Overview
Mindmup maps can grow quickly, and navigating a large map is easier when you know how to move around the canvas and control the level of detail you see.
You can pan across the canvas, zoom in or out, quickly fit the entire map to your screen, or recenter your view when you lose your place. Keyboard shortcuts can make these actions even faster.
Move around the map
You can move around the canvas without changing the position of your nodes.
- Drag the canvas to pan around the map.
- Scroll vertically to move up or down.
- Hold Shift while scrolling to move horizontally.
Panning is useful when you want to move from one branch of a large map to another without changing the map's structure.
Use the Hand tool
Press H to switch to the Hand tool when you want to pan around the canvas.
The Hand tool is particularly useful when you need to move around a large map without accidentally selecting or editing nodes.
Press V to return to the Select tool when you want to select and work with nodes again.
Zoom in and out
Zooming changes how much of the map you can see without changing the size or position of your nodes.
- Zoom in when you need to work with a specific node or small section in more detail.
- Zoom out when you want to see more branches and understand how different sections relate to each other.
- Use the Zoom in and Zoom out buttons in the bottom-right corner of the editor.
- Hold Ctrl and scroll to zoom in or out quickly.
On Mac, Command can also be used for shortcuts marked with Ctrl.
See the whole map
When you have zoomed into one part of the map and want to return to the bigger picture, use Zoom to fit.
Press Ctrl + 1 to quickly fit the map to the available space.
This is especially useful when:
- You want to review the overall structure of a large map.
- You have finished working on one branch and want to see how it fits into the rest of the map.
- You have moved or zoomed around and want to quickly reset your view.
On Mac, use Command + 1.
Recenter your view
If you have moved far away from the main part of your map, use Recenter view to bring the map back to the center of the workspace.
Press Ctrl + 0 for a quick way to recenter the view. On Mac, use Command + 0.
Recenter when you want to return to a comfortable starting position without changing the map itself.
A simple way to navigate large maps
When working with a large map, it can help to move between three levels of view:
1. Start with the big picture
Use Zoom to fit to see the overall structure and identify the branch you want to work on.
2. Focus on the details
Zoom in on the relevant branch and pan across the canvas as needed. This gives you enough detail to edit nodes without losing sight of where that section belongs.
3. Return to the big picture
When you are finished, zoom out or use Zoom to fit again to review how your changes fit into the rest of the map.
If the map becomes difficult to navigate, fold branches you are not currently working with before continuing. This reduces the amount of information on screen without removing anything from the map.
Tips for easier navigation
- Use Zoom to fit when you want to quickly understand the overall structure of your map.
- Zoom in for detailed editing and zoom out regularly to keep the bigger picture in view.
- Use the Hand tool when you need to pan around a large map without selecting nodes.
- Recenter the view when you have moved far from the part of the map you are working on.
- Fold branches you are not currently using to reduce visual clutter.
- Learn Ctrl + 0 and Ctrl + 1 first—they are useful shortcuts for quickly recovering your view.
Related features
- How to Use View Options
- How to Fold and Unfold Nodes
- How to Use Keyboard Shortcuts
- How to Find Nodes
Move between the big picture and the details
You do not need to keep the entire map at the same zoom level while you work. Zoom in when you need detail, pan to move between sections, and use Zoom to fit when you want to step back and see the bigger picture.