1. MODULE 1: Getting Started
In this module, you will be shown through the process of creating a TPAssist Document, creating tasks and making journal entries.
If you are new to Mindjet MindManager, visit the Learning Centre (Help Menu) or use the latest Computer Based Training products available from Mindjet.
For now, it will be assumed that you can find your way around MindManager.
STEP 1: Creating your first TPAssist Document
To create your first TPAssist Document, follow the steps below:
1) Create a new TPAssist Map:
In MindManager 7, Choose New Map from the TPAssist Ribbon Tab.
OR in MindManager 6, From the File menu, choose New, then choose New TPAssist Document.
You will now be provided with a choice to "create a new document from the built-  in template".
2) Choose OK
You should now see a new map, populated with a central topic, "objective 1", "Journal" and "Notes".  The "Journal" and "Notes" sections are special topics which TPAssist will ignore when performing automated tree updates or exporting.
3) Customise the document as follows:
  • Change the central topic to "My First TPAssist Project"
  • Change "Objective 1" to "Explore TPAssist"
  • Change "Action Group 1" to "Create my first TPAssist Document"
  • Change "Action Group 2" to "Create Task Tree"
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4) Open the TPAssist Console: Select the central topic open the TPAssist Console
In MindManager 7 see the TPAssist Ribbon Tab.
OR in MindManager 6 click the TPAssist icon in the export toolbar at the bottom of the window or choose Console from the Tools menu, or choose TPAssist Topic from the Right- Click menu.
The TPAssist Console will now appear.  This window has five areas: Journal, Tree Update, Topic, Publish and Document.
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5) If not already, choose "Topic".
6) Now click the "Convert to Task Tree" command, and click OK.
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You will notice the topic tree now has priority Icons and % complete icons.
You will have now created your first TPAssist Document.
NB: If you have already created a Mind Map and you wish to use TPAssist, ensure the Mind Map is active in the window and open the TPAssist Console as explained at step 4.  At this point you will be asked if you wish to "convert" it and make it usable by TPAssist.  If you click OK, the action is then confirmed and in a few moments the TPAssist command centre will appear.
STEP 2: Managing a task.
Now that you have your first TPAssist document, let's explore it further.
1) Right-Click on the "Create Task Tree" topic and close "TPAssist Journal".
You will notice that the TPAssist Console appears and opens the JOURNAL page.
Let's start by update the status text, providing commentary on progress made on this task.
2) In the "Status Text" area, enter "Exploring topic tasks".
Now let's changing the topic status to Active. 
3) In the "Status" option, choose "Active" from the list.
Notice how the Start date is automatically enabled and set to today's date.  By default the "Auto Date" option is switched on.  This option monitors the changes you make in the Journal page and changes the dates appropriately.  We will see more "Auto Date" functionality in others areas of the tutorial.
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Lets save our changes and continue.
4) Click OK
Before we continue, this is a good time to explore topic notes.  If the MindManager Topic Notes pane isn't already visible, open it on the toolbar (graphic) or by pressing Ctrl-T.
In the Topic Notes, you will now see TPAssist has recorded your activities into the Topic Notes. TPAssist will make localised journal entries for all activities performed in the Journal page.
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Further to Topic Notes, you'll notice TPAssist has modified the Start Date and the Priority Icon Marker of the focus topic.  In addition the parent topic, "Explore TPAssist", and the central topic, "My First TPAssist Project", have been updated also.  This automatic update of parent topics is a key and crucial capability of TPAssist.  By automatically rolling up topic status, flags, dates and percent complete, TPAssist provides you with the means to quickly and effectively see the status of tasks using the built-in Details Viewing capabilities of MindManager.
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Lets finish this tutorial by "Completing" the example Task.  So re-open the TPAssist Console at JOURNAL page again.
5) Right-Click on the "Create Task Tree" topic and close "TPAssist Journal".
6) Click the 100% button
Notice how TPAssist automatically deletes the "Status Text", remove the "Status" and changes the "Complete%" to 100%.  NB: If you wish to keep the "Status Text", click the 100% button once more to reverse the action, and then one final time to remove the "Status" and change the "Complete%" to 100%.
Notice also how because "Auto Date" is turned on, TPAssist automatically sets the Due date to today's date.
Save your changes.
7) Click OK
You'll observe that when task Topics are completed, TPAssist removes the Priority Icon and makes the background transparent.  This steps are to make it much easier to differentiate quickly between active/pending tasks and completed ones.
TIP: The automatic clearing of the topic background colour to make it transparent can be turned off via the Tree Update tab of the TPAssist console.
STEP 3: Journal Entry
At this stage you may be wondering what the JOURNAL topic tree is for.  Lets explore adding a journal entry to see how it works.
1) Right Click on "Create my first TPAssist document." and choose "TPAssist Journal"
The journal entry area has three main items, the "Type", the clipboard tool and the text area.  Lets create a journal entry to record a telephone conversation.
2) Choose "TASK:" from the pull-down list in the top left corner.
3) In the large text area, enter "Followed steps 1 to 3 of tutorial".
4) We are finished with this task, so click 100%
5) Click Ok
You will now have observes a number of things.  Firstly, since this was the last task in the map, the parent topic and the central topic are also completed.
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Secondly, you'll notice the JOURNAL topic tree now has a new sub topic tree.  This tree of topics orders journal entries based on year, month and then day of the month.  If you view the topic notes of that subtopic, you'll notice a journal entry reflecting the entry you just made in the TPAssist Console. 
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In addition, if you view the topic notices of the parent topic, "Explore TPAssist", you'll notice a summary journal entry reflecting the name of the subtopic where the journal entry was made.