Custom Dashboards

Build role-specific home pages with relevant data.

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What is a Dashboard?

When users log in, they see a dashboard - a home page with:

DASHBOARD COMPONENTS
===============================================================================

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                            DASHBOARD                                         │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                                             │
│  ┌─────────────┐  ┌─────────────┐  ┌─────────────┐  ┌─────────────┐        │
│  │   KPI       │  │  Chart      │  │  Shortcuts  │  │  List       │        │
│  │  Revenue    │  │  Sales      │  │  New Order  │  │  My Tasks   │        │
│  │  $125,000   │  │  Trend      │  │  New Quote  │  │  Open Cases │        │
│  └─────────────┘  └─────────────┘  └─────────────┘  └─────────────┘        │
│                                                                             │
│  ┌───────────────────────────────┐  ┌───────────────────────────┐          │
│  │   Reminders                   │  │   Recent Records          │          │
│  │   - Follow up with ABC Corp   │  │   - Sales Order #12345    │          │
│  │   - Prepare monthly report    │  │   - Customer: XYZ Inc     │          │
│  └───────────────────────────────┘  └───────────────────────────┘          │
│                                                                             │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

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Portlet Types

Portlets are the building blocks of dashboards:

Portlet Type	Shows	Use For
KPI Scorecard	Key numbers	Revenue, Orders, Cases
Trend Graph	Charts over time	Sales trend, Pipeline
List	Records from saved search	My Tasks, Open Orders
Shortcuts	Quick links	New Order, Customer List
Reminders	Tasks and reminders	Follow-ups, Deadlines
Custom Portlet	Custom content	Search forms, Reports

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Creating a Dashboard

Step 1: Design Your Layout

First, think about what the role needs to see:

PLANNING A SALES DASHBOARD
===============================================================================

What does Sales Rep need on login?

Top Priority:
├── Today's tasks
├── Open orders to follow up
└── Key accounts

Metrics:
├── Monthly sales total
├── Sales vs target
└── Pipeline value

Quick Actions:
├── Create Quote
├── Create Order
└── Customer List

Step 2: Add Portlets

ADDING PORTLETS TO DASHBOARD
===============================================================================

Step 1: Log in as the role (or a user with that role)

Step 2: Go to Home (dashboard)

Step 3: Click "Personalize Dashboard" (or Settings icon)

Step 4: Click "Add Content"

Step 5: Select portlet type
├── Standard Content (built-in portlets)
├── Saved Searches (custom lists)
├── Custom Searches (search forms)
└── Shortcuts

Step 6: Drag to position

Step 7: Save Layout

Step 3: Publish the Dashboard

PUBLISHING A DASHBOARD
===============================================================================

Step 1: Create the dashboard (logged in as admin)

Step 2: Navigate to publish
Setup > Users/Roles > Publish Dashboards > New

Step 3: Configure
├── Name: "Sales Team Dashboard"
├── Audience: Sales Representative role
└── Lock: ✓ (optional - prevent changes)

Step 4: Add portlets
Same as personal dashboard

Step 5: Save and Publish

Result: All users with that role see this dashboard

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Common Portlet Setups

KPI Scorecard

Shows key metrics:

KPI SCORECARD SETUP
===============================================================================

Add KPI:
├── Click "Add Content" > "Key Performance Indicators"
├── Click "Setup" on the portlet
├── Add measures like:
│   ├── Total Revenue (This Month)
│   ├── Open Opportunities
│   ├── Orders to Ship
│   └── Average Order Value
└── Save

Saved Search Portlet

Shows custom list of records:

SAVED SEARCH PORTLET
===============================================================================

Step 1: Create a saved search first
Reports > Saved Searches > New
├── Type: Transaction (Sales Order)
├── Criteria: Status = Pending Approval
├── Columns: Date, Customer, Amount
└── Save as "Orders Pending Approval"

Step 2: Add to dashboard
├── Add Content > Saved Searches
├── Select "Orders Pending Approval"
├── Position and save

Shortcuts Portlet

Quick links to common actions:

SHORTCUTS PORTLET
===============================================================================

Add shortcuts like:
├── New Sales Order
├── New Customer
├── Customer List
├── My Saved Searches
└── Daily Report

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Role-Specific Dashboard Examples

Sales Dashboard

SALES REPRESENTATIVE DASHBOARD
===============================================================================

Row 1:
├── KPIs: Monthly Sales, Quota %, Pipeline Value
└── Shortcuts: New Quote, New Order, Customers

Row 2:
├── List: My Open Opportunities
└── List: Recent Orders

Row 3:
├── Reminders: Follow-ups due
└── Chart: Sales Trend

Accounting Dashboard

ACCOUNTANT DASHBOARD
===============================================================================

Row 1:
├── KPIs: AP Balance, AR Balance, Cash Position
└── Shortcuts: Journal Entry, Vendor Bill, Reports

Row 2:
├── List: Bills to Pay
└── List: Invoices to Follow Up

Row 3:
├── Reminders: Month-end tasks
└── List: Unapproved Transactions

Warehouse Dashboard

WAREHOUSE DASHBOARD
===============================================================================

Row 1:
├── KPIs: Orders to Pick, Items Received Today
└── Shortcuts: Pick Orders, Receive Items

Row 2:
├── List: Orders Ready to Ship
└── List: Pending Receipts

Row 3:
├── List: Low Stock Items
└── Reminders: Cycle count schedule

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Locking Dashboards

Prevent users from changing the dashboard:

LOCKING A DASHBOARD
===============================================================================

Option 1: Lock Published Dashboard
├── When publishing, check "Lock Dashboard"
├── Users cannot add/remove portlets
└── They see exactly what you designed

Option 2: Allow Personalization
├── Uncheck "Lock Dashboard"
├── Users can add their own portlets
└── Good for power users

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Quick Reference

I want to...	Go to
Edit my dashboard	Home > Personalize Dashboard
Add a portlet	Dashboard > Add Content
Publish for a role	Setup > Users/Roles > Publish Dashboards
Assign to role	Role > Preferences > Dashboard

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Tips

Do	Don't
Match dashboard to job role	Show everything to everyone
Use saved searches for lists	Rely only on standard portlets
Keep it focused	Overcrowd with portlets
Lock for consistency	Let everyone modify
Test on different screen sizes	Forget mobile users

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Key Takeaways

1. Dashboard = Home page with portlets
2. Portlets show KPIs, lists, charts, shortcuts
3. Publish dashboards for consistent role experience
4. Lock if needed to prevent changes
5. Match to job function - show what's relevant

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Related Topics

• Forms & Dashboards - Assigning to roles
• Role Preferences - Default settings
• Centers & Tabs - Menu customization