Navigating the Dashboard Designer

Navigating the Dashboard Designer

The Dashboard Designer is a streamlined, three-pane workspace designed for a “what you see is what you get” (WYSIWYG) experience. This interface allows you to build, customize, and manage your data visualizations in a single cohesive environment.


The Component Library (Left Pane)

The Library is your toolbox. Click and drag any of these blocks onto your canvas to begin:

 Data Charts

  • Pie / Doughnut: Ideal for part-to-whole comparisons.
  • Line / Area: Best for visualizing trends and changes over time.
  • Bar: Used for categorical comparisons and ranking data.

 Informational Widgets

  • Heading: Static text used for labeling sections or adding instructions.
  • Table: A read-only grid view showing raw or aggregated data rows.
  • Value & Label: A “KPI Card” that displays a single critical number with optional sparklines.
  • Distill Query (AI Chat): An AI-powered interface that enables natural language questions (RAG – Retrieval Augmented Generation) directly on your data.

Choosing the Right Visualization: Charts & Widgets

The Designer Canvas (Center Pane)

The Canvas is your flexible staging area.

  • Drag & Drop: Move components freely to build your perfect layout.
  • Responsive Grid: Components snap to a grid, allowing you to resize them to fit any screen size.
  • Organization: This area defines the visual experience your stakeholders will ultimately see.

The Properties Panel (Right Pane)

This panel is dynamic—it updates automatically based on the component you select on the Canvas. Configuration is divided into three key areas:

  • Basic: Set title and hint styles.
  • Dataset: Connect the components to your Appenate tables (Forms, Data sources, and Docs that’ve been synced with Distill) and define the logic (filtering, grouping).
  • Layout & Styling: Fine-tune colors, legends, and chart types.

Tip: Use the Manage and Save options in the top-right header to finalize your design once your properties are set.

Understanding Dashboard Datasets

Dashboard Settings

Accessible via the Settings link in the header, this area serves as your command center for administration:

  • Identity: Set the Dashboard Title, choose a representative icon, and add a description.
  • Access Control: Manage Share Keys to generate secure links and toggle the Make Public setting for broader access.
  • Audit Logs: Track Version History and Change History to see exactly when and by whom the dashboard was updated.

Managing Share Keys: Distributing Your Insights

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