Configure the cover
The cover provides basic information about an item such as its title, subtitle, date, and author. It can also contain media, such as an engaging image or video. The information added to the cover is shown on the cards on the ArcGIS StoryMaps content page and used for the ArcGIS item details. You can customize the cover to match the theme and tone of the content.
Choose a cover layout
ArcGIS StoryMaps provides a selection of cover layouts so you can choose how information and media are first presented to your audience.
To change the cover layout, complete the following steps:
Click Design in the builder header.
Under Cover, select a layout.
The cover layout is changed.
Close the design panel.
The available cover layouts for each type of item are listed below.
| Item type | Available cover layouts |
|---|---|
| Story | Minimal, Top, Full, Card, Split, Side-by-side |
| Briefing | Side-by-side, Full |
| Frame | Full |
| Collection | Grid, Journal, Magazine |
Add cover details and media
There are several spaces for you to add information on the cover.
Add the following information to the cover:
Title—The title is the most prominent text displayed on the cover. If you do not enter a title for the cover, Untitled will be used for the title in the item details, and the title space will be blank when the item is published. The title cannot be longer than 60 characters.
Subtitle—The subtitle is optional. It can be used to provide more detail about the purpose of your content. The subtitle may not be longer than 140 characters.
Author name—Your ArcGIS profile name is added as the author. You can revise this name or add more authors if needed by clicking in the field and editing it. The author name may not be longer than 100 characters.
Publish date—When the item is published, the publish date appears below the author name. If you have a subscription account, you can adjust which date is shown, or hide it completely in Settings.
Cover media—You can add an image or a video as the cover media. When using the full cover layout, you can choose a background color to fill the media panel if you do not want to add an image or video. The minimal cover layout is also recommended if you do not want to include media on the cover.
Note:
A video added to the cover will automatically play and loop, and its audio will be muted. Linking to external media on the cover is not supported.
Cover logo—You can upload a logo in the design panel and choose to have it display on the cover. If you select a theme with a logo, the theme logo can be shown on the cover.
When you publish, the information on the cover is used to populate its ArcGIS item details.
| ArcGIS item details | Cover information |
|---|---|
| Title | Title |
| Summary | Subtitle |
| Description | Story: First few paragraphs (or story summary from Insights) Briefing, Frame: First few text blocks Collection: Description Theme: None |
| Thumbnail | Story, Briefing, Frame: Cover image (or first image if there is no cover image) Collection: Automatically generated mosaic of thumbnails of first three collection items Theme: Automatically generated thumbnail using theme fonts and colors |
Configure cover text panel
Depending on the cover layout, you may see options to adjust the cover text panel’s appearance.
In the full cover text panel, click the Change panel appearance button. Different options are available depending on the cover layout:
Style—Choose from a set of color and transparency options for the panel text and background.
Horizontal position and Vertical position—Set the text panel’s location.
Size—Set the text panel width.
For other cover layouts, Change panel size and Switch panel placement buttons are available.
Show collection items on a map
A collection can include a map on its cover to show a location for each item. Readers can click items on the map to show a pop-up and open the item. The map can be used with any of the collection cover layouts.
To show a map on the collection cover page, complete the following steps:
Click Design in the collection builder header.
Under Cover, turn on Show map.
The map is shown on the cover.
Close the design panel.
Set a location for an item
To set a location for an item, complete the following steps:
On the collection cover, hover over an item.
Click Add location.
Note:
Add location is only shown when the collection map is enabled.
Click the map to specify the location of the item.
The point can be moved, if needed. Click the point to select it, and then click and drag to move it.
Once you are satisfied with the location, click Save.
The item is added to the map.
You do not have to set a location for each item; however, an item without a location will not appear on the map and will only be able to be discovered and opened from its card.