Build mind maps with the keyboard, copy, and paste

A mind map is only useful when it keeps up with your thinking. You can now build an entire tree using just the keyboard: type, press Tab or Enter, and the next node is instantly ready for you to write in.

Build the tree with the keyboard

• Tab: saves the current text and immediately creates a child branch under that node, ready for typing.
• Enter: saves the current text and creates a sibling node next to it.
• Arrow keys: move between nodes.
• Ctrl/Cmd + D: duplicate the selected node.
• ?: open the full shortcut guide.

The canvas follows the selected node on its own, so even in large maps you don't need to pan around by hand.

Tip: These shortcuts work on the canvas itself. If they stop responding after you click somewhere outside the canvas, click the canvas once.

Copy and paste

• Copy: when you copy a node, that node and all its sub-branches go to your system clipboard as a text outline. That means you can paste the same structure straight into a Taskie document, an email, or any other editor.
• Paste: if you've copied a nested list from somewhere else, pasting it on the canvas turns it into nodes and child nodes. The indentation at the start of each line sets the level of each branch.
• Confirmation: after each copy, a short message appears so you know it worked.

The text format it recognizes

When you paste, each line becomes a node and the indentation at the start of the line sets its level. For example, in this outline:

• "Launch website" on the first line, with no indentation, becomes the main node.
• The following lines that start with a few spaces are child branches of that node.
• Lines with deeper indentation become child branches of the node above them.
• List markers at the start of a line (such as a dash or an asterisk) are recognized and removed.

Practical examples

• From meeting to map: write the meeting topics as a list in your notes, copy it, and paste it on the canvas. The whole structure is built in an instant.
• From map to document: when brainstorming is done, copy the main node and paste it into a Taskie document to get a tidy list of decisions.
• Build repeating structures: build a branch you need again and again (such as "Design / Build / Test") once, then duplicate it with Ctrl+D for each new section.

Once the structure is ready, you can turn branches into tasks. The guide is at Turn mind map nodes into tasks.

Frequently asked questions

• Are the shortcuts different on Windows and Mac? Apart from Ctrl, which is Cmd on a Mac, they're the same.
• Can I copy several nodes at once? Copying a node includes all of its sub-branches. To grab the whole map, copy the root node.
• Does pasting clear the current map? No. The new structure is added to the map.
• Are changes saved? Yes. The map saves automatically and your teammates see changes in real time.