Xcelsius Dashboards: How to Connect, Customize, and Share Them with Others
Creating Dashboards with Xcelsius: Practical Guide
If you want to create interactive and visually appealing dashboards that can display your data in a meaningful way, you might want to consider using Xcelsius. Xcelsius is a software tool that allows you to design and build dashboards using Excel data and various components such as charts, gauges, maps, sliders, and more. In this article, we will show you how to create a dashboard with Xcelsius, how to customize it according to your needs, and how to share and publish it with others.
Creating Dashboards with Xcelsius: Practical Guide
What is Xcelsius and why use it?
Xcelsius overview
Xcelsius is a dashboard creation tool that was developed by Business Objects, a subsidiary of SAP. It is also known as SAP Crystal Dashboard Design or SAP BusinessObjects Dashboards. Xcelsius allows you to transform your Excel data into interactive dashboards that can be viewed in a web browser or embedded in other applications. You can use Xcelsius to create dashboards for various purposes, such as business intelligence, performance management, data analysis, reporting, and presentation.
Benefits of Xcelsius
Some of the benefits of using Xcelsius are:
It is easy to use. You don't need any programming skills or technical knowledge to create dashboards with Xcelsius. You can simply drag and drop components from the component palette onto the canvas and bind them to your Excel data.
It is flexible and customizable. You can choose from a wide range of components and properties to design your dashboard according to your preferences and requirements. You can also add interactivity and functionality to your dashboard using formulas and alerts.
It is powerful and scalable. You can create dashboards that can handle large amounts of data and complex calculations. You can also connect your dashboard to external data sources such as databases, web services, XML files, or SAP systems.
It is compatible and portable. You can export your dashboard as a SWF file that can be viewed in any web browser that supports Flash Player. You can also embed your dashboard in a web page, an email, a PowerPoint presentation, or a PDF document. You can also publish your dashboard to a server or a portal that supports Xcelsius.
How to create a dashboard with Xcelsius
Step 1: Prepare your data source
The first step in creating a dashboard with Xcelsius is to prepare your data source. Your data source can be an Excel workbook that contains the data you want to display on your dashboard. You can use Excel functions and formulas to manipulate and organize your data as needed. You can also use named ranges to define the cells or ranges that you want to use as data sources for your components.
Step 2: Design your dashboard layout
The second step in creating a dashboard with Xcelsius is to design your dashboard layout. Your dashboard layout is the arrangement of components and other elements on the canvas. You can use the following tools and features to design your dashboard layout:
The component palette. The component palette contains various components that you can use to display your data on your dashboard. You can choose from categories such as charts, selectors, maps, gauges, containers, and more. You can drag and drop components from the component palette onto the canvas.
The properties sheet. The properties sheet allows you to change the appearance and behavior of the components and other elements on your dashboard. You can access the properties sheet by selecting an element on the canvas and clicking the Properties tab on the right panel.
The alignment and distribution tools. The alignment and distribution tools allow you to align and distribute the components and other elements on your dashboard. You can access the alignment and distribution tools by selecting multiple elements on the canvas and clicking the Align or Distribute buttons on the toolbar.
The grouping and ungrouping tools. The grouping and ungrouping tools allow you to group and ungroup the components and other elements on your dashboard. You can access the grouping and ungrouping tools by selecting multiple elements on the canvas and clicking the Group or Ungroup buttons on the toolbar.
The canvas size and background color. The canvas size and background color determine the size and color of your dashboard. You can change the canvas size and background color by clicking the Canvas button on the toolbar.
Step 3: Add components and bind data
The third step in creating a dashboard with Xcelsius is to add components and bind data. Adding components means placing components from the component palette onto the canvas. Binding data means connecting components to your data source using Excel cell references or named ranges. You can use the following steps to add components and bind data:
Select a component from the component palette and drag it onto the canvas.
Select the component on the canvas and click the Properties tab on the right panel.
Under the General section, enter a name for your component in the Name field.
Under the Behavior section, select a behavior option for your component from the Behavior drop-down list. The behavior option determines how your component interacts with other components on your dashboard.
Under the Data Insertion section, select a data insertion option for your component from the Data Insertion drop-down list. The data insertion option determines how your component inserts data into your Excel workbook.
Under the Data Binding section, click the Bind button next to each property that you want to bind to your data source. A dialog box will appear that allows you to select a cell or a range from your Excel workbook or enter a cell reference or a named range manually.
Repeat steps 1 to 6 for each component that you want to add to your dashboard.
Step 4: Preview and export your dashboard
The fourth step in creating a dashboard with Xcelsius is to preview and export your dashboard. Previewing your dashboard means viewing how your dashboard looks and works in a web browser. Exporting your dashboard means saving your dashboard as a SWF file that can be viewed in any web browser that supports Flash Player. You can use the following steps to preview and export your dashboard:
Click the Preview button on the toolbar to preview your dashboard in a web browser. You can interact with your dashboard as if it were published online.
Click the Export button on the toolbar to export your dashboard as a SWF file. A dialog box will appear that allows you to choose a location and a name for your SWF file.
Click Save to save your SWF file.
How to customize your dashboard with Xcelsius
Change the appearance and properties of components
You can change the appearance and properties of components on your dashboard using the properties sheet. The properties sheet contains various sections that allow you to modify different aspects of your components, such as colors, fonts, labels, legends, axes, scales, ranges, values, formats, animations, sounds, etc. You can access the properties sheet by selecting a component on the canvas and clicking the Properties tab on the right panel.
Add interactivity and functionality with formulas and alerts
Use dynamic visibility and drill-down features
You can use dynamic visibility and drill-down features to show or hide components on your dashboard based on user input or data values. Dynamic visibility allows you to control the visibility of components using selectors, such as buttons, check boxes, radio buttons, sliders, etc. Drill-down allows you to display detailed information on a component when a user clicks on another component, such as a chart, a map, a table, etc. You can use the following steps to use dynamic visibility and drill-down features:
Select a component that you want to show or hide on the canvas and click the Properties tab on the right panel.
Under the Behavior section, select Dynamic Visibility from the Behavior drop-down list.
Under the Dynamic Visibility section, click the Bind button next to the Key property. A dialog box will appear that allows you to select a cell or a range from your Excel workbook or enter a cell reference or a named range manually.
Enter a value in the Value field that corresponds to the value in the cell or range that you selected or entered for the Key property. This value determines when the component will be visible or hidden.
Select a selector component that you want to use to control the visibility of the component and click the Properties tab on the right panel.
Under the Data Binding section, click the Bind button next to the Selected Item property. A dialog box will appear that allows you to select the same cell or range that you selected or entered for the Key property of the component that you want to show or hide.
Repeat steps 1 to 6 for each component that you want to use dynamic visibility or drill-down features.
How to share and publish your dashboard with Xcelsius
Export your dashboard as a SWF file
You can export your dashboard as a SWF file that can be viewed in any web browser that supports Flash Player. You can use the following steps to export your dashboard as a SWF file:
Click the Export button on the toolbar to export your dashboard as a SWF file. A dialog box will appear that allows you to choose a location and a name for your SWF file.
Click Save to save your SWF file.
Embed your dashboard in a web page or an email
You can embed your dashboard in a web page or an email using HTML code. You can use the following steps to embed your dashboard in a web page or an email:
Open your SWF file in a web browser and right-click on it. A menu will appear that allows you to copy the HTML code for embedding your dashboard.
Paste the HTML code into your web page or email where you want your dashboard to appear.
Publish your dashboard to a server or a portal
You can publish your dashboard to a server or a portal that supports Xcelsius using FTP or HTTP protocols. You can use the following steps to publish your dashboard to a server or a portal:
Click the Publish button on the toolbar to publish your dashboard to a server or a portal. A dialog box will appear that allows you to enter the URL and credentials for your server or portal.
Click Publish to publish your dashboard.
Conclusion
In this article, we have shown you how to create dashboards with Xcelsius, how to customize them according to your needs, and how to share and publish them with others. Xcelsius is a powerful and easy-to-use tool that can help you transform your Excel data into interactive and visually appealing dashboards that can display your data in a meaningful way. We hope you have enjoyed this article and learned something new. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave them in the comments section below. Thank you for reading!
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about creating dashboards with Xcelsius:
Q: What are some examples of dashboards created with Xcelsius?
A: Some examples of dashboards created with Xcelsius are:
A sales performance dashboard that shows sales revenue, profit margin, customer satisfaction, and sales forecast by region, product, and salesperson.
A project management dashboard that shows project status, milestones, risks, issues, and resources by project, phase, and task.
A financial analysis dashboard that shows financial ratios, trends, benchmarks, and scenarios by company, industry, and market.
A health care dashboard that shows patient demographics, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes by hospital, department, and physician.
A sports dashboard that shows team standings, statistics, scores, and highlights by league, division, and game.
Q: What are some best practices for creating dashboards with Xcelsius?
A: Some best practices for creating dashboards with Xcelsius are:
Define your dashboard objectives and audience. You should have a clear idea of what you want to achieve with your dashboard and who will use it.
Plan your dashboard design and layout. You should sketch out your dashboard layout on paper or use a wireframe tool before you start building it with Xcelsius. You should also follow some design principles such as simplicity, clarity, consistency, and alignment.
Choose the right components and data. You should select the components that best suit your data and your dashboard objectives. You should also ensure that your data is accurate, relevant, and up-to-date.
Test and refine your dashboard. You should preview your dashboard in a web browser and test its functionality and interactivity. You should also solicit feedback from your dashboard users and make improvements as needed.
Q: What are some limitations of Xcelsius?
A: Some limitations of Xcelsius are:
It requires Flash Player to run. This means that your dashboard may not be compatible with some devices or browsers that do not support Flash Player.
It has a limited number of components and properties. This means that you may not be able to create some complex or customized dashboards with Xcelsius.
It has a limited connection to external data sources. This means that you may not be able to access some real-time or dynamic data sources with Xcelsius.
Q: What are some alternatives to Xcelsius?
A: Some alternatives to Xcelsius are:
Power BI. Power BI is a cloud-based business intelligence service that allows you to create dashboards and reports using various data sources and visualizations. You can access Power BI from any device or browser that supports HTML5.
Tableau. Tableau is a data visualization software that allows you to create dashboards and stories using various data sources and charts. You can access Tableau from any device or browser that supports HTML5.
Dasheroo. Dasheroo is a web-based dashboard platform that allows you to create dashboards using various data sources and widgets. You can access Dasheroo from any device or browser that supports HTML5.
Q: How can I learn more about Xcelsius?
A: Some resources that can help you learn more about Xcelsius are:
The official Xcelsius website. The official Xcelsius website contains product information, tutorials, demos, forums, blogs, and support.
The Xcelsius blog. The Xcelsius blog contains tips, tricks, best practices, examples, and news about Xcelsius.
The Xcelsius book. The Xcelsius book is a comprehensive guide that covers everything you need to know about creating dashboards with Xcelsius.
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