Outline to Mind Map

Description

Outline to Mind Map lets you turn a plain text outline into a fully interactive, zoomable mind map — right inside your WordPress content.

I love mind maps and hope that this plugin will serve you well. I discovered Markmap.js and asked Claude.ai to help me build a plugin around it. It takes a universe to make a sandwich; structure supports spontaneity.

How it works:

Write a Markdown-style outline between the shortcode tags and the plugin renders it into a smooth, animated SVG mind map — with clickable nodes, zoom, and pan.

[outline-to-mind-map]
# My Topic
## Branch One
### Leaf
## Branch Two
[/outline-to-mind-map]

Features:

  • Simple shortcode — works in any post, page, or widget
  • Interactive: zoom, pan, and click nodes to fold/unfold
  • Configurable fold depth, dimensions, and color schemes
  • Five built-in color palettes: Default, Cool, Warm, Forest, Mono
  • Output caching via WordPress transients (Redis/Memcached compatible)
  • Settings page with full parameter reference
  • Dark mode aware
  • No account or API key required
  • Powered by the open-source Markmap.js library

Usage

Basic example:

[outline-to-mind-map]
# My Project
## Planning
### Goals
### Timeline
## Execution
### Development
### Testing
[/outline-to-mind-map]

With options:

[outline-to-mind-map fold="2" color_scheme="forest" height="600px"]
# My Topic
## Branch A
## Branch B
[/outline-to-mind-map]<h3>Shortcode Parameters</h3>

* fold — Initial fold depth: none (fully expanded), all (root only), or 13. Default: none
* width — Container width, any CSS value. Default: 100%
* height — Container height, any CSS value. Default: 500px
* color_scheme — Branch palette: default, cool, warm, forest, mono. Default: default
* zoom — Enable mouse-wheel zoom: true or false. Default: true
* pan — Enable drag-to-pan: true or false. Default: true
* cache — Cache this instance: true or false. Default: true

All parameters can be set globally at Settings Outline to Mind Map and overridden per shortcode.

Installation

  1. Upload the outline-to-mind-map folder to /wp-content/plugins/
  2. Activate the plugin via Plugins Installed Plugins
  3. Add the shortcode to any post or page using the Shortcode block in Gutenberg
  4. Optionally configure global defaults at Settings Outline to Mind Map

Important: Always add the shortcode using Gutenberg’s Shortcode block (the [/] block), not a Paragraph or Code block.

FAQ

Which block do I use in Gutenberg?

Always use the Shortcode block — search for “Shortcode” in the block inserter (it shows a [/] icon). Do not paste the shortcode into a Paragraph or Code block.

The mind map appears blank after a page reload.

Go to Settings Outline to Mind Map and click Flush All Cached Maps, then reload the page. This clears any stale cached output.

Can I change the default height and colors?

Yes — visit Settings Outline to Mind Map to set global defaults for all maps on your site. Individual shortcodes can override any setting.

Does this work with classic (non-Gutenberg) editor?

Yes, paste the shortcode directly into the classic editor’s text view.

Does it require an internet connection?

The Markmap.js library loads from the jsDelivr CDN, so visitors need internet access. There is no server-side dependency.

Will this slow down pages that don’t have a mind map?

No. The Markmap scripts are only loaded on pages that contain the shortcode.

Reviews

There are no reviews for this plugin.

Contributors & Developers

“Outline to Mind Map” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin.

Contributors

Translate “Outline to Mind Map” into your language.

Interested in development?

Browse the code, check out the SVN repository, or subscribe to the development log by RSS.

Changelog

1.0.1

  • Bundled Markmap library locally (WordPress.org policy compliance)
  • Fixed PHP short echo tags
  • Fixed nonce verification on settings page
  • Light color scheme for mind map container

1.0.0

  • Initial release