idea HTML and CSS code in ArcGIS StoryMaps Ideas

HTML and CSS code

ToniEwton — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 18:30:49 GMT

Classic Story Maps had the ability to add custom HTML code and set CSS styling. I use that feature for tables in the paragraph block with map actions that link to specific locations within a map. Please bring that feature into the new Story Maps.

Re: HTML and CSS code

Katie_Clark — Fri, 19 Feb 2021 16:12:54 GMT

Yes please! Being able to have that level of customization is extremely useful!!

Re: HTML and CSS code

MattiasEkström — Fri, 26 Nov 2021 13:12:12 GMT

I really need simple tables, but it's not possible right now. Custom html would solve that and a lot of other things.

Re: HTML and CSS code

DavidMaggio — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 16:58:27 GMT

I concur that the ability to add custom html / css to a text block in StoryMaps would be incredibly useful. At time of writing this post, my organization finds the current capability of the text boxes in StoryMaps too limited to transition our classic Map Journals (which utilize lots of custom html) to the new StoryMaps format. This including the lack of ability to add simple tables to a text box. ESRI has incorporated the ability to add custom html / css into several of its other products (HUB, Experience Builder), not to mention it being a feature in the Classic StoryMaps Map Journal. I feel this would be a logical improvement for future releases of StoryMaps to allow this product to keep up with the functionality of these other ESRI products.

Re: HTML and CSS code

MarcusOder — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 17:10:02 GMT

Looking at migrating 300+ MapJournal StoryMaps to some new AGOL app - thought new StoryMap would be the obvious fit but lack of text formatting options would mean downgrading the look and feel of our existing MapJournal items. Please consider adding HTML / Avenue or some sort of text sizing ability.

Re: HTML and CSS code

OwenGeo — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 17:44:44 GMT

@MarcusOder -- Thanks for weighing in on this idea! Could you share a bit more about the text sizing features you're interested in seeing in ArcGIS StoryMaps?

Currently there are two main, general use text sizes in the story: "regular" paragraphs and large paragraphs. Headings, subheadings, quotes, and captions are also different sizes, and serve specific purposes.

Are there other relative text sizes that you'd like to use in a story? If so, in what situations would they be useful? Do you have links to some of your classic stories you could share as examples?

One thing to note is that StoryMaps are dynamic web pages, so readers can use the browser zoom to increase/decrease the text size in any story as needed. We often see people use this technique when they use a StoryMap as a presentation tool.

Re: HTML and CSS code

Anonymous User — Wed, 02 Mar 2022 12:43:10 GMT

Text size aside, the ability to build HTML tables within story maps would be a big benefit from a 508 compliance standpoint. Screen readers read these tables better than trying to explain it using alt-text. We do not have the capability to self-host these tables so to build them within story maps like we could with Journal would help.

Another area where this could help is creating linkable images. While not as widely beneficial as custom HTML tables it still would be a cool feature to aid in customization. Below are some links to other discussions either around HTML/CSS or have been mentioned. I know some of these have been implemented already, but just some more background.

Ability to edit source code and edit story actions?

When is the next release after January?

New Story Map template functionality

Re: HTML and CSS code

Brian_Wilson — Fri, 22 Jul 2022 22:16:23 GMT

I need to be able to embed tracking code on a storymap used in our intranet. The whole thing has to be hosted internally. The whole thing: the app, the tracking code, everything.

We're running storymaps in Portal. I need to be able to customize the code to add the tracker.

Esri is outside our firewall.

Google Analytics is outside our firewall.

Those don't work for this application.

If you know how to do this please let me know. I need to add about 4 lines of script into an index.html.

Re: HTML and CSS code

OwenGeo — Mon, 01 Aug 2022 14:57:38 GMT

@Brian_Wilson -- Are you using a different analytics service other than Google or do you have a custom one built by your organization? We are looking to add support for additional analytics services in the future, so please let us know which one you are using so we can use that information to help prioritize our development activities.

Re: HTML and CSS code

Brian_Wilson — Mon, 01 Aug 2022 15:14:05 GMT

We have been using Matomo. https://matomo.org/

After setting it up for a given site, it gives you a small block of code that you embed into the page you want to track.

Re: HTML and CSS code

bienor — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 07:25:51 GMT

In our case we would like to publish Storymaps embedded into our internet site and that requires more customization to styles and fonts than what we can achieve by themes, including the ability to use our custom font and Heap.io for tracking.

Re: HTML and CSS code

TiesBlaauw — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 11:20:11 GMT

We would also like to use mamoto for analytics purposes. In an Instant App now it's only possible to select Adobe or Google to analyse. Please add more choises. Our concernpolicy doesn't allow us to use Google or Adobe...

Re: HTML and CSS code

MeghanMcGaffin_SLR — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 19:47:45 GMT

I need to be able to adjust boundaries around images and condense spacing between elements on the page. The default settings leave a lot of empty space on the screen. Custom html capabilities would be extremely helpful.

Re: HTML and CSS code

WouterHajnal — Mon, 22 May 2023 12:25:11 GMT

I had the same issue. We ended up referencing a Dashboard (with a table inside) in our ArcGIS Storymap.

Re: HTML and CSS code

OwenGeo — Mon, 22 May 2023 12:43:31 GMT

We are working on adding the ability to add simple tables to ArcGIS StoryMaps. This is planned for Q3 of 2023. It sounds like this will meet the needs of at least some people commenting on/following this thread.

@TiesBlaauw - I would suggest that you post a separate idea for your request to support Matomo as an analytics provider.

Re: HTML and CSS code - Status changed to: Needs Clarification

OwenGeo — Mon, 22 May 2023 12:51:11 GMT

For anyone upvoting this idea, I would recommend that you please comment with the reason(s) you are requesting HTML/CSS support in the story builder so we can better understand the reasons for and nature of your request.

Re: HTML and CSS code

MattiasEkström — Mon, 22 May 2023 14:12:22 GMT

@OwenGeo Tables were the specific need when I upvoted and commented this idea a year and a half ago. But in a future story map it my be another unsupported html element I need. I don't have a specific example right now.
When it comes to custom CSS, there are times when I want to make exceptions to the theme to illustrate/highlight something.
What's bothering me right now is that I can't change the turquoise background color of the "active story button" in a collection. But that should be possible when you create your own theme in my opinion.

Re: HTML and CSS code

SueDonaldson — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 20:28:33 GMT

@OwenGeo - Often in order for our story maps to be consistent with our overall website style we require more customization to styles and fonts than we have access to in themes. Having the ability to add custom CSS would help us create a more cohesive user experience for our website users. Thank you!

Re: HTML and CSS code

LindseyHarris — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 21:25:37 GMT

Hi @OwenGeo. We need to be able to edit the HTML code in order to connect our storymap page to google analytics. We went through the steps in the storymaps setting, but when we tried to pull data in, GA gave us a few lines of code that need to be added after the <head>.

Re: HTML and CSS code

OwenGeo — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 22:18:31 GMT

@ToniEwton, @WouterHajnal, @MattiasEkström -- You can now add tables to your stories. For more information, seeWhat’s new in ArcGIS StoryMaps (August 2023) (esri.com)