Mira Chen — Customer learning designer at Fieldnote Labs (fictional)
Mira helps new analytics users turn business questions into clear, dependable reports. She designs onboarding materials for fictional software teams.
Fictional instructor and course, generated for this demo.
Module 1 · Set up your workspace
Read 7 minLesson 1 of 6
Find your way around SignalDesk
Identify the workspace, data sources, and dashboard areas.
In this lesson
Locate the workspace settings and dashboard list.
Explain the difference between a data source and a dashboard.
SignalDesk is a fictional analytics app. Its workspace is the shared area where your team manages data sources, dashboards, and access. A data source supplies records; a dashboard arranges selected measures and charts so people can answer questions.
Module 1 · Set up your workspace
Try it 10 minLesson 2 of 6
Connect a sample source
Practice choosing a source and checking that its records are usable.
In this lesson
Select a source that contains the fields needed for a question.
Check a recent record and confirm the expected fields are present.
For this practice, use the built-in Sample Orders source. In a real workspace, connect only a source your team is authorized to use. Before building reports, check the source's refresh status and inspect a few records for missing dates, unexpected blanks, or duplicate entries.
Connect and inspect
1
Open data sources
Choose Data Sources from the workspace navigation.
2
Choose Sample Orders
Select the built-in sample source and confirm the preview shows order records.
3
Inspect fields
Look for fields such as order date, region, and order value. Confirm the names and example values make sense.
4
Check freshness
Review the displayed last-refresh time and note whether it fits the question you plan to answer.
Match a chart to the comparison or change you want to understand.
In this lesson
Write a specific question before choosing a chart.
Select a chart type that fits the comparison.
Start with a question, not a chart. For example: “How did weekly order value change by region?” This points to a value, a time field, and a grouping. A line chart can show change over time; a bar chart can compare categories at one point in time.
A quick chart choice
Use a line chart to show a measure changing over time.
Use a bar chart to compare a small set of categories.
Use a table when exact values or several fields matter.
Keep the measure and grouping clear in the chart title.
Apply a filter and make its effect visible to readers.
In this lesson
Apply a region filter to a dashboard.
Describe which records the filter includes and excludes.
A filter narrows the records shown in a chart or dashboard. In Weekly Orders by Region, selecting one region changes the view to show that region's records. Tell readers which filter is active, especially if a saved view opens with a restricted selection.
Try a region filter
1
Open the dashboard
Open Weekly Orders by Region in the practice workspace.
2
Add a filter
Choose Region and select one region from the sample data.
3
Compare views
Note how the chart changes, then clear the filter and compare it with the all-region view.
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Share a dashboard with a clear title and verify what the recipient will see.
In this lesson
Prepare a dashboard title and note that explain its scope.
Check sharing access before inviting a teammate.
A useful shared view states what it measures, what period it covers, and any important filters. In SignalDesk, workspace owners control who can view or edit shared dashboards. Check the access setting before sharing, and use the least access needed for the recipient's task.
Prepare before sharing
1
Clarify the title
Use a title such as Weekly Order Value by Region, rather than a vague title like Overview.
2
Add scope
Include the date range and any active filter in the dashboard description or accompanying note.
3
Review access
Check whether the recipient needs view or edit access, then confirm the dashboard opens with the intended filters.