Convert your Markdown outlines into Xmind mind maps directly within VS Code.
Features
AI Extraction: Use the VS Code Language Model API (Copilot) or local LLMs (Ollama, LM Studio) to automatically extract key concepts from any file into a nested mind map.
Local AI Support: Seamlessly integrate with Ollama and LM Studio for private, offline, and cost-effective extraction.
Hierarchical Nesting: H1-H6 headings are correctly nested in the Xmind tree.
Task Support: Markdown checkboxes - [ ] and - [x] map to Xmind task markers.
Notes & Links: Indented paragraphs and Markdown links are preserved as Xmind notes and hyperlinks.
Labels: Tags in format [Label] Text are converted to Xmind labels.
Styling: Default to use the "Kimono" theme with automated multi-line colors.
Usage
This extension provides several commands to generate Xmind mind maps.
Available Commands
Command
Description
Export to Xmind
Directly converts a Markdown file (.md) into an Xmind file.
Create mind map with AI
Uses AI to extract key concepts from any file (PDF, text, code, etc.) into a structured mind map. Generates an intermediate .ai.md file and exports it to Xmind.
Change AI Model
Clears the cached AI model preference so you can select a different one on next use.
Refresh AI Models
Re-scans for available local AI services (Ollama, LM Studio).
Test AI Connection
Verifies connectivity to the currently selected AI model/service.
How to Run
You can invoke these commands from three different places in VS Code:
1. Explorer Context Menu
Right-click a file in the Explorer sidebar.
Select md2xmind: Export to Xmind (for .md files) or md2xmind: Create mind map with AI (for any file type).
2. Editor Context Menu
Right-click anywhere inside an open document.
Select md2xmind: Export to Xmind (for .md files) or md2xmind: Create mind map with AI (for any file type).
3. Command Palette
Press Cmd+Shift+P (macOS) or Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows/Linux).
Type md2xmind.
Select any of the available md2xmind commands.
Extension Settings
This extension contributes the following settings:
md2xmind.exportOnSave: Automatically export to Xmind whenever you save a Markdown file (Default: false).
md2xmind.ai.systemPrompt: Custom system prompt for AI Mind Map extraction. If empty, the internal default is used. Overridden by .vscode/md2xmind.prompt.md if present in the workspace.
md2xmind.ai.local.ollamaUrl: Base URL for Ollama API (Default: http://localhost:11434/v1).
md2xmind.ai.local.lmStudioUrl: Base URL for LM Studio API (Default: http://localhost:1234/v1).
md2xmind.ai.local.contextWindow: Conservative token limit for local AI models (Default: 4096).
Local AI Support (Ollama & LM Studio)
You can use local LLMs for mind map extraction to ensure privacy and offline availability.
Start your local service: Ensure Ollama or LM Studio is running on your machine.
Model Discovery: When you run Create mind map with AI, the extension will automatically attempt to discover models from your local services.
Unified Picker: Select your preferred model from the grouped list (VS Code vs. Ollama vs. LM Studio).
Verification: Use md2xmind: Test AI Connection to verify that the extension can communicate with your selected local model.
Custom AI Prompts
You can customize how the AI extracts information by providing a custom system prompt. The extension uses a tiered resolution strategy:
Workspace File: Create a file at .vscode/md2xmind.prompt.md in your workspace. This allows for project-specific extraction rules with full Markdown highlighting while editing the prompt.
User Settings: Configure the md2xmind.ai.systemPrompt setting in your VS Code settings.
Default: If neither of the above are provided, a built-in expert mind-mapping prompt is used.
The progress notification will indicate which prompt source is being used during execution (e.g., "Extracting... (workspace prompt)").
