Dashboard Builder Interface

The Dashboard Builder provides a sophisticated visual interface for creating interactive business intelligence dashboards through drag-and-drop component placement, flexible layout management, and comprehensive chart configuration. This interface enables users to transform report data into executive-level visualizations that support strategic decision-making and organizational performance monitoring.

Requirements

To use the Dashboard Builder interface, users must be assigned a security role with the following permissions:

All Entities, Report (system): Read for accessing source reports that populate dashboard components

All Entities, Folder (system): Read for accessing folder structures and dashboard organization

All Entities, Dashboard (system): Read, Create, and Edit for full dashboard creation and modification capabilities

Read permissions for Report Source Entities to ensure access to underlying data that drives dashboard visualizations

Tab Settings, Reports: On and App Settings: App with Reports Tab must be Visible for interface access

Accessing the Dashboard Builder

Creating New Dashboards

Method 1: Through Reports Module

1. Navigate to the Reports tab in your portal
2. Click New in the upper right corner
3. Select New Dashboard from the dropdown menu
4. Enter basic dashboard configuration information
5. Click Save to launch the Dashboard Builder interface

Method 2: Through Dashboard Management

1. Access existing dashboards through the Reports Home interface
2. Click New Dashboard to create additional dashboard content
3. Configure initial dashboard properties and folder assignment
4. Access the Dashboard Builder through the edit interface

Dashboard Builder Interface Overview

Left Panel - Components Library: The Components panel displays available chart types and visualization options that can be added to the dashboard. Component types include Vertical Bar Chart, Horizontal Bar Chart, Line Chart, Pie Chart, Donut Chart, and additional visualization options for diverse analytical requirements.

Main Area - Dashboard Canvas: The central workspace provides the dashboard layout area where components are positioned and configured. This area shows the live dashboard preview with real component data and interactive visualization elements.

Top Controls - Dashboard Management: Header controls include Dashboard Properties access, Save functionality, Close options, and Add Row management for comprehensive dashboard layout and configuration control.

Right Panel - Layout Controls: The Add Row dropdown provides layout management options including Single Column, Two Columns, Three Columns, and Four Columns configurations for flexible dashboard design and optimal information density.

Component Types and Visualization Options

Chart Component Library

Vertical Bar Chart: Ideal for comparing categorical data across different groups or time periods, providing clear visual comparison of values with vertical orientation that accommodates category labels effectively and supports trend analysis over time.

Horizontal Bar Chart: Optimized for displaying data with longer category names or when comparing many categories simultaneously, offering better readability for extensive categorical data and enabling efficient space utilization in dashboard layouts.

Line Chart: Essential for trend analysis and time-series data visualization, enabling identification of patterns, seasonal variations, and performance trends over time with clear visual representation of data progression and comparative analysis.

Pie Chart: Effective for showing parts-of-whole relationships and percentage distributions, providing immediate visual understanding of proportional data and categorical composition within datasets for executive-level insight.

Donut Chart: Similar to pie charts but with enhanced readability and space efficiency, offering improved visual clarity for proportional data while providing space for additional information or design elements within the center area.

Gauge Chart: Designed for key performance indicator display and threshold monitoring, providing immediate visual status indication for critical business metrics with clear performance boundaries and target achievement visualization.

Component Selection and Placement

Drag-and-Drop Functionality: Components can be dragged from the Components panel directly onto the dashboard canvas, providing intuitive placement and immediate visual feedback for optimal dashboard design and layout optimization.

Component Positioning: Dashboard components can be positioned within the row and column structure, enabling precise layout control and visual hierarchy creation that supports effective information presentation and user comprehension.

Real-Time Preview: Components display live data immediately upon placement, enabling users to evaluate visualization effectiveness and make design adjustments without requiring separate preview modes or interface navigation.

Component Sizing: Components automatically adjust to fit within assigned dashboard sections while maintaining appropriate aspect ratios and visual clarity for optimal data presentation and professional appearance.

Dashboard Layout Management

Row and Column Configuration

Add Row Functionality: The "Add Row" dropdown enables addition of new horizontal sections to the dashboard with selectable column configurations, providing flexible layout expansion that accommodates growing analytical requirements and diverse content organization needs.

Column Layout Options:

• Single Column: Full-width components for prominent display of key metrics and comprehensive visualizations
• Two Columns: Side-by-side component placement for comparative analysis and efficient space utilization
• Three Columns: Balanced layout for multiple related metrics and comprehensive dashboard coverage
• Four Columns: Maximum density layout for extensive KPI displays and detailed analytical dashboards

Layout Flexibility: Rows can have different column configurations, enabling mixed layouts that combine full-width executive summaries with detailed multi-column analytical sections for comprehensive business intelligence presentation.

Row Management: Individual rows can be removed or reconfigured as dashboard requirements evolve, supporting iterative dashboard development and adaptation to changing business needs and analytical priorities.

Component Arrangement and Organization

Visual Hierarchy Creation: Strategic component placement enables creation of visual hierarchies that guide user attention and support logical information flow from executive summaries to detailed analytical insights.

Component Resizing: Components automatically adjust to available space within their assigned dashboard sections while maintaining readability and visual effectiveness across different screen sizes and viewing contexts.

Layout Optimization: Dashboard layouts should balance information density with visual clarity, ensuring that components remain readable and actionable while maximizing analytical value and executive insight within available screen space.

Responsive Design Integration: Dashboard layouts adapt to different screen sizes and viewing devices while maintaining functionality and visual effectiveness across desktop and mobile interfaces.

Component Configuration and Data Sources

Source Report Selection

Select Source Process: Each dashboard component requires connection to a source report that provides the underlying data for visualization. The "Select Source" functionality opens a dialog for choosing appropriate reports from available folder structures.

Report Type Requirements: Dashboard components work with reports that contain appropriate data for visualization, including both Tabular Format and Summary Format reports depending on the analytical requirements and chart type specifications.

Cross-Entity Data Support: Components can utilize reports that span multiple entities and leverage complex relationship structures, enabling comprehensive business intelligence that incorporates diverse data sources and sophisticated analytical scenarios.

Data Relationship Preservation: Source report configurations including filters, grouping, and summarization are preserved in dashboard components, ensuring that visualization accuracy reflects underlying analytical methodology and business logic.

Component Data Configuration

Field Mapping: Component configuration includes mapping of report fields to visualization elements such as X-axis, Y-axis, category groupings, and value aggregations for accurate data representation and meaningful analytical insight.

Aggregation Settings: Components can apply additional aggregation beyond source report configuration, enabling summary-level visualization from detailed source data and flexible analytical perspective adjustment within dashboard context.

Data Refresh Requirements: Dashboard components display current data based on underlying reports but require manual refresh to reflect updated information, ensuring data accuracy while providing control over update timing and system performance.

Filter Integration: Components inherit filter configurations from source reports while supporting additional dashboard-level filtering that enables interactive analysis and user-driven data exploration within established analytical frameworks.

Component Customization and Formatting

Visual Styling and Presentation

Title and Header Configuration: Components support custom titles, headers, and footer text that provide context and explanation for visualizations, supporting user comprehension and professional presentation standards.

Color and Theme Integration: Component visualizations integrate with dashboard and portal themes while supporting custom color configurations that align with organizational branding and visual identity requirements.

Legend and Labeling: Chart components include configurable legends, axis labels, and data point labeling that enhance readability and provide comprehensive information without cluttering visual presentation.

Professional Formatting: Components maintain consistent formatting standards that support executive presentation and business communication while preserving analytical accuracy and data integrity.

Interactive Features and User Experience

Drill-Down Configuration: Components can be configured with drill-down capabilities that redirect users to source reports or custom URLs when clicked, enabling interactive exploration and detailed analysis from summary visualizations.

Hover Information: Chart components provide hover details and tooltip information that enhance user understanding without cluttering the visual interface, supporting both casual viewing and detailed analytical exploration.

Component Actions: Individual components support edit and delete functionality through component-specific action menus, enabling ongoing maintenance and dashboard refinement as analytical requirements evolve.

User Interface Integration: Components integrate seamlessly with dashboard navigation and overall portal user experience while maintaining distinct analytical functionality and visualization capabilities.

Dashboard Development Workflow

Iterative Design Process

Planning and Requirements: Begin dashboard development with clear understanding of audience, analytical objectives, and key performance indicators that will drive component selection and layout design decisions.

Component Selection Strategy: Choose visualization types based on data characteristics, analytical requirements, and user preferences, ensuring that chart types effectively communicate intended insights and support decision-making processes.

Layout Development: Design dashboard layouts that balance information density with visual clarity, creating logical information flow and supporting both executive overview and detailed analytical exploration.

Testing and Refinement: Validate dashboard effectiveness through user feedback and usage analysis, refining component configuration and layout to optimize business value and user experience.

Collaboration and Review

Stakeholder Engagement: Involve key stakeholders in dashboard design and review processes to ensure alignment with business requirements and decision-making workflows across organizational levels and functional areas.

Content Validation: Verify data accuracy and analytical methodology through collaboration with data owners and subject matter experts, ensuring that visualizations accurately represent business reality and support informed decision-making.

User Experience Testing: Test dashboard functionality and usability across different user types and usage scenarios, optimizing interface design and analytical capability for diverse organizational needs and technical skill levels.

Performance Optimization: Monitor dashboard performance and loading times to ensure responsive user experience while maintaining analytical sophistication and comprehensive business intelligence capabilities.

Best Practices for Dashboard Design

Visual Design Principles

Information Hierarchy: Design dashboards with clear visual hierarchy that guides attention from key metrics to supporting details, enabling efficient information consumption and decision-making across different organizational levels.

Consistent Styling: Maintain consistent visual styling across components while supporting distinct analytical purposes, ensuring professional presentation and user experience continuity throughout dashboard interactions.

Color Strategy: Use color strategically to highlight important information, indicate performance status, and maintain brand consistency while ensuring accessibility and readability across different viewing conditions.

Layout Balance: Balance information density with white space and visual breathing room, ensuring that dashboards provide comprehensive insight without overwhelming users or compromising analytical clarity.

Analytical Effectiveness

Audience-Appropriate Design: Design dashboards for specific audiences and use cases, ensuring that visualization complexity and analytical depth align with user expertise and decision-making requirements.

Actionable Insights: Focus dashboard design on actionable insights and key performance indicators that directly support business decisions and strategic planning rather than purely informational displays.

Context and Explanation: Provide sufficient context and explanation through titles, descriptions, and supporting information to ensure that users understand analytical methodology and can interpret results accurately.

Regular Review and Updates: Establish processes for regular dashboard review and updates that ensure continued relevance and accuracy as business requirements evolve and organizational priorities change.

The Dashboard Builder interface transforms the Reports and Dashboards module into a comprehensive business intelligence platform that supports executive decision-making through sophisticated visualization capabilities and professional presentation standards across Partner Portal and Customer Portal implementations.

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