New versions of 3D Topicscape are up!

3D Topicscape is the extraordinary 3D mindmapper, concept mapper and information organizer that is increasingly being taken up by people who have never tried mindmapping before.  We’ve been getting questions about mindmapping from people who have bought Topicscape, so just recently, we added a mindmapping Q&A section to our website here: http://www.topicscape.com/mindmapping/37

Back in the development area, all three versions of 3D Topicscape (Pro, Lite and SE) have just been updated and the new versions are available for download now.  Here are the changes:

3D Topicscape Pro

1. If you have Windows Desktop Search, you can choose to use it from inside 3D Topicscape to speed your file content searches. This will give more reliable results from searches of .MHT files, MS Word .DOC files and Excel .XLS spreadsheets.   This does not affect normal searches in topic and occurrence names, descriptions, authors, etc.   Keep in mind that when you first install Windows Desktop Search, it needs time to index your disk, and make sure My Topicscapes (or wherever you keep you Topicscape files) is included in WDS Options as areas to index.  3D Topicscape Pro has for some time been able to work with Google Desktop but at the time of writing, GD is unable to search MHT files and doesn’t update its index when files are moved (for example when they are imported into Topicscape).
2. There is now a much simpler, more user-friendly search panel. You can still see the Advanced Search Panel at any time, using a checkbox on the Simple Search panel, and there’s an option to allow you to see this every time, if you prefer.
3. Topicscape will watch how new users use it, and if they stay in Limited Mode, or don’t try flying with the mouse, will show a reminder after a few uses that they can switch other features on. It will also offer to do that for the user.  By the way, that’s all it watches and, as ever, it doesn’t send us any information.
4. Some elements of the 3D scene have been hidden when not in use or when in Limited Mode.
5. If you minimize the DP panel, as you may know, it pops up again when you hover over the minimized panel. Previously it popped back to the place from which you minimized it. Now it pops up close to the minimized panel, which is more convenient for quick text changes or reference. If you click the restore button, it will go back to the original location.
6. Some tidying, consistency improvements and bug fixes have also been done – all minor.

Pro is available here: http://www.topicscape.com/download5.php

3D Topicscape Lite

1. Topicscape Lite will now watch how new users use it, and if they stay in the mode where mouse flying is switched off, will show a reminder. It will also offer to do that for the user.
2. There’s a quick way to show the Options panel now: Alt+O
3. Some elements of the 3D scene have been hidden when not in use.
4. Some tidying, consistency improvements and bug fixes have also been done – all minor.

Lite is also available here: http://www.topicscape.com/download5.php

3D Topicscape Student Edition

This is on track to come out of Beta by the end of the year as scheduled. It has already proved itself to be as robust as other versions of 3D Topicscape.

1. Topicscape SE will watch how new users use it, and if they stay in the mode where mouse flying is switched off, will show a reminder. It will also offer to switch it on for the user.
2. There’s a quick way to show the Options panel now: Alt+O
3. Some elements of the 3D scene have been hidden when not in use.
4. There is now a _much_ simpler search panel. You can still see the Advanced Search Panel at any time, using a checkbox, and there’s an option to allow you to see this every time, if you prefer.
5. Some tidying, consistency improvements and bug fixes have also been done – all minor.

SE is available here:
http://www.topicscape.com/student-edition.php?display=5

Whichever edition you’re using, we hope you’ll want to bring your Topicscape up to date.  And if you’re using Pro, we hope the Windows Desktop Search makes Topicscape even more useful.

Roy