Database Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 14. Advanced Dashboard
Features
“Communication works for those who work at it.”
—John Powell
There are many ways to take a basic, functional dashboard to the next level, and we'll con-
sider some of these features in this chapter.
WARNING
A word of caution: basic, functional dashboards don't necessarily
need
to be taken to any
other level. You shouldn't add “bells and whistles” if the only reason for doing so is be-
cause you know how to add them or you want to show that you know how to add them.
Bells (churches) and whistles (soccer coaches) can really be useful, but they just distract if
they're present but not useful (toasters). Of course the trick is that one person's “useful” is
another person's “distracting.” You, as the communicator, get to choose. Have fun with it,
but be your own toughest critic and be crystal clear about what you're trying to accomplish,
and let that be your guide.
That being said, let's consider how to do the following to provide a new and useful dimen-
sion to our dashboards, when appropriate:
▪ Using the Pages shelf to “animate” dashboards
▪ Showing multiple tabs
▪ Adding navigation between tabs via filters
▪ Adding custom header images
▪ Embedding web pages like Google Maps and YouTube videos
