Dashboard Builder is the drag-and-drop editor for Salesforce dashboards — pick a layout, drop chart components, bind each to a source report, configure filters. The tool every Salesforce admin uses regularly. Lightning Dashboards are the modern flavor; Classic Dashboards still exist but new work should be in Lightning.
- Open the Dashboards tab
App Launcher → Dashboards.
- Click New Dashboard
Top-right. Wizard prompts for Dashboard Name, Folder, and template.
- Pick a Folder for sharing
Folders gate who can see the dashboard. Public folders share with everyone with folder access; private folders are owner-only.
- On the Dashboard Builder canvas: drag components
Component types: Chart (bar, line, pie, donut, scatter, etc.), Gauge, Metric, Table, Lightning Component. Drag onto the canvas grid.
- For each component: bind to a Source Report
Each chart needs a report behind it. Click the component → Source Report → pick a Report. Filters / groupings on the report drive the chart.
- Configure Component Type and Display Settings
Chart type, axes, colors, conditional highlighting.
- Add Dashboard Filters (up to 3)
Top-of-dashboard filters that apply to multiple components — "This Quarter," "Region = West."
- Save → Subscribe (optional)
Save the dashboard. Subscribe to email yourself the rendered dashboard on a schedule.
Chart / Gauge / Metric / Table / Lightning Component.
Each component needs a report behind it.
Up to 3 filters across all components.
Whose context the dashboard renders in — drives sharing visibility.
Email the dashboard on a schedule.
- Each dashboard component is bound to one report. Editing the report changes the chart — refactoring the report can break the chart.
- Running User defaults to dashboard creator. "My Pipeline" dashboards using Running User = Logged-in User show each viewer their own data; static Running User shows everyone the same data.
- Lightning and Classic dashboards are different. Migrating from Classic to Lightning often requires reconfiguring components — they're not 1:1 compatible.