ArcGIS StoryMaps is the professional tool for harnessing the power of maps to communicate your work using place-based storytelling. The easy-to-use builder enables you to combine maps, 3D scenes, embedded content, multimedia, and more to create an interactive narrative that can inspire interest — and action — from your readers.
Each month, our team uses community feedback to help inform new capabilities that can enhance your storytelling adventures. Check out what’s new this month!
Quick links
- Flexible layouts in briefings
- Image captions in briefings
- Side-by-side charts
- Show/hide items in collections
- And more…
Flexible layouts in briefings
It’s been almost a year since we introduced briefings in ArcGIS StoryMaps, so now seems like a great time to significantly expand your slide layout options! Until now, there have been seven layouts to choose from with a variety of titles, panels, and media placements that were set by the builder. But we believe your choices should be as dynamic as the presentations you’re creating — enter flexible layouts.
Now, when you add a slide, you can choose from three tried-and-true slide layouts (Section title, Section title with Media, and Media only) or opt for one of two Flexible layouts as a starting point (one with and one without a title). Interested in a head start with your flexible layout? Select the Common tab to find layouts that are, well, a common way to organize your text and media.
Note: Flexible layouts are not yet supported in the ArcGIS StoryMaps Briefings app (v. 1.8.4). Support is planned for the next release. For now, new slides or slides whose layouts have been edited since flexible layouts were released will not be viewable in the mobile app.
These new flexible panels come with multiple ways to add more panels, change their size, and move their content around:
- A flexible layout slide has the capacity for up to two rows and three columns of media. Until you’ve reached those limits, you will find a + button on the vertical and horizontal edges of your slides; select this to add a new row or column of content.
- A Panel actions menu (button with three stacked dots) will appear on the left side of each content panel. This menu enables you to complete actions such as Add panel above or below, Add panel right or left, adjust the relative horizontal size of panels (wider on the left or right, or evenly spaced), Move content between panels, and Delete panel. Note that the options in this menu will appear different depending on the slide’s current layout. (For example, Add panel left or right will not appear in this menu if the slide already has the maximum of three content columns.)
- A Slide actions menu will appear at the top of each slide as three horizontal dots. In this menu, you can quickly complete many familiar actions such as duplicating, hiding, or deleting the slide. In flexible slides, you can also opt to show or hide the title bar, regardless of whether or not your layout started with the title showing.
- Note that slides added through the preset Common layout options can still be modified using these menus and actions.
The flexible panels accommodate all the options you’re used to, from images and videos to charts to the swipe block — the sky’s the limit for organizing your textual and visual communication components! Visit the ArcGIS StoryMaps Gallery and get inspired by these excellent examples of slide-based storytelling.
Image captions in briefings
You’ve long been able to add captions to your images in stories, and with our storytelling community increasingly using briefings for their visual communication needs, it only made sense to add this capability here, too!
After adding an image to your briefing slide, select Options to add a Caption. In a non-expanded state, the caption space will display up to four lines, truncating anything beyond that; expand the image to view the whole caption.
Does a gallery of images better suit your needs? Learn more about image galleries and caption capabilities.
Side-by-side charts
In December 2024, we introduced the chart block, leveling up the visual power of your stories and briefings. One chart can be a dynamic way to communicate a pattern or key finding — and now we’re excited to see what you can do with side-by-side charts!
In stories, after adding an initial chart, you will find the option to create a row of up to three charts by clicking the + button.
Whether you want to directly compare different datasets or display correlations, side-by-side charts create a clean, organized layout that will be easier for your audience to follow. Learn more about Including charts in ArcGIS StoryMaps.
Show/hide items in collections
Collections in ArcGIS StoryMaps are a great way to share related content as one cohesive, easy-to-navigate package. However, that package may contain audience-dependent items or content that needs to be modified before being shared broadly — and now we’ve made it easy to show or hide any of those items.
In the collection builder, hover over the item you would like to show or hide and select More options to Hide or Show item—and be sure to hit Publish to save any changes you make!
Maps on maps on maps, as it should be! Read how to Present collections geographically in ArcGIS StoryMaps.
And more…
- The symbol menu for categorized map tours has been expanded to over 100 options.
Check out the release notes for more detail about other small changes and fixes released this month.
Thank you to Ashley Du and Will Hackney for their contributions to this post.
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