Salesforce Dashboards are a powerful tool for visualizing and analyzing data, providing actionable insights for decision-making. Filters enhance these dashboards by allowing users to customize their view of the data, making dashboards dynamic and user-friendly.

In this blog, we will explore how to add filters to Salesforce Dashboards and highlight their benefits and best practices.

Before you Begin:

In the earlier parts of this blog series, we explored what Salesforce Dashboards are, their components, how to create them, as well as Dynamic Dashboards and the steps to set them up. Before diving into this section, I recommend reviewing those blogs for a better understanding.

What Are Dashboard Filters?

Dashboard filters in Salesforce enable users to adjust the data displayed on a dashboard without altering the underlying reports. By applying filters, users can view specific subsets of data, such as a particular region, product, or time frame, directly within the dashboard interface.

Benefits of Using Filters

1. Enhanced User Experience

Filters make dashboards more interactive and user-centric by allowing users to focus on the data that matters to them.

2. Improved Data Analysis

Filters enable deeper insights by providing multiple perspectives on the same set of data.

3. Reduced Dashboard Clutter

Instead of creating multiple dashboards for different criteria, you can use filters to streamline the data presentation in one place.

Prerequisites for Adding Filters

Before adding filters to your Salesforce Dashboard, ensure the following:

• You have “Manage Dashboards” and “Edit Dashboards” permissions.
• The source reports used in the dashboard have fields available for filtering.

Note: If you’re interested in learning how to share Dashboards and Reports with Users, Roles, Partners, Internal Subordinates, and more, click on the link provided for a detailed guide.

Steps to Add Filters to a Salesforce Dashboard

Step 1: Open the Dashboard Editor

1. Navigate to Dashboards in Salesforce.
2. Select the dashboard you want to edit or create a new one.
3. Click Edit to open the dashboard editor.

Step 2: Add a Filter

1. Click the “+ Filter” button in the dashboard editor.
2. In the Field dropdown, select the field you want to use for the filter. The available fields are determined by the source reports. So here, for example, we select the “Annual Revenue” field from Account.
3. Once you select the field, specify the other filter options like Display Name: Annual Revenue.
4. Click on the “Add Filter Value” button as shown in the figure below and start adding filter conditions.
5. Once you add the conditions, click apply to save the filter and repeat the same procedure for more conditions as shown above.
6. After adding all the conditions, click Add as shown in the figure below.
7. Click Save.
8. Click Done.

You can see the difference between a normal dashboard and a dashboard with filters in the below image.

Step 3: Save and Test the Dashboard

1. Once all filters and components are configured, click Save.
2. Test the dashboard by switching between different filter values to ensure the components update correctly.

The results are as shown below:

With these simple steps, you can apply filters to the dashboard to view specific data sets without the need to create a new dashboard or modify the associated reports.

In addition to the above example, you can also apply filters to fields like “Region” in an object. For instance, by setting up a “Region” filter with values such as “North,” “South,” “East,” and “West,” the dashboard data will dynamically adjust to display insights specific to the selected region.

So this feature enhances data visualization by allowing targeted analysis without creating separate dashboards.

Note: The limit for dashboards filter options (also known as filter values or filter criteria) differs from the limit on the total number of dashboard filters. Each dashboard can include up to 5 filters, and each filter can have up to 50 filter options. So this allows for a flexible and detailed data analysis experience, ensuring users can narrow down their results efficiently within these limits.

Best Practices for Using Dashboard Filters

1. Choose Relevant Fields Select fields that align with your user’s needs and provide meaningful data segmentation.
2. Use Descriptive Names Clearly label filters to help users understand their purpose.
3. Limit the Number of Filters Avoid overwhelming users by keeping the number of filters manageable.
4. Validate Data Compatibility Ensure that the fields you use for filters are consistent across the source reports.
5. Test Thoroughly Always test the dashboards filters to confirm they work as expected and provide accurate results.

Common Use Cases for Dashboard Filters

1. Geographic Analysis
   • Filter data by region or country to analyze location-specific trends.
2. Product Performance
   • Apply filters for product categories or specific products to measure sales or performance.
3. Time-Based Insights
   • Use filters for date ranges, such as months, quarters, or years, to study trends over time.

And many more examples.

Conclusion

Adding filters to Salesforce Dashboards is a simple yet impactful way to enhance data visualization and user experience. By allowing users to customize their view, filters make dashboards more dynamic and insightful. By following the above implementation steps and best practices, you can create powerful dashboards.

Happy Reading!

 “Manifestation begins with belief—what you focus your thoughts and energy on becomes the blueprint for your reality. Dream it, feel it, and work towards it with unwavering faith.”

Related Posts:

1. Add a Dashboard Filter
2. Filter a Dashboard

You Can Also Read:

1. Introduction to the Salesforce Queues – Part 1
2. Mastering Salesforce Queues: A Step-by-Step Guide – Part 2
3. How to Assign Records to Salesforce Queue: A Complete Guide
4. An Introduction to Salesforce CPQ
5. Revolutionizing Customer Engagement: The Salesforce Einstein Chatbot

Hello Trailblazers!

In today’s fast-growing world of business, making informed decisions based on data is crucial for success. Salesforce dashboards are powerful tools that allow organizations to visualize and analyze their data in real time, helping users track key metrics and uncover insights that drive business success. Whether you’re in sales, marketing, customer service, or operations, dashboards provide an easy way to stay informed and make better decisions.

In this blog, we’ll cover what a dashboard is in Salesforce, its importance, the different types of dashboard components, and step-by-step instructions on how to create a dashboard in Salesforce Lightning.

What is a Dashboard in Salesforce?

A Salesforce dashboard is a visual representation of your Salesforce data, organized through various components such as charts, tables, graphs, and gauges. Dashboards pull data from Salesforce reports and display it in a single location, offering a comprehensive view of key performance indicators (KPIs) and business metrics. With dashboards, users can monitor trends, track performance, and make informed decisions quickly.

Key Features of Salesforce Dashboards

• Real-Time Data: Dashboards update in real-time, ensuring that you are always working with the latest data.
• Customizable: You can create dashboards tailored to specific users, roles, or departments, ensuring that everyone sees the data most relevant to them.
• Interactive: Dashboards are interactive, allowing users to drill down into the data for deeper insights.
• Multiple Components: A single dashboard can have multiple components, each displaying different types of data (e.g., charts, graphs, tables).
• Dynamic Dashboards: Dashboards can be dynamic, meaning they display data based on the logged-in user’s permissions and access levels.

Let’s learn about what types of dashboard components Salesforce provides.

Dashboard Components in Salesforce

Salesforce dashboards are made up of several components that allow you to display data in different ways. So here are the common components you can use when creating a dashboard:

1. Chart:

Visual representations of data, including bar, pie, and line charts. Best for comparing data sets or visualizing trends.

2. Gauge:

A gauge displays a single value within a range. It’s perfect for tracking performance against a target (e.g., sales quota).

3. Metric:

Metrics display a single key performance indicator (KPI). For example, it can show the total number of closed deals for the quarter.

4. Table:

Tables show multiple rows of data in a grid. Useful for showing detailed lists, such as top-performing salespeople or open customer cases. (Lightning Table)

5. Funnel Chart: 

A Funnel Chart in Salesforce shows data progression through stages, like a sales pipeline, highlighting conversions and drop-offs.

6. Stacked Vertical and Horizontal Bar Chart: 

A Stacked Bar Chart in Salesforce displays data in horizontal or vertical bars, where each bar is divided into segments representing different data categories. This chart type is ideal for comparing totals across groups while also visualizing the breakdown within each group. You can add a stacked bar chart to dashboards by grouping a report and choosing the Stacked Bar Chart component.

So these are all the dashboard components (charts) provided by Salesforce.

Types of Dashboards in Salesforce

1. Dynamic Dashboards: These dashboards display data based on the logged-in user’s access and permissions, making them highly personalized.
2. Standard Dashboards: These are regular dashboards that display data to all users with access, irrespective of their permissions.

Note: If you would like to learn more about Dynamic Dashboards in Salesforce Lightning, please feel free to go with this link.

How to Create Dashboards in Salesforce

Creating a dashboard in Salesforce is a simple and intuitive process. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you set up your own dashboard in Salesforce Lightning.

Step 1: Navigate to the Dashboards Tab

1. Click on the App Launcher (grid icon) in the upper-left corner of your Salesforce instance.
2. Type “Dashboards” in the search bar and click on the Dashboards tab.

Step 2: Create a New Dashboard

1. In the Dashboards tab, click the New Dashboard button in the top-right corner.
2. Enter Dashboard Details: A pop-up will appear, asking for the following details:
   • Name: Enter a meaningful name for your dashboard (e.g., “Sales Team Performance”).  Here we’ll enter ‘Test Dashboard’.
   • Folder: Select the folder where the dashboard will be stored. Choose whether the folder is public (shared with everyone) or private.
   • Description: Enter the description. (Optional)
3. Click “Create”. This will take you to the dashboard builder page.

Step 3: Add the Dashboards Components

So once the dashboard shell is created, you can begin adding components to it.

1. In the dashboard builder/editor, click the + Widget button.
2. Click “Chart or Table” and select the relevant reports for your dashboard..
3. Select a Report: Salesforce dashboards pull data from reports. Select the report you want to use for the dashboard component. Make sure the report contains the data you want to visualize.
4. Choose the Component Type: As discussed above, so you can choose different component types, such as charts, gauges, metrics, and tables. Each type provides a different way to display data.
5. Customize the Component: After selecting the report and component type, you can configure how the data will be displayed. Customize the chart type, axis labels, filters, and any other settings to suit your needs.
   So it should look like the image below:
   
6. Once done, click Add
7. Repeat the procedure to add more components like gauge charts, metric charts, bar charts, etc.
8. So once you’ve added all the necessary components, you can drag and drop them around the dashboard canvas to arrange them in your preferred layout.
9. You can resize the components by clicking and dragging the edges of each component to fit more data.

Step 4: Set Dashboards Filters (Optional)

If you want to allow users to filter the data on the dashboard, you can add filters.

1. Click “+ Filter” button at the top of the dashboard builder.
2. Select Field: Choose the field you want to use as a filter (e.g., “Region” or “Sales Rep”).
3. Set the filter options to allow users to adjust which data appears on the dashboard.

We’ll learn how to add filters to the Salesforce Dashboards in the next segment of this blog post.

Step 5: Save and Run the Dashboards

1. Once you’ve finished configuring the components, click Save at the top of the page.
2. After saving, click Done to exit the dashboard editor and view your newly created dashboard.

Note: If you would like to learn more about how to place your dashboard on Lightning Pages in Salesforce Lightning, please feel free to go with this link.

Best Practices for Creating Effective Dashboards

1. Keep It Simple: Avoid overcrowding your dashboard with too many components and focus on the most important metrics to ensure clarity.
2. Use Appropriate Chart Types: Choose chart types that best represent your data. So for example, use a line chart for trends over time and a pie chart for showing percentages.
3. Leverage Filters: Use filters to make dashboards more interactive and customizable for users.
4. Regularly Update Dashboards: Ensure your dashboards are up-to-date by scheduling regular refreshes and updating the underlying reports as needed.
5. Monitor Performance: If your dashboard is slow to load, reduce the number of components or optimize the reports it pulls from.

Conclusion

Dashboards in Salesforce are a powerful way to visualize and analyze data, enabling users to track key metrics in real-time and make informed decisions. So by following the steps outlined in this guide, you can create dynamic, interactive dashboards tailored to the needs of your organization and whether you’re in sales, marketing, or customer support, and Salesforce dashboards provide the insights you need to drive performance and achieve your business goals.

Happy Reading !!

The journey of learning never ends; every moment is a chance to grow.

Related Posts:

1. Salesforce Dashboards
2. Build a Dashboard

You Can Also Read:

1.A Comprehensive Guide to Custom Report Type in Salesforce
2.Mastering Salesforce Queues: A Step-by-Step Guide – Part 2
3.How to Assign Records to Salesforce Queue: A Complete Guide
4. An Introduction to Salesforce CPQ
5. Revolutionizing Customer Engagement: The Salesforce Einstein Chatbot

Hello Trailblazers!

Salesforce Lightning Experience is packed with powerful tools that allow users to visualize, analyze, and act on their data more efficiently. Dashboard are an integral part of this functionality, providing real-time insights into your Salesforce data with visually compelling charts, graphs, and tables.

One of the key features in Salesforce Lightning is the ability to embed these dashboards directly into Lightning pages. This makes it easier for users to view important metrics without navigating to the separate Dashboard tab.

In this blog, we’ll explore how to add dashboards to Lightning Pages in Salesforce Lightning, including use cases, step-by-step instructions, and best practices for maximizing dashboard effectiveness.

Step-by-Step Guide to Adding Dashboards to Lightning Pages

Step 1: Create a Dashboard in Salesforce

Before embedding a dashboard into a Lightning page, you need to have a dashboard ready. If you don’t already have one, follow these steps to create a dashboard in Salesforce:

1. In Salesforce Lightning, navigate to the Dashboards tab from the App Launcher.
2. Click the New Dashboard button in the upper right corner.
3. Give the name and description (optional). Choose a folder to store the dashboards in it.
4. Use the + Component button to add various components to your dashboard. Select reports, choose the chart type (e.g., bar, line, pie), and configure filters as needed.
5. Once you’re done configuring the dashboards, click Save to make it available for use.

In our previous blog on Salesforce Dashboards, we provided a detailed explanation on how to create dashboards in Salesforce Lightning. If you’re interested in learning more, feel free to follow this link.

Step 2: Open the Lightning App Builder

Next, you’ll use the Salesforce Lightning App Builder to add the dashboard to a Lightning page.

1. Navigate to Lightning App Builder:

   • In Salesforce, go to Setup by clicking the gear icon at the top-right corner.
   • In the Quick Find box, type Lightning App Builder, and click Lightning App Builder as shown below.

2. Choose a Page to Edit or Create a New Page:

• You can either edit an existing Lightning page or create a new one.
• Select where to embed the dashboards (Note: Record pages do not support embedded dashboards).
  To embed a dashboards on an app page, choose “App Page.”
  To embed a dashboards on the Home tab, choose “Home Page.”
• Click Next.
• Give a label to your app page or home tab layout. Then, click Next.
• Choose a layout. Then, click Done.

Step 3: Add a Dashboard Component to the Lightning Page

Here we’re adding the dashboard to the Home Page.

1. In the Lightning App Builder canvas, locate the Dashboard component from the list on the left panel.
2. Drag and drop the Dashboard component onto your Lightning page in the desired location as shown in the figure below.

Configure the Dashboard Component:

After placing the component, a panel will appear on the right-hand side. Here, you can configure the settings for the dashboards component:

• • • Select Dashboard: Choose the dashboard you want to display from the drop-down list.
    • Height: Adjust the height of the dashboard component to ensure it fits well on the page.
    • Filters: If your dashboard contains filters, configure them as needed.
    • View as User: You can select a specific user to view the dashboard as, or you can choose to display it based on the current user’s permissions.

Step 4: Save and Activate the Page:

1. • After configuring the dashboard component, click Save.
   • To make the page live for users, click Activate. You can choose to assign this Lightning page as the default for specific apps, profiles, or record types.

Thus, the dashboard on the Home page will look like this:

Note: If you’re interested in learning more about Salesforce Dashboards, how to create them, and the various dashboard components available in Salesforce Lightning, please feel free to explore this link.

Best Practices for Placing Dashboards on Lightning Pages

1. Choose Relevant Dashboards: Make sure the dashboard is relevant to the Lightning page it’s being added to. For example, add a sales performance dashboard to the Opportunity record page, or add a customer service dashboards to the Case page.
2. Optimize Dashboards Size: Adjust the height of the dashboards component so that it fits well on the page without overwhelming other important components.
3. Use Dynamic Dashboards: Take advantage of Dynamic Dashboards that show data based on the logged-in user’s access and permissions, ensuring that the dashboards reflects data relevant to each user.

Conclusion

Adding dashboards to Lightning pages in Salesforce can significantly enhance user experience by providing quick and easy access to important data. By embedding dashboards directly into Lightning pages, users can gain real-time insights, streamline workflows, and improve decision-making. Following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily configure and embed dashboards into your Salesforce Lightning pages, customizing the experience to suit the needs of your organization.

Happy Reading !!

The journey of learning never ends; every moment is a chance to grow.

Related Posts:

1. Default Dashboards on User’s Homepage
2. Embed Dashboards in Lightning Pages

You Can Also Read:

1. Introduction to the Salesforce Queues – Part 1
2.Mastering Salesforce Queues: A Step-by-Step Guide – Part 2
3.How to Assign Records to Salesforce Queue: A Complete Guide
4. An Introduction to Salesforce CPQ
5. Revolutionizing Customer Engagement: The Salesforce Einstein Chatbot