Mindjet icon

Working with objects

There are a variety of object types that you can use to increase and enhance a map’s visual information. You can add shapes and images to a map’s background, text boxes to give extra information, and swim lanes and funnels to flowcharts when there are several concurrent processes.

You can modify these objects to best suit the look of your map. Depending on the object type, you can adjust transparency, fill, outline, and layering. You can also lock and align objects, as well as control how they are layered.

To select objects:

Selecting multiple objects allows you to simultaneously apply formatting to them all, lock several objects, align and distribute them, and more.

Do one of the following:

  • Hold down Control, and click the objects' edges. When selection handles appear around an object, it is selected.
  • Hold down your left mouse button and drag over the objects. The object must be completely in the selection area to be selected.
  • Click the Shapes toolbar button, and click Select All.

To format objects:

You can modify an object’s outline, fill, and transparency.

To format an object's outlilne:

You can format the color, weight, and pattern of outlines for shapes and Smart Shapes.

  1. Control-click the object, then choose Format Object.
  2. Do any of the following:
  • Hold down Control, and click the objects' edges. When selection handles appear around an object, it is selected.
  • Hold down your left mouse button and drag over the objects. The object must be completely in the selection area to be selected.
  • Click the Shapes toolbar button, and click Select All.
  1. Click Apply.

To format an object's fill:

You can format the fill color, weight, and pattern of outlines for shapes and Smart Shapes.

  1. Control-click an object that supports fill formatting, then choose Format Object
  2. In the Fill area, open the Color drop down menu, and choose a fill color.

Note: You cannot adjust the fill color of horizontal or vertical divider lines.

To format an object's transparency:

You can adjust the transparency of shapes and Smart Shapes.

  1. Control-click an object that supports transparency, then choose Format Object
  2. Set a transparency level in the Transparency box.

hint:You can also Control-click rectangles, circles, images, and swim lanes, then click Transparency, and choose a transparency level.

Note:You cannot adjust the transparency of horizontal or vertical divider lines, or text boxes.

To resize objects:

Selecting multiple objects allows you to simultaneously apply formatting to them all, lock several objects, align and distribute them, and more.

Do one of the following:

  • Control-click the object, click Format Object, type the desired number of pixels in the Height or Width boxes.
  • Click the object to display handles, and drag the handles.

To layer objects:

You can layer some types of objects, including shapes, images, swim lanes, funnels and text boxes, and control the stacking order of the objects.

You can place one object on top of another and reorder the stacking position.

To send an object back in the stacking order:

Control-click an object, and do one of the following:

  • Click Send Backward to position it below the object immediately beneath it.
  • Click Sent to Bottom to move it beneath all other objects.

To bring an object forward in the stacking order:

Control-click an object, and do one of the following:

  • Click Bring Forward to position it over the object immediately above it.
  • Click Bring to Top to move it above all other objects.

To lock objects:

You can lock all shapes and Smart Shapes, text boxes, and images in position on a map background, which prevents you from moving them.

To lock all background objects:

  • Control-click the map background, and choose Background > Lock All Background Objects.

To unlock all background objects:

  • Control-click the map background, and choose Background >Unlock All Background Objects.

To align objects:

You can align two or more shapes and Smart Shapes, text boxes, and images with each other. The object that has selection handles is the object to which other selected objects are aligned.

To align objects:

  1. Select two or more objects.
  2. Choose Format > Align, and select an alignment option.

To interactively align objects:

  1. Select the object that you want to align with another object.
  2. Drag the object until a green alignment guide is displayed.
    The guide displays when the edges of the objects are aligned.
  3. Release the mouse button.
    You can disable the alignment guide by clicking Mindjet MindManager menu > Preferences, clicking the Editing tab, and disabling the Use Alignment Helper when dragging objects check box.

To group objects:

You can group shapes, swim lanes, funnels, tables, text boxes, and images in position on a map background. When you group two or more objects, they are treated as a single unit but retain their individual attributes. Grouping lets you move, resize, rotate, flip, and align all the objects within the group at the same time.

To group objects:

  1. Select two or more objects.
  2. Control-click, click Group > Group.

To ungroup objects:

  1. Select one or more objects within an object grouping.
  2. Control-click, click Group > Ungroup.

To flip and rotate objects:

You can rotate and flip objects or an object group.

To flip background objects:

  • Control-click an object or group of objects and choose Flip Horizontal or Flip Vertical.

To rotate objects:

Do one of the following:

  • Control-click an object or group of objects and choose Rotate 45º counter clockwise or Rotate 45º clockwise.
  • Click an object to display corner rotation handles, and drag the handle.
  • Control-click an object, click Format Object, and enter the number of degrees to rotate the object in the Rotate box.

To rename objects:

You can rename objects.

  • Control-click the object, and choose Format Object, and enter a name in Name box.

 

 

Related Topics

Adding images

Adding Smart Shapes

Adding shapes

Adding text boxes

Was this topic helpful?
Help us improve the quality of Mindjet by giving us your feedback in the Mindjet User Community.
If you are commenting on this Help topic, include the title of this topic in your comment. - Thank You!