The Visual Outliner

What The Visual Outliner is

The Visual Outliner is a Windows application for organizing ideas into a hierarchical outline. Its Bucket lets users collect ideas, keep multiple buckets and move items between a bucket and an outline. Within an outline, entries can be indented or outdented with keyboard shortcuts, or rearranged by dragging, move commands, or copy and paste. Tags filter the view to entries containing a selected tag; while filtering is active, lines and their properties can be edited, but lines cannot be moved. The Utility Pane supports local formatting, links to files, folders or websites, progress tracking and notes. Theme Composer lets users create, import and export themes and adjust colors. Outlines are stored in OPML for sharing or migration, and can also be exported as text, HTML or Markdown. The maker lists Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista and XP, though the full-version plan names Windows 10, 8, 7 and XP. A free plan is listed, but there is no free trial. The full version costs $59.95, paid once and includes minor upgrades, one major upgrade and a 60 day money back guarantee.

Who it suits

It suits Windows users who want to collect and structure ideas, add notes and links, or export outlines in several formats. Its tag filtering and progress tracking may also suit users who organize work within outlines.

Limits

When tag filtering is active, lines and their properties can be edited but lines cannot be moved. The full-version plan is a one-time 59.95 USD purchase, and no free trial is included.

Getting started

1. Open https://www.visualoutliner.com/
2. Use the free plan or purchase the full version
3. Install it on a listed Windows system
4. Capture ideas in the Bucket
5. Move ideas into an outline and arrange entries
6. Create tags, themes or Utility Pane details
7. Export or store outlines using the available formats

Verdict

The Visual Outliner combines idea capture, outline editing and export options in a Windows application. Check the version-specific platform list and the filtered-line movement limit before choosing it.