Designing the right dashboard

Dashboard Goal

Features to Use on the Dashboard

Present a style appropriate for the executive boardroom.

• Use drop shadows, gradients, 3D effects, and rounded rectangles on various parts of the dashboard. For an example of rounded rectangles and a procedure to create them, see Adding rectangles to documents. For examples and procedures for the other effects, see Formatting documents.

• Use 3D effects, bevels, gradients, transparency, and curved lines on graphs in the dashboard. For examples and procedures, see Formatting documents.

Let users instantly see details in a densely populated dashboard.

• Enable tooltips in graphs, so that users can mouse over graph data to see underlying data in detailed form.

• Apply Quick Switch to Grid/Graphs so that MicroStrategy Web users can switch between Graph view and Grid view, allowing detailed data to be seen in a table. For an example and procedure, see Enabling Quick Switch for Grid/Graphs.

• Use Grid/Graphs with title bars to allow an area to be enlarged to see details on complex graphs or grids. For more information, see Adding title bars to Grid/Graphs.

Present many layers of data in a single dashboard, keeping the layers organized and focused. The layers, or views of the data, must be instantly available to the users.

Use panels and panel stacks to provide the layers of data in the following ways:

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• Multiple independent layers within a single dashboard page

• Multiple independent dashboard pages layered within a single document

For examples and procedures, see Layering data in dashboards: Panels and panel stacks.

Allow users to change the context of a dashboard. For example, a user can change the following for a specified set of graphs or tables:

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• The focus of the KPI

• The timeframe being viewed

• The subject areas displayed

• Add selectors that target attribute elements so that users can change the context of the data. You can use a wide range of selectors: radio buttons, check boxes, drop-down lists, and so on. For examples and procedures, see Providing interactivity to users: Selectors.

• Define an attribute in a Grid/Graph as a selector that targets a panel stack or another Grid/Graph. Users can then click an attribute element in the Grid/Graph and initiate a context change in related Grid/Graphs on the dashboard. For examples and procedures, see Enabling a Grid/Graph to control another Grid/Graph.

Design a simulated portal environment.

You can create a dashboard with the look and feel of a portal. To do this, add several Grid/Graph objects to the dashboard. Each one will display a grid report or graph report. Then add the following functionality to each Grid/Graph:

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• Add a title bar to each Grid/Graph. Enable the Minimize/Maximize feature on the title bar. Users can click a button to minimize any "portlet window" to use their screen space efficiently and to focus more easily on pertinent reports.

• Connect one Grid/Graph to a related Grid/Graph. This means that when the user changes the data displayed in one of the dashboard reports, the connected report automatically updates to coordinate its display of the related information.

Create dashboards in Flash that can be used even when disconnected from the network. These dashboards include full interactivity, visualization, and data content.

• Embed Flash dashboards within Microsoft Office documents, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook. For more information, refer to the MicroStrategy Office User Guide.

• Embed Flash dashboards within emails and distribute them. For more information on this Distribution Services  feature, see the Desktop online help.

Use interactive Flash graphs rather than static graphs to provide an engaging way to view data and understand relationships.

• Use time series animation to allow users to play graphical "movies", driven by data, that provide rapid insight into business trends. Users can rewind and fast forward through a time series. They can also pause the movie and drill down for more details. See Defining a Time Series Slider widget.

• Use the library of visualization widgets to extend the display of information beyond traditional graphing. See Providing Flash-based analysis and interactivity: Widgets.

Unlimited visualization extensibility via Flash uses MicroStrategy's integration with Adobe's FlexBuilder 2 IDE to allow you to:

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• Expand your library of visualizations

• Extend the reach of your business intelligence to operational applications

• Build any visualization you need using FlexBuilder IDE integration and add it to your MicroStrategy library of visualizations.

• Customize any Flex-compatible visualization and add it to your MicroStrategy library of visualizations.

• Use the Adobe FlexBuilder integration to add MicroStrategy dashboards and reports to any Flex-compatible Rich Internet Application (RIA).

For more information on MicroStrategy’s Visualization Framework, the FlexBuilder plug-in, and the visualization editor, see the MicroStrategy Developer Library (MSDL) provided with the MicroStrategy SDK product.