Skip to main content

How to set up a Template Dashboard

In this How-To guide, we will set up a dashboard template for analyzing an application instance.

Introduction​

Template dashboards are blueprints for dashboards. They let you define template reports, layout, widgets and variables once and reuse them across projects or teams. In this example, we will create a template dashboard that displays valuable information about a specific application instance across multiple reports.

info

Report templates can only be combined and filled simultaneously on a dashboard if their placeholder variables use the same asset type and are configured identically.

Learn more about dashboard templates: Dashboard templates documentation

Create the report templates​

To set up our application instance dashboard template, you first need to create some report templates. For this example, you need to set up three report templates:

  • Databases Used: you can find our How-to guide on how to create a cluster table report template for databases used here: Configuring a Report Template

  • Full Stack Application: Create a template report that shows the full deployment stack for an application. Create a tree report and add an application instance type asset. In the second step, use the query Add deployment.

  • Application Links: Create a template report of the type "donut chart" that counts and categorizes the neighboring assets for an application instance. Start by creating a tree report and add an application instance type asset. In the second step, use the query Add neighbors. In the content tab, group the results by "Type".

Creating a dashboard template​

  1. Create a new dashboard to use as template.
    • Open Select Dashboard (top right) and choose Create new dashboard.
  2. Name your Dashboard "Application analysis dashboard" and start to add your report templates.
    • Click Add Widget and Saved Report to add the three report templates that you have created.
  3. Edit the dashboard configuration and combine placeholders.
    • Click on Select Dashboard and click the 3 points in the upper right corner to edit the configuration.
    • If you want to share the dashboard, make sure to set the visibility of the reports and dashboard to "Public".
    • Select the checkbox Combine template placeholders.

Populate a template dashboard​

From Select Dashboard, choose the template and use the Select asset button or type your variable in the placeholder.

Managing templates​

  • Editing a template dashboard is only possible once a variable has been entered.
  • To edit a report template, open the templates menu in the report section and click on the 3 dots on the right to select the Edit Template option.
  • If a report is empty, it may be because the current user does not have access to the underlying data or the report template’s visibility is not configured correctly.