Creating a New Story

Create a new story in a few steps. Use a story to describe your data with charts, tables, text, images and more.

Procedure

  1. To create a story, do one of the following:
    • From the () Main Menu, select Start of the navigation path Create Next navigation step  StoryEnd of the navigation path.

    • From the () Main Menu, select Start of the navigation path Browse Next navigation step  FilesEnd of the navigation path.

      From the Files page, select Start of the navigation path Create Next navigation step  StoryEnd of the navigation path.

  2. Choose how you want to start your story:

    • Select a template: You can apply formatting to your story by using a template, which provides predefined layouts and placeholders for objects to help you build a story.

      For more information, see Formatting a Story.

    • Access & Explore Data: Import data from an Excel or CSV (comma-separated-values) file, from Google Drive, or from an existing model, an existing dataset, or a data source.

      Imported data from a file or from Google Drive opens in the Data Manipulation view, where you can prepare your data, define dimensions, and perform operations such as sorting and filtering. You can also switch to the Data Exploration view, where you can begin analyzing data and creating visualizations. Imported data from an existing model or an existing dataset opens directly in the Data Exploration view. For more information, see About Adding Data to a Story, Importing Data to a New or Existing Model, and Explore Your Data.

      After your data source is imported into the story, you can quickly create and display some charts using a target measure and an optional filter.

      1. Use the Story/Data control to switch to Story view, to display the Add an object to the canvas screen.
      2. Select the Build my story for me link.
      3. In the Build My Story panel, choose +Select Measure to specify a target measure.
        Note
        The Build my Story feature only works for measures as inputs. It does not support model-level or story-level calculated measures.
      4. Select +Add Filters to specify an optional filter.
      5. Select Create to view charts based on your selections.

    • Add a Responsive Page: Responsive pages allow you to create layouts that automatically resize and reflow when viewed on different screen sizes.

      They can be added to Digital Boardroom agendas and dashboards. For more information, see Responsive Lanes.

    • Add a Canvas Page: Lay out charts, tables, geo maps, images, and other elements on one or more canvas pages to explore and present your data.

      Use the Designer panel to format and manipulate the data in your canvas elements. For more information, see Canvas Pages.

    • Add a Grid Page: Start with an empty grid, and add data; for example, by typing in numbers or pasting from another application, or by adding a table based on an existing model.

      For more information, see Grid Pages.

    Note
    You can add data at a later stage from the Data view, using the menu under the Story/Data control.
  3. Continue refining your story, adding pages as necessary.
    Suggested data and datasets will display in the left panel when adding a new canvas to a page. Select any of the suggestions to quickly create and view the most relevant visualizations for your data.
    Note
    When you are editing a story, you are notified when others are editing that story at the same time. When somebody else saves their changes, you are also notified. You can open the latest version and discard your changes or Save As to keep a copy of your changes in a different story.
  4. Save your story.
    1. Specify the story's path – you can save to your private files or to a public path.
      Note
      A public story is visible to all users. A private story is visible to its creator and the users they have chosen to share it with.
    2. Provide a unique name for your story.
      Note
      Valid characters are alphanumeric characters and underscores. Spaces can be included but not at the start or end of a name.
    3. Provide an optional description.

Next Steps

Note
You can also create a story by dragging a CSV or Excel file to the Home screen, or by selecting Add New Data from the menu under the Story/Data control, and then selecting Data uploaded from a file. When you create a story in this way, the story includes an embedded model that isn't visible on the Modeler page.
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