Use your map as a search query

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Contextminds uses the information on your whiteboard to automatically show suggestions in the search sidebar. These suggestions can be based on the whole whiteboard or on items or maps you've selected.

If no items are selected and the search bar is empty, Contextminds uses your entire whiteboard as context to show suggestions.

This means Contextminds includes all topics, keywords, questions, articles and headings on your whiteboard in its automatic search. Other item types (for example content styles, empty frames, and sticky notes) are not included as part of the search query.

When you add items from the search bar to the whiteboard, the search results do not update right away. This is so you can continue browsing the list of results you were initially given. To get new results reflecting your updated whiteboard, click anywhere on the whiteboard outside the items.

Tip: to update map-based suggestions after adding a new item to your map, click anywhere on the whiteboard (outside the items).

When you select an item on your map, it will be used on its own as a query for the search sidebar.

This is useful for in-depth research of specific items you've added to your whiteboard.

Note: The following items can be selected to use as queries: topics, keywords, questions, headings, and articles. 

Content styles, empty frames, and sticky notes do not affect, or act as, search queries. 

You can select multiple items to use as a more complex search query. This is useful to find out what the items have in common.

To select multiple items, hold down SHIFT and click on them one by one. Alternately, hold down SHIFT and click-drag the mouse to draw a rectangle around all items you want to select.

There are different ways to search, depending on your goals. Once you get the gist of it, you'll always know whether to select an individual item or to search using the whole map.

This typical search workflow will help you get started:

Best practices for searching in Contextminds

1. Start with entering a general search query in the search bar. 
2. Gather a few interesting topics or keywords on your whiteboard.
3. Select each of item and browse the suggestions in the search bar for more detailed topics and keywords.
4. Repeat (3) as long as you need to.
5. If you stop getting interesting suggestions or are unsure about what to search for, click on the whiteboard and browse suggestions for all your items as a whole.

👉 Next tutorial: Generating outlines or drafts from your map