Using Storybuilder

The sidebar, header and canvas are the basic elements of Storybuilder. In this tutorial, you will learn how to set story themes, rearrange elements, preview and publish stories, etc.

Storybuilder layout

Storybuilder consists of three parts: the sidebar, the header, and the canvas.

Sidebar

The sidebar in Storybuilder is where you can set the story theme, rearrange elements, and undo or redo your latest changes.

Header

The header in Storybuilder is where you can change your story settings, preview and publish your story.

Canvas

The canvas in Storybuilder is where you can build your story using content blocks.

Storybuilder sidebar

Set the story theme

The story theme establishes the basic visual elements for your story. Here, you can change the background colour, accent colour, and text colour for your story.

1. To set the story theme, click the palette icon in the sidebar.

2. In the story theme menu, you can:

   1. Change the background colour.
   2. Add accent colour.
      c. Change text colour.
      d. Change text font.

✨  The accent colour will appear as the default colour for elements such as buttons and text links. Customise the colour for specific buttons and text links by clicking on the elements and changing the colour in pop-up menu.

✨  The settings here will be applied to all content blocks, but can be manually overridden in the content block settings.

'Rearrange elements' menu

TheStorybuilder’s 'Rearrange elements' menu in the Storybuilder makes it easy to structure all the content in your Storybuilder.

Open the 'Rearrange elements' menu

1. To open the 'Rearrange elements' menu, click on the layer icon or the corresponding Rearrange elements button.

✨  The order of elements in the 'Rearrange elements' menu is an overview of your story structure. Changes made to the order of elements in the 'Rearrange elements' menu or the Storybuilder will be reflected in both.

Rename a content block

1. Click the pencil icon next to the content block name in the menu you want to rename.
2. Enter the new name.

Hide/show content block

1. Click the eye icon next to the content block name in the menu to hide it. Click the eye icon again to show it.

Copy or duplicate a content block

1. Open the 'Rearrange elements' menu.
2. Click the copy icon next to the content block name in the menu to copy it.

Or

1. Click the menu button ( ⋮ ) next to the content block name.
2. Select Duplicate.

Direct to a content block on the Storybuilder canvas

1. Click the menu button ( ⋮ ) next to the content block name in the menu.
2. Select Go to content block.

Get a URL of a content block

1. Click the menu button ( ⋮ ) next to the content block name in the menu.
2. Select Copy content block URL.

Move a content block

Click and drag the content block to move it.

Or

1. Click the menu button ( ⋮ ) next to the content block name in the menu.
2. Select Move up or Move down.

Redo/undo

Undo

To undo an action, click the undo icon on the sidebar.

Keyboard shortcut: command + Z (Mac) or Ctrl + Z (Windows).

Redo

To redo an action, click the redo icon on the sidebar.

Keyboard shortcut: shift + command + Z (Mac) or Ctrl + Y (Windows).

✨  Read more about shortcuts in Lapis in “Keyboard shortcuts.”

Storybuilder header

Name a story

1. Click the pencil icon on the header.

2. Edit the title.

3. Select Save or press Enter.

Save a story

1. Select Save on the top menu bar.

✨  Your story is automatically saved after you make changes to it. You don't have to save it manually.

Duplicate a story

1. Click the settings icon on the top menu bar.
2. Select Duplicate story.
3. Name the new story.
4. Choose if you want to share with the same guests and copy comments.
5. Click Duplicate.

Your duplicate will appear in your drafts when it is ready. You will also receive an email notification.

Add to Workspace templates

1. Click the settings icon.
2. Select Add to Workspace templates.
3. Name the template’s name.
4. Click Add to templates.

This story will appear in “Workspace Templates” as a separate file. Further updates to this story will be saved in story drafts but will not be reflected in the template that is created.

✨  You can also add published stories to templates, or create a template from scratch. You can learn more about how to organise templates from “Templates.”

Move a story to other Workspaces

1. Click the settings icon.
2. Select Move story.
3. Select a destination Workspace.
4. Click Move story.

You can only move stories to another Workspace that you also own. Once moved, your current Workspace members will lose access to this story.

Transfer a story’s ownership

1. Click the settings icon.
2. Select Transfer ownership.
3. Select a member to whom you want to transfer the story.
4. Click Transfer ownershipto confirm the transfer.

⚠️  Non-story owners cannot transfer the story, please contact the story owner to transfer the story. Story owners cannot transfer the story to someone who is not in the Workspace.

Export a story

1. Click the settings icon.
2. Select Export as.

Version control

View previous versions

1. To view the previous versions of your story, click the settings icon.
2. Select Version control.

Restore a previous version

1. In the Version control view, select a previous version to restore.
2. Click Restore.
3. When prompted, click Restore to confirm.

Save a previous version as a new file

1. In the Version control view, select a previous version to save.
2. Click Save as new file.
3. Click Duplicate to confirm.

Move a story to trash

1. Click the settings icon.
2. Select Move to trash.

Are you sure you want to move this story to trash? Once moved, you can still retrieve it within 60 days. Guests will lose access to this story until you retrieve it.

Invite guests to a story

You can invite guests to view or edit your story.

1. To invite guests to your story, click Collaborate.
2. Type in the user’s email address.
3. Select the user’s permissions.
   1. Can view: The user will only be able to view the story.
   2. Can edit: The user will be able to edit the story.

Cancel guest invitations

You can rescind a guest invitation to your story.

1. To cancel a guest invitation, click Collaborate.
2. Select the menu button to the right of the email address.
3. Click Cancel invitation.

Exit to Workspace

Click the home icon on the upper left of the header.

Story preview

Preview your story

1. Click Preview to enter the preview mode.
2. Choose either the desktop view, mobile phone view or tablet view.

Share a preview link

1. Click Share in the header.

2. Click Copy URL.

⚠️ Always generate a preview link URL to share.  Never share the Storybuilder URL, it may contain sensitive information.

Exit preview and return to Storybuilder

Click Exit preview to exit your preview and return to Storybuilder.

Publish

Click Publish on the header. Read more about publish settings in “Publish.”

Everything on Storybuilder is a content block that you can move, drag, and convert to other content. You can learn more from What are content blocks.

Lapis is built by Kontinentalist↗, a data storytelling studio in Singapore.