Random Map Window  

Contents

Random map without images

A random map is a window showing a group of items in random positions.  In the simplest case, items are shown as multicolored text tags carrying the respective item titles. The text tag of an item can be replaced by an image thumbnail if the item has, in its contents, a link to an image file (this replacement can happen only if the parameter ‘use pictures if available on/off’ in the context menu is set to on). The figure below shows an example of random map containing images.

Random map with images

Using random map as mind stimulator

The random map may be used as mind stimulator thanks to features such as:

o        The random positions of tags

o        The random colors of tags

o        The possibility to set all tags in a slow motions, similar to that of fishes in an aquarium

o        The possibility to have one item at a time randomly selected at custom defined intervals

o        The possibility to hear wave files associated with particular items

o        The possibility to see images associated with particular items

See What APO does that other PIM’s do not and How APO can improve your life for more information on how random maps can help you to improve your mind behavior.

Using random map as a quiz coach

The random map can also be used as a tool to learn names and sentences, or answers to quizzes.

For this, you should prepare your quizzes as a set of items putting questions in item titles and answers in the respective item contents.

You can then train yourself to remember the content associated with each title. You can quickly verify the right answer for each item by using the asterisk (‘*’) key to change the tag text from item title to item content and vice versa. Another way of verifying the answer is to point to a given tag with your mouse and wait about one second to see a ‘cue card’ displaying the item contents.

Starting the random map (how to choose the items to be included)

These are ways to start a random map and choose the items to be included in it.

o    Starting from the APO main window when no other APO windows are open: click on the appropriate icon of the toolbar ( ) or select the appropriate command in the main context menu. Then select the collection and category. All items belonging to that category will be included.

o    Starting from a given tag map. Make sure the tag map has focus and click on the appropriate icon of the toolbar ( ) or select the appropriate command in the main context menu. All items belonging to that tag map will be included.

o    Starting from a given table. Make sure the table has focus and click on the appropriate icon of the toolbar ( ) or select the appropriate command in the main context menu. All items shown in the table will be included. This allows you to include in a random map filtered items

Positioning of tags

Tags can be positioned automatically or manually. Manual positioning can be obtained by dragging and dropping single tags. Automatic positioning is obtained by selecting ‘auto mode’ and ‘position change’ in the context menu. You can also tile all tags in a sorted or unsorted mode by using the appropriate commands in the context menu.

Focus mode

Focus mode is a preference that can be set through the appropriate command in the map’s context menu. When both ‘focus mode’ and ‘auto mode’ are set, the program will select randomly one item every n seconds (you can set the preferred value of n by means of the appropriate command in the ‘preferences’ section of the main context menu). If the selected item is represented by a text tag, this tag will be shown larger than the other ones; if the selected item is represented by an image, this image will be shown with a randomly colored border.

Hearing wave files

If an item has, in its content, a link to a wave file, you can hear this file when the item is selected. For this to happen, the ‘sound on/off’ preference in the context menu must be set to ‘on’.

Viewing images

If an item is shown as an image thumbnail, you can view the image in normal size by double clicking on the thumbnail or using the appropriate command in the tag’s context menu.

Showing random map filled with thumbnails of images from a given directory

If you want the random map to be filled with thumbnails of all the images contained in a given directory, you have two possibilities:

1) You can use command ‘open random map from pictures in a directory’ in the APO main context menu and then select the directory.

2) You should prepare an item with any title and the following expression in its content:

PICDIR=DirectoryPath

where DirectoryPath is the directory containing the image files. You should then select that item in a tag map or table and then run the command ‘random map view of current item’ available in the tag map o table context menu.

Use of the ESC key

If ‘auto mode’ is on, pressing the ESC key will set auto mode to off, which will stop any automatic change of the random map.

If ‘auto mode’ is off, pressing the ESC key will close the random map.

All Commands and Functions

See Random Map Context Menu for a description of all the available commands and related functions.