Classic story map templates going away?

[LindsayWithers1]

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. 

[Margot]

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

[OwenGeo]

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).

[OwenGeo]

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:

• Classic story map transition timeline (August 2021) (esri.com)
• Moving to ArcGIS StoryMaps 

[HelenCooper]

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

[OwenGeo]

@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. 

[HelenCooper]

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