See and change the data behind a Mammoth dashboard
The Data tab in the dashboard editor shows every source a dashboard reads, with actions to preview rows, open the View, browse columns and change the data. Open a dashboard you can edit and click Data in the side panel. Anyone who can edit the dashboard can use it; this page also covers the What we assumed chip and the banners that say when figures aren't current.
Preview rows and open a dashboard's sources
Open the Data tab. Each source card offers:
| Action | What it does |
|---|---|
| Preview rows | Shows the source's rows in the panel (for example "Showing first 50 of 1,200 rows"). |
| Open view | Opens the View in the data editor in a new tab. |
| Show in library | Opens the source in your data library in a new tab. |
| Change data | Rebuilds the dashboard on different data, keeping its look and pages. Shows Use my data while the dashboard is on sample data. See Change a dashboard's data or copy it and Use a dashboard template. |
| Browse columns | Opens the column browser (below). |
Notes you may see on a source card:
- Sample data: "Sample numbers, not yours. Use your own data to publish and share."
- A source that's been removed: "This source isn't in your library, so it can't be opened from here. The report still shows the figures it last read."
- "We can't tell where this source lives, so it can't be shown in the library."
Add a page that reads another table
On a saved dashboard in the Dashboard format, New page from another table sits below the source cards. It adds a page whose charts all read a different table from the same project, up to 5 tables per dashboard. Some actions, such as Save as template, aren't available on a dashboard that reads more than one table. See Pages and navigation for the steps and limits.
Browse a source's columns and build a chart from them
- Click Browse columns on a source card. The card shows how many of the source's columns the dashboard uses, for example "6 of 14 on this board". You can also reach the same list from Add → Chart → From your data.
- Read the list. Columns in and the source's name (for example "Columns in Sales") lists every column, grouped as Measures, Dimensions and Dates, with its values, range and how many rows are filled.
- Tick up to 4 columns.
- Click Chart from these columns.
Mammoth shows the charts those columns support, each with a reason, such as "12 months to follow", "Shares of one total" or "One clear leader at 41%". Two or three columns is usually enough.
How the list marks columns:
- in use marks columns already used by a chart, filter or KPI on the dashboard. A line above the list counts the ones that aren't.
- Columns with nothing to chart are muted with the reason, for example "One value throughout — nothing to compare" or "An identifier — one row each, nothing to compare".
- Protected attributes aren't ranked for you. Pick how you want them drawn.
If the columns can't load, you see "Couldn't read this source's columns." with Try again.
Add a financial year column for your dashboard
If your data has a date column but no financial or fiscal year column, the source card shows Need a financial year? ("Your data has a date but no financial year column.").
- Open Browse columns for that source. The prompt appears after you've done this.
- Click Add it in Data. The data editor opens in a new tab, at the step that adds one.
See Work with dates and financial years.
Check what the dashboard assumed about your data
When your data doesn't say something the dashboard needs, Mammoth makes a call and tells you. A chip above the canvas reads 1 assumption, or for example 3 assumptions. Click it to open What we assumed.
| Entry | What it means |
|---|---|
| "Amounts print without a currency symbol" | Nothing in your data named a currency, so figures print as plain numbers. Click Tell the assistant to fill the chat with "Show amounts in " and finish the sentence. |
| "Some amounts show no currency" | Some money columns have no currency. Set the dashboard's reporting currency and every figure moves together. |
| "2 totals count a repeated value" | A column joined from somewhere coarser repeats down the rows, so a total counts it more than once. |
| "2 averages weight every row alike" | Each row counts once in an average. Ask the assistant if you meant it weighted. |
| "2 tiles couldn't be built" or "2 tiles lost their columns" | Tiles that need attention. |
Ask the assistant to change any of these. Once you dismiss an entry, it doesn't come back unless what it describes changes.
Troubleshooting stale data and failed refresh banners
A strip at the top of the canvas tells you when figures aren't current.
| Banner | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| These numbers are waiting on a refresh | Some figures still describe the previous version. Cards still waiting show "…". | Click Refresh. |
| Couldn't refresh the data | The last data refresh failed. | Click Try again, or edit the dashboard to rebuild it. |
| Some figures couldn't load their data | Those cards show a dash. Everything else is up to date. | Click Try again, or dismiss the notice. The cards stay blank until their data loads. |
While an update runs, you may also see "Showing the last successful version while an update runs." For more fixes, see Fix dashboard problems.
Limits
- Columns ticked for Chart from these columns: up to 4.
- Tables per dashboard with New page from another table: up to 5.
Related
- Edit with AI in the dashboard editor: the rest of the editor.
- Add and change charts: the From your data tab in the chart picker.
- Pages and navigation: pages that read other tables.
- Change a dashboard's data or copy it: rebuild a dashboard on other data, or copy it.
- Manage your dashboards: keep a dashboard's data in sync.
- Fix dashboard problems: when a dashboard won't load or refresh.
Something wrong? support@mammoth.io