Add and configure video
Video is an engaging visual medium that can communicate information or help establish a tone or mood. You can add and configure video media in ArcGIS StoryMaps.
Add videos
You can add videos to stories, briefings, frames, and collections:
In stories, you can add video to the cover, the body of a story, sidecar narrative panels, sidecar media panels, map tour media panels, and express map pop-ups.
In briefings, you can add video to the cover, briefing slide panels of any type, express map pop-ups, and as a briefing attachment.
In frames, you can add video to frame slide panels on any slide.
In collections, you can add video as a collection item.
Videos can be added by uploading files from your computer or by linking videos that are hosted on third party websites; however, linked videos cannot be added on the cover.
Important:
Uploaded media files must meet the media file requirements. For information about these requirements and best practices for uploading media, see Media file reference.
If you are using ArcGIS StoryMaps in an ArcGIS Enterprise environment connected to the internet, the ability to add linked media must be enabled in the organization settings.
Linked videos from the web are added as embedded content. The video player and experience your readers see are determined by the third-party service hosting the video. For more information on configuring linked videos, see Add and configure embeds.
Video options
You can access the following options by hovering over a video and clicking the Options button. The available options depend on where the video appears.
Display options for inline videos
The following options are available on the Display tab for videos in the main body of a story and sidecar narrative panels:
Video Thumbnail—The thumbnail is an image readers see before a video plays.
Attribution—Add attribution to give credit to the content creator.
Display options for media panel videos
The following options are available on the Display tab for videos in a sidecar media panel, map tour media panel, briefing slide panel, frame slide panel, and cover:
Preview and Placement—Configure how the video is positioned in its panel.
Video Thumbnail—The thumbnail is an image readers see before a video plays.
Attribution—Add attribution to give credit to the content creator.
Playback options
Configure the behavior and controls for uploaded videos. See Configure playback options.
Accessibility options
The following options are available on the Accessibility tab for all videos:
Alternative text—Describe the media for screen readers and search engines. This text is shown to readers if the media can’t be loaded.
Closed captions—Captions provide a text version of the video's narration and sound displayed as an overlay.
Transcript—A transcript provides a readable version of the media displayed next to it.
Preview and placement
There are two options for placing media in a media panel:
Fill—The media covers the entire media panel. This will crop the media so there is no empty space around it in the panel. You can control how the media is cropped by adjusting the focal point (see below).
Fit—Shows the full extent of the media inside the frame, even if it leaves empty space around the edges. The media is never cropped when using this option.
Use the following steps to configure the media placement:
Choose a placement: Fill or Fit
Configure the selected placement option:
When choosing Fill, you may need to adjust the media focal point. The focal point will never be cropped out, so you should place it at the most important part of the media. Adjust the focal point by clicking the media preview where you want the focal point to be positioned.
When choosing Fit, specify a background effect for the area behind the media:
Color—Use the color picker to choose a color to fill the background of the media panel.
Blur effect—A soft, out-of-focus version of the media fills the empty space around it.
Click Save.
Note:
Placement of media on a cover is preset to Fill or Fit depending on the cover layout, but you can adjust the available placement options mentioned in step 2 above.
Replace video thumbnail
A video thumbnail is automatically created from the first frame of each uploaded video. It acts as a placeholder and is shown to readers before the video starts playing.
Complete the following steps to replace the video thumbnail with your own image:
Hover over the video and click the Options button.
Click Replace thumbnail on the Display tab under Video thumbnail.
Choose an image.
Click Save
The video thumbnail image is replaced.
Add attribution
You can add attribution for uploaded videos to give credit to the content creator.
Use the following steps to add attribution for media:
Hover over the media and click the Options button.
Type or paste citation text in the Attribution field on the Display tab.
Optionally, select text and format it using the formatting toolbar.
Click Save.
The attribution can be seen by hovering over the information icon in the top corner of the media.
Note:
Linked videos from third-party providers may have attribution that readers can view from a link available in the provider's embedded video player.
Configure playback options
Configure the behavior and controls for uploaded videos to create the best experience for readers.
Complete the following steps to configure video playback:
Hover over the video and click the Options button.
Click the Playback tab.
Choose a playback option:
Click to play—The video will start only if the reader clicks the Play button. This is the default for inline videos.
Autoplay without controls—The video will automatically start playing on mute and continuously loop. Readers won't see controls or be able to enable audio but can pause the video by clicking it. This is the default for videos in immersive media panels.
Autoplay with controls—The video will automatically start playing on mute. Readers have controls to pause, skip ahead, and enable audio.
Optionally, when choosing Autoplay with controls, configure the looping behavior by checking or unchecking Loop until stopped.
If unchecked, the video will stop playing at its conclusion. Readers can play it again using the video controls.
Click Save.
Note:
Videos never automatically play and controls will never be hidden for readers who have configured their browser or operating system to prefer reduced motion.
For more information, see Accessibility features.
Add alternative text
Adding alternative text is required for media to provide support for search engines and readers using assistive technologies. Alternative text is also shown to readers if the media can’t be loaded.
Use the following steps to add alternative text to media:
Hover over the media and click the Options button ⛭.
Click the Accessibility tab.
Type or paste alternative text that describes the media in the Alternative text field.
Click Save.
Alternative text is added for the media.
Tip:
The ArcGIS StoryMaps assistant can generate alternative text suggestions for images. For more information, see Work with the ArcGIS StoryMaps assistant.
Add closed captions
Closed captions improve accessibility by overlaying text on a video that narrates spoken dialogue and describes nonverbal audio elements, such as sound effects and music.
Use the following steps to add closed captions to a video:
Hover over the video and click the Options button.
Click the Accessibility tab.
Click the Upload closed captions button.
Select the WebVTT caption file (
.vtt) that has been generated for the uploaded video.Click Save once the file is uploaded.
Closed captions are added to the video.
Add a transcript
A transcript provides a readable version of media and is displayed next to the media in a full-screen view.
Complete the following steps to add a transcript to media:
Hover over the video and click the Options button.
Click the Accessibility tab.
Click the Upload closed captions button.
Click Save once the file is uploaded.
The transcript is added to the media.
Resize video
In a story, to change the size of a block, hover over the block and click Small, Medium, or Large. Alternatively, you can choose Float left or Float right to position the block on one side of the page and have text flow around it.
Replace video
Complete the following steps to replace media:
Hover over the media and click the More actions button.
Click Replace.
Upload or link to a new piece of media.
- To upload a media file from your computer, drag a file to the Upload tab or click the Browse your files button to find the file.
Click Replace.
The media is replaced.
Delete video
Use the following steps to delete media:
Hover over the media and click the More actions button.
Click the Delete button.
The media is deleted.