Build a new dashboard, choose a layout style, and make it yours.
Overview
A dashboard is a collection of widgets (charts, numbers, tables) arranged on a single screen. You create dashboards in the Overview screen, choose a visual layout template, set colours and date defaults, then add widgets to fill it with data.
Advance Dashboard offers 16 layout templates – from a clean blank canvas to ready-styled designs like Executive Overview, Sales Performance, and Financial Hub.
How It Works
When you create a dashboard, you give it a name and pick a layout template. The template sets the overall look – background colour, header style, and greeting message. Then you add widgets (covered in the next chapter) and arrange them on a 12-column grid by dragging and resizing.
Step-by-Step Guide
Create a New Dashboard
- Go to Advance Dashboard → Overview. Click New.
Name Your Dashboard
- Enter a clear name like “Monthly Sales Report” or “HR Headcount Overview”.
Choose a Layout Template
- Pick a style from the Layout Template dropdown. Start with “Blank Canvas” if you want full control, or pick a themed template like “Sales Performance”.
Set the Default Date Period
- Choose “This Month” or another period. Users can change this when viewing, but this sets the starting point.
Choose Background Theme
- Light, Dark, or Gradient. Pick what suits your office screens.
Set Accent Colour
- Choose a brand colour for highlights and buttons.
Add Widgets
- Go to the Items tab and add charts and tiles (see Adding Widgets & Charts).
Open and Arrange
- Click Open Dashboard. Drag widgets to reposition them and resize by dragging corners.
Save
- Layout changes save automatically when you move or resize widgets.
Dashboard Fields
| Field Name | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
Dashboard Name |
The title shown at the top of the dashboard |
“Q1 Sales Performance” |
Layout Template |
Pre-designed visual style for the dashboard |
Executive Overview, Sales Performance |
Show Greeting Bar |
Display a welcome message below the header |
Turn on for executive dashboards |
Greeting Message |
Custom welcome text (or use the template default) |
“Welcome back – here is your summary.” |
Default Date Filter |
Starting time period when the dashboard opens |
This Month, Last 30 Days |
Auto Refresh |
How often the dashboard reloads data automatically |
Every 1 minute, Every 5 minutes |
TV Slide Interval |
Seconds each dashboard shows in TV mode rotation |
8 seconds |
Background |
Overall colour theme of the dashboard |
Light Theme, Dark Theme |
Accent Colour |
Brand colour for buttons and highlights |
#5b4a96 (purple) |
Company |
Which company this dashboard belongs to (multi-company) |
My Company Ltd |
Active |
Whether the dashboard is visible or archived |
On = visible, Off = hidden |
Sequence |
Order in the dashboard list (lower = higher) |
10, 20, 30 |
Description |
Internal notes about the dashboard purpose |
“Used in Monday sales meetings” |
Field Explanations
Dashboard Name
The main title users see. Choose something descriptive so people know what data it shows without opening it.
Layout Template
Sets the visual design – header layout, spacing, and default greeting. You can switch templates anytime without losing your widgets.
Show Greeting Bar
When enabled, a friendly message appears below the dashboard title. Good for executive or customer-facing dashboards.
Greeting Message
Your custom welcome text. Leave empty to use the template’s built-in greeting.
Default Date Filter
The time period applied when someone first opens the dashboard. Viewers can change it using the date picker at the top.
Auto Refresh
Automatically reloads dashboard data at the chosen interval. Useful for dashboards displayed on office screens.
TV Slide Interval
In TV mode, if multiple dashboards rotate on one screen, this controls how many seconds each one is shown.
Background
Light for bright offices, Dark for dim rooms or wallboards, Gradient for a modern look.
Accent Colour
Your brand or team colour applied to interactive elements. Use your company hex colour code.
Company
In multi-company setups, ties the dashboard to one company. Data widgets will filter to that company’s records.
Active
Turn off to archive a dashboard without deleting it. Archived dashboards are hidden from the list but can be restored.
Sequence
Controls the order dashboards appear in the list. Drag rows in the list view to reorder visually.
Description
Private notes for managers. Not shown on the live dashboard – only on the setup form.
Tips
- Start with a layout template close to your goal, then customise. It is faster than starting from blank.
- Use “Duplicate” on an existing dashboard to create variations for different teams.
- Keep dashboard names short and specific – “Sales – EMEA” is better than “Dashboard 3”.
- Enable Auto Refresh only on dashboards displayed on screens, not on ones people view occasionally.
Common Mistakes
- Adding widgets before setting the layout template – pick your style first to avoid rework.
- Forgetting to set a default date filter – without it, widgets may show “all time” data which can be overwhelming.
- Archiving a dashboard (Active = off) thinking it is deleted – it is hidden but still exists. Delete only if you are sure.