What is a Dashboard in Lightning Experience?
Dashboards can provide a visual display of trends, quantities, and also able to measure the impact of their activities. The data from dashboards can also be managed from reports by using charts, tables, and metrics.
One reason to use a dashboard is to provide a focus for your audience. Data sets contains a lot of data. Some of the data is related to specific questions that your audience has and some of the data is irrelevant.
Dashboards are built with source reports, filters, and components.
Source reports provide data for components. Each components has one source report. Different components can have different source reports. You have the ability to create source reports by using the Report Builder.
Filters let you narrow down the view of the data that you would like to see in the dashboard.
Components are the “visual” pieces of a dashboard. Each component is either a chart, gauge, metric, or table.
Dashboard Tips:
- When refreshing a dashboard, all the reports providing data must execute. If reports are taking a long time to execute, then the dashboard will take a long time to execute.
- Dashboards are shared via folders.
- If a user has permission to access the folder that the dashboard is saved in, then the user has access to your dashboard as well.
Create A Dashboard
Step 1: You will need to create a source report containing the data that you would like to display. Click here for instructions on how to create a source report.
Step 2: From the Dashboards tab, click New Dashboard.
Step 3: Name your dashboard Leads Dashboard.
Step 4: Select the Private Dashboards folder.
Step 5: Click Create.
Step 6: Click + Component to insert a component.
Step 7: From Select Report, choose the source report that you created in Step 1, and click Select. From Add Component, select the donut chart.
Step 8: Confirm that your component is named Leads by Lead Source.
Step 9: As an option, you can can give your component a subtitle and footer.
Step 10: Click Add. The new component is now added to your dashboard.
Step 11: To resize your dashboard component, click on it and drag the corners and sides.
Step 12: Click Save and then Done.
Dynamic Dashboards
Dynamic dashboards are used for a running user that is always the logged-in user. The user is able to see the dashboard based on their access level. If you prefer not to have too much access, dynamic dashboards is your go-to choice.
Whoever is listed above the dashboard next to “Viewing as” is able to view the dashboard as a specified user.
“Viewing as” options:
- Me – Dashboard readers see data in the dashboard according to your access of data
- Another person – Dashboard readers see data in the dashboard according to the data access level of whom you specify
- The dashboard viewer – Dashboard readers see data as themselves, according to their own access to data.
Your organization can have up to 5 dynamic dashboards for Enterprise Edition, 10 for Unlimited and Performance Edition, and 3 for Developer Edition. Dynamic dashboards are not available in other editions. Additional dynamic dashboards may be available for purchase.
Dynamic Dashboard Limitations
- Following a component is not supported
- Cannot be saved in private folders
- Refreshes can’t be scheduled. Dynamic Dashboards must be refreshed manually.
Set up a Dynamic Dashboard
Step 1: From the Dashboards tab, you can create a new dashboard or edit an existing one. For this tutorial, we will create a new dashboard. Click on New Dashboard.
Step 2: Give your dashboard a name.
Step 3: Click on Select Folder and name the folder Public Dashboards.
Step 4: Save the Dashboard in the Public Dashboards folder.
Step 5: Click on the Edit Dashboard Properties icon.
Step 6: Under the View Dashboard As option, select The dashboard viewer. As an option, select Let dashboard viewers choose whom they view the dashboard as to let a reader with appropriate user permissions choose who they would like to view the dashboard as.
Step 7: Click Save. Click Save again from the Dashboard Builder.
When users open your dashboard, they are able to see data as the user that was specified.
Helpful Links:
Build a Lightning Experience Dashboard
Edit and Customize Lightning Experience Dashboard Components
Dynamic Dashboards: Choose Who Users View a Dashboard as in Lightning Experience