# Build and edit a mind map

Add ideas, rearrange branches, and correct mistakes without making changes in Jira.

## Before you start

Open a mind map that you are allowed to edit. Select an idea whenever an action is unavailable; most canvas actions work on the selected idea.

## Add a child idea

Use a child when the new idea belongs underneath another idea.

1. Select the idea that will become the parent.
2. Select **Add child (Tab)** from the canvas toolbar.
3. Replace **New idea** with your text.
4. Press **Command+Enter** on macOS or **Ctrl+Enter** on Windows or Linux to finish editing.

You can also press **Tab** after selecting an idea. If you press **Tab** while editing, Mind Map Studio keeps the current text and starts a new child beneath it.

## Add a sibling idea

Use a sibling when the new idea belongs at the same level as the selected idea.

1. Select an idea at the required level.
2. Select **Add sibling (Enter)** from the canvas toolbar.
3. Replace **New idea** with your text.
4. Press **Command+Enter** on macOS or **Ctrl+Enter** on Windows or Linux to finish editing.

You can also press **Enter** after selecting an idea. A sibling added from the central idea becomes another main branch.

## Rename an idea

1. Select the idea.
2. Double-click it, press **F2**, or select **Rename (F2)** from the canvas toolbar.
3. Change the text.
4. Press **Command+Enter** on macOS or **Ctrl+Enter** on Windows or Linux.

Press **Escape** to cancel instead. Renaming the central idea also changes the map title in the sidebar.

## Reposition an idea

Drag an idea to a new place on the canvas. This changes its position but does not change which idea is its parent.

Select **More actions**, then **Auto-layout**, if you want Mind Map Studio to arrange all ideas again.

## Move a branch under another idea

Cut and paste when an idea and all of its descendants should have a different parent.

1. Select the first idea in the branch you want to move.
2. Select **More actions**, then **Cut**.
3. Select the idea that should become the new parent.
4. Select **More actions**, then **Paste**.

The entire branch is removed from its old location and added under the new parent. Complete the paste before you leave the map because the copied branch is held temporarily by Mind Map Studio.

## Delete one idea

1. Select the idea.
2. Select **Delete idea (Delete)**, or press **Delete** or **Backspace**.

The selected idea is removed immediately. Its children are kept and reconnected to the deleted idea's parent. The central idea cannot be deleted.

To remove a whole branch, select its first idea and use **Cut**. You can paste the branch elsewhere or leave it removed.

## Collapse or expand a branch

1. Select an idea that has descendants.
2. Select **Collapse branch**, or press **Space**.

The descendants are hidden and a **+number** badge shows how many ideas are inside the collapsed branch. Select the badge, select **Expand branch**, or press **Space** again to show them.

Collapsing a branch does not delete its ideas.

## Move a main branch to the other side

This action is available only in the **Bi-directional** layout and only for an idea connected directly to the center.

1. Select the main-branch idea.
2. Select **Flip side (Left / Right)** above the idea.

The idea and its descendants move to the other side of the central idea.

## Copy and paste a branch

1. Select the first idea in the branch.
2. Select **More actions**, then **Copy**.
3. Select the idea that should become the parent of the copy.
4. Select **More actions**, then **Paste**.

Copy and paste include the selected idea and all of its descendants. They use Mind Map Studio's temporary branch clipboard, not a text copy in your operating system.

## Duplicate a branch

1. Select the first idea in the branch. You cannot duplicate the central idea.
2. Select **More actions**, then **Duplicate**.

The copy appears beside the original under the same parent and includes every descendant.

## Undo or redo a change

- Select **More actions**, then **Undo**, or press **Command+Z** or **Ctrl+Z**.
- Select **More actions**, then **Redo**, or press **Command+Shift+Z** or **Ctrl+Shift+Z**.

Undo and redo apply to changes made during the current editing session. Use Undo immediately if you delete, cut, or reset something by mistake.

## Arrange the map automatically

1. Select **More actions** from the canvas toolbar.
2. Select **Auto-layout**.

Mind Map Studio recalculates idea positions and fits the map into view. Your idea text, branch structure, links, and progress remain unchanged.

## Reset the map to one central idea

**Reset is not a view-only action.** It removes every idea except the central idea and restores the default horizontal layout, connection style, idea-card shape, and central-idea appearance.

1. Select **More actions** from the canvas toolbar.
2. Select **Reset**.

There is no confirmation step. If you selected **Reset** accidentally, use **Undo** immediately.

## Check the result

Your changes are ready when:

- New ideas appear under the intended parent.
- Moved or copied branches include their descendants.
- Collapsed ideas return when you expand their branch.
- The header shows no offline, failed-save, or cloud-conflict warning.

## Good to know

- Adding, renaming, moving, copying, deleting, collapsing, or resetting ideas changes only the mind map.
- These actions do not create, edit, move, or delete Jira issues.
- If an idea already represents a Jira issue, editing its map text or progress does not update that Jira issue.
- Mind Map Studio saves canvas changes automatically; there is no manual Save button.

## Fix a problem

### An action is unavailable

Select an idea and try again. Some actions require a non-central idea or a branch with descendants. If every editing action remains unavailable, the open map may be read-only for your account.

### A branch was pasted in the wrong place

Select **Undo**, select the intended parent, and paste the copied branch again.

### Ideas disappeared after Reset

Select **Undo** immediately. Reset deliberately returns the map to one central idea.

## Related guides

- [Add relationships and links](./relationships-and-links.md)
- [Change map layout and styling](./layouts-and-styling.md)
- [Save, recover, and export your work](./saving-and-exporting.md)
- [Use keyboard shortcuts](./keyboard-shortcuts.md)