idea Sidecar block text block delete in ArcGIS StoryMaps Ideas

Sidecar block text block delete

JacksonSchroeder — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 03:02:25 GMT

I can't delete empty text boxes in sidecars, leaving an annoying gap. This community forum post said to just drag it to the bottom, but it still shows up, lol.

Re: Sidecar block text block delete - Status changed to: Needs Clarification

OwenGeo — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 13:50:17 GMT

We are looking at ways to provide the ability to delete text blocks, including blank ones. However, could you provide a screenshot of what you are seeing? If the space is at the top of the sidecar panel, it may not be empty text blocks.

Re: Sidecar block text block delete

JacksonSchroeder — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:40:00 GMT

https://imgur.com/a/S05yzMf

Here's an imgur link to a screenshot, lmk if that doesn't work, thanks! This is one example of many.

Re: Sidecar block text block delete

OwenGeo — Wed, 06 May 2026 12:10:37 GMT

@JacksonSchroeder - Thanks for the screenshot. The dragging trick mentioned in that thread works to remove blank space from the top of sidecar panels but unfortunately not from the bottom.

As mentioned, we are working on providing a better way to delete empty text blocks and hope to add that in the next few months. For now, I would recommend that you insert a new slide in your sidecar. Then, in the narrative panel make sure that you click the green plus next to the blank text block in the state shown in the screenshot below. That should create a panel with only the image and no other blocks or spaces. You can then add the same background image to finish recreating the slide and finally delete the original, unwanted version of the slide.

Re: Sidecar block text block delete - Status changed to: In Product Plan

OwenGeo — Wed, 06 May 2026 12:10:52 GMT