Dashboarding in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011

Not only do many charts come out of the box with Microsoft Dynamics CRM, but users can also create their own custom charts by entity using the chart designer.

Creating custom charts and views

To create a custom chart navigate to the entity you wish to create the chart for and select the charts tab on the ribbon

Select New Chart from the ribbon, which will open the chart designer to the left:

Enter a chart name
Select the Criteria
Select Save on the Ribbon

The chart is now saved under the user and can be used in dashboards as well as accessed from chart wizard displayed in the right navigation of the entity.

The chart is also filtered based on the view you are currently in, therefore if you moved from “My Open Opportunities” to the “Open Opportunities” view the graph would refresh with the opportunity data for the entire organization.

Creating Custom Views

In Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011, the System Views and Personal Views are all grouped under a single button.

You have the option to create a Personal View. Once you click the Create Personal View option or click the ribbon button, a form appears similar to an Advanced Find window.

Dashboards

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 had added some greatly enhanced functionality, one of those enhancements includes out of the box dash boarding and the ability for users to create, customize and set their default dashboards to be whatever they chose.

The default view in the workplace in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 is the dashboards area. Out of the box the dashboard defaults to the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Overview, which includes charts around Sales Pipeline, Leads Source and Cases by Priority as well as a list of the open activities for the logged in user.

There are seven dashboards that come out of the box with Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011, these dashboards can only be edited by system administrators. The work around here is for users to create their own dashboards that include the information that is important to them on a daily basis, to reduce the need to have to search for this information over and over.

Creating Custom Dashboards

To create a new custom dashboard in Microsoft Dynamics CRM, navigate to WorkplaceàDashboards and select New from the Ribbon.

The Dashboard Layout form will open and you can select the layout for your dashboard, once you chose a layout select Create.

There are four types objects you can insert into a dashboard:

Chart (Graphical Object)
List (List of any type of record in the system)
Web Resource (Custom Code)
IFrame (View or Report Displayed)

The Dashboard Builder Opens and you can select the type of object you would like to insert as well as edit any component within the dashboard using the ribbon.

Charts

Using the component designer you can select the record type, view and type of chart you would like to add to your dashboard. You can also create custom charts using the chart designer (See Other CRM Functionality) by entity that will then be available to add to dashboards in this view.

Select the Chart you wish to add and then select OK.

Lists

Using the component designer you can select the record type and view you would like to add to your dashboard. You can also create custom views (See Other CRM Functionality) by entity that will then be available to add to dashboards in this view.

Select the Chart you wish to add and then select OK.

Web Resources & IFrames

Web resources and IFrames consist of custom code that would be added to display things like web pages and custom graphics and parameters. These will not be added at a user level but at the system administrator level.

Illustrated above is the sophistication of the dashboard tools with Microsoft Dynamics CRM. If you don’t have the knowledge on staff or resources to do create the dashboards, RSM offers training and support services. Request our Rapid Assessment^SM process to identify how you can improve the use of your Microsft Dynamics CRM system.

By: Sarah Champ – Minnesota Microsoft Dynamics CRM Partner

Dashboarding in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011

Meg Moss

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Dashboarding in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011

Meg Moss

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