Dashboard Management in SimplifyQA
Visualize, Analyze, and Align with Powerful Data Dashboards
Table of Contents
Introduction to Dashboards
Dashboards in SimplifyQA are dynamic visual interfaces that display key data points, metrics, and charts, all in one place. They help users keep track of testing progress, project KPIs, bug trends, and automation coverage in a clear, consolidated manner. Whether you're a QA engineer, test lead, or project manager, dashboards bring visibility and actionable insights at a glance.
Prerequisites for Dashboard and Chart Creation
Only users with Admin Access can create new dashboards and charts.
Regular users will only have view-only access to dashboards and charts.
If you need to build or modify dashboards, ensure your user account has been granted Admin privileges by your SimplifyQA administrator.
How to Create a New Dashboard?
SimplifyQA provides three intuitive methods to create a new dashboard, catering to different user preferences and workflows:
Method 1: Using the +Dashboard Icon on the Landing Page
Once logged in, you'll land on the main dashboard or homepage.
On this screen, look for a '+Dashboard' icon prominently placed.
Clicking on this icon immediately takes you to the dashboard creation screen.
This is the fastest way to get started from the entry point of the application.
Method 2: Via the + Icon on the Header Bar
From any screen within SimplifyQA, locate the Global + icon in the top header bar.
Click it to open a dropdown menu.
From the options listed, choose Dashboard.
You’ll be directed to the dashboard creation interface.
Method 3: From the Dashboard Tab
Click on the Dashboard tab from the left-hand side menu/navigation bar.
This will open a consolidated view of all dashboards that you have created or that have been shared with you.
In the top-right corner, click the '+ Dashboard' button to start creating a new one.
Creating a New Dashboard
Enter a Dashboard Name
Once you're on the dashboard creation screen, on the top-right section, click on the text field there and type in your dashboard name.
Adding Charts to the Dashboard
The creation screen includes a Content Panel where charts can be added.
Click + Create a new chart to build a new visualization from scratch.
You can also select from existing charts shown in a list on the right.
Use the “Show only my charts” checkbox to narrow down your options to just your own saved charts.
Drag and drop charts into the main dashboard area to arrange them as needed.
Editing an Existing Dashboard
Navigate to the Dashboard tab.
Click on the dashboard you want to edit.
Select the Edit Dashboard button found at the top.
Within the editor, switch to the Charts tab:
Here you can view all charts that are either created by you or shared with you.
Drag & drop charts from the list into your dashboard layout.
Reorganize existing charts by dragging them to different positions.
Additional Dashboard Controls:
Trash Icon: Removes selected chart from the dashboard.
Undo/Redo Arrows: Quickly reverse or reapply the last action.
Star Icon: Mark the dashboard as a favorite for quick access.
Discard Button: Exit edit mode and cancel any changes.
Save Button: Finalize and save your modifications.
Viewing Dashboards & Advanced Options
When you're not in edit mode, dashboards can still be customized and shared using options under the vertical ellipsis (three dots):
Refresh dashboard: Select to refresh all dashboard charts (i.e. rerun chart queries and retrieve fresh data).
Enter fulls creen: hides the Preset menu options.
Save as: duplicate a dashboard, this dashboard will contain all of the same charts as the existing dashboard. This is useful to allow you to create a dashboard from an existing dashboard.
Download: download the dashboard as either a PDF or as an image (jpg). The files will contain only the first page of any tabs.
Share:
Copy permalink to clipboard: Copies a shareable dashboard link to your system's clipboard.
Share permalink by email: Launches your system's default e-mail client and composes a new message featuring your dashboard URL.
Set auto-refresh interval: Select to specify an automatic refresh rate for the dashboard. Options include seconds (10 or 30), minutes (1, 5, or 30), or hours (1, 6, 12, or 24). Note that this will be only applied to the current session.
Chart-Level Options in View Mode
Each individual chart within a dashboard also has its own options, accessible via the chart's ellipsis icon:
Force refresh: Select to refresh the chart's data. The time duration since the last cache is also provided.
Enter full screen: View the chart in full screen mode (i.e., just the chart occupies the entire screen). Select minimize icon to return.
Edit chart: Launches the chart in the Explore page.
Cross-filtering scoping: opens the interface to configure which charts can be cross filtered.
View query: Launches the View Query panel, which displays the SQL query used for the chart. Select the Copy icon to copy this SQL code to your clipboard.
View as Table: Shows the aggregated data being displayed by the chart in a table format.
Drill to Detail: Investigate underlying data.
Share:
Copy permalink to clipboard: Copies a shareable chart link to your system's clipboard
Share permalink by email: Launches your system's default e-mail client and composes a new message featuring your chart URL
Dashboard Management Actions
From the Dashboard listing page, you can perform bulk actions:
Edit: Modify an existing dashboard properties.
Name: The title of the dashboard.
URL Slug: Customize the end of the URL (slug) to a more memorable name.
Owners: Assign/remove edit access to the dashboard.
Colors Scheme: By specifying a color scheme in the dashboard properties, you can overwrite the individual chart color schemes, unifying the dashboard look and feel.
Roles: Roles is a list which defines access to the dashboard. Granting a role access to a dashboard will bypass dataset level checks. If no roles are defined, regular access permissions apply.
Certification
Certified By: Type in a name or group, a blue check mark will now appear next to the dashboard in the dashboard list.
Certification Details: adds a description that displays on hover over the blue checkmark certification icon.
Advanced:
JSON Metadata: By expanding the Advanced header, the JSON Metadata panel appears. This area is for power users who may wish to alter specific dashboard parameters.
Delete: Permanently remove the desired Dashboard
Export: Backup or move your dashboard to another workspace.
Dashboards in SimplifyQA aren’t just passive data holders — they are interactive, collaborative, and essential for keeping stakeholders in sync. Use them wisely, share them strategically, and make them part of your testing and QA rituals.
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