TPAssist 2007 Key Feature 6: 1 Integrated with Microsoft Excel® for publication of Work Breakdown & other Project Management reports.

TPAssist 2007 facilitates effective publishing of your project plans through a series of pre- formatted Microsoft Excel® spreadsheets. [See the Demo]

Communicate work breakdown: Accessed through the Publish tab of the TPAssist Console, the publish to Excel capability draws on several built- in templates to display Work Breakdown Structures (WBS), team To- Do lists, a Resource Planner/Schedule and project Gantt Chart.

• Published Results spread across worksheets: The Excel file produced includes a number of worksheets. These correspond to the options chosen.

• Overview Worksheet (Work Breakdown Structures (WBS)): The Overview worksheet provides the Work Breakdown Structures (WBS). It draws on map properties and topic details.
  
  Gantt Worksheet: The Gantt worksheet provides a high- level overview of the dates on which tasks will be performed.
  

• Resource Worksheet: The Resource Worksheet provides a high- level overview of resource usage and contention.

Project Notes Worksheet: The Project Notes worksheet summarises "Project Notes" as used with- in topic notes.



ToDo Worksheet: The ToDo worksheets breakdown specific tasks by owner.

Communicate status: A simple variation on the publishing format provides you with the ability to issue status information and publish it to a easily distributable format.

Share your project issues list with non Mind Map users: Another simple variation on the publishing format provides you with the ability to maintain an issue list with-in your map and publish it to a easily distributable format.

Summarise your estimates: TPAssist 2007 adds the ability to capture resource costs and then publish the resulting plans into a "quote" style spreadsheet.

TPAssist 2007 Key Feature 5: Automated Task, Calendar & E-mail integration with Microsoft Outlook®

TPAssist 2007 provides integration between mind map topics and Outlook Tasks and Appointments. In addition, Outlook Items can be linked to mind map topics. [See the Demo]

Synchronise your map topics: TPAssist 2007 Outlook Integration synchronises information between your mind map topics and Outlook Task and Appointment items. In addition to leveraging the powerful task and reminder capabilities of Outlook, TPAssist 2007 Outlook Integration, provides the means to get instance access to your current activities outside of MindManager.

• Outlook Integration is managed via Journal Tab: The Outlook Integration is managed via the "Journal Tab" of the TPAssist Console. The TPAssist Console is a comprehensive path to all TPAssist features. The Journal Tab shown here is used to capture task status details and your task activities.


• Outlook Integration is default via Document Properties: Outlook Integration is enabled on a per topic basis, although it can be enabled by default for all mind map topics by changing the TPAssist Document properties.


• Outlook Integration is automatic: By selecting "Auto" we have instructed TPAssist to automatically manage creation and synchronisation of the an Outlook Task Item.
  Whilst the default is to use Outlook Tasks, we could as easily choose to use an Outlook Appointment to block out a few hours in our diary or just create a reminder.
  Once setup, TPAssist adds a map marker to the Topic so we know there is a linked Outlook Task item.


• Outlook Items contain a summary of the mind map topic details: The Outlook Items created by TPAssist will contain the same task details as the original mind map topic, plus the item notes area will contain a summary of the topic details.

Open your mind map topics from Outlook: Outlook Task and Appointment items created by TPAssist 2007 can be used to "jump" directly into your mind maps.

• TPAssist Integrated Linkage Module: Once a topic has been configured to integrate with Outlook, the Outlook item can be used to "jump" back to your mind map.
  Simply find the item in Outlook and then launch the "TPAssist Integrated Linkage Module". This is achieved either from the Standard Toolbar in the Outlook item folder or from the Item's own toolbar.


• Outlook changes are synchronised during the "jump": During the "jump", TPAssist 2007 will automatically read the Outlook Item and then update the mind map topic's task details if needed.

Manage your e-mails via your mind map: TPAssist 2007 provides the means to track your e-mails, appointments, notes, tasks etc with-in your mind map. This integration not only automatically creates journal entries it also allows you to open the item again from with-in your mind maps.

• Select the map topic and "Journal" any Outlook item: The first step in linking your other Outlook Items to a mind map topic, is to pick the topic. Once selected, we switch to Outlook and select the items we would like to link. If required we can use the SHIFT and/or CTRL keys to select multiple items. Then we launch the "TPAssist Integrated Linkage Module".


• Linked items are added to Journal: A summary of the Outlook item details are included in the mind map topic's notes as well as in the Journal tree.
  The journal entry will include various details including the date details of the linked item.


• Re-open linked items via the Topic Tab: Outlook Items linked in this way can be re-opened from with-in the mind map using TPAssist's Topic Tab and the "Linked Items" tool.

Create tasks from your e-mail: TPAssist 2007 also offers the ability to auto-create mind map topics directly from your e- mails, appointments, notes, tasks etc.

• Select the map topic and "Journal" any Outlook item: The first step in using Outlook items to create new mind map topics is the select a parent mind map topic. Once selected, we switch to Outlook and select the items we would like use as the topic title and also linkage. If required we can use the SHIFT and/or CTRL keys to select multiple items. Then we launch the "TPAssist Integrated Linkage Module".


• New Topic is created and linked items are added to Journal: As well as the new topic being created, a summary of the Outlook item details are included in the mind map topic's notes as well as in the Journal tree. The journal entry will include various details including the date details of the linked item.
  
  

TPAssist Key Feature 4: Powerful project team tracking.

TPAssist 2007 is a powerful tool for project management. In addition to the task status roll-up capabilities, TPAssist is designed to make team management that much easier. [See the Demo]



Manage complex projects: TPAssist 2007 is not limited in it's application. It can be used to manage simple groups of tasks or very complex projects.





Track and present task status changes: TPAssist provides a Task Status capability that can be used to record and track status for any topic and also the overall map. Changes to status can be painlessly duplicated from topic to map to parent map.





Managed Project Information: Through TPAssist's semi- structured notes capability, information can be easily embedded in your project maps and then exposed via the Excel based publishing tool.






Level dates of interdependent tasks automatically: TPAssist 2007 Levelling provides the means to create complex project plans of interdependent activities, whereby dates will move automatically when related activities and tasks are updated and completed.







Use Task Resource to track team members: TPAssist automatically journals changes made to MindManager Resource Assignment so you have a history of where resources are added or removed from your project.






Resource Filtering in Tree Summarisation: The TPAssist 2007 task tree summary capability has a "Resource Filter" which can be used to manage tasks assigned to one or more individuals.

TPAssist Key Feature 3: Brainstorming to task tree creation.

MindManager already has some great task management capabilities, TPAssist 2007 extends these and provides easy to use tools like the ability to take Brainstorming ideas and turn them into Task maps ready to track and act-on. [See the Demo]

Turn your ideas in to task plans: To illustrate this feature we take a simple list of ideas as shown in the example. You can see we have three groups of tasks. Each group represents a sub-set of the activities that will have us reaching our goal and off on the holiday.

Quick and easy conversion: Using the Convert to Task Tree tool, we take a group or mind map topics and convert them to task items. The TPAssist Console is a comprehensive path to all TPAssist features. The Topic Tab shown here is used to manage various aspects of individual map topics. To use the conversion tool, all we need to do is turn it on and click ok.

Take Action and Track your success: In moments, your ideas have been transformed in a task map. Now that we have a task map, we can manage the various aspects the activity.

• Set priorities: Leveraging the tracking capability of TPAssist 2007 we can set some priorities.


• Manage percent complete: We might want to indicate that a task has progressed.


• Flag key tasks: We may want to flag some key tasks.


• Record task status: We may want to record the status of a task for ease of reference when we return to the map.


• Set Dates: And finally we may want to define Start and Due dates for any given task.

TPAssist 2007 Update History

TPAssist 2007 product update history can now be found via the Check For Updates features from the Help window or via our web site:

http://www.tpassist.com/Support/CheckForUpdates.aspx

TPAssist 2007 Q&A - Summary of Tasks Across Maps

Question:

How do I show due actions across all my maps? I have several maps and a number of interlinked (i.e. interdependent).


Answer:

You use the summairisation feature, which is accessed on "Tree Update". The "Proximity" style summary returns tasks based on due date.

The summarisation functionality supports multimaps. These maps need to hyperlinked from task topics with-in the current map. The Summarisation functionality piggy-backs on the Tree Update, which also supports multimaps, therefore to see a summary of all tasks across your maps, you need them hyperlinked.

Further information on multimap support can be found in the following places:

1. Help Pages --> Section 3, "User Reference", "Tree Update Reference".
2. Online Tutorials --> "MODULE 5 : Managing Complexity with Multiple Maps"

(FOOTNOTE - this Q&A is based on a response to a customer question directed to our support email).

TPAsssist 2007 Update: MindManager 6 Users

An update to TPAssist 2007 has been made available for Download. This update will resolve the "add-in has been disabled" issue experienced by some owners of MindManager 6.



After installing the update, you will need to re-enable TPAssist 2007 from Mindmanager 6's Tool's Menu --> "Add-Ins..."





The issue was "introduced" inadvertently during an installer cleanup just before launch on the 31st of last month. It was overlooked that MindManager 6 doesn't automatically include the MindManager Primary Interop Assembly (PIA) as is the case now with MindManager 7.

TPAssist Key Feature 2: Structured Activity Journal Management with multi-map support.

Tracking is crucial if are you to be effective at seeing what has been done, what has to be done and in what order. TPAssist 2007 automatically records your activities as well as changes you make to topic task information. [See the Demo]

Take the pain away from tracking your activities: TPAssist 2007 automatically records or "journals" your actions and task configuration changes in a semi- structured format with- in the topic and parent topics to which the action relates.

• TPAssist Console & Journal Tab for recording activities: The TPAssist Console is a comprehensive path to all TPAssist features. The Journal Tab shown here is used to capture task status details and your task activities.



• Activity notes are logged in a semi-structured format: Notes that you enter to record your activities are firstly logged with- in the topic to which they relate. The log entry will include your Journal Tag and the activity notes in a semi-structured format that is compatible with Outlook, MS Project and portal devices like Smart Phones.


• In addition to the notes you entered, TPAssist 2007 also tracks changes made to task information. As shown here the Start Date has been updated and a journal entry has been created to reflect the change.




• Activity is reflected in parent topics to record progress at goal and project level:
  The fact that an activity took place is also reflect in each parent topic for a given topic. In this way you can easily and quickly see where effort has been put towards individual goals or projects with-in your map.

See your achievement for any given day: TPAssist 2007 also builds and maintains a Journal summary tree. This tree tracks your activities by date and is grouped by year, month and day.

Track your activities with-in any number of sub maps: TPAssist 2007 is multi-map enabled supporting task status rollout and also tracking of task and activity progress.

• Activities in Sub maps is automatically populated into parent maps: TPAssist automatically recognises hyper linked maps and ensures activity logging and task status changes are reflected in the parent map.




• Parent maps show child map task status and journals: Linked topics in parent maps show sub map task information. Linked topics also contain summary journal entries of activities with-in the sub topics.




• Parent map Journal Tree contain full context: The Journal Tree with-in the parent contains a fully qualified summary of the activity.




• Automatically populate sub project status: Status information defined in sub maps is automatically populated to parent maps.

TPAssist 2007 Key Feature 1: Automated task tree roll-up and summarisation.

The Tree Update capability of TPAssist 2007 provides you with the visual means to track and manage the various requests and activities that fill your day. [See the Demo]


Roll-up of Task Information: The ease at which individual topic status is rolled-up to a centralised view ensures you can quickly see what has to be done and give you instant satisfaction regarding what you have already achieved.

• Task status can get buried in large maps: Topic Task information with-in your map can become buried when you collapse and filter the hierarchy. You may have Priorities, percentage complete, flags and dates assigned to topics, but none of this will be obvious unless you expand the specific tree.



• TPAssist Tree Update (Manual): TPAssist 2007's Tree Update capability rolls-up priorities, percentage complete, dates and flags. Your priority assignments are summarised at sub level and rolled- up to the central topic. Flags will be carried up the tree. And finally, start and due dates will be assessed to give the overall start and due date of all tasks with-in the map.
  


• TPAssist Tree Update (Automated): As well as manually, the Tree Update function is performed automatically whenever TPAssist is used to change the priority, percent complete, Start Date, Due Date or Flag.
  The TPAssist Console is a comprehensive path to all TPAssist features. The Journal Tab is used to capture task status details and your task activities.

Summarisation: TPAssist 2007 has a straight-forward reporting tool that can be used to easily identify and manage your tasks based on due date proximity, priorities and flag.

• TPAssist's summarisation tool is found in the Tree Update tab of the TPAssist Console. From the console we can choose the type of summary and various other options relating to the type of information we want to track.




• The By Proximity Task Summary groups the topics of the map by their due date or start date if the due date is there is no due date for a given task.




• The By Priority Task Summary groups the topics of the map by their task Priority.


• The By Flag Task Summary groups the topics of the map by their Flag map marker.


• TPAssist's summary builder also works with Multimaps. All you need to do is open the map with the sub map linked topics and then turn-on the "Multimap" capability with-in the Tree Update tab of the TPAssist Console.

TPAssist 2007 Frequently Asked Questions

Our web site has recently been updated to include a Frequently Asked Questions page.

See http://www.tpassist.com/Support/FAQ.aspx