmind.app.
