return to the zero point of data entry
Many people tell us that they want the benefits that MindModel provides, but that maintaining a model requires too much typing.
We take this problem very seriously, and over time we have formulated a three-part strategy for dealing with it.
Part one is our responsibility. Parts two and three are your responsibility.
Part One - We Constantly Improve MindModel
No matter how well we've done in designing and developing MindModel, we can always do better. For that reason, we constantly improve the software, adding or revising features to make the data-entry process quicker and easier.
At the time this documentation was written, we have developed and tested 612 different versions of MindModel.
If you haven't done so in a while, visit our web site (www.mindmodel.com) to check whether a new version is available.
However, if you step back and look at the big picture, you'll see that simply improving MindModel will never be a complete solution to the problem.
Why You'll Always Be Able to Get Ahead of the Software
It takes us time to listen to customer feedback, develop new features, document and test them.
Let's say that the current version of MindModel allows you to enter X statements in five minutes.
If we improve the product, it might be able to handle X times two statements in five minutes.
If you try to enter X times three statements in five minutes, you'll be back where you started, with too much typing to do.
So the point is that, no matter how much we improve the product, you may still have to scale back your data-entry plans to fit MindModel's capabilities.
Part Two - Use the Available Features
It's our job to create and document features that help you get your job done.
It's your job to read the documentation and use the features.
The following sections describe features that help you speed up data entry.
File Menu: Import/Export Contacts with Outlook
File Menu: Import Nouns from Excel
File Menu: Import Statements from a Text File by Column
File Menu: Import Statements from a Text File by Row
File Menu: Import Statements from Excel by Column
Of all these commands, users find "File Menu: Import Statements from Excel by Column" to be the most useful in saving data-entry time for thousands to millions of records.
File Menu: Import Statements from Excel by Row
Toolbar: Add Statement via Free-Text Form
Toolbar: Add Statements with Macros
Toolbar: Add to Collection
Windows: Custom Column View Window
If you're entering data by hand, but you find the Add/Edit Statement Wizard cumbersome, try creating a custom column view template (CCVT). With a CCVT, you create a custom data-entry form with just the fields you need. Then you won't have to find verbs and object noun types every time you need to enter data.
Part Three - Return to the Zero-Point of Data Entry
If you're already using MindModel's features to your best advantage, and data entry is still taking too long, it's time to examine your data entry strategy.
Whether or not you're aware of it, you have a strategy for data entry.
For example, your strategy may be to model all the information in the stack of magazines that is sitting on your desk. Your strategy may be to model information on everyone you meet.
Strategies like these lead to overwhelm. In time, you may become frustrated, and give up on MindModel.
To avoid this outcome, you need to make a conscious choice about the amount of data you want to model, and review that choice as you accumulate experience.
One way to do this is to start from the zero-point of data entry, and work up from there.
Start by imagining that you're not going to model any information whatsoever.
Does that work for you?
If it does, you may not need MindModel.
If modelling nothing doesn't work for you, imagine modelling just the most critical information.
For example, what if, instead of modelling everyone you meet, you just modelled the people who seem most important to you, whether it's for business or personal reasons?
By working up from the zero-point of data entry, you can find the right balance between the need to be able to recall information, and the time it takes to enter that information into MindModel.