General Overview

MindMap is supplied in the form of 3.5 diskettes, a CD, or you have downloaded it off the Internet. In any case, the procedure for installing MindMap is similar. The setup process will assist you in creating a directory into which the files will be copied. During the procedure you will be asked to key in your serial number. Either you will be entering a serial number for a demo version, or you will enter a key for a valid license. In both cases, all associated components will be stamped with this serial number.

In this installation process, MindMap must also copy some files into the MS-Windows directory. (We regret having to do this, but this is required by the vendors of some of the components we include. We do not consider this good style, but we cannot avoid it.) The first step is fairly straightforward and not much can go wrong. After completing this segment, you are asked whether you intend to install additional modules. These modules are additional MindMap components, some of  which require the presence of third-party engines such as Lotus Notes, Wangs OPEN/image, etc. These modules are not part of the standard scope of MindMap and must be procured in addition to MindMap. Depending on the module, these may be obtained from MindMap or other third parties.

Once you have completed the installation process, a program group is created and various icons are included. Along with the actual program icon, you will see other icons representing README files and other supporting items. The case of MS-Windows 95, these entries are found on the Programs entry on the taskbar.

After the successful creation of the program group, you will be informed of the successful installation of MindMap. You are now ready to begin using MindMap.

The first time you start MindMap, you will be asked in which language you wish to use MindMap. Select the desired language. (Do not worry if you select the wrong language or need to change it in the future. MindMap allows for this.) MindMap will create a file in the MindMap directory called MINDMAP.INI. This file acts as a registry and contains numerous settings and user preferences for MindMap. MindMap does not make any entries in the WIN.INI or SYSTEM.INI files, since we also consider this to be poor style. Isolating all entries in the MINDMAP.INI file facilitates a very clean deinstallation, should you ever desire to do this.


Contents of Diskettes/CD

You can copy the contents of the media to your hard disk and install from the hard disk. Please note that you are required to create a directory for each diskette included in your package. If you choose to do this, it is suggested that you create a directory called \MM and directories called \MM\DISK1, \MM\DISK2, etc.

The diskettes or CD contain all files necessary to run MindMap. Additional modules offering access to various third-party engines (mail systems, OCR, fulltext, etc.) can be purchased from MindMap or another vendor, or check our Internet site for the latest offerings. All third-party engines must be purchased from a source other than MindMap. Licensing of all third-party software is the responsibility of the user.

The files contained on the media are compressed and can only be installed if you use the SETUP.EXE on the first diskette (or on the CD).

The contents of the supplied media can be found in a list on the first disk (3.5) or on the CD in a file called FILES.TXT. You can view or print this ASCII file using your word processor or any other text editor.


Installation Steps

The following description will assume you are installing from a CD-ROM. The process is actually quite similar if you are installing from diskettes, except for the added juggling of multiple disks:

1.	Insert the CD-ROM and execute the program SETUP.EXE. This can either be accomplished by using the MS-Windows FileManager and double-clicking on the file or via the menu option File | Run. In the case of Win95, click the Start button on the taskbar and then on the Run… option. Then browse to the SETUP.EXE file on the disk. Alternatively, you can use the Explorer to locate and subsequently execute the file.

2.	SETUP will begin loading some of the files and then greet you with the following screen

Clicking on the Cancel button will terminate the Setup procedure. Assuming that you wish to continue installing MindMap, click on the Next button.

3.	This will take you to the following dialog box. Here, you are asked to select between (I) installing MindMap itself, (ii) installing MindMap modules, or (iii) removing a previously installed MindMap version.

The Remove option will be grayed unless the Setup procedure has been started out of the SETUP directory of an installation of MindMap.

Selecting the Install option will lead to the next dialog box.

4.	Here the current license agreement will be presented to you. Please read it carefully. In case you do not wish to comply, please discontinue the installation process and return the license. In case you do wish to comply, please signal this by accepting and you will be taken to the next step of the installation.

5.	This dialog box requires you to enter the MindMap serial number, along with your name and the name of your organization.

The disk key (serial number) is an essential entry - without it, MindMap will not install properly. The disk key can be found at three different locations. A label is attached to the CD-ROM package (or disk 1, if on floppies), the first page of the printed documentation (if supplied with your version), and on the outside package (again, if supplied.) The disk key will also be your means of access to all future offerings, including support, updates, etc. Please keep it confidential and secure.

Next, enter your name and the name of your organization.

If you are installing a Demo Only version of MindMap, please use the default disk key displayed in the dialog box.

Under certain circumstances you might receive the serial number when downloading the software from the Internet. In such a case, please enter the key thus supplied.

6.	Before copying the files to the hard disk, MindMap will ask for the name of a directory. (If you previously installed MindMap, the Setup routine will detect the appropriate directory and suggest installing the new version in the same directory.) It will default to C:\MINDMAP, but feel free to enter any directory you choose. Alternatively, you can use the Browse button to navigate to a desired directory that already exists on your hard disk.

7.	MindMap will now ask you to make some necessary selections regarding support files.

If you decide to install the sample applications, a directory underneath the specified directory (the default would be C:\MINDMAP\SAMPLES) will be created and various MindMap example applications will be copied.

If you wish to be able to access the documentation online, please select the check box. All documentation will then be copied in WinWord DOC and generic PDF (Adobe Acrobat Reader) formats. These files will be copied into a directory of their own (the default will be C:\MINDMAP\DOCU).

A tutorial is also available and can be copied to your hard disk, if desired.

Finally, you can also choose to install ODBC (Open Database Connectivity). You must install ODBC components if you intend to install either of the sample files or the tutorial, because some of these files rely on the existence of ODBC data sources. Please refer to your Microsoft documentation for further information regarding various ODBC settings, procedures and options.

8.	SETUP will now begin to copy the selected files to the specified directory. If you are installing from the CD- ROM, the process can be left unattended for a few minutes. If you are working with diskettes, you will be prompted to swap diskettes every few minutes.

9.	The final screen will inform you that the installation process has been successfully completed. (You might also be able to briefly see various screen activity showing the creation of a program group.)


Contents of Program Group

The following files (represented by the appropriate icons) are available in the Program Group:

MINDMAP.EXE (the actual development environment)

MindMap Help (the Help system)

SETUP.EXE (MindMap Setup routine)

MindMap Basics

OBDC Administration

Read Me file

The list of sample files is included in the file README.WRI in the root directory of your CD.


MindMap Settings

As mentioned above, MindMap does not make any entries in common system resources, such as WIN.INI, SYSTEM.INI, etc. MindMap keeps its settings in its own INI file. This file - MINDMAP.INI - is not created at the time of installation. It is created at the moment you first normally terminate MindMap. Erasing the MINDMAP.INI file, after it has been created, will place MindMap back in its original unused state. It will not keep MindMap from operating.


Deinstalling MindMap

If you should ever need to deinstall MindMap, the process is actually quite simple. You can either choose to use the SETUP routine to remove MindMap or you can simply delete the files from the hard disk.

If you wish to use the SETUP program, launch the SETUP.EXE in the MindMap directory and navigate until you encounter the dialog box which offers the option to remove MindMap.

Click on the Next button to proceed.

You will be warned, so that you do not inadvertently remove MindMap. Clicking on the Yes button will then cause the files associated with MindMap to be erased from the hard disk.

If you erase only the MINDMAP.INI file, MindMap acts as though it has just been installed. When you start MindMap again, you will be prompted to enter the preferred language support.

If you wish to manually remove MindMap, locate the directory in which you previously installed MindMap. Now delete all files contained in the directory. Please remember that we could not avoid copying some files into the MS-WINDOWS directory.

All of these files are related to the ODBC environment. Since ODBC files may be a shared resource (used by a variety of other applications) we cannot remove them.


What can go Wrong

Well, there are a number of causes for ´misconduct´. In principal, there are four different classes of errors:

Media faults

Inconsistencies on your system

Errors on our part

User errors

Media faults: We go through extensive checks for error-free media, but errors still might slip through. This type of error usually leads to unreadable media.

Please contact us immediately, so that we can supply you with a new set of media.

System inconsistencies: A typical situation might be that there is not enough space on your hard disk for MindMap to be installed.

In this specific case, the remedy is obvious. You must free up enough disk space. In any other case, please contact us so that we can help you overcome these difficulties.

Our errors: Obviously, we are not aware of any errors in the setup routine. This is not to say there arent any, though. Please refer to the README file for the latest information. If you believe there may be an error on our part, please contact us so that we may resolve the situation.

User errors:

This is a tough call. If you have followed the instructions in this manual, as well as those presented on your screen, there is not much that can go wrong. If you do have a problem, again, please contact us.