Dashboard Basics

Dashboard Basics

Dashboards in Querri provide a powerful way to visualize and monitor your data in real-time. This guide will help you understand what dashboards are and how to create your first one.

What are Dashboards?

Dashboards are a Pro feature in Querri that allow you to create interactive, visual displays of your data. Unlike projects, which are designed for data exploration and analysis, dashboards are optimized for:

• Monitoring key metrics at a glance
• Sharing insights with team members and stakeholders
• Tracking performance over time
• Presenting data in a polished, professional format

You can access dashboards by navigating to the /dashboard route in your Querri workspace.

Creating Your First Dashboard

Getting started with dashboards is straightforward:

1. Navigate to Dashboards: Click on the “Dashboards” link in the main navigation or visit /dashboard
2. Create New Dashboard: Click the “New Dashboard” button
3. Name Your Dashboard: Dashboards are automatically created with timestamped names (e.g., “Dashboard_2024-01-15_143022”), but you can rename them to something more descriptive
4. Add Widgets: Start adding widgets to display your data

Quick Start Example

Let’s create a simple sales dashboard:

1. Create a new dashboard and name it “Sales Overview”
2. Add a metric widget to show total revenue
3. Add a chart widget to display revenue trends over time
4. Add a table widget to list top-performing products
5. Arrange the widgets in a layout that makes sense for your use case

Dashboard vs. Projects

Understanding when to use dashboards versus projects is important:

Feature	Projects	Dashboards
Purpose	Data exploration and analysis	Data monitoring and presentation
Interactivity	Full data manipulation and transformation	View and filter pre-configured data
Audience	Analysts and data workers	Stakeholders and decision-makers
Updates	Manual execution of steps	Scheduled refreshes and automation
Sharing	Collaboration on analysis	Public or team sharing with controls

When to Use Dashboards

Dashboards are ideal for:

• Executive reporting: Present high-level KPIs to leadership
• Team monitoring: Track team performance metrics
• Client reporting: Share progress with external stakeholders
• Operational dashboards: Monitor real-time business operations
• Scheduled reporting: Automate regular data updates and distribution

Dashboards are not the best choice for:

• Initial data exploration (use projects instead)
• Complex data transformations (do this in projects first)
• Ad-hoc analysis (projects are more flexible)

Dashboard Layout and Widgets

Dashboards use a flexible grid layout system that allows you to:

• Arrange widgets by dragging and dropping
• Resize widgets to emphasize important information
• Create sections to organize related metrics
• Optimize for different screen sizes with responsive design

Layout Best Practices

1. Put the most important information at the top: Users naturally scan from top to bottom
2. Group related metrics together: Create visual sections for different aspects of your data
3. Use white space effectively: Don’t overcrowd your dashboard
4. Consider your audience: Executive dashboards should be simpler than operational ones
5. Test on different devices: Ensure your dashboard looks good on desktop and mobile

Next Steps

Now that you understand the basics, explore these topics:

• Widget Types - Learn about the different widgets available
• Dashboard Configuration - Customize your dashboard’s appearance and behavior
• Sharing Dashboards - Share your insights with others
• Scheduling & Automation - Automate dashboard updates and reports

Ready to create powerful, data-driven dashboards that drive insights and action!