KMind Zen Tutorials and Guides
Start here for practical KMind Zen guidance across outline mode, quickstart, SiYuan workflows, Obsidian quick start, OpenClaw offline text-to-map, .kmindz files, and the KMind Zen vs KMind2 transition.
Feature Tutorials (animated)
One ten-second clip per feature: canvas basics, node content, rich text, structure, views, import/export, and the SiYuan and Obsidian plugin extras.
Canvas Basics: Add, Edit, Drag, and Collapse Nodes
Nine short clips cover the KMind Zen canvas basics: Tab and Enter to add nodes, double-click, Space or F2 to edit text, drag to re-parent, move a multi-selection, collapse branches, and pan or zoom the canvas.
Node Content: Todos, Notes, Comments, Tags, Icons, Links, Cloze, Formulas, and Images
Sixteen clips show everything a KMind Zen node can carry: todos, notes and comments via shortcut or context menu, tags and icons, external links, cloze blanks for review, formulas via the slash menu, the toolbar or $…$, and images you can add and drag between nodes.
Rich Text: Bold, Code, Colours, Fonts, Links, and the Format Brush
Six clips show the rich-text tools in KMind Zen node text: bold / italic / underline / strikethrough, inline code and code blocks, text and background colour, font size and family, links on selected text, and the format brush that copies node styling.
Structure: Summaries, Relation Lines, and Multiple Roots
Five clips show how KMind Zen expresses relationships beyond the tree: summarise a group of nodes, add children and a second-level summary, draw a relation line between any two nodes and edit its label and style, and add a second root on the same canvas.
Appearance and Views: Themes, Layouts, Rainbow Edges, Outline, Zen, and Read-only
Seven clips cover KMind Zen appearance and views: switch themes that adapt to system dark mode, change to a fishbone layout, turn on rainbow edges, split the map with an outline and drag between them, and enter or leave zen and read-only modes.
Import and Export: Paste Markdown, Export PNG, Copy as Image
Three clips show KMind Zen import and export: paste a Markdown heading outline to build a map, export a PNG, and copy a map as a framed image to paste anywhere.
Efficiency: Search and Jump, Replace All, Custom Shortcuts
Three clips show the KMind Zen productivity tools: search nodes, notes, and comments across the project and jump to a hit, replace every match at once, and record your own key combinations in the shortcut panel.
SiYuan Plugin Features: Doc-tree Maps, Block Maps, Doc Cards, Mirror Blocks, and Sub-documents
Nine clips show what KMind Zen adds inside SiYuan: create maps from the doc tree and the dock, insert block maps into documents and edit them any time, convert a document to a map, drag blocks and documents onto the canvas as two-way synced cards, copy mirror blocks, and create sub-documents from nodes.
Obsidian Plugin Features: New Map, Import Markdown, Export PNG
Three clips show the KMind Zen Obsidian plugin: create a .kmindz map from the file explorer, import a Markdown file from the vault as a map, and export a PNG straight into the vault.
Product Workflows
Learn the current KMind Zen product capabilities and where they fit in real workflows.
Start Here
Use these first if you are new to KMind Zen or coming from KMind2.
KMind Zen Web App Quickstart
Start with the KMind Zen Web App for online mind mapping, then decide when to move into the SiYuan plugin, Obsidian plugin, or offline OpenClaw workflow.
KMind Zen vs KMind2: What Is Different Between the Old and New Versions
KMind2 started as a SiYuan mind map plugin, while KMind Zen has grown into an independent product. Compare the new kernel, SiYuan integration, Obsidian plugin, Skill, Web App, standalone clients, and .kmindz image-based files.
SiYuan Plugin
Doc-tree maps, block workflows, installation, and update guidance.
Four Ways to Create KMind Zen Mind Maps in SiYuan
Learn four ways to create KMind Zen maps in SiYuan: doc-tree maps, Dock maps, block maps, and one-click SiYuan document-to-map conversion with image export.
KMind Zen's Killer Move: Drag SiYuan Documents Directly into a Mind Map
KMind Zen lets you drag SiYuan documents and blocks directly into a mind map, turning them into doc cards and block cards that can still grow child nodes and relationship lines.
Obsidian Plugin
Vault ownership, local-first maps, and .kmindz file organization.
KMind Zen for Obsidian Quick Start
Follow the KMind Zen for Obsidian quick start to create, save, reopen, and organize .kmindz maps inside your Obsidian vault.
How to Manage .kmindz Mind Map Files in Obsidian
Learn how to organize KMind Zen .kmindz files inside an Obsidian vault, including naming, folder structure, backups, sync, and the division between maps and Markdown notes.
Files and Offline Workflows
.kmindz portability and OpenClaw offline text-to-map workflows.
.kmindz File Format and Portability
Understand KMind Zen official source file formats: .kmindz.svg, .kmindz.png, .kmindz, and .zip, plus why the Obsidian plugin uses the dedicated .kmindz format.
OpenClaw Offline Text-to-Mind-Map Tutorial
Use the KMind Zen OpenClaw skill to convert Markdown outlines or structured text into editable, exportable mind maps in an offline-friendly workflow.