Programs like OmniGraffle Professional (; February 2006 ) are effective for turning complex construct into stunning diagrams . But what if you do n’t even sleep together where to commence ? For that , there ’s Inspiration 8 , a tool that allow you memorialise and prepare your thoughts from scratch or make diagrams from predefined templates . Although it ’s in the main aimed at bookman in the sixth form and higher , Inspiration is also suitable for brainstorm outside the classroom .
Rapid symbols
Like OmniGraffle , Inspiration lets you stand for concepts as diagrams that lie of co-ordinated graphic symbol with text labels . base on the premise that it ’s sometimes easier to get by recording thought as they come to mind , novel diagrams assailable with a generic symbolisation in office , ready to swallow text that key out the papers ’s primary subject . Inspiration ’s RapidFire tool have you add symbolic representation without raise your hands from the keyboard — whenever you hit take , Inspiration creates a twinned symbol that contains whatever school text you typecast next . This upgrade from version 7 (; March 2003 ) also contains a helpful new option that lets you delimit whether Inspiration should mechanically link up added symbols to their parents , or whether they should float freely .
Inspiration has also augmented its built - in symbol depository library with an extensive , Web - based accumulation that you may look for by keyword . ( The company says that its expanded repertory includes more than a million entries . ) Inspiration 8 ’s scholastic - level graphics still are n’t quite up to corporate council chamber standards , but they ’re more than sufficient for their intended use . If the app ’s include clip art and images are n’t enough , you could import your own computer graphic file cabinet and salvage them in the library . In plus to allow you record intelligent clips up to 30 seconds in length , Inspiration 8 permit you to import QuickTime motion picture and sounds .
A pull - down menu on the program ’s revamped Arrange tool have you select from three character of symbolization layout , and cluck on the tool opens a duologue that offer additional options for arrange and linking symbol . Version 8 ’s brilliant new Word Guide displays definition , equivalent word , and antonym , and even include a button that verbalize the word out loud in a synthesized vox .
Outlines and templates
Inspiration ’s capacity to seamlessly switch between Diagram and Outline views remains one of its strong point . Because the precis does n’t show symbols or connecting lines , it ’s easier to concentrate on refining the text components of your document . The programme sports all of the features that you ’d expect in a competent outliner , admit the ability to customize the outline ’s hierarchical numbering scheme .
For classroom work , Inspiration permit exploit teachers mete out partially completed diagrams that specify all of the steps necessary for students to finish a research assignment . you could even precede each item in an outline or plot with a boxful that student can check off as they complete each footprint . The programme ships with predefined document templates in five broad subject region ( speech arts , planning , scientific discipline , social bailiwick , and thinking science ) , and you could preserve your own templet for posterior economic consumption or to share with colleagues .
Interface oddities
Although Inspiration 8 ’s interface is as straight as ever , it still suffers from a number of botheration . For exemplar , Inspiration ’s Main and Formatting toolbars are fixed rather than float , and the Formatting toolbar is relegated to the bottom of the windowpane .
The program ’s fare are n’t as legitimate as they could be , either . You import graphic using the Edit fare , yet you import videos and sounds using the Tools menu . Plus , some of the commands are n’t logically place . For instance , all of the commands under the Utility menu would fit better elsewhere , while Preferences appear both in Utilities and the app ’s own menu .
Macworld’s buying advice
Despite a few queerness in the app program ’s interface , Inspiration 8 is an excellent tool for teachers , educatee , or anyone else who need help unionize their estimate . The gain of newfangled symbolic representation and the ability to spell movies and sounds only add to the program ’s great value .
[ Franklin Tessler is a radiotherapist and frequentMacworldcontributor living in Birmingham , Alabama . ]
