> 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.

# Add a note, caveat or source text block to a dashboard

> Add a text block to a Mammoth dashboard for a note, caveat, source or next steps, and use live tokens to show the last updated date automatically.
>
> Applies to: Roles: Anyone with edit access to the board. Where: Dashboard editor › Add › Chart › Text

A text block holds words you write: a note, a caveat, a source line, next steps. It isn't read from the data, so filters never change it. Add one from **Add** → **Chart**, then the **Text** tile; click it on the canvas to edit it later. Anyone with edit access to the board can add one.

## Add a note, caveat or source text block

1. Click **Add** → **Chart**, then the **Text** tile. Searching the gallery for "caveat", "methodology", "source" or "note" opens the Text tile with that style already chosen.
2. Pick a style.
3. Write the text and click **Save changes**. An empty block can't be added: the footer reads "Write something to add it".

### Choose a text block style

| Style | Use it for |
|---|---|
| **Heading** | Dividing the page. Type and a rule, not a card. |
| **Lead** | The board's answer in one sentence, above everything. |
| **Note** | Commentary on what the numbers mean. This is the default. |
| **Callout** | A limit on what the numbers cover (a caveat). |
| **Reference** | How something was counted (methodology). |
| **Source** | Where the data came from. |
| **Steps** | What happens next, and who is doing it. |
| **Ask** | A question a reader can run for themselves. |

### Write and format the text

| Field | What it takes |
|---|---|
| **Heading** | Optional, up to 120 characters. Not shown for the Heading and Ask styles. |
| **Text** | **Formatting** buttons for **Bold**, **Italic**, **Link** and **Bulleted list** (no list for Source). Or type `**bold**`, `_italic_`, `- ` for list items and `[links](url)`. |
| Steps rows (**Steps** style) | One row per step (up to 200 characters), with an **Owner** box (up to 60). The owner is free text, not an assignment. |
| **Questions** (**Ask** style) | One per line; a new blank row appears as you type. A reader who clicks one opens the Q&A page with it asked. With no Q&A page, the questions show but don't click through. See [Q&A pages](https://mammoth.io/docs/learn/dashboards/explore-and-qa/). |

## Show the last updated date automatically with live tokens

A live token is a placeholder the board fills in every time it renders, so the line never goes out of date. Click **{ }** ("Insert something the board fills in") in the text editor and pick one. The same button is on a chart's **Add a caption** box (see [Annotations and captions](https://mammoth.io/docs/learn/dashboards/chart-annotations/)).

| Token | Fills in |
|---|---|
| `{updated}` | When this board was last built |
| `{filters}` | What the reader has filtered to |
| `{range}` | The period the data covers |
| `{rows}` | How many rows it covers |
| `{dataset}` | The dataset this board reads |

For example, a Source block reading "Data from {dataset}, updated {updated}" stays correct after every refresh.

- The menu only offers tokens this board can answer: no `{range}` on a board without a date field.
- If any token can't be resolved, the whole text shows "(couldn’t be determined)". Hovering it says which token.
- Braces that aren't tokens print as ordinary text.

## Limits for text blocks

| Item | Limit |
|---|---|
| Text block heading | Up to 120 characters |
| Step text / Owner | Up to 200 / up to 60 characters |

## Related

- [Annotations and captions](https://mammoth.io/docs/learn/dashboards/chart-annotations/): captions under a single chart.
- [Publish a glossary with a dashboard](https://mammoth.io/docs/learn/dashboards/glossary/): define your terms for readers.
- [Q&A pages](https://mammoth.io/docs/learn/dashboards/explore-and-qa/): where Ask questions lead.

---
Source: https://mammoth.io/docs/learn/dashboards/text-blocks.md · Updated: 2026-11-08