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Dundas Dashboard: Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who can use Dundas Dashboard?

A: Business analysts, developers, executives, line managers, DB managers, KPI designers, end users - anyone can use it! Dundas Dashboard is designed to help you create a dashboard project for better understanding of your data and helping you make more informed decisions.

Q: I'm a developer, what can I do with this platform?

A: Developers can extend features through code, write custom viewers, create interactions - there's a lot that developers can do to add even more functionality for end users.

Q: What kind of application can I integrate Dundas Dashboard into?

A: You can integrate Dundas Dashboard into any web application, SharePoint portal or Silverlight application. For more information on integration, click here.

Q: Do I need my own security on top of this or does Dundas Dashboard provide security?

A: We use Windows integrated LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) security so your security needs are met. We've set it up for straight-forward administration, so groups of users (e.g., the front-level sales staff) don't get to see metrics created for senior management. It's all based on "who gets to see what?" and it's all configurable. If you want, you can have a dashboard that hides data for everyone but the CEO!

Q: If we initially deploy on a small scale, and decide to make it company-wide, how easy is that to do?

A: We make it as simple as it should be. As your demand grows, you simply purchase more licenses. All you have to do is visit our webpage or contact us

Q: If a new version comes out, how easy is it to get it deployed within our organization?

A: The client-server architecture of Dundas Dashboard ensures that issues pertaining to upgrades and maintenance are limited to the server side - with no work on the client side. Our rigorous testing will ensure that updating to new versions is smooth and will persist settings and files created in older versions of the product.

Q: How does Dundas Dashboard work with SharePoint?

A: Any dashboard created within Dundas Dashboard can be viewed directly in SharePoint with our seamlessly integrated viewer control, just choose the dashboard that you would like to see from a list and see it displayed in seconds. Furthermore, Dundas Dashboard supports both SharePoint lists and Excel services, right out of the box, so you can retrieve your SharePoint data with ease. Click here for more info.

Q: Can I add annotations to my dashboard?

A: Dundas Dashboard v2.0 allows end users to implement user-definable annotations. Use them to comment on a particular data point in a chart or to add further context to what you see (e.g., if you see a sales spike on a chart, you can use annotations to explain the reason).

Q: Does Dundas Dashboard support data caching?

A: Yes, if you have an enormous query, you don't want to run it every time you use the dashboard! Dundas Dashboard supports data caching. You can use a scheduler to run that query every, say, Friday night at 2 a.m. (or whenever) - and cache that data, so dashboards can display the data quickly.

Q: Does Dundas Dashboard support real-time data?

A: Yes, you can choose your interval. So if you want it to update every few seconds, every minute, every hour, whatever, it's all possible.

Q: Can I dynamically browse my OLAP cube?

A: OLAP queries are often cumbersome, leaving fast data analysis to be performed only by skilled developers and analysts. Dundas Dashboard eliminates the need for coding by providing a complete set of query-building tools that allow you to create new data views by dragging and dropping dimensions within the web application.

Q: Can I customize the appearance of my dashboard?

A: Absolutely. You have a wealth of customization options with Dundas Dashboard, including changing fonts, colors, images, styles and much more.

Q: How difficult is it to modify existing dashboards?

A: Once IT has installed and configured the framework, you're free to build, edit and use your dashboards.

Q: As an end user, can I customize all the pieces I see on my dashboard?

A: In a big way! The new enhanced viewer control gives you the ability to export (images, bookmarks, links, etc.) as well as create dashboard mashups (i.e., the "mashing together" of individual dashboard parts/elements for display on the same dashboard).

Q: What types of data visualizations are available?

A: A wide variety - your dashboard project can include many different types of charts, gauges, state indicators, legends, grids, custom components, as well as general-purpose controls.

Q: What new visualizations are available in v2.0?

A:Plenty. Aside from all the usual dashboard charts and gauges, Dundas Dashboard now offers maps, a data grid, many more chart types (including OLAP chart), display indicators, a traffic light and much more.

Q: Can I create templates for my dashboards?

A: V2.0 offers two exciting ways for you to reuse your work: templates and style resources. Templates allow you to apply the same look across your dashboards. Similarly, style resources allow you to save a data visualization style and apply it to similar visualizations.

Q: Can I bring in my own controls?

A: You can get this done in conjunction with our professional services group. If you've created another Silverlight control that you want to use in a dashboard, we can work with your team to get it integrated. Dundas Dashboard has a plug-in system that allows developers to wrap their own controls and bring them into our framework. So if you have your own, say grid control - or you prefer one from a Dundas competitor - you can still use it in Dundas Dashboard.

Q: Do I have to view dashboards within Dundas Dashboard?

A: No, you can quickly embed the Dundas Dashboard viewer control into other applications. We designed the dashboard's viewer to be portable, so if you're working with an existing reporting framework - or if you want to bring it into SharePoint or a web site - you can simply embed the viewer controls wherever you like. Click here for more info.

Q: How does the product handle drill down?

A: Dundas Dashboard's design supports drill down in a number of ways. Its data model allows users to create and link dimensions hierarchically resulting in immediate fixed-path drill-down capability. For less tightly-coupled data relationships, it allows linking between visualization elements and entire dashboards to facilitate delivery of in-depth data.