How can I get different branches of a mindmap to follow different automatic layout rules?

I found these - just by reading the help and try the Design tab => layout etc.

Maybe you want more  options, but this is what I found in less than 3 minutes.

Brilliant!  I have no idea why I missed that. Many thanks.

While you are here I am confused about the different TYPES of map. Is is possible to change a map's type after you have created it?

Cheers

J
 

Again, try out lots of standard options available to you.
The design tab shows Themes on the left and there is a template organizer on the right.
You can create your own theme's and templates.

And as a bonus.... you can create map-parts with your desired content to re-use whenever needed.

It seems you are relative new to the product and all it's goodies.

You can find it all in trial and error and that takes time.

If you attend a course this will guide you and saves about 4 day's selfstudy per halfday training by one of the MIVAP members.

Check out their website. There maybe one close to you, or consider a skype OneOnOne coaching.
http://www.mivap.org/members/

Thanks for all that. I shall have a further look when I have more time. In my defence, the modern way of thinking is that well-designed software shouldn't really need a training course or even much of a manual (e.g. Facebook, iPhones etc).   Not that they should exist, but there use is an admission of failure.

One bit of feedback (with my fresh eyes) is that modifying a theme is extremely non-obvious. After battling with it for a while, it turns out the main problem is that the thing you have currently got selected is only highlighted with pale grey - and that is very hard to see for a newbie who doesn't know what all the shapes are supposed to look like yet.  Worse, although the screen jumps accordingly,  they are not necessarily moved to exactly the middle of the screen!

I strongly suggest what is selected needs to be indicated much more strongly.  
I suggest:
- a stronger colour  - e.g. jet black? or the selection blue that msOffice/Window10 seems to use.
- Wider/heavier selection outline graphics
- How about a small bright arrow that points to the item(s) that are selected but which fades out of the way after 1 or 2 seconds?
- Or maybe highlight colour should start bright red and then fade to something more neutral (e.g. pale grey)

Also while I'm here, although I used MM quite a lot a few years ago but I never did really understand the difference between: Themes / Styles / Templates  [Just sayin!]

J