Tool Stix

The Tool Stix provides users with a practical and easily accessible place to gather links to their favourite programs, web pages, and other tools to the Tool Stix panels. It helps users gather work or project-related resources conveniently to improve productivity.

For example, a production manager could make a ToolStix panel containing documents defining the manufactured product, outlining machinery maintenance schedules, and listing the supply channels. It also contains links to the software programs relevant to the project.

While working on the Project Map, the manager can access the Project ToolStix panel to open any required document or program without leaving the MindManager workspace.

You can add to the Tool Stix links to:

• any documents;
• web pages;
• programs installed on your computer (and run them from the Stix);
• built-in Windows programs (snipping tool, calculator, calendar, etc. - a surprised number of the quite useful programs there are right under your nose!);
• tools we made for ToolStix;
• macros.

For example, on this Stix (left to right):

A Help file for a program that I am learning.

Windows Notepad.

Calculator.

Windows Sticky Notes.

A Macro that protects the map topic from being changed.

The Calendar App.

You can add any number of tools (= links to...) on the Stix panel and create as many ToolStix panels as you wish. For each case - its own ToolsStix panel.

 Hover over this button to view the Stix's tools as a list.

 Click the Manage Button to find the Stix-related commands. It is a Manage Menu.

Common to all Stix commands are described in the Stix section.

Beside them, there are two commands that allow you to add the wanted tools to the Stix. Let's treat them.

There are three ways to add a tool to a ToolStix panel.

1. Just drag the needed file from the Windows Explorer onto the Stix panel.

2. Open the Manage Menu  and click the New Tool command to add a link to a file or web page. The window will open:

Specify the path to the file or paste the web page address.

The Tool Title will generate automatically. You can then change the name.

The Tool Icon will generate automatically. To change the icon, click on it and select a new icon.

You can provide a Tooltip (not required, but useful to describe the Tool).

Add to Database: allows users to save the tool link to the OnmiStix database to use the Tool in another ToolStix panel. The Tool also becomes available in the Manage Tools window.

3. In the Manage Menu  click the Manage Tools command. In the Manage Tools window you can add a plenty of Tools to the Stix.

You can arrange the order of the Tools on the Stix panel by dragging the Tool icon within the panel.