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Build a Dashboard-Style Output

Dashboard-style outputs present the key reporting metrics in a compact, scannable layout. Stakeholders read the dashboard before they read detailed records — it sets the context and highlights what needs attention.

This tutorial builds a single-page dashboard output from a monthly progress blueprint. The finished page includes a header, KPI cards, a trend chart, a RAG grid, and an action summary table.

Prerequisites​

  • A published blueprint with sections for: project metadata, overall status, schedule, cost, risk, and actions.
  • An approved edition with data entered.
  • At least Report Owner or Admin role to access the Output Designer.

Step 1: Create a new output​

  1. Open the blueprint in the Blueprint Designer.
  2. Click the Outputs tab in the header.
  3. Click + New Output.
  4. Name it (e.g. "Monthly Dashboard") and click Create.
  5. The Output Designer opens with a blank canvas.

Step 2: Configure the page​

  1. Right-click the page thumbnail → Page settings.
  2. Set: A4 Landscape, Layout mode: Grid, Margins: 12mm all sides.
  3. In the Header section, add:
    • Left zone: project name field (bind to the project metadata section).
    • Centre zone: report type label (static text: "Monthly Progress Report").
    • Right zone: reporting period end date field.

Step 3: Add an info grid header block​

  1. Insert an Info Grid component at the top of the canvas.
  2. Bind to the project metadata section.
  3. Configure cells: Project Name, Client, Contract Value, Data Date, Report Author, Reporting Period.
  4. Set: 6 columns, label-above-value style, compact padding.
  5. Add a Divider component below.

Step 4: Add KPI cards​

  1. Insert 4 KPI Card components in a row below the divider.
  2. Bind each to the overall status section:
    • Card 1: Overall Schedule RAG → bind the RAG field as the status colour, label: "Schedule".
    • Card 2: Overall Cost RAG → label: "Cost".
    • Card 3: Open Risks count → bind a count aggregation, label: "Open Risks".
    • Card 4: Overdue Actions count → label: "Overdue Actions".
  3. Format all 4 cards consistently: same height, same font size, card border radius 8px.

Step 5: Add a trend chart​

  1. Insert a Chart component (line/area style) below the KPI row.
  2. Bind to the cost or progress section:
    • X axis: period date field.
    • Y axis: planned % and actual % (two series).
  3. Set: Legend below, Y axis label as "%", enable area fill for Planned series.
  4. Resize to span approximately half the page width.

Step 6: Add a RAG grid​

  1. Insert a RAG Grid component beside the trend chart.
  2. Configure rows (static): Schedule, Cost, Safety, Quality, Risk, Resourcing.
  3. Configure columns: Current period RAG, Prior period RAG, Trend (select the trend arrow option).
  4. Bind each column to the corresponding field in the overall status section.
  5. Resize to fill the remaining half of the page.

Step 7: Add an action summary table​

  1. Insert a Table component below the chart and RAG grid.
  2. Bind to the actions section.
  3. Add columns: Action title, Owner, Priority, Due date, Status.
  4. Apply a row filter: Status != Closed.
  5. Apply sort: Due date ascending.
  6. Set Max rows: 8 (to keep the table within the page).
  7. Add conditional row formatting: rows where Due date < today AND Status != Closed → red row background.
  1. Insert a Text component below the table.
  2. Bind the text body to the "Notes / Commentary" rich text field from the status section.
  3. Set font size 9pt, italic style, muted colour.
  4. Add a Divider above the notes block.

Step 9: Preview and adjust​

  1. Click Preview in the ribbon.
  2. Check:
    • KPI cards align at the same height.
    • Chart and RAG grid don't overflow the row.
    • Table fits within the page without being cut off.
    • Notes text doesn't push the layout off the page.
  3. If the table overflows, reduce Max rows or enable Compact mode.
  4. If the chart is too tall, reduce its height and redistribute the space to the RAG grid.

Step 10: Publish and generate​

  1. Click Save then Publish in the ribbon.
  2. Navigate to the edition.
  3. Click Generate output → select "Monthly Dashboard".
  4. Click View when generation completes.
  5. Export as PDF.

Dashboard design principles​

PrincipleWhy
Put the most important status top-leftWestern reading order — eye lands there first.
Use RAG for status, numbers for magnitudeRAG is scanned; numbers are read. Don't swap them.
One trend chart maximum per dashboard pageMultiple trends compete — pick the one that matters most.
Tables for detail, not for every metricA table of 40 rows on a dashboard is not a dashboard.
Keep the page count to 1–2A dashboard that requires scrolling is a report, not a dashboard.
Don't duplicate measuresSPI from the chart and SPI from a KPI card side-by-side is noise.