noun type category (NTC)
Noun type categories are groups of noun types.
Why do we need noun type categories?
Noun type categories make using the noun types in MindModel more convenient.
There are over 160 noun types in MindModel.
How many noun type categories are there in MindModel?
There are three special noun type categories:
<all types>
<included in this model>
<marked types>
and ten standard noun type categories:
basic types
computer-related types
contact info
education-related types
entertainment business
financial
healthcare types
law types
publishing types
survey types
Special Noun Type Categories
<all types>
The "<all types>" noun type category (which you can find in the drop-down at the top of the Noun Types Window) contains all the noun types in MindModel.
If you prefer, you can use the "<all types>" category and ignore the other noun type categories.
However, there are many situations in which using a noun type category other than "<all types>" is more convenient.
<included in this model>
The "<included in this model>" category is useful when you're browsing a model, and you need to see what types of nouns are included in that model.
Let's say you open a model that contains organizations, foods, and beverages. This model might be a database of restaurant information.
Since the model only contains three types of nouns, it's not helpful to have to look at the other 157 noun types.
Choose "<included in this model>" from the Noun Type Categories Drop-Down in the Noun Types Window, and MindModel will fill the Noun Types List with three items: beverages, foods, and organizations (MindModel alphabetizes the list).
So the "<included in this model>" category is a quick way to get an overview of a model that someone else created.
On the other hand, if you've been using <included in this model> and you need to add a noun of a type not already present in the model, you'll want to switch to <all types>, add the new noun, then switch back to <included in this model>.
<marked types>
The "<marked types>" category allows you to create your own noun type categories.
To do so, start by selecting the "<all types>" category. MindModel fills the Noun Types List with all noun types.
Then shift-click (click while holding down the shift key on the keyboard) each of the noun types you want to include in your new category. Each time you shift-click an unmarked noun type, MindModel will mark the noun type by displaying it with a yellow highlight.
To unmark a noun type, shift-click on a noun type that is already marked.
Once you've marked all the noun types you wish to mark, choose "<marked types>" from the Noun Type Categories drop-down.
MindModel will respond by filling the Noun Types List with all the noun types you've marked.
Power-User Tip: It's often easiest to mark and unmark types in the "<all types>" category, but if you prefer, you can mark and unmark noun types in any other category as well.
Noun types you've marked stay marked even when you quit and re-open MindModel. They remain marked until you upgrade to a newer version of MindModel.
MindModel Multi-User: This note is for users of our multi-user product. The mark and unmark noun type commands are per user. So if one user marks a set of noun types, other users will not see these changes.
Standard Noun Type Categories
All the noun type categories except for the first three (<all types>, <included in this model>, <marked types>) are called standard noun type categories.
The standard noun type categories include: basic types, computer-related types, healthcare types, etc.
You can use any of these categories at any time. Your choice of a noun type category does not affect the data stored in your models. It only determines the set of noun types displayed in the Noun Types List at a given time.