ArcGIS StoryMap - Editing an ArcGIS StoryMap

Editing an ArcGIS StoryMap

ArcGIS StoryMaps is a story-authoring web-based application that enables you to share your maps in the context of narrative text and other multimedia content.

If you experience issues with ArcGIS StoryMaps, you may refer to the additional documentation or contact the ITS help desk at 909-621-8061 or servicedesk@pomona.edu.

When on the projects page, users will select the "Stories" tab on the left-hand menu. Then click on the “New Story" button. In the drop-down menu that appears, users select how they would like to begin. Users can start from scratch or start with some simple starting templates. These include a “Sidecar” template which has a scrolling narrative panel, a “Guided map tour” template that allows you to walk your audience through a list of sequential locations, and an “Explorer map tour” where readers explore a curated set of places in whatever order they choose.

Editing a “Start from Scratch” Map

Select “Start from Scratch” in the “New Story” drop-down menu
Create a cover by titling your story, and if desired, adding a subtitle. In the upper right corner, there is a button to “add a cover image or video.” You can do so by selecting a file from your computer and clicking “add.”
From here you can begin building your narrative. Select the little “+” sign below your cover to get your “block palette,” a menu of options. The palette is organized by function: basic features, incorporating media, and immersive blocks; add any needed features. The basic section includes a text box, a “button” feature that allows you to add a link and a “separator” function that adds a division line. The media section includes a “Map” feature to add a map to your StoryMap, an “Image” feature to use to either link an image or upload an image, an “Image gallery” block, a “Video” feature to either link or upload videos, an “Audio” feature to either link or upload audios, an “Embed” feature to add web content, a “Swipe” feature to slide through two maps or two images, and a “Timeline” feature to detail events. Finally, the Immersive section includes a “Slideshow” feature, a “Sidecar” feature, and a “Map tour” feature.
Once you’ve added images and other media, you can drag and drop items to move them around within your story map. To do so hover over the selected item, click on the rectangle icon, and commence dragging and dropping it.
In the top menu, select “Design” to change the look and feel of your story. Here you can change how your cover is formatted; three options are provided.
From the “Design” menu you can also choose whether you want to add navigation links or credit links. Navigation links let readers jump to a specific heading in your story and credit links allow you to add custom credits and attribution at the end of your story.
Users can change the “Theme” from the “Design” menu. Six default options are provided but users can build their own theme by selecting “Browse themes” and then “Create new theme.”
At the bottom of the “Design” menu is a button to upload a logo to your story map.

Editing a “Sidecar” Map

Select “Sidecar” in the “New Story” drop-down menu
Create a cover by titling your story, and optionally adding a subtitle. In the upper right corner, there is a button to “add a cover image or video.” You can do so by selecting a file from your computer and clicking “add.”

Beyond this, the editing features of a “Sidecar” Map are essentially the same for all other map types. Thus, for reference, see the information above. For more information specific to editing the “Sidecar” feature read the following:

To add slides to your sidecar window, select the “plus” sign in the lower right-hand corner.
To delete, hide, or duplicate a slide simply select the three dots at the bottom of the selected slide and click on the button for the desired action. From this three-dot menu, users can also upload background audio to their slides.
To change the layout of your sidecar window, select the three dots on the lower left-hand side of the sidecar window and select “Change layout.” Here you can decide if you want to have a docked or floating panel. In this three dots menu, you can also remove your sidecar window by clicking “delete sidecar.”
To drag and drop items to move them around within your story map click on the rectangle icon in the lower left-hand corner and commence dragging and dropping it.
To add images, videos, maps, embed content, and add a swipe feature that allows you to slide through two web maps or images click “Add media” and select the appropriate choice.
On the left-hand side, there are fields to enter text.
Next to the text fields are “+” signs that can be used to add any of the basic or media functions discussed in the previous section.

Editing a “Guided Map Tour” Map

Select “Guided Map Tour” in the “New Story” drop-down menu
Create a cover by titling your story, and optionally adding a subtitle. In the upper right corner, there is a button to “add a cover image or video.” You can do so by selecting a file from your computer and clicking “add.”

Beyond this, the editing features of a “Guided Map Tour” Map are essentially the same for all other map types. Thus, for reference, see the information corresponding to the “Start from Scratch” Map. For more information specific to editing the “Guided Map Tour” feature read the following:

To add slides to your guided map tour window, select the “plus” sign in the lower right-hand corner.
To hide or delete a slide simply select the three dots at the bottom of the selected slide and click on the button for the desired action.
To change the layout of your sidecar window, select the three dots on the lower left-hand side of the sidecar window and select “Change layout.” Here you can decide if you want to have a “guided” or “explorer” format. The guided format allows readers to scroll through a list of places in sequential order. The explorer format allows readers to explore tour stops in whatever order they choose. You can also decide whether you want your map to consist mostly of your map or of your media; to access this option select “next.” In this three dots menu, you can also remove your sidecar window by clicking “delete tour," or conversely, "duplicate" it.
To drag and drop your “Guided Map Tour” window to move it around within your story map click on the rectangle icon in the lower left-hand corner and commence dragging and dropping it.
To upload an image or video simply select “add image or video”
To add a location to your map simply select “add location.” From here you can click to add a tour point, which is essentially a circle with a number, or use the search box at the top of the page to search for a specific location. You can also change the zoom level. When ready, select “done.”
Next, you can add a title and description for any tour points you have added. The respective fields will appear below your map once a tour point has been added.
Select “Map Options” in the upper right-hand corner of your “Guided Map Tour” window to change the initial zoom level, tour point color, and map configuration. From here you can also select a different base map.
If you scroll beyond your “Guided Map Tour” window there will be a “+” sign that can be used to add any of the basic or media functions discussed in the previous section.

Editing an “Explorer Map Tour” Map

Select “Explorer Map Tour” in the “New Story” drop-down menu
Create a cover by titling your story, and optionally adding a subtitle. In the upper right corner, there is a button to “add a cover image or video.” You can do so by selecting a file from your computer and clicking “add.”

Beyond this, the editing features of an “Explorer Map Tour” Map are essentially the same for all other map types. Thus, for reference, see the information corresponding to the “Start from Scratch” Map. For more information specific to editing the “Explorer Map Tour” feature read the following:

To add slides to your guided map tour window, select the “+” sign in the lower right-hand corner.
To hide or delete a slide simply select the three dots at the bottom of the selected slide and click on the button for the desired action.
To change the layout of your sidecar window, select the three dots on the lower left-hand side of the sidecar window and select “Change layout.” Here you can decide if you want to have a “guided” or “explorer” format. The guided format allows readers to scroll through a list of places in sequential order. The explorer format allows readers to explore tour stops in whatever order they choose. You can also decide whether you want your map’s media to be formatted as a list or a grid. In this three dots menu, you can also remove your sidecar window by clicking “delete tour.”
To drag and drop your “Explorer Map Tour” window to move it around within your story map click on the rectangle icon in the lower left-hand corner and commence dragging and dropping it.
Select “Untitled tour point” to add your first tour point. Once you do so, you’ll be able to add an image or video, location, title, and description for this tour point.
Select “Map Options” in the upper right-hand corner of your “Guided Map Tour” window to change the initial zoom level, tour point color, and map configuration. From here you can also select a different base map.
If you scroll beyond your “Guided Map Tour” window there will be a “+” sign that can be used to add any of the basic or media functions discussed in the previous section.