The Record Selector Widget in SmartSuite is a powerful tool that enables users to interactively select a specific record from a filtered list on the dashboard. This selection dynamically controls the content displayed in other widgets, such as Metric, View, Chart, and Record Detail types, making it a central component for creating interactive and data-driven dashboards.
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.
How the Record Selector Widget Works
When setting up a Record Selector Widget, an admin must select a source table to determine the available records. Any table in the workspace can be chosen as the source, enabling data from across various workflows to be displayed within a single dashboard.
Permissions
Users will only see the records in the selector for which they have been granted access. This ensures that sensitive data remains secure and that each user's experience is tailored to their specific role and permissions within the workspace.
Styling Options
The Record Selector can be displayed in two different styles:
Dropdown: A compact format lets users select a record from a dropdown menu.
List (Panel): This is a more expansive format, displaying the records as a panel within the dashboard, providing an overview of multiple records at once.
Within the widget's styling settings, you can also control the background color to match the dashboard’s overall theme and layout.
Dynamic Content Control
The true power of the Record Selector Widget lies in its ability to update and display content in other widgets based on the selected record. It can control widgets on a single dashboard or within a single tab (if tabs are used).
For example, selecting "Product " in the Record Selector Widget can trigger the display of various data across the dashboard:
Grid Widget: Shows a list of open orders related to the selected customer.
Calendar View Widget: Displays delivery dates for upcoming orders.
Summary Card Widget: Provides a quick overview of total orders.
Chart Widget: Visualizes order trends over time.
Record Detail Widget: Displays detailed fields from the selected record, such as Customer Name, Email, Phone, Address, Industry, and Account Representative.
Advanced Capability – Connecting Multiple Record Selectors
For more complex use cases, Record Selectors can be connected to each other. When a record is selected in Record Selector A, it can influence the list of records displayed in Record Selector B. For example, selecting a customer in Record Selector A can automatically filter Record Selector B to show only open orders related to that customer. This cascading selection process allows for highly contextualized data displays tailored to the user's specific needs.
To configure this, use the following steps below. In this example, I'll be using a Project Selector and a Task Selector.
Configure the parent record selector as normal.
When configuring the 'child' record selector, make sure you pick the source solution that has the dashboard you are currently configuring. You'll see a new section called Record Selectors appear at the top, and our Project Selector is available as a choice.
Once the Project Selector is chosen, we then need to pick the Linked Record for the table we want. In this case we'll choose Project Tasks. After that, you can configure the selector as normal and choose your filter, sort, and fields to display.
By using the Record Selector Widget, you can create a highly interactive and contextualized dashboard experience, allowing users to explore different data sets seamlessly and even implement advanced data relationships.
Widget Configuration Options
General Tab
The General Tab allows you to configure basic settings for the widget, including the record source, filters, and connected widgets.
Heading Section:
Title: Provide a title for the widget.
Description: Add a brief description to clarify the widget's purpose.
Caption: Add any additional information or context that might be useful to users.
Source Section:
Source Selector: Select a table or another Record Selector widget to pull data from. If using another Record Selector, ensure it links through a Linked Record field.
Filter: Apply additional filters to narrow down the list of records shown in the selector.
Sort: Define the sort order for records in the selector using SmartSuite's standard sorting controls.
Selection Dropdown Section
This section allows you to configure how the records are displayed within the dropdown list, and whether users can create new records.
Fields to Display:
You can select up to three fields to display in addition to the record title.
The title field is required and cannot be removed. You can also select a cover image for each record to be shown.
Space for image showing fields to display configuration
Allow Users to Create New Records:
Solution Managers can toggle this feature on to allow users to create new records directly from the Record Selector dropdown.
When enabled, a Create New Record button will appear in the dropdown. This is especially useful for quickly adding data without leaving the dashboard.
Connected Widgets Section
In this section, you can define which widgets within the dashboard should pull data from the Record Selector.
List of Connected Widgets: Displays a list of widgets that are using the Record Selector as their data source.
Filter and Sort: You can filter or sort the connected widgets in alphabetical order for easier management.
Record Selector Widget Use Cases:
Customer Management Dashboard: Add a Record Selector that allows users to select a customer, then dynamically display open orders, contacts, and support tickets in connected widgets on the same dashboard.
Employee Dashboard: Use the Record Selector to choose an employee, with connected widgets showing performance reviews, training status, and project assignments, providing a comprehensive view of individual employee data.
Sales Pipeline Dashboard: Include a Record Selector for selecting a sales opportunity, displaying linked widgets for deal stages, activities, and projected revenue.