Create a story

ArcGIS StoryMaps is a web-based application for storytelling. Using the ArcGIS StoryMaps workflow in Business Analyst, you can create a story to share your Business Analyst sites, maps, and infographics alongside narrative text and other multimedia content. Create a story in Business Analyst, and edit and publish it in ArcGIS StoryMaps.

License:

The ArcGIS StoryMaps workflow is available to users with a Business Analyst Web App Advanced license. To learn more about Business Analyst license types, see Licenses.

Create an ArcGIS StoryMaps story

You can start the ArcGIS StoryMaps workflow with sites already on the map or add them within the workflow.

To create a story, complete the following steps:

1. On the Maps tab, click Share results, and select ArcGIS StoryMaps.

   The ArcGIS StoryMaps workflow pane appears. If sites are currently on the map, they are listed in the Currently selected section and are automatically added to the story.

2. To add sites to the story, click Add.

   Use the Add sites window to select up to 100 recently used sites, sites currently on the map, or sites from any project. Click Apply to add the sites to the story or Cancel to revert the changes.

3. To remove sites from the story, do either of the following:
   • Click the Remove button next to a site.
   • Click Deselect all to remove all sites from the story.
4. Click Next to proceed.
5. To configure items for all the sites in the story, click Configure all sites, and do any of the following:
   • Use the item toggle buttons to add or remove an item to the story.
   • For Map, use the Change the basemap drop-down menu to select a different basemap.
   • For Infographic, use the drop-down menu to choose an infographic template.
6. To configure items for point-based sites in the story, click on a point-based site, and do any of the following:
   • Use the item toggle buttons to add or remove an item to the story.
   • For Map, use the Change the basemap drop-down menu to select a different basemap.
   • For Notes, click Add note, and type information in the text field. Press Enter to save the note. Click Edit or Remove to modify the note.
   • For Image, select images for the site to add to the story.
   • For Attributes, modify the list of attributes included for the site in the story.
   • For Infographic, use the drop-down menu to choose an infographic template.
7. To add web maps or layers to the story, click the Add button , select Sites and locations or Web maps, and browse and make your selection.

   Web maps are included in the story but do not require item configuration.

8. Click Next.
9. Select a story layout—such as floating, docked, slideshow, or classic—and click Next.

   Note:

   Click Preview, and click View sample to open a story example of that layout option in a new tab.

10. Provide a title for the story.
11. Optionally, provide a subtitle, and select a cover image for the story.
12. Optionally, share content such as maps and infographics that are included in the story by checking theEntire organization check box or for individual groups within your organization.
13. Click Create to create the story, and click Done to close the workflow pane.

    Tip:

    You can use other workflows while the story is being created.

    When the story draft has been created, a Story ready message appears.

14. Do any of the following:
    • Click Edit to open the story in ArcGIS Online in edit mode.
    • Click Close to close the message.

Note:

To complete the story, you must publish and share it in the ArcGIS StoryMaps story builder. To display all the content in a publicly shared story, you must share any web maps and infographics publicly. See the Share a story section below to learn more.

Share a story

When you have completed the ArcGIS StoryMaps workflow in Business Analyst, the Story ready message appears. Click Edit to open the story in the ArcGIS StoryMaps story builder.

To share a story, complete the following steps:

1. Click Publish in the story builder header.
2. Choose the audience for the story: Private, Organization, or Everyone (Public).

   You can also share the story to groups in which you have sharing permissions.

3. Click Publish.
4. If you selected Everyone (Public) as your audience, update the sharing settings for the story items in ArcGIS Online.

   See Share items with everyone and follow the instructions to publicly share the story and any infographics and web maps contained in it.

   Note:

   Business Analyst content appears in the BA - My Maps folder under My Content. The story may consist of three item types:

   • Your story
   • Application (infographics contained in the story)
   • Web map (maps contained in the story)
5. When you have updated the sharing settings for each story item, open the story builder, and publish the story again.

Set preferences

You can set preferences for Business Analyst Web App in the application preferences. For the ArcGIS StoryMaps workflow, you can turn off the workflow overview page. Administrators can set preferences for the entire organization.

On the app header, click My preferences , expand the Maps section, expand the Share results section, and click Story map to set the following preference:

Preference

Description

Select default infographic display

Choose the default infographic display mode for stories from any of the following: Auto—View in a responsive display mode based on screen size and layout. Full page—View the entire infographic in a single-page display. Stack mode—View individual panels in a vertical stacked position. Slide mode—View individual panels as presentation slides. Side by side comparison—View a comparison of all analysis areas in a side-by-side display.

To restore the default settings, click Restore defaults. To save your changes, click Save, or click Save and close to close the Preferences window. To view your changes, refresh the app.

Workflow video

To see a video of this workflow, watch Share your results with ArcGIS StoryMaps in Business Analyst Web App.