When you save a story as a template, you can use it as a starting point for creating new stories with the same layout and formatting. However, all the data from the original story is removed and replaced by placeholders for charts, tables, maps, input controls, and value driver trees. This way, you can easily add new data sources and models to the template without affecting the existing ones1. Custom formatting, such as story background, chart color palettes, fonts, and borders, is retained in the template2. Custom widgets, such as images, shapes, texts, and buttons, are also preserved in the template3. Standard widgets, such as charts, tables, maps, input controls, and value driver trees, are converted into empty placeholders that can be filled with new data3.
Reference:
1: Create and Use Story Templates 2: Story Templates in SAP Analytics Cloud 3: Building Stories from a Template