TIPS FOR CREATING DASHBOARDS

Dashboards are visual representations of data - allowing you to see key metrics and performance at-a-glance.
You can create several dashboard components and display them all in one dashboard aligned in three columns.

Create a Dashboard
Create Custom Reports or Custom S-Controls
A dashboard consists of a group of different components that display data. Dashboard
components can use custom reports or custom s-controls as their data source. To begin
building dashboard components, create the custom reports or custom s-controls whose
data you want to display.
Create custom summary or matrix reports that have the data you want to use.
Your selections for report totals show up on the Y axis of the chart while
report groupings show up on the X axis of the chart.
Some custom forecast and lead reports are not available for dashboards.
Define custom s-controls that contain or link to the data you want to use.
Custom s-controls can contain any type of content that you can display or
run in a browser, for example, a Java applet, an ActiveX control, an Excel
file, or a custom HTML web form.
Set Dashboard Properties
Set dashboard properties that determine the background, text, and title of your
dashboard. Then, add dashboard components that use your custom report data.
1. Click the Dashboards tab and choose Go To Dashboard List.
2. Click New Dashboard.
3. Select a folder to store your data. Use dashboard folders to control which
dashboards users can see.
4. Enter a title and description for your dashboard.
5. Select a user who has the security settings you would like the dashboard to
use. This bypasses all security settings, giving any user who can view the
dashboard access to all the data in the dashboard.
6. Choose the number of columns you would like in your dashboard.
7. Choose the color and text formatting attributes for your dashboard
components in the Default Chart Settings section. Then click Save.
Add Dashboard Components
Add up to 20 dashboard components to your dashboards.
8. Click Add Component from the appropriate column.
9. Select a component type: chart, gauge, table, metric, or custom s-control. If
you select chart, choose a type in the Chart Settings section. See the list of
charts at right.
If you select a chart type, you can embed a URL other than the source
report to allow users to click the dashboard component and drill down to
another dashboard, report, record detail page, or another system that
uses a Web interface.
If you select custom s-control, you can choose predefined custom scontrols from a drop-down list.
10.Optionally, enter a header, footer, and unit of measurement.
11.Depending on the chart type, make any appropriate chart settings. See the
following page for examples.
12.Click Save. Repeat this process for each new dashboard component.
Organize Your Dashboard Components
Organize your dashboard components in up to three columns. Each column can be a
different width and your components automatically resize as you move them around.
13.Set column width with Column Size options: Narrow, Medium, or Wide.
14.Move components using the appropriate arrow buttons.
15. Click Refresh to update the data in your dashboard.
16.Click Edit just above any component to change its attributes.

Copyright

2000-2009 salesforce.com, inc. All rights reserved.

Chart Types
Horizontal Bar
Horizontal Bar Grouped
Horizontal Bar - Stacked
Horizontal Bar - Stacked
to 100%
Vertical Column
Vertical Column Grouped
Vertical Column Stacked
Vertical Column Stacked to 100%
Line

Line - Grouped

Line Cumulative
Line - Grouped
Cumulative
Pie

Component Types
Table

Metric

Gauge

Last Update: January 05, 2009

Creating Gauge Components

Use the gauge to see how far you are from reaching your goal. For example, create a
summary opportunity report sorted by Opportunity Owner and total by the amounts of
each opportunity in your pipeline. Then create a dashboard component using this report
as a source and set your own gauge colors and breakpoint values:

Gauge Setting

Gauge Components

Description

Minimum Value

The lowest value on the gauge.

Low Range Color

The color of the left section of the gauge. This section spans from the
Minimum Value to the Breakpoint #1 Value.

Breakpoint #1 Value

At this value, the left color stops and the middle color begins.

Medium Range Color

The color of the middle section of the gauge. This section spans from
the Breakpoint #1 Value to the Breakpoint #2 Value.

Breakpoint #2 Value

At this value the middle color stops and the right color begins.

High Range Color

The color of the right section of the gauge. This color spans from the
Breakpoint #2 Value to the Maximum Value.

Maximum Value

The highest value on the gauge.

Creating Pie Charts

Use pie charts to compare values of a similar type. For example, create an activity
report summarized by assignee that shows the total number of activities modified
within the year, month, or week. Then create a dashboard component using this report
and the pie chart type with the following settings:

Chart Setting

Pie Charts

Description

Chart Type

Choose Pie.

Title

Enter an identifying name for the pie chart.

Sort By

This option does not affect pie charts.

Maximum Values
Displayed

Enter the maximum number of elements to include in the pie chart.

For example, if you only want to see the top 4 people with the most
activities, enter 4.

Legend Position

Choose where you want the legend displayed with respect to the
chart.

Creating Bar Charts

Use bar charts to compare totals using horizontal or vertical bars. For example, create a
stacked bar chart that indicates which reps are selling which products. Start by building
a matrix opportunity report that includes products. Group your data by Opportunity
Owner and Product Name and total by Quantity. Then, create a dashboard
component using the following chart settings:

Chart Setting

Description

Chart Type

Choose Vertical Column - Stacked.

Title

Enter an identifying name for your bar chart.

Sort By

Enter a sorting option. For example, use Row Value Descending to

show the name of the rep with the most first from left to right.

Maximum Values
Displayed

Leave this blank to see all opportunity owners. For example, if you
only want to see the top five salespeople, enter 5.

Legend Position

Choose where you want the legend displayed with respect to the
chart.

Copyright

Bar Charts

2000-2009 salesforce.com, inc. All rights reserved.

Last Update: January 05, 2009

Refreshing Dashboards
On a dashboard, users can click Refresh to replenish the dashboard with the
most recent data.
Users with the Schedule Dashboards permission in Enterprise and Unlimited
Editions can schedule dashboards to refresh daily, weekly, or monthly so that
users do not have to wait for the most recent data to refresh.
Upon completion of the dashboard refresh, Salesforce sends an email
notification to selected users and groups that includes the refreshed
dashboard.
For more information on how to schedule a dashboard refresh, see the
Salesforce online help.

Troubleshooting Dashboards
Why does my chart look blank? Are you using a tabular report? Dashboard
components can only display data from summary or matrix reports.
Why are my grouped charts not grouping correctly? Are you using a
matrix report? Grouped or stacked charts must reference matrix reports.
How do I create dashboard components out of standard reports? Use the
Save As option to save a report as a custom report.
See http://salesforce.breezecentral.com/p68382803/ for an interactive demo.

Copyright

2000-2009 salesforce.com, inc. All rights reserved.

Last Update: January 05, 2009