What are Dashboards?

Dashboards are collections of Widgets that have been added to the dashboard, similar to how fields are added to records. Like field types, SmartSuite supports a large selection of widgets and widget display settings, allowing the dashboard to be uniquely tailored to fit the team's or user's needs.

What is a Widget?

Widgets are configurable panels designed to display specific types of information, links to information and visual representations of your data. Widgets have a consistent configuration interface, with preferences and settings displayed in a panel to the right when the Widget's Settings are opened. It looks like this:

Adding Widgets

Widgets are the building blocks of your dashboard, each offering a different way to display data, metrics, and content. To add widgets:

Click "Add Widget"
In the upper-right corner of your dashboard, select the Add Widget button.
Choose Your Widget
A popup will display SmartSuite's library of widgets, including text, charts, banners, and interactive widgets. Use the search bar or scroll through the categories to find and select the right widget for your dashboard.
Customize Your Widget
After selecting a widget, you can configure its settings (e.g., text, images, data sources, and layout) to match your specific needs.

Configuration Settings: Navigation Tab

The Navigation Tabs feature offers a versatile way to create custom navigation within each dashboard, enhancing the overall user experience. With this feature, users can add a logo, create multiple tabs, and introduce action buttons tailored to their unique workflow needs.

From the Page Settings gear icon located in the View Panel of your dashboard, you can access a variety of configuration options.

From the Saved view settings, you also can access the View Settings or:

Add to Favorites (Star) Your Dashboard for easy access
Duplicate the Dashboard to create a quick copy with similar settings
Delete the Dashboard if no longer needed
Adjust Dashboard Visibility to control who can view or edit the dashboard

Now you're ready to add widgets. Keep reading to learn how to do it!

Widget Type Summary

There are several types, including the following categories:

Charts. Include visual charts and graphs on your dashboard to visualize data.
Embeds. Embed externally hosted data directly into your dashboard.
Conferencing. Include links that let you start an online meeting with a click.
Metrics. Summarize data from your SmartSuite Tables and compare key indicators over configurable periods of time.
Other. A variety of other utility Widgets are available, allowing you to do everything from show the time in remote offices to share announcements with your team.

We're always adding new Widget types to this list, so check back frequently to see what's new!

Adding and Configuring Widgets

Once you've got your empty Dashboard created and named, it's time to start adding content. SmartSuite has a Widget Library interface that makes it easy to find the perfect Widget to showcase your data, or the right utility Widget to make it easier to get things done. Here's how you add them:

Click Add Widget on the Dashboard toolbar
You will be presented with the Widget Library interface, where you can:
1. Search for a Widget by name - just type in the Find Widget box
Hover your desired Widget to see the Install Widget button
Click Install Widget

Depending on the Widget type you will have a variety of configurable options displayed in the Settings panel that are specific to that Widget. See the end of this article for links to articles that will take you through a specific Widget's configuration in detail.

When you're done, just click the Add Widget button to close the Settings interface and place the Widget on your Dashboard. If you change your mind, you can always click Cancel to discard the new Widget and settings.

Edit / View Mode

In the top right corner, you will find a toggle that disables/enables editing of the dashboard view. To make changes to the existing dashboard simply toggle it to edit mode.

Edit Mode

When in Edit mode, users can customize the dashboard layout and settings. The following adjustments are made to streamline the editing experience:

Removal of Resizer Options: The resizer options, which are used for adjusting widths, are hidden in Edit mode to avoid distraction.
Grabber Icon Removal: The grabber icon, typically used for moving the width of elements, is also hidden to maintain focus on the dashboard's overall configuration.
Elimination of Setup-Specific Controls: Any other controls specific to the setup of the dashboard are hidden to declutter the interface during the editing process.

View Mode

The primary goal of the View mode is to provide a clean and distraction-free view of the dashboard content. In this mode:

Default Removal of Configuration Controls: Features such as resizer options, grabber icon, and other setup-specific controls are automatically hidden to allow users to concentrate on consuming the dashboard's content.

Default Modes

New Dashboard: When creating a new dashboard, the system defaults to Edit mode, allowing users to set up and configure the dashboard according to their preferences.
Existing Dashboard: When accessing an existing dashboard, the system defaults to View mode to present the content without distraction. Users can easily switch to Edit mode if further customization is needed.

Sharing Dashboards

Sharing your dashboard publicly is a straightforward process within SmartSuite.

Simply select the dashboard you want to share.

Click on "Share View" icon next to the reporting toolbar.
Toggle the Shared View

This will generate a unique shareable link and embeddable code. This link can be accessed by anyone external to SmartSuite.

You have a variety of display controls to customize the Dashboard experience:

Share all fields:

Only allow users to view fields that are included in this view and restrict them from seeing all available fields in this Table

Allow viewers to open records:

If enabled, viewers can open individual records

Display toolbar:

If turned off, toolbar with view controls will not be displayed

Restrict access with a passcode:

Users will be required to enter a password, prior to being provided access to the shared view

If you ever need to remove access to your Dashboard and want to deactivate a link you have already distributed, you can regenerate the link. Just click the Regenerate icon (shown in the image below) and the old link will be inactivated instantly, replaced by a brand new link that you can choose to share.