I made a custom style for my information bubble, but it didn't save. What happened?

Getting your custom information balloons to save is sometimes a bit tricky. This is an explanation of how and when they are saved.

Let's say you start with a new dataset that has no default style. You visualize it, and then use the identify tool to click on a record in the map and then click "view" to open the record. You are now looking at the default balloon style, which is just a basic list.

Next, click the "edit layout for this dataset". Now you're in the balloon template editor and the default is selected. If you select a different template using the menu (for example, a new blank one), you will now see additional tabs for editing the style.

You then change the template to add variables and layout, and click "validate & save". This saves the template and the variable mapping to your visualization session ONLY; it is not saved elsewhere yet. You continue to map your variables and get the template to look the way you want. Within your existing visualization session, you will be able to click on any record in this dataset and you should see your new balloon style. If you want to reuse your template for other datasets, you can choose the "save as" button (which is below the code editing area; on the same tab as the "validate and save" button, but at the bottom). This will let you save the template for use with other datasets or other visualization sessions.

At this point, IF you own the dataset, you can set the default style for the dataset (by choosing "save as default style" in the action menu tied to the dataset in your viz session). This will take all the style aspects of your dataset (e.g. the style rules, colors, and balloon style) and save them to the dataset as the default, which means whenever anyone visualizes this dataset, all of these styles will be used from the beginning (and then the person can alter them as desired).

So, that's one way how the balloon style is persisted -- as the default style for the dataset.

Another way is by making a snapshot. At the time you make the snapshot, all styles are saved to the snapshot. Of course you can make any snapshot editable (well, a clone of it can be made editable), which will reconstitute all the styles in a new session.

A third way is to save your working viz session to your library so you can open it later. To do this, choose "keep session in library" from the action menu for the viz session (in the upper right). That way you can return to your working session any time, which is where all the style choices are stored.

To recap, setting balloon styles are treated the same way as setting colors -- they are automatically saved in your current viz session, but are not saved beyond that (e.g. to the dataset as the default, to a reusable template, etc.) unless you explicitly say so.