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Getting Started

Let's discover Storytrails Creator in less than 10 minutes.

Get started by creating a new storytrail.

What you'll need​

  • A Storytrails Creator account
  • A gpx or kml file containing a track.
  • An image for the storytrail.
  • An image used for a short story.
How to create a gpx file

In the future, we want to add capabilities for creating the track within the Creator, for now you have to supply a track with gpx or kml.

There are sites where you can create and download gpx. For example Gpx Studio.

Create a new storytrail​

After logging in Storytrails Creator you will see the overview screen for the creator. On the left is the menu.

  • Select 'Storytrails' in the left menu.
  • Click on 'Add a storytrail' in the top bar,
  • Fill in a name and a description
  • Click on + button to upload an image for the trail in overviews, detail etc.
  • Select the types of trail: walk, bike, car, boat,
  • Click 'Add a track' and upload the gpx. Close the dialog. (@todo screen can auto close)
  • Click on Save to store the Storytrail
My tip

If you don't have a track or image at this point you can add it later.

After saving, the screen is refreshed and you can see the trail in its editing screen.

Quick explanation

The editing screen has 4 parts:

  • top bar, containing buttons to add tracks, storyblocks, audio, video ..
  • left side bar, to select existing items for editing
  • right side bar, the editor for selected items
  • central part, which shows the map, with the tracks

Let's go on to the next step and add a storyblock to make things interesting!

Create and add a storyblock​

Storyblocks are used to tell a story, or inform a user, along the trail and are triggered when users a entering a trigger area. Lets add a simple storyblock containing a picture and a short story.

  • in the top bar, click on 'add storyblock' icon
  • click on the map for the location of the storyblock, a dialog is now shown
  • click on the tab 'create storyblock' to create a new storyblock
  • click on 'new', an editing area for the storyblock appears.
Programmers improve this step

This steps can be improved by the makers.( @todo why do you have to click on new first)

In the editing area of a storyblock you can build a storyblock with different kinds of 'blocks'

  • in the left part enter a name for the storyblock.
  • in the center part of the editing area 'elements' click on the '+'. A menu appears, select 'image'.
  • A image area is added, click on 'select image'
  • click on the tab 'upload image'
  • click on the upload area (or drag some image files here)
  • click on upload
  • select the image in the overview and click on 'select this'

The image is selected, you can preview it in the left preview part

Programmers improve this step

This steps can be improved by the makers. Tips two buttons, and its possible to upload one image at one in this context. 'upload and select' 'upload and edit' for editing the image parts.

Now we will add a short story

  • in the center part of the editing area 'elements' click again the '+'. A menu appears, select 'rich content'.
  • now add the story in the content block
  • if you are done click on 'save and select'

The new storyblock is stored and you are back on the map. You will see an icon for the storyblock and a trigger area.

Congratulations! You have just created a real storytrail with a short story. Let's store this storytrail.

  • in the top bar click on 'save', the storytrail is now saved

Lets move on to the next step and publish the draft so we can download and test the Storytrail in the Storytrails App.

Publish the draft​

  • in the top bar click on 'back to overview', the storytrail should now appear in the list of storytrails
  • click in the action column on the '...' button, a menu appears
  • click on 'create draft', a busy icon will appear
Programmers improve this step

Publishing the draft should also be possible in the editing screen.

Now the storytrail is queued for creating a package that can be downloaded by the user. The package contains the map, file assets and storytrails data. It can take a few minutes to create this package.

When the package is created you will see a 'green' ok sign in the overview (Refresh the screen to see it).

View and test the draft version in the storytrails app​

Grab your phone and open up the storytrail app. You have to put in developer mode if you haven't already done that. These are the steps:

  • go to the settings screen (Instellingen)
  • click ten times on the version nummer in (Overig/App versienummer)
  • enable 'Conceptversie van trails'

Select your created Storytrail in the overview.

Make public​

  • in the top bar click on 'back to overview', the storytrail is now in the list of storytrails
  • click in the action column on the '...' button, a menu appears
  • click on 'publish live', after a few seconds a green icon will appear

What's next?​

  • Add more media like audio, video
  • Create some puzzles
  • Read the full documentation
  • Get involved in the Storytrails Community