Inspiration Tutorial 

Inspiration 5 is a very easy-to-use brainstorming tool.  This tutorial will get you started.  After using Inspiration a few times, you may want to learn more about the program.  If so, click on Help | Contents. 

 
  
Change the Main Idea  
 When you first enter Inspiration, the following screen will appear. With the Main Idea box selected, type your main idea. 

 

 
  

Create Additional Ideas 
With Inspiration, brainstorming is so easy.  With the main idea selected, move the mouse pointer on top of one of the arrows on the diagonal create button as follows.  The arrow will highlight.  This indicates the direction for which the new idea will be created. 

 

Click on the arrow pointing to the upper right.  A new idea box is created as follows.  

 

With the new idea box selected, simply type your new idea. 

Add another idea by clicking the lower-left create arrow as follows. 

 

After you add text, your brainstorm will look something like the following. 

 
 

 
 

Change Idea Box Color 
To change the color of an idea box, select the box.  Then click Effects | Fill Color. 

 
 

 
 
 

Change Idea Box Shape 
To change the shape of an idea box, click a different shape on the shape toolbar.  For example, click the oval .  If an idea box is currently selected when you click the oval, the box will change to an oval.  If an idea box is not selected when you click the oval, a new oval idea box will be created. 

 
 

Example 
The following is an example brainstorm. 

 
 

 

The Inspiration Tool Bar

This page will act as a quick resource on the different buttons on the tool bar.

The Diagram Mode

Outline - this button toggles between the Diagram and Outline views.

New Look - Sets default settings for new symbols and links.

RapidFire - Allows you to add multiple ideas quickly to a topic. It will automatically create the symbols everytime you hit the Enter key.

Symbol - Adds news symbols to your diagram.

Link - Links two different symbols.

Add Note - Elaborate on your ideas by adding notes.

Create - Add new symbols in the direction of the arrows.

Position - Navigate through your document when it is larger than your view screen.

Arrange - Change the arrangement of symbols in you diagram. A window will appear to help you select the manner in which you wish to organize.

The Outline Mode

Diagram - this button toggles between the Diagram and Outline views.

Add Topic - Adds a new topic at the level your cursor is at.

Add Sub - Adds a subtopic to the topic you have currently selected.

Add Note - Allows you to type in a note directly below the current topic.

Left and Right - Moves a topic to left (up one level) or to the right (down one level).

+- Sub - Hides/Shows subtopics.

+- Note - Hides/Shows notes.

Prefix - Allows you to change the type of numbering/listing. Choices include: Working Format, Romam Numerals, Alpha Numerals, Legal, Numeric, bullets, no prefix, and custom.

Properties - Change outline styles, fonts, margins, etc.