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How to Add Widgets to a Dashboard

How to Add Widgets to a Dashboard

Add widgets to display sensor data, track KPIs, and visualize trends on your dashboards.

Quick Summary

Open a dashboard in Edit mode, click New widget, select a widget type, configure the data source, and save.

Before You Begin​

Requirements
  • Dashboard must exist (create one first)
  • You need decks:edit permission
  • Assets (sensors) must be registered to display data
  • Plan limits determine widgets per dashboard

Step-by-Step: Add a Widget​

Step 1: Open the Dashboard​

  1. Go to Deck Board from the sidebar
  2. Click on the dashboard you want to edit
  3. Dashboard opens in view mode

Step 2: Enter Edit Mode​

  1. Click the Edit button (pencil icon)
  2. Dashboard enters edit mode
  3. Widget controls become visible

Step 3: Add New Widget​

  1. Click the New widget button in the toolbar
  2. Widget selection panel opens
  3. Browse available widget categories and types

Step 4: Select Widget Type​

Choose from available types:

TypeBest For
KPI CardSingle current value (temperature, humidity)
Line ChartTrends over time
Combo ChartMultiple series with different scales
Mini-chart CardCompact trend visualization
Data CombinationDevice overview with multiple properties

Step 5: Configure Widget​

FieldDescription
TitleWidget display name
DescriptionOptional notes
AssetSelect the sensor/device
PropertyWhich data to display (e.g., temperature)
ModeDisplay mode (default, compact, detailed)

Step 6: Save Widget​

  1. Review configuration
  2. Click Save or Add
  3. Widget appears on dashboard
  4. Drag to desired position

Step 7: Save Dashboard​

  1. Click Save to save all changes
  2. Exit edit mode

Real-World Examples​

Example 1: Temperature Monitoring Card​

Situation: You need to display the current temperature of a server room prominently on your NOC dashboard.

Solution:

  1. Open the Operations NOC Display dashboard
  2. Click Edit, then New widget
  3. Select KPI Card
  4. Configure:
    • Title: Server Room A
    • Asset: Select the server room temperature sensor
    • Property: Temperature
  5. Save widget
  6. Drag to top-left corner (prominent position)
  7. Resize to make it larger for visibility
  8. Save dashboard

Result: Large, easy-to-read temperature display that operations team can monitor at a glance from across the room.

Example 2: Energy Consumption Trend Chart​

Situation: Sustainability team needs a chart showing energy consumption over the past week to identify usage patterns.

Solution:

  1. Open the Weekly Energy Report dashboard
  2. Click Edit, then New widget
  3. Select Line Chart
  4. Configure:
    • Title: Building Energy Consumption
    • Asset: Select the main energy meter
    • Property: kWh (or energy consumption field)
  5. Save widget
  6. Resize to span full width of dashboard
  7. Save dashboard

Result: Clear trend line showing daily energy patterns, making it easy to spot anomalies or identify peak usage times.

Example 3: Multi-Sensor Combo Chart​

Situation: HVAC technician needs to see temperature and humidity on the same chart to diagnose comfort issues.

Solution:

  1. Open the HVAC Diagnostics dashboard
  2. Click Edit, then New widget
  3. Select Combo Chart
  4. Configure:
    • Title: Conference Room Climate
    • Primary Series: Temperature (°C) — left axis
    • Secondary Series: Humidity (%) — right axis
  5. Save widget

Result: Single chart showing both metrics with independent scales, making correlation between temperature and humidity visible.

Example 4: Air Quality Dashboard Cards​

Situation: Facilities team monitors indoor air quality across multiple floors. They need quick-glance cards for each sensor.

Solution:

  1. Open the Air Quality Monitor dashboard
  2. For each floor, add a Mini-chart Card:
    • Title: Floor 1 CO2
    • Asset: Floor 1 air quality sensor
    • Property: CO2 (ppm)
  3. Repeat for each sensor:
    • Floor 1, 2, 3 CO2
    • Floor 1, 2, 3 PM2.5
  4. Arrange in grid layout
  5. Save dashboard

Result: Compact dashboard showing all air quality readings at once with mini trend lines indicating recent changes.

Widget Configuration Options​

Common Settings​

SettingDescriptionAvailable On
TitleDisplay nameAll widgets
DescriptionTooltip textAll widgets
AssetData source deviceAll widgets
PropertyWhich sensor readingAll widgets
Mode KeyDisplay styleKPI cards

Chart-Specific Settings​

SettingDescription
Time RangeData period to display
AggregationAverage, max, min, sum
Line StyleSolid, dashed, stepped
ColorSeries color

Layout Settings​

SettingDescription
Width (w)Grid columns (1-12)
Height (h)Grid rows
Position (x, y)Grid coordinates

Adding Multiple Widgets​

Efficient Workflow​

  1. Plan your layout before adding widgets
  2. Add all widgets first, then arrange
  3. Use similar widgets in groups (all temperature cards together)
  4. Save after major changes

Widget Limits by Plan​

PlanWidgets per Dashboard
Lite6
Basic12
Professional24
Enterprise50

Editing Existing Widgets​

Change Widget Settings​

  1. Enter dashboard Edit mode
  2. Click the settings icon (⚙️) on the widget
  3. Modify configuration
  4. Save changes

Delete a Widget​

  1. Enter dashboard Edit mode
  2. Click the delete icon (🗑️) on the widget
  3. Confirm deletion
  4. Save dashboard

Troubleshooting​

Widget Shows No Data​

IssueCauseSolution
"No data" messageSensor offlineCheck device in IoT Management
Empty chartWrong time rangeAdjust to when data exists
Stale valuesAuto-refresh offEnable dashboard auto-refresh

Can't Add Widget​

IssueCauseSolution
Add button disabledWidget limit reachedRemove unused widgets or upgrade
No assets availableNo sensors registeredRegister assets first
Permission deniedMissing permissionContact admin

Widget Displays Wrong Data​

IssueCauseSolution
Wrong valuesIncorrect asset selectedEdit widget, change asset
Wrong unitsWrong property selectedChange property in settings
Includes bad dataData quality flagsUse "Valid Only" filter

Best Practices​

Widget Organization​

PracticeBenefit
Group related widgetsEasier scanning
Use consistent sizesProfessional appearance
Put critical items at topImmediate visibility
Leave white spaceReduces visual clutter

Naming Conventions​

Use clear, consistent widget titles:

[Location] - [Metric]
Examples:
- Server Room A - Temperature
- Floor 3 - CO2
- Main Panel - Energy (kWh)

Need help? Contact Infodeck Support

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