Getting Started with Inspiration
To enter your main idea:
1. When
you launch Inspiration, the Main
Idea Symbol appears in the center of the screen.
2.
Type your idea in the box.
3.
To change font or font size (with the symbol selected), click Text at the top
of the screen,
and make your changes.
Adding an idea to your
diagram:
1. Click a topic, so it’s “selection
handles” are visible [small squares appear in the corners].
2. On the toolbar, click the Create
button.
3. Type something in the new
box.
Use RapidFire to input information
quickly into a box or symbol:
1. Select the symbol which you
want to create RapidFire sub-topics for.
2. Click the RapidFire button
on the toolbar. The lightning symbol will appear in red, in the box.
3. Type something that relates
to that topic. Press Enter.
4. Continue typing ideas that
relate to this main idea.
5. Click RapidFire when you are finished
to turn it off.
To change a symbol or shape:
1. Look at the Symbol Palette located on the screen.
2. Rotate through the palette by
clicking the left and right triangles.
3. To select a symbol, click it
with your mouse.
4. The symbol will now appear
on your screen.
5. Every box in the diagram can
be a different shape.
Arrangement of diagram:
1. Click the Arrange button on the toolbar.
2. Click the diagram format you
want to use.
Adding note to symbols:
1. Select the symbol to which
you want to add or change the note text.
2. On the Diagram toolbar,
click the Note button. The note window will open.
3. Enter the note text for the
idea symbol.
4. When finished, click the
close box button. The Notes window closes and the diagram reappears.
5. The box on the upper corner
of the selected symbol is filled, indicating the symbol has notes text.
Creating an outline:
To
switch to the Outline view, click the Outline button on the toolbar.
Transferring to Microsoft
Word:
1. Save
your Inspiration file.
2. Switch
to Outline View by clicking the Outline button on the toolbar.
3. Click
the Transfer
button.
Adding the date to your
diagram:
1. Click on the diagram where
you want the date to appear.
2. On the Edit menu, select Paste Date.
Inspiration pastes the date on your
diagram.
Changing the colors of
symbols:
To pick a different fill
color for a symbol -
1. Select the symbol or symbols
you want to change.
2. On the Effect menu, choose Fill
Color, then select the color you want.
To pick a different line
color for a symbol -
1. Select the symbol or symbols
you want to change.
2. On the Effect menu, choose Line
Color, then select the color you want.
Making symbols the same
size:
1. Select the symbol that has
the size you want to use.
2. Select the Edit menu and choose Copy.
3. Select the symbols you want
to make the same size.
4. On the Edit menu, choose Paste
Size.
Changing to different shaped
links
There
are four different links available within the program:
1. Standard Links
Select the link you want to change. On the Link menu, select Standard.
2. 90-degree Angles
Select the link you want to change. On the Link menu, choose Auto-90.
3. Curved Links
Select the link you want to change. On the Link menu, choose Curved Link (3 pts) for a rounded curve. Choose Curved Link (4pts) for a snake-like
curve.
Putting text for an idea
symbol in a caption:
You
can have text appear below the symbol as a caption instead of inside the
symbol.
1. Select the symbol whose text
area you want to move.
2. On the Symbol menu, choose Captioned
Symbol. Inspiration moves the
text area so it appears below the symbol.
Keyboard Shortcuts:
·
Create a new linked symbol where you click
(with one already selected): Ctrl-Click
·
Create a new symbol (with one already
selected): Ctrl-Arrow
·
Select multiple items (while clicking): shift
key
·
Turn on RapidFire:
F9
(enter your text, and click the Enter key, then repeat)
·
Set default symbol color shape (with one
already selected): F5
·
Apply default: Ctrl-F5
·
Arrange diagram: Ctrl-7
·
Use hand tool to move diagram: hold down Ctrl-Alt
·
Zoom in/out: Ctrl-plus/minus
·
Select a level of topics (with one already
selected): Ctrl-Shift-N
·
Select subtopics (with one already selected):
Ctrl-Shift-M
·
End text editing: Esc