Visually Effective Excel Dashboards

Dashboard First Steps…

1. Draw a draft. Plan your layout.

2. Get inspired. Do an image search for terms like “professional

dashboards” “KPI dashboards”. Avoid the word ‘Excel’.
Collect screen shots in a text document. Then think about how
you might achieve each aspect.
3. Do you have the required parameters? (For each element in your
dashboard). Is it part of your raw data? Are you missing anything?
4. Which functions could you use? Can you picture how the data’s
going to flow?
5. Get started. Avoid using an old report – they can have hidden
content and excessive formatting. With a blank page, add a
sample, formulas, a chart, and before you know it you have
momentum!
Leave formatting until the end.
6. Document your steps. Write down your thinking and steps for
later. This helps keep you on track.

To learn more, visit www.xelplus.com .