FreeIBIS add-on for Freeplane

The FreeIBIS add-on for Freeplane is an Issue-Based Information System that can support coordination and planning of political decision processes, sensemaking and collaborative problem solving in a variety of social and technical contexts.

The add-on can add issues (questions), positions (answers) and arguments to a mind map and allows them to connect with each other according to the limitations of IBIS. An argument can support a position, a pro, or object to a position, a con.

The FreeIBIS functions

The FreeIBIS add-on consists of 4 functions, that can be accessed from the Tools menu or by accelerator keys. The added IBIS elements can be recognized by their icon.

Function	Location on the menu	Accelerator key	Icon
Add an issue (question)	Menu -> Tools -> FreeIBIS	Ctrl+Slash	❓
Add a position (answer)	Menu -> Tools -> FreeIBIS	Ctrl+Period	💡
Add a pro (argument)	Menu -> Tools -> FreeIBIS	Ctrl+Equals	➕
Add a con (argument)	Menu -> Tools -> FreeIBIS	Ctrl+Shift+Minus	➖

How to start a Freeplane IBIS

The central node of a Freeplane IBIS should always be an issue.

1. Select the central node of your mind map
2. Add an issue with Ctrl+Slash. This will add the ❓ icon to the central node
3. Formulate your issue, usually as a question

How to add issues

1. Select an issue, position or argument
2. Add an issue with Ctrl+Slash. This will create a child node with a ❓ icon and opens a dialog to edit the node text
3. Formulate your issue

If you select a node that is not an IBIS element, no issue will be added.

How to add positions

First possibility:

1. Select an issue
2. Add an position with Ctrl+Period. This will create a child node with a 💡 icon and opens a dialog to edit the node text
3. Formulate your position

Second possibility:

1. Select a position
2. Add an position with Ctrl+Period. This will create a sibling node with a 💡 icon and opens a dialog to edit the node text
3. Formulate your position

If you select an argument or a node that is not an IBIS element, no position will be added.

How to add pros

First possibility:

1. Select a position
2. Add an pro with Ctrl+Equals. This will create a child node with a ➕ icon and opens a dialog to edit the node text
3. Formulate your pro

Second possibility:

1. Select an argument (pro or con)
2. Add an pro with Ctrl+Equals. This will create a sibling node with a ➕ icon and opens a dialog to edit the node text
3. Formulate your pro

If you select an issue or a node that is not an IBIS element, no pro will be added.

How to add cons

First possibility:

1. Select a position
2. Add an con with Ctrl+Shift+Minus. This will create a child node with a ➖ icon and opens a dialog to edit the node text
3. Formulate your con

Second possibility:

1. Select an argument (pro or con)
2. Add an con with Ctrl+Shift+Minus. This will create a sibling node with a ➖ icon and opens a dialog to edit the node text
3. Formulate your con

If you select an issue or a node that is not an IBIS element, no con will be added.

Version history

V0.1.1 Bugfixes. technical improvement and documentation

• Task #1: Restructure repository to work with Freeplane Gradle plugin
• Task #4: Update add-on definition mind map to latest devtools version
• Bug #3: Accelerator modifier not cross-platform
• Bug #2: Execution of scripts freezes when opening node editor
• Task #6: Remove obsolete line "// @CacheScriptContent(true)" from scripts
• Bug #7: Issue can refer to a node that is not an issue, position or argument
• Task #5: Document add-on in README.md

Oldest compatible Freeplane version: 1.8.10

V0.1.0 Initial release

Oldest compatible Freeplane version: 1.2.15