In this Salesforce tutorial, we will learn how to create a dashboard in Salesforce. Also, we will cover these topics:
- How to Create a Dashboard in Salesforce
- How to Create a Dashboard in Salesforce Lightning
- How to Create a Dashboard in Salesforce Classic
- How to Create a Dashboard Folder in Salesforce
- How to Create a Dashboard Folder in Salesforce Lightning
- How to Create a dashboard folder in Salesforce Classic
- How to Create a Dynamic Dashboard in Salesforce
- How to Create a Dashboard Gauge in Salesforce
- How to Make a Dashboard Public in Salesforce Lightning
If you are new to salesforce, check out a tutorial on How to get a free salesforce account.
How to Create a Dashboard in Salesforce
Dashboard in salesforce is the presentation of one or more reports in such a way that it gives an insight into the company’s performance. Multiple salesforce reports can be placed on a single dashboard which helps in quick understanding of data.
The salesforce reports are presented on the dashboard in the form of summarized texts and graphs. There are 11 types of graphs that can be used for the representation of multiple reports on the dashboard:
- Horizontal Bar Chart
- Vertical Bar Chart
- Stacked Horizontal Bar Chart
- Stacked Vertical Bar Chart
- Line Chart
- Donut Chart
- Metric Chart
- Gauge Chart
- Funnel Chart
- Scatter Chart
- Lightning Table
Each graph has a purpose and it is important to select the right graph to present the salesforce report on the dashboard. Since we have two user experiences in salesforce – Lightning and Classic. We will show how to create a dashboard in salesforce using both.
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How to Create a Dashboard in Salesforce Lightning
Salesforce lightning is a modern framework that fastens the speed of app creation on the salesforce platform. It was released back in 2015, ever it kept on improving its speed and scalability.
Using the salesforce dashboard on the lightning user experience, one can display various report graphs.
Do you want to know how to create a dashboard in salesforce lightning? Follow these steps: –
Step 1. From the salesforce, homepage click on the dashboard object. If you don’t see it on the navigation bar then search on App Launcher.
Note: Create a New Folder first then save the dashboard in it if you want to share this dashboard with someone (individual or group).
Step 2. You can edit the existing dashboard by clicking on it or you can create a new one by clicking on New Dashboard present on the top right.
Step 3: Click on the Component button to add data on the salesforce dashboard.
Do you want to learn how to create a dashboard component in salesforce?
From here we are going to create a dashboard component in salesforce. follow the next step where we are adding a report component on the salesforce dashboard.
Step 4: Select the Report from here. You search the report from the Reports on the left side and add a filter to show reports or folders or Reports and Folders on the right side drop down.
After selecting a report click on the Select button.
Step 5: Select a type of graph to display the report in the graphical form on the salesforce dashboard. Scroll down to adjust the selected graph values once done click on the Add button.
Step 6: In this way can create a dashboard in Salesforce. Repeat the process multiple times to put more reports in the available space. In the end, click on the save button to save the dashboard in a private or public folder.
Click on Done to finish the editing of a dashboard in Salesforce.
With this, we have learned how to create a dashboard in salesforce lightning. Next, we will learn how to create a dashboard in the salesforce classic user interface.
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How to Create a Dashboard in Salesforce Classic
The Salesforce classic user experience is a traditional interface that runs with low resources and is being used since the beginning of salesforce. Due to its simple interface, most users in the USA still prefer to use classic over lightning.
Do you want to learn how to create a dashboard in salesforce classic? Follow these steps: –
Step 1: From the salesforce homepage click on the dashboards object from the navigation bar.
Step 2: Click on the existing dashboard to edit or Click on the New Dashboard to create a new one.
Step 3: Click on the Data Sources on the left side of the window. Here you will see the list of reports. Drag and drop the reports on the three available windows.
do you want to learn how to create a dashboard component in salesforce? follow the steps shared in this step to add components in the salesforce.
- Click on the Components tab and select the type of graph from there. Drag and drop the graph on the report that you want to convert into a graph.
- You can edit the graph by clicking on the setting icon on each window.
- Once done, save the graph by clicking on the save button and then provide the name select the folder where you want to save the salesforce dashboard.
- Click on Save and Run to see the dashboard.
With this will have learned how to create a dashboard in the salesforce classic user experience.
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How to Create a Dashboard Folder in Salesforce
In salesforce, if you want to share a dashboard then it should be placed inside a folder. Without placing a dashboard or report in the folder the salesforce does not provide the option to share them.
In the previous section, we demonstrated how to create a dashboard in salesforce and there we have not created any folder. In this section, we will show you how to create a dashboard folder in salesforce.
Since there are two user experiences in salesforce – Lightning and Classic we will demonstrate both of them.
How to Create a Dashboard Folder in Salesforce Lightning
Salesforce lightning is a framework that components which helps in the fast creation of apps in salesforce. Other than that, it works on modern web standards which is why it is fast as compared to the classic user experience.
Do you want to learn how to create a dashboard folder in salesforce lightning? Follow these steps:
Step 1: From the salesforce dashboard click on the Dashboards object present on the navigation bar or also search it on the App launcher.
After entering into Dashboards, click on the New Folder present next to the New Dashboard option on the top right of the screen.
Step 2: Provide the Folder Label and then click on the save button. The Folder Unique Name will be generated automatically but you can change it.
Step 3: On the Dashboard, All Folders click on All Folders, here you will see the folder created in the previous steps.
Do you want to learn how to Create a New Dashboard in Salesforce? Follow the steps below.
Click on the New Dashboard button present on the top right of the screen as shown in the image.
Step 4: Name the dashboard and click on the Select Folder. From there select the folder that we have created in the previous few steps. Click on the create button.
Step 5: The empty dashboard will be created, add reports to the dashboard by clicking on the + component.
We have selected two reports here, save the dashboard by clicking on the save button. You can save the dashboard with a different name by selecting ‘Save As’ from the dropdown next to the save button.
Click on the done button once completed editing the dashboard.
Read How to create report in salesforce
How to Create a Dashboard Folder in Salesforce Classic
Salesforce classic is the traditional interface of the salesforce that looks simple but provides access to powerful salesforce tools.
Do you want to learn how to create a dashboard folder in salesforce classic? Follow these steps: –
Step 1: From the salesforce dashboard click on Reports, there you will see a dropdown on the left side as shown in the below image. Click on it and select New Dashboard Folder from there.
Step 2: On the New Dashboard Folder provide a name for the folder. In our case, we have provided the United States. The Folder Unique Name will automatically generate but it can be changed if required. Click on the save button.
Step 3: New folder will be created and it will start appearing in the All Folders as shown in the image there is a folder with the name United States. Click on the New Dashboard button to create the dashboard in salesforce.
Step 4: On clicking the Data Sources tab you will see the Reports. Drag and drop the report on the available dashboard space.
The dashboard space can be changed by clicking on the dropdown as marked with the red oval in the below image.
Step 5: On clicking the Components tab, various types of chart options will appear. Drag and drop the type of chart you want to display for the selected report.
Once done, click on the save button and then close the dashboard. To see the dashboard, click on the dashboards object present on the navigation bar of the salesforce.
With this, we have learned how to create a dashboard folder in Salesforce lightning and salesforce classic.
Read How to Share a Report in Salesforce
How to create a dynamic dashboard in salesforce
The salesforce dashboards are the composition of multiple reports on one screen. The salesforce dashboard provides three types of View Dashboard As options in salesforce:
- Me
- Another Person
- The Dashboard Viewer
Let’s understand these views with an example:
The manager of the XYZ Pvt Ltd, a company based in the United States is showing the presentation of the company’s performance. The overall performance comprises people from all the departments and their contribution is mentioned in the below chart.
- If the dashboard is set to Me, then managers will be able to show the report as shown in the above picture but they won’t be able to access the reports of higher rank managers (CFO, CEO) because they don’t have access to it.
- So when the Salesboard View Dashboard As is set to Me then dashboard readers can access those files only to which you have access.
- In the case of Another Person, who so ever name will be set here. All the reports that a person can access will be accessible to the dashboard readers.
- So if the Manager and HR are mentioned that means readers can access the reports with the manager and HR.
- Last is The Dashboard Viewer, also called Dynamic Dashboard. So far viewers were seeing what the presenter wants to show.
- In this viewers can view the dashboard as per their preferences.
In this section, we will learn how to create a dynamic dashboard in salesforce but before that let’s see a few limitations that one should keep in check before opting for them. These limitations are:
- The Enterprise Edition users can create 5 dynamic dashboards in salesforce.
- The Unlimited and Performance Edition users can create 10 dynamic dashboards.
- The Developer Edition users can create up to 3 dynamic dashboards only.
- Dynamic dashboards can be created only on the public folders.
- Scheduled Refreshes should be done manually it cannot be scheduled automatically.
Do you want to learn how to create a dynamic dashboards in salesforce? Follow these steps: –
Step 1: Start a new dashboard or edit the existing one.
Step 2: After reaching the main dashboard builder page where you have to add components to the dashboard. There click on the Gear icon to open the settings of the salesforce dashboard.
Step 3: There in the View Dashboard As select the dashboard viewer radio button also check the checkbox which says Let dashboard viewers choose whom they view the dashboard as.
Step 4: Click the Save button to Apply the changes and now your dynamic dashboard is ready in salesforce lightning.
With this, we have learned How to create a dynamic dashboard in salesforce.
How to Create a Dashboard Gauge in Salesforce
Salesforce dashboard provides a wide variety of graphs and charts to present the data. Out of these, Gauge is one of them which is used to display the range of values and the needle is placed on the key business values colors.
The best example of a Gauge chart is a speedometer where there is a needle and a range of values classified in 3 colors.
Do you want to learn how to create a dashboard gauge in salesforce? Follow the below steps to create a dashboard gauge in salesforce.
On the Add Component Page, Select Select the Gauge Charts, immediately you will see a speedometer-type image created on the right side. This is called a Gauge Chart in the salesforce dashboard.
| Measure | Record Count |
| Segment Ranges | Here you prove the ranges of numbers that will be displayed on the gauge chart |
| Display Units | There are three checkboxes present here. show percentages, show values, show range. Clicking on it will display it accordingly. |
| Decimal Places | How many zeros can be displayed after a decimal point. |
| Custom link | On Clicking the chart it will take you to the defined link. |
| Title | The title of the chart appears on the top |
| Subtitle | description of title |
| Footer | The footer appears at the bottom of the page. |
| component theme | you can select the Light or Dark theme |
Here, we have learned how to create a gauge dashboard in salesforce.
How to Make a Dashboard Public in Salesforce Lightning
In salesforce, every time a new dashboard is created it automatically saves in the private folder. This means no other person can access that dashboard.
Dashboards in the salesforce are created to share multiple reports with others. It could be people of higher hierarchy or lower hierarchy in the organization. But if you want to share it with everyone then the dashboard must be shared with everyone.
In order to share a dashboard, we have to share the entire folder with the public groups. Public groups can be accessed by everyone in the organization.
Do you want to know how to make a dashboard public in salesforce lightning? Follow these steps: –
Step 1: Click on the dashboard from the salesforce navigation bar or you can also search it on the app launcher.
Step 2: Click on All Folders, there you will see the dashboard folders. From there click on the dropdown icon for the dashboard you want to share public.
Step 3: Select Share from the dropdown menu, a new share window will pop up on the window.
Step 4: From the Share With dropdown select Public Groups, fill in the name of the group in the Name field also select Access – View, Edit, Manage.
Step 5: Click on the Share button and then click on the Done.
Now all the users can access the dashboard and in this way, we have learned how to make a dashboard public in salesforce lightning.
Conclusion
Reports and Dashboards are important aspects of every organization as they give insight into the company. Learn How to create reports in salesforce. In this tutorial, we have learned how to create a dashboard in Salesforce. Also, we have covered these topics:
- How to Create a Dashboard in Salesforce
- How to Create a Dashboard in Salesforce Lightning
- How to Create a Dashboard in Salesforce Classic
- How to Create a Dashboard Folder in Salesforce
- How to Create a Dashboard Folder in Salesforce Lightning
- How to Create a dashboard folder in Salesforce Classic
- How to Create a Dynamic Dashboard in Salesforce
- How to Create a Dashboard Gauge in Salesforce
- How to Make a Dashboard Public in Salesforce Lightning
I am Bijay Kumar, the founder of SalesforceFAQs.com. Having over 10 years of experience working in salesforce technologies for clients across the world (Canada, Australia, United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand, etc.). I am a certified salesforce administrator and expert with experience in developing salesforce applications and projects. My goal is to make it easy for people to learn and use salesforce technologies by providing simple and easy-to-understand solutions. Check out the complete profile on About us.