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
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
General Settings
From the General Tab, you can rename the Dashboard and add a description to be shown under the Dashboard name or as a tooltip.
Page Settings: Navigation
Dashboard Tabs
Each tab within the Navigation Tabs framework functions like a mini-dashboard, allowing users to display a unique set of widgets. This approach provides a website or portal-like experience, where clicking on a tab reveals its content without leaving the dashboard.
The flexibility of this setup makes it perfect for organizing data, metrics, and visualizations across various sections, simplifying how users interact with complex information.
Key Tab Features:
Position Control: Easily arrange the position of your tabs.
Custom Logos: Optionally display a logo on the tab bar for branding.
Action Buttons: Add buttons to provide users with quick access to commonly-used features or links.
For instance, in a Content Production use case, you could use tabs to separate Content Overview, Posts, and Blogs. In the Product Content Overview tab, we see Calendar View, Record Detail, and Summary Card to track key information like this week's social posts, weekly content, and new content submissions.
Action Buttons
In addition to tabbed navigation, you can add custom action buttons that perform specific tasks. For example, you could create a "Contact Us" button that, when clicked, displays a form directly within the dashboard. Other potential actions include accessing URLs, launching forms, or triggering other SmartSuite workflows, empowering users to engage with content seamlessly.
This feature's intuitive design ensures that dashboards can be tailored to meet any business need, providing an engaging and streamlined user experience.
Dashboard Footers
The Footer feature allows users to add a professional, customizable footer, enhancing the dashboard's overall look and feel. Similar to website footers, this versatile feature provides a cohesive section at the bottom of the dashboard, where users can include essential elements to communicate information effectively.
Footer Options:
Company Logo and Name: The Footer can display your company logo and name, providing consistent branding across your dashboard.
Descriptive Text: Additionally, users can include a descriptive text area, which is perfect for adding a brief company overview or other relevant information.
Links to Pages/Resources
To further streamline navigation, the Footer supports adding links to other pages or resources, making it easy for viewers to explore additional content or sections.Social Integration: For a more connected experience, the Footer includes social icons, allowing users to link directly to their social media profiles. This integration provides a seamless way for viewers to engage with the company on other platforms.
Overall, the Footer serves as an informative and functional section, tying the dashboard's elements together while offering a professional appearance that resonates with users and visitors alike.
See below for an example of a website-feel footer with a "contact us: button, social network link, and mission statement.
Dashboard Styling
The Styling Settings feature offers a simple yet powerful way to personalize the appearance of your dashboards, ensuring they align with your brand or desired aesthetic.
You can now:
Adjust the dashboard width to optimize for different screen sizes or layouts. Choose automatic sizing or more compact layouts for smaller screens.
Customize the background color to highlight the content and fit your visual design preferences.
Background Color
Choose the dashboard's overall background color to create the perfect visual experience. Whether it's a light, neutral tone for a clean and modern look or a bold color that aligns with your brand identity, the background color selection allows you to set the right mood for your dashboard content.
Page Width Option
To further customize the layout, the Styling Settings offer three page width options:
Auto: Automatically adjusts to the size of the user's screen, providing a dynamic and responsive experience.
Standard: A balanced width that offers a comfortable viewing experience, ideal for most use cases.
Compact: Creates a more focused, narrow layout, perfect for dashboards that need to display content in a concise, streamlined format.
These settings allow you to present your data most effectively and visually appealingly, enhancing both usability and aesthetic impact.