This article explains how to access, create, and manage Dashboards in Absorb Analyze, the upgraded reporting experience. It covers security roles, data refresh cadence, dashboard creation, filters, layout, and organization. 

Absorb Analyze is an upgrade to the Reporting feature that lets you create customizable reports in a Dashboard format. Dashboards combine fields, graphs, charts, and widgets into a single report.

Accessing Your Dashboards

The Analyze Home Page is where Designers and Viewers access and create Dashboards. 

To open Analyze, access the Admin Experience. After login you will see two tabs in the top of the Admin Dashboard:

• Dashboard: the standard Admin Dashboard shown by default on login.
• Analyze: the upgraded Reporting feature where you create custom Dashboards.

After access Analyze, other options will appear at the top including Pulse and Report Manager.

Analyze Tab — Elements

The Analyze tab contains many elements and tools used to create and manage Dashboards. The table below summarizes each field and its function.

Pulse

Pulse is a performance alerting feature available from the Analyze menu bar. Designers use Pulse to configure automated email notifications that trigger when an Indicator Widget on a Dashboard meets a defined threshold, such as a key performance indicator (KPI) falling below a target value.

To configure a Pulse alert, select an Indicator Widget on a Dashboard, define the threshold condition, and choose the recipients and delivery cadence. When the threshold is met, recipients receive an email notification on the scheduled interval.

Report Manager

Report Manager is a scheduling and distribution feature available from the Analyze menu bar. Designers and Admins use Report Manager to automate the export and email delivery of Dashboard reports on a recurring schedule.

To schedule a report, select a Dashboard, choose an export format such as Excel or PDF, set the frequency and time, and add recipients. Generated reports are delivered as email attachments on the schedule you configure. The email body reads: The requested Analyze report is attached to this email.

Row-Level Security in Scheduled Reports

Report Manager respects Row-Level Security (RLS) when delivering scheduled reports. The data each recipient receives depends on their access to the source Dashboard:

• Licensed Users with shared Dashboard access: Receive only the data their User permissions allow.
• Licensed Users without shared Dashboard access: Report delivery fails for that recipient.
• Unlicensed or external recipients: Receive the same data scope as the Admin who scheduled the report.

Creating Dashboards

Designers can create and share Dashboards with other Designers and Viewers. Dashboards can show standard reports or visual data representations.

How to Create a Dashboard

From the Analyze Home Page:

1. Click the + icon on the left menu above the Dashboards list or use the Create Dashboard tile.

2. In the New Dashboard — Please select a Data Source to connect to modal, choose a Data Source and enter a Dashboard title. You can add more Data Sources on the Dashboard Edit page.

   Data Sources

   The Analyze engine uses database views (Data Sources) that simplify reporting. See the Analyze Data Dictionaries article for details.

3. On the Dashboard View, click Select Data under New Widget to begin building a Widget.

4. In Add a Field, choose fields for the first widget. Type to search or scroll. To remove a field, right-click the tile and choose Delete.

   Data Source Troubleshooting

   • If required fields are missing, change the Data Source from the top dropdown. Click the lightning bolt icon next to the Data Source name to change sources.
   • Different widgets on the same Dashboard can use different Data Sources; they operate independently.
   • Tables with aggregation may not export as CSV or Excel. Use a pivot table or remove aggregation before export.
   • After creating a Dashboard, Analyze suggests frequently used fields for new widgets.
5. Add Filters from the right panel by clicking Filter Your Dashboard or the + icon; choose fields from your Data Source.
6. Click Add Title to name the widget; the title appears at the top of the widget.
7. Click Create to save the Dashboard.
8. Add additional widgets as needed. Widgets may share the same data or use separate Data Sources. See the Absorb Analyze Widgets article for formatting options.

How to Duplicate a Dashboard

Open the Dashboard Menu (three-dot icon) and choose Duplicate. Duplicating creates an independent copy that you own and can edit.

Filter Your Dashboard

Designers can create Dashboard Filters and Widget Filters:

• Dashboard Filters: Affect all widgets except those marked as independent. Designers create and Viewers interact with these filters.
• Widget Filters: Affect only the specific widget. Designers define these; Viewers cannot change them.

Creating Filters

To add a filter in Dashboard View:

1. Click Filter Your Dashboard in the right panel or the + icon to add another filter. The Add Filter modal lists fields for your selected Data Source.
2. Begin typing the Field Name or scroll to find it.
3. Select a Filter Type (for example, List, Criteria, Calendar, or Ranking). See the Filter Types section below for details.
4. Choose values to include or exclude.
5. Click OK to add the filter. Filters remain on the Filters panel and update the dashboard immediately when changed.

Tip: Managing Filters

Manage filters in the Filters Panel: edit with the pencil icon , delete with the trash icon , or drag to reorder.

Filter Types

Common filter types and details:

Filter Type	Details
Calendar	Date values only. Choose a date or date range via a calendar view.
List	Text, date, or numeric values. Select values to include/exclude.
Ranking	Text, date, or numeric values. Use for top/bottom comparisons (for example, top 10 courses).
Text	Text values only. Use conditionals (for example, Contains @specificcompany.com or Starts With Safety). Wildcards: _ (single character), % (multiple characters). Escape special characters with a backslash (for example, \_te to match _te).
Time Frame	Date periods (for example Days, Weeks, Months, Quarters).
Starred	Shows filters marked with the star icon . Starred filters are visible to shared Designers.
Values	Numeric values. Use operators such as Greater than, Less than, or Equal.

Interacting with Filters as a Viewer

Designers and Viewers can interact with dashboard filters via the Filters Menu or by selecting values in a widget. Filters apply immediately when changed if Update on Every Change is set to On. Filter changes do not affect other users. If original Filters were saved as My Default Filters, you can restore them using the Restore Dashboard icon at the top of the Filters Menu.

Dependent Filters

Dependent Filters build a parent–child hierarchy where a child filter shows only options relevant to the selected parent filter. By default, filters are independent. Dependent Filters are available for selection-type filters.

Selecting a Dependent Filter

1. Select the top-level (Parent) filter with the + icon or the Create Dashboard tile.
2. On the Parent filter, choose Add a Dependent Filter from the menu icon .
3. Find and select the Child filter; available options narrow based on the Parent selection.
4. Click OK to save.

Background and Lock Filters

Background Filters let Designers freeze certain filter fields while allowing Viewers to select additional values. Lock prevents Viewers from making changes to that filter.

To set Background or Lock, open the filter menu and choose Background Filter or Lock.

Background Filter

• If a filter has All Included, choose Create Background Filter to default and make fields mandatory.
• If values are already selected, the option reads Set as Background Filter.
• If a background filter exists, choose Edit Background Filter to modify values. Background Filters display a filter icon .

Lock Filter

• Select Lock to prevent Viewers from editing the filter. If locked, use Unlock to remove the lock. Locked filters display a shaded color and Lock icon .

Customizing Your Dashboard

Widgets are added to the bottom of the dashboard and can be arranged to match Designer and Viewer preferences.

Layout Options

Options for organizing widgets:

Organizing Your Home Page

Organize dashboards into folders and sub-folders to improve navigation on the Analyze Home Page.

Create a Folder

1. In the left Navigation Pane, click the + icon and select New Folder.
2. Enter a folder name. Note: Rename anytime using the folder menu icon .
3. Click the Check icon to save the folder.
4. Drag and drop dashboards into the folder from other folders or the Navigation Pane.

Delete Dashboards

Dashboards you create can be deleted permanently. You cannot delete dashboards that were only shared with you.

1. Hover over the dashboard in the left Navigation Menu or in the Home Page list.
2. Open the menu icon and choose Delete.
3. Click the Check icon to confirm. Note: Deleted dashboards cannot be recovered.

Delete Multiple Dashboards

1. At the top of the left Navigation Menu, choose Select Dashboards
2. Select the checkboxes next to the Dashboards you want to delete.
3. Click the Delete icon at the bottom of the menu.
4. In the confirmation dialog, click OK to delete. Note that deletions are permanent.

Related Articles

• Absorb Analyze Data Dictionaries
• Absorb Analyze Widgets
• Downloading, Sharing, Importing Analyze Dashboards