The Infoplot (powering the AAF) manual

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Information and Consent


Please make sure to fully consider the information presented on the login page, before using the Adaptive Architecture Framework.


InfoPlot Quick Guide


Infoplot is a tool for creating information maps online and it is used here to power the interaction with the Adaptive Architecture Framework. You can use the tool to organise other information (this needs an account and logging in).


The interface has the following zones: Nodes, Canvas, Examples and Maps (only visible when logged in)


VIEW (no account required)


Without logging in, you can view and explore the information provided in the Adaptive Architecture Framework. This includes zooming and panning of the entire map, as well as the re-arrangement of nodes (this is not saved) and the exploration of examples.


The zones Nodes, Canvas and Examples are available in VIEW.


CREATE (registration and login required)


  1. 1.Accounts and login


Register with your email, create a user name and password to have access to functionality that allows you to adapt and create Infoplot maps.


When you have forgotten your password, reset your password on the login screen. Once you have forgotten your original password, it is not possible to set your own password, but the system will provide you with a random password.


  1. 2.Nodes


Here you can create nodes, group nodes, colour nodes and name nodes


  1. New Node


  1. Select a colour. Click [New Node] to create a node.


  1. Group Nodes By Colour


  1. Shift-click multiple nodes to select them; then click [Group Nodes]
    to group nodes. Their colour will change to the first node selected.


  1. Change the colour of a node


  1. Select a Node. Select the colour you want and let go.
    This will colour the node with the selected colour.


  1. Name a Node


  1. Select a Node and type in a new name into the white field at the top
    of the browser. The new name will be written into the selected node.


  1. 3.The Canvas


The canvas is where you arrange your information. You can move the canvas, zoom, arrange nodes, resize nodes, link nodes and delete nodes.


  1. Move the Canvas


  1. Grab anywhere outside a node and pan.
    This will pan the canvas within the interface.


  1. Zoom


  1. Click [+] or [-] to zoom in or out.


  1. Arrange Nodes


  1. Grab a node and move it on the canvas. This moves this single node in relationship to all other nodes.


  1. Resize Nodes


  1. Select a node and grab the outer (double-lined) perimeter of that node. Drag inwards or outwards to re-size nodes. There are twelve sizes available.


  1. Linking Nodes


  1. It is fine to simply spatially arrange nodes on the canvas. If you want to make specific graphical links, grab one node and drop it over another node. This will create a graphical link (dashed lined) between the two nodes and swing the grabbed node back to its original position.


  1. Deleting Links between Nodes


  1. Repeat the procedure to link nodes for two linked nodes. This will break the link.


  1. Deleting Nodes


  1. Drag a node into the dustbin. Confirm the onscreen message. This will also delete examples that are associated with that node, unless they are also associated with another node!


  1. Rearranging Groups of Nodes


  1. Use Shift to click on multiple nodes that you want to rearrange or move as a group. The first node has two rings around it and the rest a single ring. Drag the group by the first node (the one with two rings around it) by holding down the space bar and dragging with the mouse.


  1. 4.Examples


Examples are use to illustrate the information on the map. InfoPlot is designed to keep examples separate from the map so you can re-use them easily. Examples are created, changed, arranged and inspected in Examples. It might be useful to think of Examples as the cases that back up categorisations. They might be academic papers, products or specific buildings, for example.


  1. Create Example


  1. Select any node on the canvas. Click the [New] button. Add the title, a web link, a date and notes to the example. An example with that information will become attached to that node.


  1. Explore Examples


  1. Select an example in the list. All nodes that this example illustrates are highlighted in the map.


  1. Move Example


  1. Select an example in the list. Select the [Move to …] drop down menu. Select another node and let go. The selected example will now be associated with the new selected node.


  1. Copy Example


  1. Select an example in the list. Select the [Copy to …] drop down menu. Select another node and let go. The selected example will now be associated with the original node and the new selected node.


  1. Explore Examples Attached to a Node


  1. Select any node on the canvas to see the examples associated with it in the examples list.


  1. Explore All Examples


  1. Click anywhere outside a node on the canvas to see all nodes associated with any of the nodes.


  1. Search Examples


  1. Enter a search term into the search field. This results in live search results to be displayed below. Click the [X] button to clear the search field.


  1. Link to example URL


  1. Click the [i] next to the example name to link to the link provided in the example (if one has been supplied).


  1. Delete An Example


  1. Select [edit] in the examples window. Then select [-]. This will delete the example.  Deleting an node with an example attached to it will delete the example. (unless attached with another node.


  1. 5.Maps


This zone lets you locally stored maps, create maps from scratch, save maps, save maps to the server and browse available server maps.


  1. Load


  1. Select [Browse local file] and select a previously saved Infoplot file. Select [Open]. This will load the file into the canvas. This can also be used to import Freemind maps, while this is not reliable. Infoplot will attempt to import any branch end which includes [EXample] in its text, as an example. Such examples should then be editable as examples.


  1. Create New Map


  1. Select [new map]. This will create a new empty map, deleting what was on screen before. Save locally or save to cloud first, if you want to keep anything.


  1. Save a local copy


  1. Select [save file], choose a location and supply a file name. Select [Save]. This will save a version of your map locally on your computer.


  1. Save A Map To The Server


  1. Provide a file name in the text box. Select [save to cloud]. This will create a version of the map on the server. Subsequent saves with the same name will create versions with a version number automatically appended to the name (e.g. File_1)


  1. Working with Maps


  1. Select [browse cloud maps]. This will give you a list of all your maps and all maps shared with you.


  2. Select [Download] to take a copy of any of the maps. This will overwrite what is on your screen currently and replace it with the downloaded map.


  3. Select [Share] and to share a map with anyone displayed in the drop-down menu labelled {Share with …}


  4. Select who to share with from the drop-down menu labelled {Share with …}


  5. To delete a map, select [Delete]. This will remove the map from the server.


  6. Select [Done] to close the window, when you are done with working with maps.