> AI agents: this is one page from Mammoth Analytics documentation. The index of all pages as Markdown is https://mammoth.io/docs/llms.txt. Append `.md` to any docs URL, or send `Accept: text/markdown`, to get Markdown.

# Replace a dashboard template's sample data with your own

> Swap a Mammoth template's sample data for your own file or dataset with Use my data, review the fitted version, and unlock publishing and sharing.
>
> Applies to: Roles: Anyone who can edit a dashboard. Where: Dashboard on sample data › Use my data

A dashboard made from a [template](https://mammoth.io/docs/learn/dashboards/templates/) runs on sample data, and publishing and sharing stay locked until you connect your own with **Use my data**. Mammoth fits the template to your data in the background, then shows you your version to accept.

| Ribbon across the top |
| --- |
| "These numbers come from sample data, not yours. Explore and edit freely — publishing and sharing stay locked until you connect your own data." |

## Start Use my data

Click **Use my data** in any of these places:

- The sample-data ribbon on the dashboard.
- The **Publish** button's caret menu (the top item while the dashboard is on sample data).
- The share panel.
- The editor's **Data** tab, on the source card.

## Pick the data to fit

1. In the **Use your own data** window, choose **Upload a file** ("CSV or Excel. We'll fit the template while you keep working."), **Other ways to add data** (such as connecting a database or app), or a dataset already in your library.
2. Click **Fit to my data**. The window closes and the fit runs in the background.

## Watch the fit run

A strip under the ribbon shows **Uploading**, **Reading the file**, **Checking columns** and **Fitting the template**.

| Strip shows | Meaning |
| --- | --- |
| "Keep this tab open until the upload finishes." | Your file is still uploading. |
| "You can keep working or leave — we'll let you know." | The upload is done. |
| "Sales.xlsx has 3 sheets. Pick the one to use." | Your workbook has more than one sheet. |

When it finishes, you get a toast and a notice in the bell, for example "Your data is ready for “Sales overview”." or "Your data doesn't fit “Sales overview” well. See the options." Click **Review** (or **See options**) on the strip.

## Review your version of the template

The review is titled with the template's name and "· your version", with the fit grade and source file (for example "Fit: good · built from Sales.xlsx"). "Keeps this template's look": only the data changes.

- **What changed** counts what was **kept**, **adapted**, **added** and **removed**. **Remove** drops an addition; **Add back** restores one you removed.
- Calculated fields show "Calculated when you accept".
- **Adjust…** opens the field-mapping table, where you change which of your columns each field uses.

| Message | Meaning |
| --- | --- |
| "Matched by rules only — the AI adaptation wasn't available." | The AI step wasn't available. |

Click **Use this version** to switch the dashboard to your data, or **Back to sample** to keep the sample. The change is undoable: the sample version stays in [history](https://mammoth.io/docs/learn/dashboards/history-and-drafts/#preview-and-restore-earlier-versions-with-history). When it's done, you see "Your data is in. Publishing is unlocked."

## When your data doesn't fit the template

A poor match shows, for example, "Sales.xlsx doesn't fit this template well" and "3 of 8 parts of the template work with this data", with these options:

| Option | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| **Reshape & retry** | Offered when your months sit in columns. Turns them into rows so the template gets the date it needs. This adds a step to your dataset, and may remove total columns that would otherwise repeat on every month row. |
| **Keep what fits** | Keeps only the parts your data can fill (for example 3 of 8). Nothing is added. |
| **Build it** | Builds a new board for your data in this template's design. Click **Describe it…** to say what you want, or leave it blank and Mammoth picks from your columns. Takes about a minute. |
| **Templates that fit this data** | Lists other templates scored against your data. |

To move a dashboard that already runs on your data onto different data, use **Change data**. See [Change a dashboard's data or copy it](https://mammoth.io/docs/learn/dashboards/change-data-and-export/).

## Related

- [Use a dashboard template](https://mammoth.io/docs/learn/dashboards/templates/): find a template and check its fit first.
- [Restore a version](https://mammoth.io/docs/learn/dashboards/history-and-drafts/): undo a data swap.
- [See the data behind a dashboard](https://mammoth.io/docs/learn/dashboards/dashboard-data/): the source card in the Data tab.

---
Source: https://mammoth.io/docs/learn/dashboards/template-sample-data.md · Updated: 2026-11-08