topic Re: Classic story map templates going away? in ArcGIS StoryMaps Questions

Classic story map templates going away?

LindsayWithers1 — Tue, 17 Sep 2019 00:09:58 GMT

Our team just got an email from Michelle Bush regarding the story map contest, and she mentioned

"It would take some time to recreate your stories in ArcGIS StoryMaps, but it would be worth doing, as the classic templates will be going away at the end of next year (even though your existing story map URLs will still work indefinitely)."

Is it true that the classic templates will be going away completely? I thought they would remain but just not be updated/supported. I hope it's the latter, as we have dozens of story maps created over the years that we don't have the budget to re-create.

Re: Classic story map templates going away?

AravindStoryMaps — Tue, 17 Sep 2019 00:26:51 GMT

Hi Lindsay,

It is most definitely the latter. This very question is answered in our FAQ page here: Frequently asked questions—ArcGIS StoryMaps | Documentation .

How long will the classic Esri Story Maps be available?
As Esri moves forward with the new ArcGIS StoryMaps, story authors will be able to create new stories with the classic templates for a full year after the initial release of ArcGIS StoryMaps, until July 2020. After July 2020, the classic templates will enter a two-year period of extended support. During this time, you will be able to edit classic stories that have already been created, but you will not be able to create new stories with the classic templates.
After July 2022, the classic templates will enter the mature support phase. At this time the builders will be fully disabled, but stories you have shared will continue to be accessible to you and your audience. After July 2024, the classic templates will be retired. However, this does not mean your stories will become unavailable. The classic stories you've made and shared will continue to be available after this date. ArcGIS StoryMaps is the next-generation storytelling tool for the ArcGIS platform, and story authors are encouraged to use this new tool to create stories. For more information about the road map for StoryMaps, see the Product road map page.

Please note that we do not have any plans to take down any of the stories that you have already authored using the templates or will continue to do so indefinitely. We're offering extended support till 2022 so that stories you have created will be viewed as they were intended. This is what my colleague inferred with the statement in the brackets: even though your existing story map URLs will still work indefinitely.

Let me know if that helps,

Aravind

Re: Classic story map templates going away?

LindsayWithers1 — Tue, 17 Sep 2019 00:47:31 GMT

Thank you for clarifying Aravind. So after July 2022 we won't be able to make any edits/updates to our story maps that use the classic templates?

Re: Classic story map templates going away?

AravindStoryMaps — Tue, 17 Sep 2019 16:19:54 GMT

Lindsay,

Yes that is our current plan. We are confident that by 2022, we will have most, if not all of the storytelling equivalencies that the classic templates have in the new ArcGIS StoryMaps builder. That is the reason why we have made the decision to turn off edits/updates to existing stories made with classic templates in 2022.

Thanks,

Aravind

Re: Classic story map templates going away?

LindsayWithers1 — Tue, 17 Sep 2019 20:53:55 GMT

Thanks Aravind, makes sense. Sadly I don't think we'll have the budget to re-create all of our existing story maps in the new builder, so sounds like we'll need try to get them in good shape before editing is disabled. And will the classic templates in our ArcGIS Enterprise/Portal be disabled in July 2022 as well?

Re: Classic story map templates going away?

OwenGeo — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 13:29:22 GMT

Lindsay -- Classic templates will continue to work as they do today in currently deployed Enterprise portals indefinitely. At some future release of ArcGIS Enterprise, the classic templates may be disabled/retired in the same way as the templates Esri hosts in ArcGIS Online, but that determination has not yet been made.

Enterprise customers have control over when the ArcGIS software running on their portals is upgraded, so classic templates will continue to function until an Enterprise portal is upgraded to the future version at which the templates are disabled/retired.

Re: Classic story map templates going away?

Koeller_Christine_A_-_DOT — Wed, 13 Oct 2021 21:22:12 GMT

Is this still the most current information? We have a couple story maps using a Classic template that are going to be very difficult to redesign in the new Story Builder. We'd like to hold onto them for the next couple years in hopes that the ArcGIS Story Maps builder matures with more options to edit side panels, tabs, font sizes, better banner options, etc. What is the most current information we should be telling our developers about when they need to make the switch?

Re: Classic story map templates going away?

OwenGeo — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 14:36:32 GMT

@Koeller_Christine_A_-_DOT -- The latest information about the classic transition is here:

Classic story map transition timeline (August 2021) (esri.com)

It'd be great if you could please share more information about why your stories would be difficult to redesign in ArcGIS StoryMaps. That is the type of information we are looking for to direct our development priorities.

What additional options would you like to see related to editing side panels, font sizes, and banners? Are there existing ideas on the ideas board that match what you are looking for? If not, I'd encourage you to add new ideas and link to them from this thread so others can comment on and upvote your ideas.

Re: Classic story map templates going away?

Koeller_Christine_A_-_DOT — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 16:38:49 GMT

Hi Owen,

Thank you, yes we did see the Classic story map transition timeline (August 2021) (esri.com)

I also reviewed Previous Classic story map transition timeline (November 2019)

This shows that Extended support will continue until ~June 2024 and we want to make sure that date is still correct.

Yes, we will be submitting ArcGIS Ideas separately. I'm also trying to meet with someone at Esri to have a conversation about the difficulties we've identified. This post was intended to make sure that we have correctly read the timeline and are passing along the correct information to our GIS developers.

Re: Classic story map templates going away?

Margot — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 15:47:11 GMT

Hi @OwenGeo ,

I was wondering if this might have changed in the mean time ?

In the FAQ, we can now read :

and it looks like the old FAQ that mentioned that the Builder for the classic templates will not be available once they are in mature support has been removed...

Does this mean that existing classic story maps will still be editable after they enter mature support ?

Thanks for your feedback ,

Margot

https://doc.arcgis.com/en/arcgis-storymaps/get-started/faq.htm#anchor2

Re: Classic story map templates going away?

OwenGeo — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 17:53:51 GMT

Hi @Margot - Thanks for asking this question about the classic templates.

The StoryMaps team has no plans to do anything to limit the ability for you to use the classic builders to create or edit stories. This applies now, when the templates are in extended support, and also later when they transition to mature support and the retired phases of their lifecycle.

There may be issues introduced in the future by updates/changes to web browsers and/or other related technologies that may impact the ability for you to use one of the classic builders. In extended support, only critical issues will be addressed, and once the templates enter mature support no more software updates will be made. So if an issue like this occurs it will not be addressed, and it could prevent you from making a change to a classic story.

The latest information about the classic transition can be found here Classic story map transition timeline (August 2021) (esri.com).

Re: Classic story map templates going away?

HelenCooper — Fri, 17 Dec 2021 12:50:44 GMT

Hi @OwenGeo ,

Would you be able to confirm when extended support will continue until for the Classic Story maps? I had understood that we would be able to continue to edit existing classic story maps into the future - a number of my clients much, much prefer the layout style to the new story maps, and the thought that we might not be able to edit their story maps over the coming years is mildly terrifying!

Many thanks,

Helen

Re: Classic story map templates going away?

OwenGeo — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 17:49:25 GMT

Extended support will be for a period of 2-3 years before the classic templates enter mature support.

The latest information and advice about the transition can be found in the articles below:

Re: Classic story map templates going away?

HelenCooper — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 18:00:15 GMT

Hi @OwenGeo ,

Thanks for the update. Can I just add my voice to those requesting that the classic story maps remain editable for as long as possible? Many of my clients don't have the desire to update their stories to the new template (nor the budget to do so); but they may want minor updates to their maps over the coming years. Please don't pull the rug out from under our feet on this one!

Many thanks,

Helen

Re: Classic story map templates going away?

OwenGeo — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 18:13:22 GMT

@HelenCooper -- Of course! We know there are many classic stories out there. We have no plans to limit or disable the classic builders, and we are committed to keeping classic stories running as long as we reasonably can.

That said, we need to be transparent about the future because we can't guarantee any specific timeline past extended support due to the nature of the web and related technologies that the classic templates rely on that we do not have control over.

Re: Classic story map templates going away?

HelenCooper — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 18:18:15 GMT

Thanks @OwenGeo ,

That's reassuring. There has been a lot of functionality within the classic templates that either hasn't been available or has only recently become available within the new story map template, which has meant it simply hasn't been feasible to move stories to the new template yet (not to mention the preference of many clients for the older templates!). If I can lobby for the extended support to be as long as possible that would be great!

All the best,

Helen