Generate a knowledge map

Use this guide to generate a visual map of a source that shows its claims, concepts, methods, evidence, and structure.

Before you start

The source must be imported and fully processed before you generate a map. A map generated from a source that extracted poorly will be shallow or inaccurate.

Knowledge maps work best for sources with real structure: research papers, reports, chapters, technical documents, and dense articles.

Steps

1. Open the source you want to map.
2. Open the knowledge map surface for that source.
3. Wait for generation to finish.
4. Read the top-level nodes to get an overview.
5. Expand into the detail only after you understand the top-level structure.

What to look for in the map

Start at the top level. The first nodes should tell you what the source is about and how its main parts connect. Then look for:

• The central claim or topic.
• Method or evidence nodes.
• Limitation or caveat nodes.
• Relationships that show how concepts depend on each other.

Treat the map as a reading guide. It helps you decide which sections to open and which to skip.

Verify important nodes

Before saving or citing anything from the map, open the source and read the relevant passage. The map gives an overview, but it does not replace reading the source text for high-stakes decisions.

Troubleshooting

Related topics

• Knowledge map controls
• Map node types
• Edit and export a knowledge map