Tags:
• Creator

 

Dashboards are a way to organize previously saved stories and combine them with other contextual items such as text, images, and embedded content.

Creating visually appealing and relevant dashboards is an important way for a creator to engage with an audience to deliver insights.

Dashboards that are automatically fed with the latest data are one of the main ways we can ensure that everyone within an organization has access to the right information at the right time. 

You can create, access, and manage Dashboards through DASHBOARDS in the Global Menu Bar. Learn more.

 

In this article

1. Dashboard design considerations
2. Dashboard canvas
3. Edit your Dashboard
   • Container Type
   • General Settings
   • Show Guides
   • Expand/collapse edit pane
   • Save Dashboard 

 

1. What to consider when designing your Dashboard

a) Who is your target audience?

Each dashboard should be designed for a particular user group to assist recipients in the business decision-making process.

 

b) Define the content

Consider what information should be included in each dashboard, including the filters. Determine the number of items on each dashboard and the number of dashboards needed.

Keep in mind:

• The complexity of analyses, e.g., guard-railing views that limit items from being available in specific dimensions.

• The complexity of visuals, e.g., animations.

• The sheer number of views can also make a dashboard more complex.

 

c) Define navigation paths

Think about how dashboard users can drill down and back to change the focus of their analysis by moving between levels of information. Determine the required paths to link up each dashboard.

Keep in mind:

• The complexity of navigation paths, e.g., different users seeing different views.

• The sheer number of navigation pathways can also make a dashboard more complex.

 

d) Define the production process

Identify the data source or sources you want to include in your dashboards. Consider the data structure and the required manipulation, including construction and bases. Confirm design requirements and brand guidelines.

Keep in mind:

• The complexity of data, e.g., if the data is not in a way that is conducive to the type of analyses required from it, the time required to manipulate the data introduces additional complexity.

• The complexity of the content, e.g., are calculations required to construct the required content.

 

e) Other Suggestions

• Build out a dashboard section for initial review before completing the final deliverable.

• To make pages look great, we enlist design services. Contact support@infotools.com if you want to learn more.

 

 

2. Dashboard canvas

To create a new dashboard, navigate to the DASHBOARDS menu and select the CREATE NEW button. After naming your dashboard page, select the CREATE button to open a new blank canvas for you to design your dashboard page. You will become the owner of the page.

 

 

• The dashboard canvas is a 120/120 grid or coordinate space.

• One unit in the grid corresponds to one unit on the canvas. 

• The origin of this grid is positioned in the top left corner at coordinate (0,0). All items are placed relative to this origin. 

• The position of the top left corner of a given container becomes x units from the left and y units from the top, at coordinate (x,y).

 

 

3. Edit your dashboard  

You will find the edit icon at the top right of the dashboard page.

Selecting this icon will open the dashboard editing pane.

 

 

 

Editing Pane

The editing panel contains the options to create and edit the items in your dashboard. Once you select a container type, additional menus specific to each container type become available.

 

a) Container Type

Containers enable you, the Creator, to edit and manage the features of the specific item added to the dashboard. The container types are: Text, Image, Chart, and Embed.

​Clicking each container type icon adds a container to the dashboard canvas. Learn more about Dashboard Containers.

 

 

 

b) General settings

After choosing a container type, the General settings menu becomes available. This menu is context-sensitive. Customization options will differ depending on the container type you are using.

 

 

c) Show guides

You can display or hide the canvas guides as you design your dashboard. 

 

 

d) Expand/Collapse edit pane

Select this icon to expand and collapse the editing pane so you can fully see your dashboard canvas. 

 

e) Save the Dashboard

The SAVE button is at the bottom of the editing pane. Any change you make to your dashboard page must be saved for it to be retained. Clicking the edit pen to exit editing mode does not save the page. Changes will be lost if you do not click SAVE.

 

 

Where to from here?

Learn more about the containers and general settings

• Learn more about Dashboard Containers.