StoryCreator Overview

1: File & Deck Menu

The File & Deck Menu provides basic file management actions such as creating, opening, saving, sharing, and exporting your deck. These options help you manage your work, save progress, and distribute finished reports. It’s the starting point for creating or accessing slide decks.

1: New: Lets you create a new deck from scratch. Use this to start a fresh presentation or reporting deck.

2: Open: Opens an existing saved deck for editing. Use this to access and continue working on a previously created deck.

3: Save: Saves the current deck with its latest changes. Use this to keep your progress up to date without creating a duplicate.

4: Save as: Saves a copy of the current deck under a new name. Use this to create versioned copies or preserve the original layout before making changes.

5: Share: Opens options to share the deck with others. Use this to collaborate with team members or send the deck for review.

6: Export: Allows you to export the deck in various formats (e.g., PDF, PowerPoint). Use this to distribute the content externally or prepare it for presentation.

2: Slides Panel

The Slides Panel shows a thumbnail list of all slides in your current deck. Here, you can add new slides, duplicate existing ones, delete slides, or rearrange their order. This panel gives you quick control over the structure and flow of your presentation.

1: Slide Layout: Opens the Slide Layout Picker, where you can choose how many visual objects (like charts, text, or images) appear on a slide and how they’re arranged. Use this to customize the structure of your slide without removing existing content.

2: Duplicate Selected Slide(s): Copies the selected slide(s). Use this to reuse existing layouts or preserve a slide before making changes. Also accessible via right-click on a slide thumbnail.

3: Delete Selected Slide(s): Removes the selected slide(s) from your deck. Use this to clean up outdated or unnecessary slides. Changes are immediate, use Undo to bring them back.

4: Open Clipboard: Opens the Clipboard Tool, which lets you copy and paste content between slides or decks. Use this to save time when reusing charts, text, or other visual elements. Formatting and layout are preserved.

5: New Slide: Adds a blank slide using the default layout. Use this to quickly add a slide when you don’t need a specific structure right away.

6: New Slide (Slide Layout Picker): Adds a new slide and opens the Slide Layout Picker first so you can select your layout. Use this when you already know how you want the slide to be structured in a certain way. Saves time later reconfiguring the layout.

3: New Object Menu/Additional Context Icons

The New Object Menu allows you to insert different types of content, such as charts, tables, images, shapes, or text, onto your slide.

Additional icons below the panel provide shortcuts for toggling slide settings and launching presentation mode, offering quick access to configuration and display tools.

1: New Object: Adds a new visual or content object to the selected slide. Use this to start building your slide by adding a chart, table, image, shape, or text. Click the arrow to open the object type menu (see 2).

2: Object Type Menu: Opens a dropdown with available object types. Use this to choose exactly what kind of content to add:

Chart – Visualize data with bar, line, pie, or other chart formats.
Table – Display structured data in rows and columns.
Image – Insert an image from your device or library.
Shape – Add basic shapes like rectangles, circles, or lines.
Text – Add a text box for labels, titles, or notes.

3: Toggle Settings: Shows or hides the settings panel for the selected slide or object. Use this to update layout, apply filters, adjust labels, or change formatting.

4: Presentation Mode: Switches to full-screen mode. Use this to preview or present your deck in a clean, distraction-free view.

4: Data Selection and Filtering Tools

The Data Selection and Filtering Tools help you define what data is shown on each slide. Use the Questions tab to choose which survey question to visualize, Filters and Splits to narrow or segment data, and Time Selections to apply time-based views. These tools ensure each slide displays exactly the data you want to present.

1: Questions: Opens the Questions panel, where you choose which survey question or questions to visualize. Use this to select the data source for your chart or table. Includes the following features:

Show Result As – Choose between categorical or numerical formats.
Percentage Share, Count, Correlation Analysis – Pick how the results are displayed.
Base in Percentage Calculation – Set the base question or filter used for percentage values.
Questions Column – Browse and select from all available survey questions.
Answers Column – View and select the answer options for the chosen question.

2: Filters and Splits: Opens the Filters and Splits panel. Use this to refine your data (e.g., by country, wave, or demographic group) or split results for side-by-side comparisons. Includes the following features:

Add filters by variable, such as Wave or Country.
Apply splits to compare data across segments.
Use icons next to each filter field:
- Filter icon – Apply a filter to the chart or table.
- Split icon – Create a split view of your data.
Clear all filters to reset the view.

3: Time Selections: Opens the Time Selections panel, which lets you apply time-based filters to your data. Use this to analyze trends or focus on a specific time period. Includes the following features:

Time Period Dropdown – Choose the full data range or define a custom time frame.
Interval Options – View data by day, week, month, quarter, half year, or year.
Moving Average Toggle – Smooths fluctuations to highlight longer-term patterns.

5: Type Selector

After adding a chart or table, use the toolbar options to choose how the data is displayed. Each type helps highlight different aspects of your data depending on what you want to emphasize.

5.1: Chart Types

Choose a visual format to display your chart. Each type offers a unique way to visualize patterns, comparisons, or trends.

Chart type toolbar

1: Bar: Displays data using horizontal or vertical bars. Use this to compare values across categories

2: Line: Connects data points with straight lines. Use this to show trends over time or continuous data.

3: Spline: A line chart with smoothed curves. Use this to highlight gradual changes in your data.

4: Area: Fills the space beneath a line chart. Use this to emphasize volume or cumulative totals.

5: Pie: Breaks down data into slices of a circle. Use this to show proportions or percentages of a whole.

5.2: Table Types

Choose a format for how your table data is displayed. Each type supports a different viewing need or visual preference.

Table type toolbar

1: Standard Table: A classic grid with row and column headers. Use this for clear and structured comparisons.

2: Text Table: Shows rows of text without gridlines. Use this for open-ended responses or qualitative data.

3: Zebra Table: Alternates row colors for better readability. Use this when working with wide or dense data sets.

4: Compact Table: Reduces spacing and padding to display more data. Use this when working with dashboards or limited space.

6: Formatting Toolbar

Use this toolbar to customize how your chart/table looks and behaves, from basic formatting and text controls to applying advanced analyses.

6.1: Chart Formatting Toolbar

1: Format Chart: Opens a dropdown menu with options to customize your chart's appearance. Use this to adjust data values, gridlines, base text, axis lines, series colors, legend, chart background, and more to match your presentation needs.

2: Toggle Data Values: Shows or hides labels (such as percentages or counts) on the chart. Use this to make your data clearer at a glance.

3: Increase Decimal: Adds more decimal places to the numeric values displayed in the chart. Use this when you need to show more precise metrics.

4: Decrease Decimal: Reduces the number of decimal places shown. Use this to simplify how values appear and improve readability.

5: Base: Displays the base counts used in percentage calculations. Use this to provide context about the sample size behind your data.

6: Scale Max: Sets a fixed maximum for the Y-axis. Use this to keep your charts visually consistent across slides for better comparisons.

7: Show Text: Toggles display of question and answer text on the chart. Use this to control whether survey labels are shown or hidden based on your design needs.

8: Increase Font Size: Enlarges the text within the chart. Use this to improve visibility during presentations or on shared screens.

9: Decrease Font Size: Shrinks the chart’s text size. Use this to fit longer labels or more data into the same space.

10: Text Formatting: Adjusts text styles like bold or underline. Use this to emphasize key labels or improve the visual hierarchy.

11: Grid Lines: Turns horizontal and/or vertical gridlines on or off. Use this to make it easier for viewers to align data points.

12: Series Settings: Opens a dropdown for managing how data series are shown. Options include axis and legend entries, sorting, warnings for low base sizes, and hiding low-result or empty series. Use this to keep your chart focused and readable.

13: Apply Analysis: Opens a menu with advanced statistical tools. Options include using weighted or unweighted data, benchmarking, significance testing, and adding a mean series. Use this to apply deeper analysis to your chart with minimal setup.

6.2: Table Formatting Toolbar

Customize how your table data appears, from text formatting to cell structure, series settings, and analytical options.

1: Format Table: Opens a dropdown with customization options for your table. Use this to adjust data values, borders, headers, cell color, margins, font, and more to control the structure and appearance of your table.

2: Increase Decimal: Adds more decimal places to the numbers in your table. Use this to display more precise values when needed.

3: Decrease Decimal: Reduces the number of decimal places shown. Use this to simplify numeric displays and improve clarity.

4: Base: Toggles the display of base sizes (sample sizes) in your table. Use this to show how many responses each percentage is based on.

5: Show Text: Shows or hides Question and Answer text in your table. Use this to simplify the layout or highlight key information.

6: Increase Font Size: Enlarges the text in your table. Use this to improve readability, especially in presentations.

7: Decrease Font Size: Shrinks the table text. Use this to fit more data into smaller spaces without compromising layout.

8: Text Formatting (Underline): Underlines selected text in the table. Use this to emphasize specific rows, columns, or values.

9: Bold: Applies bold formatting to selected table text. Use this to highlight important figures or section headers.

10: Cell Borders: Toggles the visibility of table cell borders. Use this to add or remove gridlines for better structure or visual style.

11: Increase Cell Margins: Adds spacing inside table cells. Use this to make content easier to read by giving text more room.

12: Decrease Cell Margins: Reduces padding inside cells. Use this to fit more data without increasing the overall table size.

13: Series Settings: Opens a dropdown to manage how rows and columns are displayed. Options include: Use this to keep your table clean and focused on meaningful insights.

14: Apply Analysis: Opens analysis tools to enhance your table with deeper insights. Use this to apply statistical analysis directly within your table. Options include:

Weighted or unweighted data
Benchmarking
Significance testing
Adding a mean series
Ranking

7: Dashboard Area

7.1: Chart Dashboard Area

These tools appear along the right-hand side of a chart slide and provide quick access to key visualization and export functions.

1: Chart Area: The main display space for your chart, reflecting the selected data, filters, and chart settings. Use this to interact visually with your data in real time.

2: Questions: Opens the Questions panel to choose which survey questions are used in the chart. Use this to modify or update the data source for the chart.

3: Axis & Legend Entries: Opens the Series Settings panel to manage axis and legend labels. Options include smart positioning, axis transposition, and legend customization. Use this to reorganize how chart data and labels are shown.

4: Sorting: Opens sorting controls for chart values. Options include sorting by value, questionnaire order, or ascending/descending order. Use this to highlight the most important data visually.

5: Format Chart: Opens chart formatting options such as borders, font styles, row height, and color settings. Use this to refine the chart’s visual design for better readability and presentation.

6: Series Colors: Opens a panel to manage the color scheme for your data series. Use this to apply consistent or branded colors for improved chart readability. Options include:

Question and answer-based color schemes
Selecting individual colors or templates
Value-based coloring

7: Toggle Chart Elements: A quick-access menu to show or hide elements like gridlines, axis lines, and axis labels. Use this to clean up your chart view for clarity or design preference.

8: Export to Excel: Downloads the chart’s underlying data as an Excel (.xlsx) file. Use this to share raw data or conduct further analysis outside the platform.

9: Export to PNG: Downloads the current chart as a PNG image. Use this for inserting the chart into reports, slide decks, or other shared documents.

7.2: Table Dashboard Area

1: Table Area: Displays the table output based on the selected survey questions, responses, and time periods. Use this to analyze structured data across different questions and intervals.

2: Questions: Opens the Questions panel to select which survey questions and response options are included in the table. Use this to define the data source for your table output.

3: Axis & Legend Entries: Opens settings for customizing how rows and columns are labeled (such as questions, answers, or time periods). Use this to control how categories are displayed and organized.

4: Sorting: Enables sorting for table rows or columns based on values or questionnaire order. Use this to highlight patterns and improve comparison.

5: Format Table: Opens formatting options such as borders, fonts, row height, and colors. Use this to style your table for clarity and presentation needs.

6: Export to Excel: Downloads the current table as an Excel (.xlsx) file. Use this to share your data or perform additional analysis outside the platform.

8: Navigation Controls

Navigation controls toolbar

1: Refresh Page: Reloads the current portal or view. Use this to apply recent changes, refresh the content, or resolve minor display issues without navigating away.

2: Device Filter: Opens a dropdown menu to filter the view based on screen size (such as Small, Medium, or Large). Use this to preview how dashboards or reports appear on different devices, especially useful for mobile responsiveness.

3: Portal Tabs: Opens the Portal Tabs Manager, where you can view and organize portal content such as StoryCreator, StoryTeller, and My Stories. Use this to manage report visibility, publish/unpublish tabs, and control how content is laid out for end users.

9: Report Names

These tabs e.g. "Welcome", "Cross Table Tool", "Bhvn" represent different report names within the Forsta Visualizations portal. Each tab links to a specific report or reporting workspace.

10: Corner Controls

1: Gear Icon (Settings / My Exports): Opens a menu with access to "My exports," where users can view and manage previously generated files such as Excel, PNG, or PDF. Use this to retrieve downloads without needing to re-run exports.

2: Setup: Opens the Setup panel for configuring detailed settings at the project or visualization level. Use this to customize how your data is displayed or exported. Includes settings for:

Questions
Filters
Chart types
Intervals
Decks
Export formats
Color templates

3: Full Screen Toggle: Expands the report or visualization to full-screen mode. Use this for a cleaner, distraction-free view, ideal for presenting or reviewing content in detail.

11: Using the StoryCreator

11.1: Building a deck

This is a basic overview of what can be done within StoryCreator. To learn more about each functionality, click the links below.

Add a new slide to your deck.
Select the chart or table type you want to use.
Choose your variables or questions.
Apply any filters or time periods.
Customize the layout by adding headers, text boxes, or annotations.

11.2: Exporting your deck

When your deck is ready, click Export.
Choose PowerPoint, PDF, or Excel.

For PowerPoint, choose whether to export as images or editable objects.
For Excel, the chart data will be exported as raw tables.

(Optional) Upload a custom PowerPoint template to match your brand or presentation style.

12: Smart features

StoryCreator includes intelligent features to help you work faster:

Chart suggestions: Automatically recommends appropriate chart types and setups.

Color and layout logic: Applies default color palettes and chart arrangements, which you can manually adjust.

Floating time periods: Charts update automatically when new data is loaded.

13: Integration with My Stories

If My Stories is enabled on your project and you have access, you can save your StoryCreator slides directly into a story. You can combine slides from both StoryTeller and StoryCreator.

14: Admin configuration options

Admins can tailor the StoryCreator experience for each project:

Choose which questions, filters, and chart types are available.
Enable or disable options such as weighted vs. unweighted data, daily-level breakdowns, significance testing
Set base size thresholds to hide or warn users about low-confidence results.
Apply access controls based on filters and hierarchies.
Use variable subsets to limit the data visible to certain users.

These settings help ensure the tool meets the needs of each team while maintaining data quality and security.

15: Keyboard Shortcuts

Additional keyboard shortcuts have been added in order to work more efficiently in the StoryCreator. Below you see the list of supported keyboard shortcuts in the StoryCreator.

To help you work more efficiently, we've added new keyboard shortcuts to the StoryCreator. Use the list below to see which shortcuts are supported.

Function	Windows	Mac
Save the deck	Ctrl + S	Cmd + S
Copy and paste slides or objects	Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V	Cmd + C and Cmd + V
Delete a slide or object	Delete	Delete
Exit presentation mode	Escape	Escape

Forsta Visualizations Support

Articles in this section

In this article