Create the dashboard

To create the dashboard, we begin by creating a data connection. Then, we use that data
connection to create the reports and the filter that we want to use. After that, we publish the
workbook to SharePoint Server.

Part 1: Create a data connection

Our example dashboard uses a single data connection to data that is stored in SQL Server
2012 Analysis Services. We'll use this data connection to create the reports and filter for the
dashboard.
To create a connection to Analysis Services data
1. Open Microsoft Excel.
2. Choose Blank workbook to create a workbook.
3. On the Data tab, choose Get External Data group, choose From Other Sources,
and then choose From Analysis Services.
The Data Connection Wizard opens.
4. On the Connect to Database Server page, in the Server name box, specify the
name of the server where the Analysis Services data that you want to use resides.
5. In the Log on credentials section, take one of the following steps:
o If your organization is using Windows Authentication, choose Use Windows
Authentication, and then choose the Next button.
o If your organization is using specific user credentials, choose Use the
following User Name and Password, specify an appropriate user name
and password, and then choose the Next button.
6. On the Select Database and Table page, choose
the AdventureWorksDW2012Multidimensional-EE database, choose
the Adventure Works cube, and then choose the Next button.
7. On the Save Data Connection File and Finish page, choose the Finish button.
8. On the Import Data page, select the Only Create Connection option, and then
choose the OK button.
9. Keep Excel open.
At this point, we have created a connection to the Adventure Works cube in Analysis
Services. By default, this data connection is saved in a My Data Sources folder in
theDocuments library on the computer and is embedded in the workbook. We'll use the
ODC connection that is embedded in the workbook for the dashboard.
The next step is to create reports for the dashboard.

Part 2: Create reports

For our example dashboard, we'll create four reports, as described in the following table:

Table: Dashboard reports

Report
Type

Report Name

Description

PivotChart
report

ProductSales

Bar chart report that shows sales amounts across different

product categories.

PivotChart
report

GeoSales

Bar chart report that shows sales amounts across different sales
territories.

PivotTable
report

ChannelSales

Table that shows order quantities and sales amounts across the
Internet and Reseller channels.

PivotTable
report

OrderSales

Table that shows order quantities and sales amounts across

different product categories.

We begin by creating the ProductSales report.

To create the ProductSales report
1. In Excel, on the Insert tab, in the Charts section, choose PivotChart.
The Create PivotChart dialog box appears.
2. In the Choose the data that you want to analyze section, choose the Use an
external data source option, and then choose the Choose Connection button.
The Existing Connections dialog box appears.
3. In the Connections in this Workbook section, select
the AdventureWorksDW2012Multidimensional-EE data connection, and then
choose the Open button.
4. In the Create PivotChart dialog box, choose the Existing Worksheet option, and
then choose the OK button.
Chart1 opens for editing.
5. In the PivotChart Fields list, specify the following options:
o In the Sales Summary section, choose Sales Amount.
Sales Amount is displayed in the Values section, and the report updates to
display a single bar.
o In the Product section, choose Product Categories.
Product Categories is displayed in the Axis section, and the report updates
to display sales amounts across different product categories.
6. To sort the bars in descending order, take the following steps:
a. In the PivotChart Fields list, click (or touch) the Product
Categories dimension, and then choose the down arrow that appears.
The Select field dialog box appears.
b. Choose More Sort Options to open the Sort (Category) dialog box.
c. In the Sort options section, choose the Descending (Z to A) by option, and
then use the list to select Sales Amount.
d. Click OK.

2. To ensure that there is room for more reports, we'll move the PivotChart report closer
to the upper-left corner of the worksheet. To do this, drag the report so that the
upper-left corner aligns with the upper-left corner of cell B10 in the worksheet.
3. To avoid confusion about report names later, we'll specify a new name for the report.
On the Analyze tab, in the PivotChart group, in the Chart Name box, delete the
text that says Chart1, type ProductSales, and then press the Enter key.
4. To ensure we dont encounter sizing issues later with the report, we'll specify size
settings for the report. To do this, follow these steps:
a. In an empty section of the report, such as inside the upper-right corner of the
report, right-click (or touch and hold for a second), and then choose Format
Chart Area.
The Format Chart Area list opens.
b. Below the Chart Options, choose the Size and Properties toolbar
command.
c. Expand the Size section, and then choose the Lock aspect ratio option.
d. Expand the Properties section, choose the Dont move or size with
cells option, and verify that the Locked option is selected.
e. To optionally specify alternate text for the report, expand the Alt Text section,
and then type the text that you want to use for the report.
f. Close the Format Chart Area list.
5. Save the workbook by using a file name such as Adventure Works Sales.
6. Keep the workbook open.
At this point, we have created a PivotChart report. The next step is to create another
PivotChart report and name it GeoSales that shows sales amounts across different
geographical locations.
To create the GeoSales report
1. In Excel, on the same worksheet that was used to create the ProductSales report,
choose cell K10.
2. On the Insert tab, choose PivotChart.
3. In the Choose the data that you want to analyze section, choose the Use an
external data source option, and then choose the Choose Connection button.
The Existing Connections dialog box appears.
4. In the Connections in this Workbook section, select
the AdventureWorksDW2012Multidimensional-EE data connection, and then
choose the Open button.
5. In the Create PivotChart dialog box, choose the Existing Worksheet option, and
then choose the OK button.
Chart2 opens for editing.
6. Move the chart so that its upper-left corner aligns with the upper-left corner of cell J10
in the worksheet.
7. In the PivotChart Fields list, specify the following options:
o In the Sales Summary section, choose Sales Amount.
o In the Sales Territory section, drag Sales Territory to the Legend section.
The report updates to display a bar chart showing sales amounts for Europe, North
America, and Pacific.
8. Specify size settings for the report by following these steps:
a. In an empty section of the report, right-click (or touch and hold for a second),
and then choose the Format Chart Area option.

2.

The Format Chart Area list opens.

b. Below the Chart Options, choose the Size and Properties toolbar
command.
c. Expand the Size section, and then choose the Lock aspect ratio option.
d. Expand the Properties section, choose the Dont move or size with
cells option, and verify that Locked is selected.
e. To optionally specify alt text for the report, expand the Alt Text section, and
then type the text that you want to use for the report.
f. Close the Format Chart Area list.
Specify a new name for the report. On the Analyze tab, in the PivotChart group, in
the Chart Name box, delete the text that says Chart2, type GeoSales, and then
press the Enter key.
On the File tab, choose the Save button.
Keep the workbook open.
point, we have created two reports. The next step is to create the ChannelSales

3.
4.
At this
report.
To create the ChannelSales report
1. In Excel, on the same worksheet that was used to create the previous reports, choose
cell B26.
2. On the Insert tab, choose PivotTable.
3. In the Choose the data that you want to analyze section, choose the Use an
external data source option, and then choose the Choose Connection button.
The Existing Connections dialog box appears.
4. In the Connections in this Workbook section, select
the AdventureWorksDW2012Multidimensional-EE data connection, and then
choose the Open button.
5. Choose the Existing Worksheet option, and then choose the OK button.
PivotTable3 opens for editing.
6. In the PivotTable Fields list, specify the following options:
o In the Sales Orders section, choose Order Count.
o In the Sales Summary section, choose Sales Amount.
o In the Sales Channel section, choose Sales Channel.
The report updates to display a table showing order counts and sales amounts for the
Internet and Reseller channels.
7. Choose cell B26, and then, in the Formula bar, delete the text that says Row
Labels, and type Channel Sales. Then press the Enter key.
8. Specify a new name for the report. On the Analyze tab, in the PivotTable group, in
the PivotTable Name box, delete the text that says PivotTable3,
typeChannelSales, and then press the Enter key.
9. On the File tab, choose the Save button.
10. Keep the Excel workbook open.
At this point, we have created three reports using the same data source. The next step is to
create the OrderSales report.
To create the OrderSales report
1. In Excel, on the same worksheet that was used to create the previous reports, choose
cell H26.
2. On the Insert tab, choose PivotTable.

3. In the Choose the data that you want to analyze section, choose the Use an
external data source option, and then choose the Choose Connection button.
The Existing Connections dialog box appears.
4. In the Connections in this Workbook section, select
the AdventureWorksDW2012Multidimensional-EE data connection, and then
choose the Open button.
5. Choose the Existing Worksheet option, and then choose the OK button.
PivotTable4 opens for editing.
6. In the PivotTable Fields list, specify the following options:
o In the Sales Orders section, choose Order Count.
o In the Sales Summary section, choose Sales Amount.
o In the Product section, choose Product Categories.
The report updates to display a table showing order counts and sales amounts for
different product categories.
7. Choose cell H26, and then, in the Formula bar, delete the default text that says Row
Labels, and then type Products. Then press the Enter key.
8. Specify a new name for the report. On the Analyze tab, in the PivotTable group, in
the PivotTable Name box, delete the text that says PivotTable4, typeOrderSales,
and then press the Enter key.
9. On the File tab, choose the Save button.
10. Keep the workbook open.
At this point, we have created our four reports for our basic dashboard. The next step is to
create a filter.

Part 3: Create a filter

Using Excel, there are several different kinds of filters we can create. For example, we can
create a simple filter by putting a field in the Filter section of the Fields list. We can create
a slicer, or, if we are using a multidimensional data source such as Analysis Services, we can
create a timeline control. For this example dashboard, we'll create a timeline control. This
filter will enable people to view information for a particular time.
To create a timeline control
1. In Excel, on the same worksheet that was used to create the reports, choose cell B1.
2. On the Insert tab, in the Filter group, choose Timeline.
The Existing Connections dialog box appears.
3. In the Connections in this Workbook section, select
the AdventureWorksDW2012Multidimensional-EE data connection, and then
choose the Open button.
4. The Insert Timelines dialog box appears.
5. Choose the Date option, and then choose the OK button.
A timeline control opens.
6. Move the timeline control so that its upper-left corner aligns with the upper-left corner
of cell B1.
7. To make the timeline control wider, use the resizing handles, and drag the sizing
handle on the right side of the control to column M.
8. Select the timeline control, and then, on the Options tab, in the Timeline group,
choose the Report Connections toolbar command.
The Report Connections dialog box appears.

9. Choose ChannelSales, GeoSales, OrderSales, and ProductSales, and then

choose the OK button.
10. On the File tab, choose the Save button.
11. Keep the Excel workbook open.
At this point, we have created a dashboard. The next step is to publish it to SharePoint
Server, where it can be used by others.

Publish the dashboard

To publish the workbook to SharePoint Server, we'll follow a four-step process. First, we make
some adjustments that affect how the workbook is displayed. Then, we specify Excel
Services data authentication settings for the external data connection that we use. Next, we
specify publish options for the workbook. Finally, we publish the workbook to SharePoint
Server.
We begin by making adjustments to the workbook. By default, our example dashboard
displays gridlines on the worksheet that contains our dashboard. In addition, by default, the
worksheet is called Sheet1. We can make some minor adjustments that will improve how
the dashboard will be displayed.
To make minor display improvements to the workbook
1. In Excel, choose the View tab.
2. To remove gridlines from the view, on the View tab, in the Show group, clear
the Gridlines check box.
3. To remove row and column headings, on the View tab, in the Show group, clear
the Headings check box.
4. To rename the worksheet, right-click its tab where it says Sheet1, and then
choose Rename. Immediately type a new name for the worksheet, such
as SalesDashboard, and then press the Enter key.
5. On the File tab, choose Save.
6. Keep the workbook open.
The workbook we created uses an external data connection that we want to keep active
when we publish the workbook. To ensure that the data connection remains live so that data
refresh is supported in Excel Services, we must specify authentication settings.
To specify authentication settings for the external data connection
1. In Excel, on the Data tab, choose the Connections toolbar command.
The Workbook Connections dialog box appears and displays
the AdventureWorksDW2012Multidimensional-EE data connection.
2. Choose the Properties button.
3. In the Connection Properties dialog box, on the Definition tab, next to Excel
Services, choose the Authentication Settings button.
4. In the Excel Services Authentication Settings dialog box, take one of the
following steps:
o If Excel Services is configured to use Windows Authentication or the
EffectiveUserName feature, select Use the authenticated users account,
and then choose the OK button.
o If Excel Services is configured to use Secure Store Service, select Use a
stored account. In the Application ID box, specify the Secure Store target
application ID, and then choose the OK button.
o If Excel Services is configured to use the unattended service account,
select None, and then choose the OK button.

5. Choose the OK button to close the Connection Properties dialog box.

6. If you see a message that states that the connection in the workbook will no longer
be identical to the connection that is defined in the external file, choose Yes.
7. Choose the Close button to close the Workbook Connections dialog box.
When we created the reports for the dashboard, we gave each one a unique name and
defined it as a named item in Excel. In addition to publishing the workbook to SharePoint
Server, we should publish the named items that we defined. This makes it possible to display
a named item in its own SharePoint Web Part later. We do this by specifying publish options
for the workbook.
To specify publish options for the workbook
1. On the File tab, choose Info, and then choose Browser View Options.
2. Choose the Browser View Options button.
3. On the Show tab, use the list to choose Items in the Workbook.
4. Choose All Charts and All PivotTables, and then choose the OK button.
5. On the File tab, choose the Save button.
6. Keep the workbook open.
The next step is to publish the workbook to SharePoint Server.
To publish the workbook to SharePoint Server
1. In Excel, on the File tab, choose Save As, choose Computer, and then choose
the Browse button.
The Save As dialog box appears.
2. In the address line, type the SharePoint address to an Excel Services trusted file
location.
3. Choose the Save button.
The workbook is published in the SharePoint library that you specified.
4. Close the Excel workbook.
Now that we have created and published the dashboard, we can use it to explore data.

Use the dashboard

After the dashboard was published to SharePoint Server, it is available for people to view
and use it.
To open the dashboard
1. Open a web browser.
2. In the address bar, type the address to the Business Intelligence Center site where
the dashboard was published.
3. Choose Site Contents, and then choose Documents.
4. Choose the Adventure Works Sales dashboard.
The dashboard opens for viewing.
Now that the dashboard is open for viewing, we can use it to obtain answers to specific
questions, such as those that are described in the following table.